Chapter 234 Newly Learned Coquetry
'Interesting,' Ashley thought. 'If I catch Robert cheating, today will be a double win.'
"Alright," she said, a sly smile playing on her lips. No one noticed the cunning in her eyes. She walked forward, her understated charm hard to miss despite her modest outfit.
Robert grinned and patted the seat next to him. "Sit here."
The woman on his lap pouted, clinging to his neck. "Mr. Walker, don't you love me anymore?"
Robert squeezed her thigh. "Be good, wait for me."
She moved aside, glaring at Ashley.
Ashley sat down, barely steady, when a full glass was shoved in her face. "Ash, right? Drink up."
Outside, Nathan saw Ashley enter the club and hurried to follow, but the receptionist stopped him. "Sorry, sir, you can't go up."
Nathan sneered. "Do you know who I am?"
The receptionist, wary of the club's elite clientele, replied, "Please register..."
Just then, the manager stepped out of the elevator and froze. "Mr. Nathan Hearst? What brings you here?"
The receptionist, realizing who Nathan was, almost fainted. "I'm sorry, Mr. Nathan Hearst."
Dropping the Hearst name was like a golden ticket in Rochester City. Nathan smirked. "Finally, someone with sense. I have a friend upstairs. Can't I go up?"
The manager bowed. "Which friend of Mr. Nathan Hearst's is upstairs?"
Nathan, annoyed, snapped, "What? You questioning me? Do you dare to listen if I dare to say?"
The manager, sensing trouble, smiled. "If Mr. Nathan Hearst is looking for someone, I won't stop you. Please go ahead."
Nathan glared and headed for the elevator.
As the doors closed, the manager's smile vanished. He quickly sent staff to keep an eye on things and made a phone call.
Thomas, parked outside the club, received the call. He was keeping tabs on Ashley and Patrick, reporting to Damian. He'd seen Nathan's car and watched him go inside.
Thomas thought, 'this can't be a coincidence. Why did Nathan show up right after Ashley? Was he following her?'
"Thomas, Mr. Nathan Hearst is here, saying he has a friend upstairs. There are a ton of people here today, and I have no clue who he's talking about. Should I inform Mr. Damian Hearst?"
Thomas considered. "There's someone here no one can afford to offend. Keep an eye on things and stop Mr. Nathan Hearst. If something happens, your life won't be enough to cover it."
Someone no one could afford to offend? In Rochester City, that could only mean the Hearst family.
The manager grew more anxious. Today seemed like any other day with the usual crowd. If there were any unfamiliar faces, he would've noticed. "Thomas, what's going on?"
Thomas replied coldly, "Don't ask questions you shouldn't."
"Got it."
Thomas immediately called Damian. "Mr. Damian Hearst, Mr. Nathan Hearst is here, and he's upstairs."
"What's he doing there?"
"I think it might have something to do with Ashley."
Damian paused, considering the situation, and his expression darkened. "He's asking for trouble."
Ashley, not great with alcohol, held the glass and thought for a moment. Then she said softly, "Mr. Walker, why don't you drink for me? You look so good when you drink; I want to see it again."
If Amelia were here, she'd probably punch Ashley in the head and then puke.
Robert reached for her cheek. "You sure know how to talk. Want me to drink? Fine, give me a kiss."
Ashley quickly turned aside, avoiding his hand, and smiled. "No, you haven't drunk yet."
Suppressing the urge to vomit, Ashley thought about how to avoid being harassed and get out quickly. The risk here was too high, surrounded by dangerous people she couldn't handle.
Robert's eyes roamed over her body, as if seeing through her rough clothes to her fair skin. "Can't drink?"
Ashley acted coy, imitating a flirtatious tone. "Mr. Walker, you can hold your liquor. I can't compete with you. How about I sing a song for you?"
Amy, seeing that Ashley indeed didn't seem like a drinker, chimed in, "Mr. Walker likes jazz. Ash, sing a song."
Ashley swiftly rose, sidestepping Robert's attempt to hug her. She made her way to the karaoke machine and selected a familiar song.
As the music started, Ashley sat on a high stool, the dim lights flickering, her features obscured in the shadows.
As she began to sing, the room suddenly fell silent.
Amy, holding a glass, along with several men, looked toward her. The woman who had been hiding like a frightened deer in the corner suddenly seemed indescribably beautiful.
Where did this stunning beauty come from? She had intended to casually take care of a newcomer but accidentally brought in a troublesome competitor.
Luckily, Alexander Smith, that lecher, wasn't here. Otherwise, wouldn't he be captivated by this woman?
Ashley sang, but her eyes and mind were busy. The big boss that Patrick had mentioned was nowhere to be seen yet. Robert was just a minor player. Was it worth risking everything for someone insignificant like him?
She thought, 'Where was Patrick? Had he found the person? What should I do if they made me drink again?'
Robert was holding a young woman, kissing and touching her.
Ashley secretly raised her wrist, aiming the pinhole camera on her watch at Robert.
The indecent scene was silently recorded on the chip.
With a thousand thoughts swirling in her mind, she didn't notice someone else entering the room.
As the door swung open, Damian's ears caught the soft, sweet singing. His intense gaze locked onto the woman lost in her song, his blood simmering.
"Who are you?" The man sitting on Robert's other side cursed.
Damian stepped into the room, closed the door behind him, and walked silently to Ashley.
Ashley felt a shadow fall over her, a dark presence invading her space, forcing her to stop singing. Against the light, she couldn't see the man's face but could clearly smell his cologne.
The microphone in her hand fell to the floor.
