Chapter 452 The Chosen Wife for Damian
Ashley accepted his proposal for one simple reason: as long as she stayed at KM Tower, she would have the opportunity to network, accumulate resources, and naturally intersect with Dante and the others.
But she hadn't considered that this arrangement would also allow her to observe Damian's work up close.
Somehow, she had become Damian's unofficial assistant, and this change in status was quite interesting.
For instance, now, Ashley personally made coffee and brought it over, glancing at his computer screen filled with dense red and green lines, which were today's Nasdaq index and the stock fluctuations of major corporations.
Emperial Avenue Group was plummeting, while KM was soaring.
"Interested in learning how to trade stocks?"
Damian didn't have eyes on the back of his head, but he accurately stated what Ashley was doing.
Ashley didn't avoid it and instead leaned in to ask, "Emperial Avenue Group won't go bankrupt, right? Such a big company shouldn't be so fragile."
Damian replied, "The future of Emperial Avenue Group has nothing to do with me."
Ashley pouted, "Drink the coffee while it's hot."
Damian glanced at the steaming coffee, the rich aroma spreading warmth. It was the same coffee he drank every day, but today it felt different. "Being my assistant isn't just about making coffee; there are other tasks too."
Ashley obediently asked, "Like what?"
Damian pointed to a large stack of documents on the table, "Start by familiarizing yourself with the business. Finish reading these before the end of the day."
Ashley was eager to learn, but who could withstand such intense cramming? The documents were about 20 inches thick. Just flipping through them would take most of the day. Gritting her teeth, she said, "Okay!"
Except for lunchtime, Ashley was like a student preparing for an exam, diligently reading the documents, taking notes on her computer for key points. Inevitably, she encountered some unfamiliar terms and had to ask Damian.
He was surprisingly patient and skilled at explaining things in a way that was easy to understand, even for a layperson.
Before she knew it, it was the end of the workday. Ashley's body was stiff, and when she looked up, Damian was still sitting there, focused and serious, reading documents, signing his name, leaving notes, or searching for files on his computer.
The setting sun cast a golden glow on the bookshelf behind him, outlining his profile in a soft orange light, like a deeply etched painting.
Noticing his gaze, Ashley quickly lowered her head, "I can't finish this. Can I work overtime?"
Ashley was a bit confused. Damian might have made her his assistant to humiliate her, but why was he letting her read KM's internal documents and business secrets? She wasn't going to work for KM forever and had no obligation to keep his secrets. Was he that trusting?
Or was he testing her?
Damian put down his pen, "Take them home to read."
Ashley, being a conscientious assistant, didn't ask questions or argue. She quickly packed up the documents, filling her bag. "I asked your secretary, and your schedule says you need to go home tonight."
She mentioned it now, thinking she might pretend to forget. As his assistant and driver, she would have to take him there. How would she face the Hearst family?
But in the end, she couldn't ignore her conscience. What if there was an emergency at his home?
Damian glanced at her, seeing through her thoughts with just one look, "Are you scared?"
Ashley thought, Am I not making it obvious enough? Do you need me to shake to show you?
"Scared? Of what? I've been to the Hearst Villa countless times."
Damian smirked, "If you're not scared, then come with me."
Ashley blurted out, "I'm not scared, but going home with you, what does that mean? Besides, your parents don't like me. I don't want to ruin your dinner."
Damian frowned, his cold gaze softening, "It's just a meal. It will be over soon."
So, he still wanted her to be the driver.
Ashley couldn't refuse anymore.
She had never been an assistant before, but she thought she was fulfilling her duties well, like buying a bouquet of flowers for her boss.
Damian looked at the bouquet in the back seat, "What's this for?"
Ashley focused on driving, not looking away, "I don't know how Thomas used to do it, but as an assistant, I can't let my boss go home empty-handed. So, I took the liberty of buying flowers. Doesn't your mom like eucalyptus roses?"
She still remembered his mother's favorite flowers.
The quiet car, with her presence and the faint floral scent from the back seat, suddenly made Damian feel at ease.
As they approached the villa, Ashley said, "I'll drop you off at the door and leave. Call me when you're done, and I'll pick you up."
Damian's throat tightened, feeling like a part of him had been hit by a hammer, "There's nowhere to eat nearby. Wait for me in the side hall."
The villa where Damian's parents lived was large, with the main hall and side hall like two separate courtyards. Hiding there, she wouldn't be discovered.
But Ashley still didn't want to go. She didn't want to step into this villa at all, "No need, I can wait in the car."
"Go where I tell you. Who's the boss and who's the assistant?"
Ashley was speechless.
Damian opened the car door, hesitated, then took the bouquet from the back seat, "You know the way to the side hall, right?"
Ashley bit her lip, glancing at the villa's layout. It hadn't changed much in three years.
The luxurious European-style villa, in a prime location, every brick and tile held painful memories for her.
"I know the way."
Damian said no more and strode towards the brightly lit main building.
"Damian's back!"
Ashley walked a few steps and still heard Nicole's joyful voice, "You bought me flowers? You remember what I like. They're beautiful, I love them!"
Soon after, Ashley vaguely heard Bryan's authoritative voice, "It's harder to get you to come home than to invite the president. Is this still your home?"
As for how Damian responded, she didn't pay attention.
The side hall was quiet and spacious, with pristine white sofas, a glass coffee table, tea, fruit, and a plate of snacks.
Next to it was a glass conservatory, and beyond that, an outdoor heated swimming pool. Not far away were cherry blossom trees that bloomed beautifully every spring. There was also a large trellis, and up the trellis, the bedroom on the second floor belonged to Faye. Whenever she and Damian dined and stayed here, they would stay in the bedroom on the right.
Revisiting this place, the past came flooding back. The pain was no longer sharp but deeply ingrained.
As she was thinking, Ashley heard voices from the flower bushes.
"Mr. Damian Hearst is back for dinner. Mr. Bryan Hearst is probably going to get angry again."
"When I brought tea, I heard Mrs. Hearst say that Mr. Damian Hearst's ex-wife, the one who was kicked out, Ms. Astor, might be the reason Mr. Damian Hearst was called home."
"Mrs. Hearst is always on guard, afraid that Mr. Damian Hearst will go back to her. Have you heard of a girl named Selene Peterson?"
"Selene? That sounds like a TV show heroine."
"The TV heroine can't compare to Ms. Peterson. She was Mr. Damian Hearst's childhood sweetheart. Mr. Bryan Hearst, Mrs. Nicole Hearst, and Mr. Anthony Hearst all favored her. They even chose her as Mr. Damian Hearst's wife. But something happened, and Ms. Peterson left."
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