Chapter 432 Meeting at the Bar, Four-Person Group
"A glass of Hennessy, please."
Throwing herself onto the bar's sofa, Ashley waved to the waiter.
"Beer, please."
Sean sat across from her, with complimentary snacks and fruits from the bar on the glass coffee table. He pushed the fruit plate forward a bit, "Eat something before drinking."
Ashley leaned against the sofa, her arm supporting her forehead at an angle. In the bar's dim and warm tones, her gaze seemed to be covered with a faint mist, making Sean's face a bit blurry.
She suddenly smiled and nudged her chin, "I want some nuts."
"Sure." Sean picked up a pistachio, peeled it, and was about to put it on a small plate, but Ashley reached out her hand, "No need to trouble yourself."
He peeled one, and she took one, tossing it into her mouth to chew slowly and swallow.
With the drink, it slid down her esophagus, brewing emotions thicker than the night in her stomach.
Not remembering how many she had, Ashley looked at the nut in her palm and forced a smile, "Besides my dad and my brother, you're the first man to peel nuts for me. Turns out, the taste is indeed a bit different."
Sean held his beer glass, drinking slowly, worried that if he drank too much, he wouldn't be able to take care of her, "What's different?"
Ashley wasn't good with alcohol; her head was already buzzing before finishing her drink, and she was particularly excited, "My ex-boyfriend was a macho man. I used to ask him to peel nuts for me, and he said I was being pretentious. But I heard that many women don't peel their own shrimp, so, in the end, it's about love."
Only love granted privileges and allowed indulgence.
Sean was momentarily dazed, accompanied by the song "Young and Beautiful." He felt that the lazy, Persian cat-like Ashley resembled Daisy from "The Great Gatsby," with every smile and frown as beautiful as blooming flowers. He wanted to look away but couldn't.
Sean forced himself out of his confusion, "Do you want to talk about past relationships tonight? If you do, I'm all ears, but one thing, no crying. I'm not good at comforting people."
Ashley held her wine glass and laughed, "You can't even comfort a woman. How are you going to find a new mom for Cleo? You're still so young, are you planning to stay single forever?"
Alcohol quickly turned into sorrow, and Ashley was already swaying in her seat.
Sean quickly took the cushion behind him and placed it beside her, but it was a three-seater sofa, only blocking one side. Helplessly, he could only hold Ashley's hand, letting her lean against the armrest.
Ashley, however, grabbed his suit sleeve, looking up at him through the mist in her eyes, "Mr. Ross, you must have been heartbroken when your ex-wife left. How did you get through these years? How did you heal?"
Sean's hand was still on her shoulder, very close, close enough to see her soft, reed-like eyelashes and eyes more clear and captivating than lake water. In that instant of eye contact, his heart raced, almost jumping out of his chest.
Knowing he was losing composure, he hastily let go of her, trying to step back.
But his sleeve was still tightly held in her hand, making it impossible to retreat.
Seeing his panicked actions, Ashley laughed. Her head was numbed by alcohol, leaving only a one-way street, with no extra energy to think more, "What are you afraid of? Afraid I'll take advantage of you? I'm not that inhumane."
Sean's Adam's apple rolled with difficulty. He leaned over, grabbed a cushion, and placed it in Ashley's arms, blocking her increasingly low neckline, "No, I'm afraid you'll fall. Sit to the side."
Ashley ignored his intention, persistently saying, "You haven't answered my question."
Sean's ears turned red, unable to withstand her faint fragrance and her charming eyes when she smiled. He could only clench his fists deliberately, forcing himself to calm down, "Some pains have no quick remedy, only time can heal. After she left, my family arranged many blind dates. At first, I wanted to give Cleo a complete family, to piece together a marriage. But such a union is unfair to everyone. I thought, living with memories isn't so bad. But time told me that no matter how unforgettable something was, it can gradually fade. Besides, she wouldn't want me to be immersed in pain."
"Time..." Ashley murmured, "It's pretty good."
Her thoughts drifted far away, and her hand lost its grip, pulling Sean to her side.
Accidentally touching Ashley, Sean wanted to get up as if electrocuted, but heard Ashley say, "Mr. Ross, why is your face red?"
Sean coughed lightly, picked up his beer glass, and finished the remaining beer. If he had known this would happen, he should have ordered a whiskey, "Is it? Maybe it's too hot in here."
Ashley saw him still wearing a full suit and giggled, "Take off your jacket. Who dresses like they're at a business meeting when drinking?"
Sean's throat tightened, forcing a nervous smile, "No need, I'm not used to it."
"You're so conflicted! What's the big deal? Aren't you afraid of sweating? It'll get hotter when more people come."
Saying that, Ashley tried to help him take off his jacket.
"You're drunk, Ms. Astor."
She was sure that if Ashley were sober, she would never do this. Knowing she was not in her right mind, he couldn't let it continue.
But Ashley was stubborn. She couldn't do anything to Damian, but the resentment in her heart couldn't be released, making her feel terrible.
"I'm not drunk, I'm very sober!" Her voice raised, with a hint of a coquettish tone.
"Ms. Astor?" Her hand was struggling with Sean's collar when a familiar voice came through the bar's music.
Ashley looked forward and instantly saw Jessica in a white suit. She had a pink Chanel bag on her shoulder, a knee-length skirt showing her slender legs, and light beige high heels, looking tall, slim, and elegant.
And beside her was the tall and handsome Damian.
He had one hand in his pocket, wearing a crisp suit jacket, a dark gray tie, and a white shirt collar accentuating his sharp jawline. His suit pants elongated his legs, like a David statue sculpted by Michelangelo in a suit.
Ashley smiled, "Jessica, Mr. Hearst, what a coincidence, you're here for a drink too?"
Seeing them together, they really matched, one in black, one in white, one cold as frost, the other warm as spring. Not only did they not clash, but they complemented each other perfectly.
Theo's excuse came too early, saying Damian was too drunk to answer the phone, probably something done alone in the bedroom with Jessica late at night.
A strong sense of bitterness clogged her throat, more pungent than alcohol.
And Damian's cold gaze fell on Ashley's hand, turning into a sharp knife, wanting to cut off the eyesore.
She wasn't lonely, finding someone else to drink with when she couldn't find him, and even getting handsy in public.
If they hadn't come in, what else would Ashley have done?
Jessica sensed Damian's anger, hooking her hand around his arm, whispering, "Mr. Hearst, are you okay?"
Damian didn't answer, but took a big step forward, sitting down directly, "Since we met, let's have a few drinks together."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
