Chapter 299 Unexpected Encounter
Ashley suddenly had this wild urge to mimic Damian and sock him in the leg again, just to keep him stuck in bed for a whole year.
Her lips barely moved, but her eyes were like melting snow, icy and dripping onto Hendrix. "What's your deal? Is this never-ending? Using your power as my boss to push me around, does that make you feel good?"
She thought she'd made it crystal clear how she felt about Hendrix. He was smart enough to get it. So why did he keep pulling these cheap tricks?
Hendrix had never seen Ashley look at him so coldly before. He whined, "Ashley, are you confused? I had Harold transfer you here for work. What's going on in your head?"
Ashley was sure Hendrix had some hidden agenda, so she didn't even bother with the actual work. She was here to set things straight. "From your tone, are you saying I'm being unreasonable?"
Hendrix wanted to say, "Absolutely," but he knew his whole act was to hide his real intentions. So he opened a folder and slid the papers he'd already checked on the computer over to her. "Ever heard of Quantum Innovations Tech?"
Ashley's interest was piqued by the name. She quickly opened the file and saw it was a lawsuit against Quantum Innovations Tech. Turns out, their home improvement products had carcinogens. Infinity Enterprises Group had bought ten thousand units for their new building, and three months later, four employees got leukemia. The harmful substances were thirty percent over the limit, with formaldehyde being the worst.
Ashley remembered Quantum Innovations Tech because KM Group had bought it out a few years ago. Even though Nicholas Clark was still the legal rep, KM was in charge.
But Quantum Innovations Tech was just one of the many small companies under KM Group, not really a big deal. The higher-ups probably wouldn't get involved, and Nicholas would take the fall.
After reading the info, Ashley shifted her focus from personal feelings. "Why is a case like this on your plate?"
Hendrix replied like it was no big deal, "Because I'm good at it."
Ashley smirked, "You seem to be good at a lot of things. I thought you specialized in financial cases."
"That's where you're wrong. I take cases that pay well. If the money's good, I'll even handle custody disputes. Don't be shocked if you see me arguing with someone while holding a kid one day," Hendrix said.
Ashley looked around at the fancy stuff in the room. "I can see you're all about the money. Even if you said all this was really yours, I wouldn't be surprised. So, what do you need my help with?"
Hendrix adjusted the smart bed to get more comfy. "I thought you'd say you wouldn't take a case involving KM."
Ashley said, "That's true."
Hendrix peeled an orange slice and chewed it slowly. "But in the end, logic wins over feelings. A career is more important than anything else. If you don't take it, you'll look like a coward."
Ashley gave him a look that said, "Give me a break."
Hendrix wiped the juice off his fingers and got serious about the case. "You might not know much about Infinity Enterprises Group, but I can tell you that most of its shares are state-owned, about sixty percent. This means it's a public-private partnership, which sets us up for a win."
Ashley glanced at him sideways, finally catching on. "The private part, could it be controlled by the Long family?"
Hendrix smiled.
A woman this smart was hard to fool. "That's right. Twenty percent of Infinity Enterprises Group's shares are in my aunt's hands. She's the second-largest shareholder. So, when something happens to Infinity Enterprises Group, I have to help, and I must seek justice for them," Hendrix said.
Ashley stayed quiet.
Getting involved in the lawsuit meant teaming up with Hendrix against Damian, which would totally piss Damian off.
Hendrix asked, "You scared of facing Damian?"
Ashley, eager to prove something, let out a cold laugh. "I'm just afraid he'll break your leg again."
"Are you worried about me?" Hendrix said, his eyes lighting up like all the chandeliers in the house had just turned on. For a moment, Ashley almost couldn't bear to snuff out that light.
Maybe Hendrix's charm wasn't just his money; he had a certain allure himself.
"Worried about you? If I had that much free time, I'd rather worry about myself. Compared to you, I seem to be in more danger," Ashley said.
"So what? I'll protect you." He said it with such certainty that, despite his bum leg, it sounded convincing and reassuring.
Ashley replied, "Thanks, but I suggest you protect your leg first."
Hendrix smiled, "After all this talk, you still care about me."
Ashley wanted to explain that if anyone else was injured and bedridden, she'd feel soft-hearted, not just him.
But Hendrix didn't give her a chance to speak. "My parents will be back soon. Do you want to say hello?"
"What?" Ashley said, suddenly nervous. She jumped up, grabbed her bag, and said, "I have something to do; I have to go."
"Hey, Ashley!" Hendrix called out.
But Ashley didn't care, fleeing in a panic, terrified of running into his parents.
After dealing with Damian's family elders, Ashley now had a huge aversion to dealing with elders. She'd avoid them at all costs.
She ran out of the villa, ignored her phone, and didn't look back.
Upstairs, Hendrix was frustrated. He had asked Ashley to come to protect her, but she got scared off right at the start.
How was he supposed to protect her now?
Ashley turned the car key, started the car, and drove forward. Unfortunately, as soon as her car left the gate, she saw a black sedan coming from the opposite direction. It was clear that inside were Hendrix's parents.
Actually, passing by on the same road wouldn't be a big deal, but she was too freaked out. She instinctively turned the steering wheel and drove into the depths of the forest.
When Ashley reached a safe road, she was dismayed to find that this unnamed path wasn't on the GPS. All she could see were dense woods, with no road signs in sight.
And she had been so busy with court cases these past few days that she forgot to refuel her car.
Cherishing the last bit of gas, Ashley searched for the nearest gas station.
Before she could find a route, her phone shut down automatically without any warning.
Ashley looked at the fuel gauge and the black screen of her phone, then at the slowly setting sun over the mountain. Frustrated, she banged her head on the steering wheel several times.
Could she be any more unlucky? With the car unable to move, she had to walk to find help.
Fortunately, the mountain forest was peaceful, with a gentle breeze, offering a sense of tranquility far from the noisy world. Walking on the winding path, stepping on fallen pine cones and yellow leaves, she felt a bit of the joy of stealing a moment of leisure.
After walking for about half an hour, Ashley, enduring the pain in her feet, sat on a stone by the roadside to rest. She looked up and saw a large white building ahead.
Ashley couldn't help but admire it, "Gorgeous!"
Compared to Hendrix's luxurious style, she preferred the wild yet artistic feel of a castle.
However, upon closer inspection, Ashley was shocked to the core.
Wasn't this Damian's villa that she had visited a few years ago?
It turned out that this villa was so large that it occupied most of the mountain, like a dormant lion exuding arrogance without doing anything.
"Ashley? What are you doing here?" She hadn't fully recovered from the shock when a puzzled voice came from behind, followed by a tall figure casting a shadow over her.
Yes, she could be even more unlucky.
Reluctantly, she looked up and pretended to be calm. "Can't I be here?"
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