Chapter 270 Foolish Man, So Gullible
Ashley clutched Damian's car keys like they were some kind of top-secret intel.
Sure, the real reason was that he was in the shower and couldn't come down himself, but Ashley couldn't shake the feeling that Damian must really trust her.
With a mix of emotions, Ashley grabbed her clothes and headed to the hotel front desk, deciding to book another room while she was at it.
"Ashley." A low, annoyed, and suspicious voice cut through her thoughts, making her look up automatically.
It was him AGAIN.
Hendrix looked down at her, frowning in that annoyingly handsome way, "You staying here?"
Ashley shot back, "And you?"
Hendrix held up a room card, "Judging by your look, you don't want to be in the same hotel as me."
She played dumb, "Hendrix, you can stay wherever you want; I'd learn better than to mind that."
Hendrix snorted. "True, but fate must let us run into each other. Makes it easier for you to buy me a drink tonight."
Ashley rolled her eyes, pulled him aside, and whispered, "Hendrix, Mr. Hearst and I have a business relationship, not whatever you're thinking."
Hendrix crossed his arms, looking intrigued, "What kind of business relationship? He's been trying to buy that land from Sven forever. What can you do to help him? Don't tell me you're planning to seduce Sven."
He glanced at her outfit. They'd come straight from court to the restaurant without changing, and Ashley's figure was on full display.
Feeling his gaze, Ashley frowned, "I didn't know you could be so sharp-tongued and personal. My business with Mr. Hearst is private and none of your concern."
Hendrix knew if Ashley didn't want to spill, he wouldn't get anything out of her. The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he got, "Isn't it part of your job to report to your superior? Fine, let's see how I deal with you back at the firm!"
Ashley opened her mouth to defend herself, but Hendrix impatiently pressed the elevator button, "Standing here waiting for Sven to hand you the land? Let's go."
Ashley was annoyed; she thought only Damian was petty, but Hendrix was just as bad!
So, this was what men did.
Hendrix's room was on the top floor. He pressed the highest number and glanced at the silent Ashley, "Which floor?"
Ashley was about to pick a random middle floor, but Hendrix, thinking he was clever, smiled, "You're working with Damian. He didn't let you stay in a regular room, did he? Top floor, then?"
So, the elevator went straight up.
Hendrix sarcastically remarked, "Does the man who sends you flowers know you're traveling alone with another man?"
Ashley calmly responded, "We're on business. And we trust each other."
Hendrix rubbed his forehead, feeling a frustration he couldn't vent, "Foolish man, so gullible! Does he know you're with Damian?"
Ashley decided not to answer, "Hendrix, that's private."
The elevator door opened, and Ashley scurried out, "Goodbye."
"Hey!" Hendrix followed, "You're pretty bold outside the firm. I'm still your boss, remember?"
Ashley laughed, "Looks like we're competitors now."
Hendrix wanted to lecture her more, but Ashley swiped her card and entered her room.
Hendrix stared at his room card, torn between laughing and crying. His room was right next to Ashley's.
So, where was Damian's?
After Hendrix's interruption, Ashley didn't get to book a room. When she got back, she saw Damian. Unlike last time, he was out of the shower, lounging on the sofa in a light summer robe, scrolling through his phone.
Hearing the door open, Damian didn't even glance up, "Took you long enough to get the clothes. I thought you had quit out of dissatisfaction."
Ashley tossed the dry-cleaning bag onto the sofa, "Got some good news and bad news."
Damian finished reading an email and set his phone down, "You ran into Hendrix?"
Ashley glanced at the door, wondering if he had overheard anything.
"Looks like I'm right. So, is that the good news or the bad news?" Damian asked.
Sometimes, Ashley felt like Damian could see right through her, "Bad news, I guess. Now it'll be tough to pull off whatever you had planned. But the good news is, Hendrix has probably been eyeing that island for a while. Since he hasn't gotten Sven's approval yet, his chances aren't great this time, either."
Damian didn't like hearing Hendrix's name from Ashley's lips. Every time she said it, his brow furrowed, "He got no chance at all. Besides, do you think I'd let him mess up my plans?"
Ashley forced a smile, "Alright, maybe I'm overthinking."
Damian said, "Seems like you're on my side."
Ashley replied, "I said I'd help you, and I will."
"Just to repay a favor?" Damian asked.
"That's right," Ashley replied.
Damian frowned.
She helped him and worried for him, but only as a business partner, without any personal feelings.
Gloom crept over his face.
After a moment, Damian seemed to think of something, "Hendrix said you have a boyfriend?"
Ashley had almost forgotten about that. "I..."
"He believes such a lame lie?" Damian asked.
"Hey, why do you talk like that..." Ashley said.
Damian sneered, "You work together every day. Can't he tell if you're dating someone? With his blind eyes, he calls himself a lawyer. I think he's preparing a backup plan because he can't handle being a lawyer anymore. You should also make plans early and leave that dead-end small firm."
Ashley was very protective and couldn't stand hearing people around her belittled. "Hendrix is my supervisor and my teammate. Insulting him is insulting me. If Mr. Hearst looks down on me, then please find a capable official secretary to talk to Mr. Bergstrom. I don't want to mess up your big plans!"
Damian's eyebrows slanted sharply, and a faint but powerful anger was evident, "Are you throwing a tantrum at me?"
Ashley threw herself onto the couch in frustration, "I wouldn't dare!"
Damian suddenly smiled, "I think you dare a lot."
Ashley found his smile inexplicable and felt a chill down her spine. Damian rarely smiled, and although it was extremely attractive, it seemed more eerie. "Why are you smiling? Are you trying to scare me?"
Damian's expression turned serious. He hadn't realized he was smiling, nor did he expect Ashley to describe his smile that way.
At that moment, the doorbell suddenly rang.
Ashley glanced at him, "Did you order room service?"
"No," Damian said.
Ashley immediately thought of another possibility, "It must be Hendrix." She walked to the door and looked through the peephole, then quickly ran back, "It's Hendrix."
An impatient Hendrix pounded on the door with his fist. "Ashley, what are you doing? Open the door. It's urgent!"
