Chapter 249 A Magnificent Sight
Damian bailed on the meeting halfway through to take a call, leaving a bunch of suits hanging inside.
He wasn't in any rush to get back; he just stood by the window, checking out the city skyline.
Was it smart to drag Ashley into this mess?
Could she handle all the drama and backstabbing that was bound to come?
He knew he was being selfish. After figuring out his feelings for her, he just wanted to keep Ashley close, share every high and low, making sure every move she made was tied to him.
When it came to being possessive, Damian never denied it. Whoever he set his sights on had to be all his.
Since he made this move, he was gonna see it through. Whatever came next, he'd deal with it.
Thomas, tired of waiting for Damian, finally went to find him. Seeing Damian's tall figure, he knew right away the call was from Ashley. "Mr. Hearst."
Damian said, "She'll be at tomorrow night's party."
Thomas's heart skipped a beat, but he didn't dare question Damian. "The vice president and Nathan will probably be there. And won't Ashley's presence stir up trouble?"
Could she handle being called broke or a loser?
Damian replied, "Then let's see who dares to insult her. I'll remember every single one."
Thomas got the message. Even someone as sharp as Mr. Hearst could lose it when it came to love. But this side of him, so headstrong, was kinda touching. "Got it, Mr. Hearst."
Besides, Damian had another thought.
What would that fried fish he missed out on years ago taste like?
In the afternoon, Ashley hit up Paula.
"Ashley, I got a call from my dad. He's out of jail. Thanks." Paula's voice was full of joy, a big change from her usual cold tone.
Ashley thought about it. Paula was pretty adaptable; her flexible thinking could be a double-edged sword. It could work for her or against her, depending on how it was handled.
"Have you ever been to the Blue Star Club?"
Paula said, frustrated, "Blue Star's members-only. They check everyone who comes in. I haven't figured out a way in yet."
Ashley said, "There's a party at the Sunset Haven Hotel tomorrow night. Christian will definitely be there. I'll get you an invite."
Paula's eyes lit up like a starry night.
In the past three years, she'd gone from being a high-society darling to a waitress at a small joint, dropping several social rungs. Going to a fancy business party seemed like a dream.
"But I don't have a decent dress."
Ashley said, "I'll get one for you. Take good care of it and return it afterward."
A dress for an event like this couldn't be cheap. One would cost tens of thousands of dollars. Ashley didn't have that kind of cash, so she'd have to rent one.
Paula said jealously, "You don't have one? Can't you just give me one of your old ones?"
Ashley even wanted it back afterward? How could she be so broke yet still aim for dealing with Christian? Where did she get the nerve?
Ashley ignored her sarcasm. "A dress can only be worn once. If you wear one of mine, you'll be laughed at."
Paula felt both bitter and upset. She used to wear high-end, limited-edition dresses to parties.
Ashley needed two dresses, which would cost at least tens of thousands of dollars. Where could she get them?
After thinking it over, she called the designer, Timothy.
Timothy sighed, "Honey, I'd love to help you. It's just bad timing. All the dresses in your size are out. There's a commercial event tomorrow, and the day after, there's a film festival in Seacity. All the high-end dresses are booked."
Ashley asked, "Not even one?"
Timothy paused for a sec, then laughed, "Oh wait, there's one left. It got ditched 'cause the waist was too small. It's your size."
Getting one dress was already a big ask. Ashley couldn't push her luck. "Alright, I'll owe you big time for this."
Paying back favors was tough, but she had to do it.
For the second dress, she had to hit up Amelia. Luckily, Amelia and Paula were about the same size.
Amelia was chill about it. "You know the code to my place. Grab whatever you need from the closet."
Ashley blew a kiss over the phone. "Love ya, babe!"
To avoid any screw-ups, Ashley drove to Amelia's place that night to pick out a dress.
After setting aside a few of Amelia's faves, she found a killer off-shoulder ball gown that screamed Paula's style.
She also grabbed some subtle but classy accessories. The whole look was gonna be fire.
Paula took the dress bag, smiling but feeling all kinds of conflicted inside. "Thanks. I'll take good care of it."
Ashley could read her like a book. "Look, I might not be rolling in dough like before. If you think there's no future with me and wanna find better support, that's cool."
Only by being on the same level could they talk about working together. Otherwise, it was just wishful thinking.
Paula played dumb. "What are you talking about, Ashley? We're family. We gotta stick together."
On the rooftop terrace of the Sunset Haven Hotel, neon lights sparkled like a million diamonds.
A champagne tower stood tall, smelling rich and fancy, like a royal crown under the French crystal lights.
The grand hall, huge and packed with elites from all fields, was buzzing. Many faces had graced financial magazine covers or were TV interview darlings.
In such a glitzy setting, compliments were thrown around, while backstabbing was done in the shadows. The whole show was just a front.
Christian, hands in his pockets, scanned the crowd, feeling bored out of his mind.
Any event without Damian was a snooze fest.
He knew Damian never showed up at public events.
Since their last nasty run-in, they hadn't crossed paths. He wondered if that guy had cooled off yet.
"Mr. Young." Trinity poured a glass of wine, the red liquid swirling and fragrant.
Christian raised an eyebrow, checking out her curvy figure. She looked pretty hot tonight. "Well, you clean up nice."
Trinity tilted her head, lifting her skirt and bowing gracefully. "Wanna dance?"
Christian hadn't brought a date tonight. The usual women were too dull. Trinity wasn't the best pick, but she was better than nothing. "Sure, Miss Bezos."
Trinity smiled. "Looks like we're a good match for long-term teamwork."
Christian leaned against the bar, casual. "Oh? Why's that?"
Trinity said, "You might not like me, and honestly, I don't like you much either. But we both hate the same person. Isn't that enough?"
Christian had always looked down on the Bezos family, and that hadn't changed.
But it was clear Damian was head over heels for Ashley. Even if he knew the whole truth, he wouldn't drop her easily. A guy stuck in love was just pathetic.
The more it was like this, the more he wanted to expose Ashley's true colors and make her life hell in Silvervale City.
Trinity might be a bit of an airhead, but she could still be useful.
Christian clinked his glass with hers. "You look stunning tonight."
Trinity smiled, then heard a commotion in the hall. "She's here."
Christian moved his glass aside and looked into the crowd. "Who?"
Trinity smirked. "Our common enemy, of course."
