Chapter 45 Stop That Dirty Look
<Chapter>Chapter 45 Stop That Dirty Look </Chapter>
Not him again!!
Where did Thomas take the call?
Chills ran down Ashley's spine as she suddenly heard Damian speak, "Personal injury includes, but is not limited to, physical harm; emotional distress counts too."
"And you think someone throwing paint on me wouldn't cause distress?" questioned Damian.
Internally, Ashley mused that while others might be shaken, you certainly wouldn't bat an eye. His heart must be made of stainless steel, “I understand, Damian. You're seeking compensation for property damage and emotional distress."
"What about the ten minutes he took from me? How should the lost time be compensated?"
Ashley was speechless.
Damian continued, nonchalantly, "I generate millions for the corporation every minute."
Ashley fought the urge to shatter Harold's floor-to-ceiling window with a kick; Still, she needed to keep it professional, pretend his words held a semblance of truth, “Alright, Damian, I'll make sure to include that in the complaint. Anything else?"
"Do you always handle cases over the phone?" Damian inquired.
Cases over the phone?
Ashley quickly countered, "Damian, let’s keep things separate. Even if the perpetrator is the same, the previous lawsuit is settled, and this time I..."
Her attempt to reject was cut off by Damian, "KM hasn't received his compensation yet, Ashley. Are you eager to wash your hands of this matter because money's too easy to come by?"
"What are you implying, Damian?" replied Ashley.
"You have an hour; we'll talk face-to-face."
Ashley glanced at the time on her phone, 8:30 a.m. If it wasn’t too far, she could make it, “Where?"
"Do you think I've got the leisure to invite you for a coffee date during work hours?" Damian retorted.
Ashley looked up at the rising sun, seething with frustration. Why didn’t he just indicate to meet at the office?
"Fine! I'll be at KM tower in an hour. Is there anything else, Mr. Damian?" The line went dead before she could even finish.
Clutching her phone with its silicone case, Ashley felt a pulsing throb at her temples.
Why did it feel like she couldn't catch a break? She thought she'd finally be able to put the past behind her, but now this sudden lawsuit was going to be the end of the plaintiff, probably, if he doesn't know what was good for him. Given Damian's penny-pinching ways, a prison cell might be waiting for that guy.
With a heavy heart, Ashley returned to the breakfast table and mechanically ate a few bites, “Ugh."
Amelia, on the other hand, was thoroughly enjoying her meal, her mouth full of food as she asked, "What's up? Who's giving you a headache first thing in the morning?"
Losing all taste for her food, Ashley took a sip of juice, “The boss."
Amelia choked on her bite, coughing out, "Not freaking again..." Remembering that the oblivious Harold was present and not wanting to reveal Ashley's ties to Damian, she quickly changed the subject, “The lawsuit over at KM?"
Harold had also received news that the plaintiff had caused trouble for Damian at the KM Group headquarters and was caught red-handed by security, enough to build a case easily.
When it rains, it pours.
"Ashley, this case has nothing to do with patents. You don't have to take it. If KM demands accountability, I can assign another lawyer," he offered.
Ashley gave a faint smile, her pale face looking drawn, “I can't just walk away. They haven't received their settlement yet, and if I step down from this case now, we'd be liable for breach of contract."
"Maybe I can talk to them?" Harold suggested, “Even if we have to take the case, we can switch lawyers. I'll just say you're not the best fit for this type of lawsuit, we have more qualified people."
Ashley envied his naivety, not realizing Damian was targeting her personally, “No need, I'm well-acquainted with the case. I'll handle it."
Amelia was nervous, “You still have to negotiate with them?"
Not wanting to worry her further, Ashley didn't tell her the whole truth, “KM has their representatives. I'll coordinate with them."
Amelia was adamant, “KM can't just push us around. We don't put up with mistreatment. If it comes to that, we walk away, got it?"
"Got it!"
With no time to spare for changing clothes or makeup at home, Ashley hastily finished her breakfast. A splash of water and a dab of lipstick, she was out the door, fresh-faced and determined.
Amelia groaned, "No makeup, and yet the difference is staggering. Just look at the dry lines around my eyes, the spots on my face. So annoying!"
Ashley grabbed her purse and playfully tapped Amelia on the head, "My beauty's a birthright, sweetheart, nothing we can do about it."
After joking around and saying goodbye to her close friend, Ashley hailed a cab to the KM headquarters, her mood as somber as if she were visiting a graveyard.
The reception at KM was strict with visitors. When Ashley arrived, the receptionist asked for her name and appointment time. Only after confirming with the CEO's secretary was she allowed in.
"Ashley, right this way, please."
The CEO's office was a hubbub of activity, calls being made, documents printed, work discussions; it was like a scene straight out of a Wall Street movie, separated only by a glass partition.
Ashley approached the receptionist, "Is Mr. Hearst available?"
After verifying Ashley's identity, the receptionist understood and said, "You must be Ashley, right? Please wait a moment, Mr. Hearst is still in a meeting."
Ashley had timed it right, 58 minutes. He told her to come within the hour, yet he went off to a meeting. Typical.
Instead of being ushered into the CEO's office, probably for security reasons, she was temporarily seated in a waiting area.
After sipping half a cup of coffee and fifteen minutes passing, Damian was still nowhere to be seen.
Ashley flipped through the magazines at the table, finance, technology, and interviews, all featuring the omnipresent KM. Damian's name was a repeated highlight, portrayed in articles with no pictures but descriptions like "young elite" and "celebrity-look alike," adding to the mystery and intrigue.
Half an hour later, Damian arrived, escorted by Thomas and a squad of executives.
Damian was in the lead, his business suit sharp, black, and perfectly tailored, emphasizing his broad shoulders and narrow waist, he could have been on a runway.
Surrounded by middle-aged men, his presence was even more pronounced, a cut above the rest.
Damian seemed to not notice Ashley, continuing to debrief something with someone beside him, his expression serious, not a hint of a smile, as the group respectfully nodded along.
His efficiency came across as slightly aloof.
Thomas noticed Ashley and whispered to Damian, "Boss, Ashley is here."
Damian glanced at her from the corner of his eye and then resumed his chat with the middle-aged man to his right.
Ashley steeled herself mentally, reminding herself not to get angry or take it personally. She was here to do a job, after all.
Five minutes later, Damian finally dismissed his entourage and turned to enter his office.
The secretary gestured, "Ashley, you may go in now."
As Ashley got up, a cramp seized her calf, the pain nearly making her stumble.
Damian sat in his designated spot, a freshly brewed coffee delivered by his secretary steaming by his side, but the heat did little to thaw the frost on his face, “Are you upset?”
Across from him, Ashley sat with her bag on her lap, her posture erect, “Damian, you’re busy, I get it. Time is precious.”
Yesterday she had defiantly set boundaries with him, and today she was back in his office, dutifully taking orders.
Damian leisurely sipped his coffee for a moment before speaking, “If you’re not upset, then stop looking at me with that dirty look.”
