Chapter 28 Just A Hug
The collaboration was history. Expecting her to just hop at his becks? He Wish!
Ashley ignored the message, stuffing her phone into her bag.
Trinity might have status and looks, but her scheming nature, masked by layers of deception, made Ashley uncomfortable, and by extension, she despised the man who was probably going to marry Trinity.
Damian's brow furrowed momentarily.
Trinity replayed Ashley's words in her mind, unable to shake them, feeling an odd tension standing beside him. "Damian, where's your car?"
They'd had a few drinks that evening. She couldn't drive, hadn't informed her driver, and it was the gentleman's duty to ensure a lady got home safely.
Damian, devoid of any sense of obligation to offer a ride after a meal, said flatly, "I've got something else to deal with. Just take a cab."
A cab? Trinity's mouth dropped slightly. It wasn't like her to hail a cab. Her life always included chauffeured rides; when had she ever settled for a regular taxi?
But Trinity didn't show resistance, instead expressing concern, "What's up? Is it serious? Something at the office this late?"
"A personal matter," Damian replied, succinctly closing the topic. It wasn't the time for questions; any further probing would be intrusive and tactless.
Clutching her Chanel bag's chain strap, Trinity shot a glare at Ashley's retreating form, "Alright then, I'll take a cab home. You finish up and get some rest too. I'll call you when I get home."
Damian offered no encouragement or objection.
Trinity lingered, inching closer to him, "So, how about a hug?"
"Our family doesn't do that," Damian said, his hand still casually pocketed.
Biting her lip, Trinity pressed, "I won't do this with other men. But you're not just anyone to me. We are seeing each other with marriage in mind, so a hug isn't too much, is it?"
Sean's headlights cut through the dark, encircling Ashley in a pool of light. Her silky hair danced behind her, and the night's unique luminescence seemed to render even the most ordinary person attractive.
Damian's reply was curt, "Whether it works out between us is yet to be seen. You might not choose to be reserved, but don't use me as your practice run."
With that, he was out the door in a flash, leaving Trinity standing there, feeling utterly out of place.
She nearly fell apart when she saw Damian make a beeline for Ashley. Was he hurrying her away just to have a chat with Ashley? Trinity had caught a glimpse of Ashley on her phone, and Damian peeking at the screen; she must've said something to pique his interest.
The nerve of that woman, Trinity fumed. Clinging on to people even after the divorce; was she deluding herself into thinking Damian would soften up and bail out her family?
Yeah, that had to be it. After all, Ashley's parents were still abroad, and without Damian's help, they'd never have the chance to return home for their final years.
No way was Trinity going to let Ashley win this round. Every cent of the Hearst fortune belonged to her and Damian; Ashley was deluded if she thought she could get her hands on it again.
A sudden grip tightened on Ashley's arm. Startled, she turned to find a looming shadow and the distinctive scent of Tahitian men's cologne hitting her.
There stood Damian, a towering figure beneath the lamppost, his form casting a vast shadow that dimmed the light around him, matching the brooding expression on his face.
Ashley's first thought: had Trinity actually sought him out to get things straight? Was he here now, flush with humiliation and rage, seeking revenge?
Should she bail? But where to?
Pride overruled escape, and Ashley stiffened her spine. "Damian, what’s the matter?"
Sean's car pulled up, and he wasn't the least bit surprised to see the scene unfold before him. The dinner conversation had raised his suspicions that Ashley and this man knew each other. Now, it was evident that it was more than just a casual acquaintance.
Without sparing Sean a glance, Damian spoke with an air of indifference, "Yes, something is the matter."
Inside, Ashley was cursing up a storm. No 'hello'? No 'goodbye'? What kind of showdown was this?
"What is it? Is it urgent?" she asked, striving to maintain composure.
"Urgent," was Damian's crisp reply.
Sean hesitated for a moment, then offered a friendly smile. "Looks like you've got unfinished business, Ashley?"
Before Ashley could reply, Damian cut in with barely concealed impatience, "I don't have time to waste. Handle your situation in three seconds."
Ashley clenched her teeth in frustration. Oh, so his matters were of utmost importance, and everyone else's were trivial?
She hissed under her breath, "Why seek me out instead of basking in the moonlight with your fiancée? What do you want with an ex-wife?"
Damian's lips parted to respond, “Two...”
Damn it. He had actually started a freakin' countdown.
Feeling the pressure and not wanting Sean to dig too deep into her past with Damian, Ashley took a step back. "Sorry, Sean. My friend and I still have things to discuss. Next time on my treat, thanks for tonight."
Sean, ever the gentleman, didn't probe further. He replied agreeably, "Of course, we'll catch up another day."
Once the Infiniti slid away, the surroundings fell back into silence.
When the room was crowded, its tranquility wasn't noticeable, but now with just the two of them, the silence was so profound that one could hear their own breathing and heartbeat.
Ashley ripped her arm away from Damian's grasp. Without any hesitation or pressure, she confidently replied to his dark, unfathomable eyes, "What is the urgent matter, Damian?"
Damian was fed up with her dismissive attitude. Who did she think she was talking to?
"As my legal counsel, it seems you've forgotten your place, Ashley."
"Is it that there's no internet in your office, or are you out of service? The case is closed, Damian. Everything went according to your terms. As the contract states, our business relationship is terminated as of right now. We are no longer in any agreement," Ashley explained.
"What about the compensation? The public apology?" Damian inquired.
"All of that will be handled as ordered by the court. The public apology will be published tomorrow, and the compensation will be transferred to KM’s account within a week. Any more questions?" Ashley responded with surprising patience.
"So, for the next week, you're still representing me," Damian concluded.
Ashley was exasperated. "Damian, my job was to fight your legal battle, not to settle your debts. Others will handle the follow-up work. My role is done, got it?"
Damian disliked her know-it-all look even more. Where did she get the audacity to talk down to him?
"I don't understand," he said flatly.
Ashley let out a frustrated chuckle, crossed her arms, and stood her ground. "That's quick, moving from new love to old flame. Damian, I can’t help but wonder if you still have feelings for me. There's no hurt without comparison, right? Do you find me more fitting than Trinity when it comes to choosing a partner?"
Her smile was wild and challenging, the kind that screamed to be fiercely claimed.
Damian lifted his arm, his fingers teasing from her brow to her chin as he leaned in, closing the distance between them, stopping just before his nose brushed hers. "A mongrel wagging its tail for pity doesn't compare to a canary bred in the palace. Aren't you afraid the stench of your own filth will disgust others?"
