Chapter 362 Still Encountered
Ashley felt a wave of dizziness. Were this aunt and niece pair deliberately trying to embarrass her?
Steadying herself, she maintained a composed demeanor in front of everyone, "I don't know Mr. Long, no need to trouble him."
She intentionally used a formal address to draw a line and also to remind Hendrix to stop pushing it, so as not to make things difficult for everyone.
Hendrix, recalling that Damian was in her car during the phone call and seeing her evasiveness now, couldn't help but suspect that the so-called friend was Damian.
Hearing her response only confirmed his suspicion.
With a slight smile, he said, "Friends start as strangers. Since he's here, he's my guest. I should be a good host and not neglect your friend."
Ashley gritted her teeth, wanting to kick Hendrix under the table. This guy was doing it on purpose. "Mr. Long's kindness is appreciated, but my friend... has social anxiety and doesn't like socializing."
Hendrix's eye twitched.
She could even come up with social anxiety as an excuse. What exactly did Ashley think of Damian?
"I see... well, if he doesn't want to, we won't force it. I'll see you out."
With that, he smiled and said, "But I'll need Ms. Astor to push me."
Linda chimed in with a double entendre, "Don't be too much. It's one thing to boss people around at the office, but making Ashley serve you at home? People might think she's your secretary."
The head of legal affairs laughed, "Ms. Astor is so gentle and skilled, she must be Mr. Long's right-hand woman. The company can't do without her, so how could the home?"
"Exactly, Mr. Long is so enviable!"
With that, others took the opportunity to flatter, further blurring the lines between Ashley and Hendrix, making it seem like there was something between them.
Hendrix smiled slightly and explained, "Don't talk nonsense. Ms. Astor is an excellent employee of Sky Balance Law Firm, not my assistant."
Everyone nodded in agreement, but their smiles grew even more suggestive.
Ashley gritted her teeth even harder. I think you might as well not have explained.
Pushing Hendrix out of the crowd, Ashley couldn't hold back any longer, "Mr. Long, what exactly are you trying to do at this party?"
Hendrix didn't hide his intentions, his charming smile growing more vibrant, "Can't you see? I'm paving the way for you. Infinity Enterprises Group is expanding its legal team, and we're one of the candidates. Building a good relationship now will make things easier in the future."
Ashley scoffed, "Mr. Long's way of building relationships is to make them think we're dating, making it seem like I'm using your background to get promoted. Fine! Even if you're doing this for me, sacrificing my reputation to pave the way, what about your aunt? Can you explain why she looks at me the same way those people do?"
Hendrix wasn't afraid of being exposed; instead, he was even more open and proud, "My aunt likes you, Ashley. My aunt has a keen eye. Most women don't catch her attention. For instance, she met Lynn once and didn't even say two words, visibly impatient. But with you, her attitude is very different. Aren't you a bit happy?"
Ashley suppressed her anger. If it weren't for Damian broadening her perspective, she would have kicked the wheelchair over and sent him to the hospital. "In front of them, I won't embarrass you. You're my boss, and I respect workplace rules. But you'd better find a reason to explain, so they don't look at me differently in future meetings."
Hendrix didn't respond but instead nodded towards the front, "Where's Damian?"
Ashley sneered, "Since you know it's him, why make things difficult for me? If I really brought him over, it wouldn't just be me looking bad, but also you and your aunt."
Confirming from her mouth that it was indeed Damian, Hendrix was still furious. "To keep it a secret, you lie so smoothly, even coming up with social anxiety. I'd love to see if Damian, that poker face, would react to that."
Ashley checked the time; there were only five minutes left. She couldn't afford to delay. "If you want to pick a fight with him, you can go ahead. Do you need me to take you?"
Hendrix grabbed Ashley's wrist tightly, afraid she'd leave if she struggled. "Why are you still entangled with him? Don't you know this case is against KM? Meeting the defendant privately is a big no-no in our profession! How did you get your license? Stole it?"
Hendrix had forced Ashley into this case, trying every way to make her the defense lawyer, just to put her and Damian on opposite sides.
Even if they had to interact for work, it should be between the lawyers, not directly with the defendant.
But she had forgotten professional ethics and still met Damian privately.
Didn't she learn her lesson? Couldn't she stay away from the ex-husband who had kicked her out?
Hendrix was both angry and anxious!
Under his repeated questions, Ashley calmed down. She looked down at Hendrix's fiery eyes, "You know? How did you find out? Did you investigate me?"
Hendrix swallowed, turned his head away, and said expressionlessly, "I found out somehow. Don't worry about how."
"In that case, I don't need to hide it from you. Yes, he's not only the boss behind Quantum Innovations Tech but also my ex-husband. Professionally, we shouldn't meet before the trial, but we have many reasons to meet. But my matters shouldn't need to be explained to you."
Hendrix tightened his grip on her wrist, urgently saying, "What do you want from him? Whatever it is, I can give it to you too."
"What she wants, you can't give, nor do you have the right to."
A cold voice came from the end of the long, tree-lined path.
The warm white light from the vintage street lamps illuminated the low ferns, and the lush wisteria hung heavily from the wooden frames, its purple clusters like a waterfall.
But all this beauty was overshadowed by Damian's cold expression.
Ashley furrowed her brows and struggled to free her wrist, but Hendrix's grip was too tight.
Hendrix looked up at the backlit Damian, his chin raised, smiling mockingly, "Mr. Hearst, you came yourself. How unexpected!"
Damian's gaze fell on Ashley's wrist, his eyes burning, "Let her go."
Ashley worried that Damian might kick Hendrix again, leaving him wheelchair-bound for life, quickly interjected, "Mr. Hearst, we're done talking. Perfect timing, I'll go get the car."
She twisted her wrist with all her might, the skin chafing and burning.
Hendrix reached out but missed, leaving only a lingering warmth in his palm.
Damian wrapped an arm around Ashley's shoulder, pulling her into his embrace to prevent her from leaving. He lowered his head, his chin resting on her hair, "No rush, I have plenty of time."
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