Chapter 347 Go, Clean Yourself Up
Ashley and Sean finished playing ball and, encouraged by Hannah, decided to take a shower and go out for a drink.
Sean said, "Burning off calories just to eat them back? Does that fit with you beauty-conscious women's lifestyle?"
Hannah wiped the sweat off her face, thinking to herself that to set up Ashley and Sean, she'd be willing to gain weight or even grow horns on her head. "Isn't exercising so that we can eat better? If we work out so hard and can't enjoy a good meal, what's the point of life?"
Sean wiped the sweat off his face, his skin exuding healthy hormones, and his casual smile radiated charm. "Makes sense. So, see you in half an hour? Is that enough time? Or should we make it an hour?"
Ashley didn't even have a chance to speak before hearing Hannah cheerfully nodding, "Half an hour is enough! A quick shower and blow-dry, no need for makeup or picking out clothes; I'll be ready in no time!"
Ashley thought to herself, no wonder she's a lively young girl fresh out of college, perfectly timing her idol-chasing activities. To not delay Hannah's star-chasing, she cooperated, "Mr. Ross, after your shower, could you wait for us a bit? We'll be out as soon as possible."
Sean nodded, "No rush."
Ashley packed up her tennis racket when her phone rang.
Seeing it was Damian, she cautiously glanced around, covering half the screen to prevent Hannah from seeing, and walked a few steps forward before answering, "Mr. Hearst?"
She could guess why Damian was calling.
Who else but Hayden would tip him off?
But after a few words, Ashley was puzzled. Damian actually wanted her to go to Shadowcrest Castle at this hour. "Why go there?"
Damian only said one name, "Dorian."
That name alone was enough to dispel all her rising emotions and questions.
She hadn't had the chance to ask him in person, but it seemed tonight she would get an answer.
Putting down her phone, Ashley apologized, "Mr. Ross, I have an urgent matter to attend to, so I can't join you tonight. Let's reschedule, and I'll treat you to dinner next time."
Sean noticed her face, flushed from exercise, suddenly turned pale and asked with concern, "What's wrong? Can you handle it alone this late? Do you need me to go with you?"
Hannah also looked uneasy, "I'll go with you, Ashley? I was the one who hit the person..." She didn't dare say more, not wanting Sean to hear about her hitting Trinity.
Sean was confused, "Hit someone?"
Ashley cut off the topic, patting her head, "It's got nothing to do with you. It's my matter. You guys go eat, and we'll reschedule the tennis game. I'm really sorry, Mr. Ross."
Sean didn't ask further and escorted her to the door, watching her get into her car.
Hannah pouted in disappointment. This matchmaking attempt was off to a bad start, but it didn't matter. As long as she was around, there would definitely be more opportunities!
Yes! That was right!
Thinking this, Hannah regained her energy, smiling with squinted eyes, "Mr. Ross, wait for me. I'll be out in twenty minutes after a shower, and we can go eat!"
Sean couldn't refuse and also wanted to use this opportunity to get closer to Ashley's closest friend, so he smiled, "Sure."
Hannah's plan was simple: use dinner time to praise Ashley like crazy, which would make Sean interested in her!
Ashley, her mind spinning with thoughts of Dorian, drove at top speed, nearly speeding several times, and finally arrived at Shadowcrest Castle in thirty minutes.
Once there, she looked back at the winding mountain road she had just navigated and felt a shiver of fear.
Shadowcrest Castle was a five-star resort hotel under KM, and Ashley had been there twice. She was familiar with the surroundings, but the castle's decor changed every year, and the gardens and entertainment facilities had been updated several times, making the details vastly different from three years ago.
Standing outside, she looked up at the castle adorned with landscape lights, like a jewel embedded in the mountain, luxurious and dazzling. From afar, people might imagine it housed princes and princesses, but up close, it was clear it was just burning money.
Ashley called Damian at the entrance, "Mr. Hearst, I'm here."
"Come up." Damian's invitation meant he was in his private suite, located in the golden corner of the castle's sixth floor. The suite offered a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains and half of Rochester City.
Calming her emotions, Ashley nodded to the lobby manager and smoothly entered the VIP elevator.
The lobby manager, having received prior instructions, watched the elevator ascend and clutched his chest in shock, "Did I see that right? Ashley? Didn't she break up with Damian long ago? Why hasn't she appeared in three years?"
Could it be that Damian was nostalgic and had taken back a woman he had discarded?
He wouldn't know that the woman he had just sent up was Damian's ex-wife.
The panoramic windows in the opulent Rochester City resort hotel stretched from floor to ceiling, framing the inky silhouettes of the mountain peaks. Beyond them, the city sprawled beneath a tapestry of glittering lights, resembling a distant constellation. In the distance, the faint roar of waterfalls echoed through the night, like whispers of a forgotten dream. For a moment, the world outside felt like something out of a fantastical tale.
However, the illusion lasted less than a minute. Seeing the white oak door of Damian's suite, Ashley was back to reality.
She raised her hand, hesitated, clenched her fist, and struggled for a while before pressing the doorbell.
"Come in," Damian said.
The door wasn't locked; it was just ajar. Ashley gently pushed it open and smelled the faint scent of tobacco inside.
In the faint white mist was Damian's tall back, facing a 270-degree floor-to-ceiling window. No need to worry about privacy or secrets being exposed; standing here felt like being a king overlooking the world.
At least, that was how Ashley felt about Damian's presence. "Mr. Hearst."
Damian held a cigarette with his long fingers, his injured arm in his pocket, exuding an aura of cold detachment. "Clean yourself up."
Ashley's back tensed.
What did he mean?
To get information about Dorian, did she had to clean up and sleep with him?
Ashley clenched her fingers, gripping her car keys tightly in her palm. "Mr. Hearst, I said I wouldn't..."
Damian interrupted, "You plan to talk to me all sweaty?"
"Of course... not." Ashley broke into a cold sweat. So that was what he meant?
Damian said, "Clothes are in the bathroom."
Ashley put down her car keys and bag, "Give me a moment."
Hearing the woman enter the bathroom and the door click shut, Damian's furrowed brows relaxed a bit.
In the twenty minutes of waiting for Ashley, he deeply felt what it meant to be anxious and how time could drag. Seeing her car approach from the darkness brought him immense joy.
This uncontrollable feeling of joy and sorrow was maddening yet addictive.
Damian extinguished his cigarette, looked at the closed bathroom door, and his sexy thin lips slowly curled into a smile.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
