Chapter 213 The Entire Date Process Under Damian's Gaze
Damian's driving was flawless, but he drove like a snail.
Ashley couldn't handle the constant fifty miles per hour. "Mr. Hearst, if you're tired, I can drive. It's fine to go eighty on this road."
Damian shot back, "My car, my rules."
Did he drag her along just to annoy her?
Ashley was fuming. If the car went any slower, she'd jump out. "Mr. Hearst, what's this about?"
What was it about?
Damian's mind was fixated on one thing: he just didn't want to be alone. He hoped she'd stay in the passenger seat, even if she was sulking.
It was just an excuse.
Damian said, "Evelina went to law school like you."
Evelina was supposed to be studying business abroad to join the family business. How did she end up in law?
Ashley asked, "Since freshman year?"
Damian glanced at her confused face. He pondered, 'She didn't know? Didn't Evelina keep in touch with her regularly?'
Damian continued, "She secretly took law courses abroad, saying she had acquired some legal knowledge. She jumped straight to sophomore year. Are all women like this? Always doing big things in secret?"
Ashley thought, 'What does this have to do with me? Stop dragging me into this!'
Ashley said, "Studying law is tough. The courses are hard, and the exams are brutal. If she's willing to tackle it, she must really like it. Since she's already in, she should give it her all."
Evelina suddenly going to law school was a shock to Ashley. It was a far cry from the girl who loved to play, cause trouble, and read fashion magazines.
Damian said, "She was influenced by you and idolizes you. It's a good thing she doesn't know about your usual behavior, Ashley."
When Evelina was sent abroad, her family had her life planned out for the next fifty years. As long as she followed the plan, she'd be set for life.
But she clashed with her parents and forced her way into law school, claiming she could shine in KM Group's legal department after graduation.
Her parents were furious, but Damian spoke up for her.
Ashley couldn't take it anymore. "Mr. Hearst, what's wrong with my behavior?"
Damian snorted, "Do you like being scolded?"
Ashley was fuming, crossing her arms and leaning back in her seat, deciding not to talk to him anymore.
She thought, 'If Evelina is studying law, she'll probably take Lucien's class. Given Evelina's stubbornness and her admiration for Damian, she probably wouldn't let Lucien push her around. I'm curious.'
Ashley said, "Stop here."
She didn't want Harold to see her getting out of Damian's car, so she asked him to pull over about 330 feet ahead.
Damian knew exactly what she was thinking. He floored it, rare for him, hitting eighty miles per hour before stopping right at the restaurant's front door.
The contrast between the Rolls-Royce and the modest restaurant made passersby gasp.
Ashley clenched her fists, ready to punch him. "Mr. Hearst, is this funny to you?"
Damian's face was lit by the restaurant lights, making him look very charming. "Very funny."
Ashley was speechless.
She looked around and, fortunately, didn't see Harold. She opened the car door and got out. "Mr. Hearst. Goodbye."
To her surprise, Damian also got out, standing next to the billboard. The popular male celebrity on the sign looked like a nobody in comparison. "What a coincidence, I'm meeting a friend here tonight, too."
Ashley had no words for him. She looked at the restaurant entrance, then at Damian and the car. "Mr. Hearst, your friends are quite down-to-earth."
Damian said, "Yes, Hayden."
Ashley didn't believe that playboy Hayden would enjoy common folks' food. If he was making up an excuse, he could have picked a better one. Besides Dr. King, none of Mr. Hearst's other friends seemed likely to come here.
Ashley said, "After you, Mr. Hearst."
This time, Damian didn't hesitate and walked straight in.
After a few steps, Ashley froze.
Harold, anxiously holding his phone across from her, also froze.
"Mr. Hearst?" Harold's mind went blank, and he couldn't think straight.
Ashley felt dizzy, her worst fear coming true. "Mr. Hearst has an appointment with a friend."
Harold gave a strange smile. "Really? What a coincidence."
Damian casually said, "Mr. Brin, excuse me."
Harold realized he was in the way and quickly stepped aside. Damian walked past him like he didn't know him.
Ashley wasn't so lucky. Harold pulled her to a corner. "What's going on with you two? He has an appointment here, and you just happen to show up at the same time? Do you think I'm stupid?"
Ashley smiled. "It's exactly as you saw. I didn't expect Mr. Hearst to come here either. We just bumped into each other. Pure coincidence."
Harold was annoyed. "You better not be lying to me."
Ashley changed the subject. "Have your parents arrived?"
Harold was still pondering Damian's intentions. He poked her forehead. "You still remember to ask? You didn't answer your phone or reply to WhatsApp. I thought you ran away again."
Ashley pulled out her phone, puzzled by how it ended up on 'Do Not Disturb' mode.
The restaurant had an elegant layout but no private rooms.
Harold chose a spot by the window in a corner, offering relatively good privacy.
But it couldn't block the view of other diners.
Ashley desperately made the sign of the cross on her chest, praying that Damian would go to the second floor and not run into them.
Harold's parents exuded wealth, combining the elegance and dignity typical of affluent individuals with the warmth and friendliness of everyday elders. Their inquiries were thoughtful and balanced, never crossing into the realm of excessiveness.
Harold's mother, Sofia Brin, held Ashley's hand, her eyes full of affection. Ashley was beautiful, sensible, tall, and had a great figure, much better than Harold's previous dates.
Sofia smiled. "Ashley, Harold said you were schoolmates in Sylvania and now work together after returning to the country. That's fate."
As she spoke, she took off the bracelet from her wrist and put it on Ashley's. "I didn't prepare a gift, so consider this a meeting gift from me."
Judging by the bracelet's luster, it was expensive. Ashley quickly declined. "It's too valuable. I can't accept it."
Harold's father, Jason Brin, smiled warmly. "Take it. It's a gift; please don't refuse."
Ashley's head was buzzing, and Harold didn't help her out. She had to accept it for now and plan to send a gift in return to Sofia later.
Her scalp felt hot, and she cautiously looked back.
At that moment, she met Damian's deep gaze.
Time seemed to stand still.
He didn't go to the second floor? When did he sit down? Could he hear their conversation?
Sofia's voice fluctuated, and some of the content might have reached him.
At this point, Ashley resigned herself to it. Let him think whatever he wants; she couldn't live under his scrutiny forever.
Jason nodded frequently. After the dishes were served, he asked, "Ashley, what kind of house do you like? There's no rush to get married, but we can secure a wedding house first and decorate it to your taste."
Ashley almost spat out her food. "Jason, there's no rush."
Harold finally chimed in. "Dad, Mom, what are you doing? Are you trying to snatch her up? I'm the one who's eager, but Ashley doesn't lack suitors. Don't pressure her."
Sofia kicked her son under the table. "You need to step up!"
Harold scratched his head. "Alright, I'll try harder."
The family dynamic was warm. Sofia was talkative but well-meaning, and Jason was steady and spoke with authority, clearly a man of action.
This made Harold seem a bit like the weak link.
As the meal was ending, Ashley's phone rang. Seeing Damian's name, she quickly looked back. "Sorry, I need to take this call."
Ashley hurried to the small balcony. "Mr. Hearst, what's wrong?"
Damian's gaze followed her retreating figure, a mix of amusement and anger. "I happen to know Mr. and Mrs. Brin. What a coincidence."
Ashley asked, "So what?"
Damian replied, "Since we ran into each other, shouldn't we say hello? What do you think?"
