Chapter 26 Bold Confession
Damian had just received a call. Without a word, he stood up and moved aside to take it.
Trinity ignored Sean, and Ashley didn't bother with introductions either. Instead, she diverted the conversation by asking, "And what dish is this?"
"It's another specialty here, called 'Emerald Beauty'. Can you guess the ingredients?"
Ashley inspected the dish closely, but still couldn’t figure it out.
"Don't put me on the spot, Sean. Gourmet cuisine isn't exactly my forte."
Sean let out a hearty laugh, "It's bamboo shoots. Fresh from the mountains, chopped finely, and mixed with parsley and minced meat. The taste is addictive."
Ashley wasn't exactly a foodie, nor was she that into studying meals, but Sean's description made her curious to try. "I wouldn't have pegged you as a connoisseur of fine food, Sean."
Seeing her reserved eating habits, Sean chuckled, "Not to your liking? You eat like you're on a diet. No wonder you're so slim."
Ashley moaned to herself. Not because she didn't want to eat, but how could she while the man in the opposite seat was staring at her critically?
Dining with them, it was a wonder her appetite didn't vanish altogether!
Trinity's voice dripped with sarcasm, "Sean's so thoughtful. Such a caretaker."
The timing of her comment couldn't have been more perfect, coinciding with Damian's return from his call.
Damian sat back down, plunging the atmosphere back into a battle field. He didn't speak, becoming an embodiment of frosty silence.
Trinity served Damian some food with a smile, "You haven't eaten much; has someone been affecting your appetite?"
While she had plenty she wanted to say to Damian alone, the irksome Ashley refused to leave.
Damian glanced at the extra food on his plate but didn't touch it. He took out a cigarette pack, tapped it lightly on the table, and slid out a single cigarette.
Trinity watched him with a coy smile, "I remember you didn't smoke. When did you pick it up?"
Damian struck a match with practiced ease. The soft fizz of the flame igniting the cigarette filled the air. He took a drag, releasing a cloud of smoke as the thin matchstick burned brightly, almost reaching his fingers. Unruffled, he flicked the spent match into an ashtray, "Smoking, drinking, gambling; what don't I know how to do? Haven't you seen your dad and brother in the scene? Or haven't you been in it yourself, unaware of the kind of men that lurk there?"
Trinity's eyes followed his elegant fingers as he played with the matchbox, even his smoking sang of a carefree nobility. Well, if anyone could, it was Damian.
"I've always thought you were different from them. Those people thrive on cunning and manipulation, using any means necessary to achieve their goals. But you, you're all about genuine talent and charisma."
Listening to that, Ashley fought the urge to roll her eyes. The level of brown-nosing was honestly something to behold.
Sean played the part of the invisible man perfectly, opting out of the conversation. Smart move.
Damian chuckled sarcastically, "Why don't we ask Mr. Sean here, how many big shots do you think have clean hands when they're aiming high?"
Caught off-guard by the sudden focus, Ashley forced a hollow smile, "I'm just a bit player, I don't understand the world of the big leagues."
Trinity said with a laugh, “In desperate times, desperate measures might be understandable. They're not necessarily bad. Hiding away and shirking responsibility when trouble hits, that's what I'd call truly bad."
Damian glanced at her casually, "Your dad and brother, they've had their share of dirty deeds."
Trinity's grip tightened around her spoon, suddenly losing the taste for her rich beef soup, "I don't really get involved in the company's executive management, but I believe my dad and brother always have their reasons..."
Damian went back to leisurely picking up his silver forks, taking up his food, chewing slowly. "I'm just speaking my mind; what's got you so wound up?"
A chill ran down Trinity's back, and the pleasant dinner took a strange turn.
"It makes sense that your grandfather cautioned me not to be anxious when we dine together; he presumably assumed you enjoyed combining business and pleasure.. He asked me to remind you; if I don't, he'll have words with me.”
Mentioning Anthony Hearst was a subtle reminder to Damian about the real purpose behind their meal.
A nonchalant "Oh" escaped Damian's lips as he rested his elbow on the table, his cigarette's ash naturally falling into the ashtray, "Ah yeah, that was Grandpa who called earlier."
Trinity breathed a sigh of relief, not even minding Ashley's presence, and spoke softly, "We're not kids anymore. Marriage is a big decision, and to be honest, I like you. You might think I'm too forward, too unabashed, but that's just who I am. When I like someone, there's no point in hiding it."
Ashley continued to eat her food, feigning deafness.
Such a bold confession from Trinity was unexpected.
She seemed like someone who could really put herself out there.
But...
Ashley gulped down her soup, preventing her mind from wandering further.
Trinity spoke with an underlying intent, "We can give each other some time to get to know one another better. I can't promise I'll be the perfect wife, but at least, I won't be someone who uses you and then betrays you."
Damian was unfazed by her long speech, but it was the last line that caught his attention, "Trinity?"
Ashley picked up on it; Trinity was giving a not-so-subtle reminder of her broken marriage with Damian, and how it had reached the end of the line.
Trinity glanced down just in time, "I just meant we could give it a shot."
Ashley bowed her head slowly, almost diving into her bowl of food.
"You okay?" Sean asked.
Ashley set her utensils down, feeling full without another bite, "I need to use the restroom."
"Long time, no see, Ashley!"
Trinity catching up was unexpected. Ashley furrowed her brow, "What's up?"
Trinity looped an arm around her, "You're moving on quite fast. That guy you were dining with, is he your new date?"
Ashley's face was a mask of seriousness, "So what if he is?"
"You've been divorced from Damian for a while; it's about time you found someone new. But really, Ashley, scraping the bottom of the barrel with a married man? Didn't notice the wedding ring on his finger, or are you just eager to play the other woman?"
Ashley retorted, "Talking about chutzpah, professing your love to someone who won't even give you a straight answer. That's bold."
Trinity touched up her makeup in the mirror, "Dates are less about the meal, more about the mood. Sure, Damian throws his weight around, but don't women love a powerful man?"
Ashley washed her hands under the automatic faucet, watching the water swirl away, "You that into him?"
Trinity scoffed, "Jealous?"
Ashley pulled a paper towel to dry her hands, "If you really like him, I could give you some advice, as someone who’s been there."
Lips tinted, Trinity sneered, "Advice from you? All you have are lessons in failure, not success. Oh, maybe you did excel at one thing; getting money from Daddy's ties to the Hearst family. Heard he snagged a pretty penny, huh? Isn’t it a little dangerous, playing them for fools?”
Ashley wasn't fazed by Trinity's venom, "After all, three years of pillow talk isn't for nothing. How else would I have the skills to get him to open his wallet?"
Trinity was momentarily stunned by her candor, "What are you implying?"
"I know his quirks and temper like the back of my hand; I almost always get it right. Who knows? You might need to get money from him too someday. Don't you want to know the secret?"
Through gritted teeth, Trinity said, "Ashley, have you no shame? After all Damian's done for you, you speak of him as if he's an ATM! I like him for who he is, unlike you, who's so... disgraceful!”
Ashley flicked the used paper towel into the trash bin, a playful smile curling on her lips. "Don't kid yourself into thinking you're above it all. If you say it's about the guy, sure I believe you. He's easy on the eyes, after all. But isn't it mainly about The Hearst family fortune? We're both women here, no need for pretenses. Besides, every single trick you've played, weren't they my cast-offs?"
