Chapter 473 The Outfit for Meeting Women
Two hours later, Ashley finally understood what Damian meant by a malicious banquet.
Anthony informed Damian through the board that Victor would take over the collaboration project for Dragon Brilliance Group, which Damian was currently leading.
Ashley had learned from the documents that Damian initiated the Dragon Brilliance Group collaboration. KM's design team provided the plans, the construction team, the marketing plan, property assurance, and a series of specific tasks, while Dragon Brilliance Group provided financial support.
Except for the initial phase where KM had to advance the funds, they would basically be waiting to collect the money four months later.
Now the project was about to officially start, with only a few details left.
It meant that Victor was getting a ready-made benefit!
Could it be that Anthony wasn't satisfied with just beating him up and continued to exert pressure on him at work?
Ashley felt very unbalanced, "Mr. Hearst, shouldn't you fight for it with the chairman? No matter what, Victor is getting too much of a benefit, he must be overjoyed!"
She hadn't been to the meeting room, but she could imagine what Victor looked like at that moment.
Damn it, so infuriating!
Damian, however, said calmly, "No need, what's mine can't be taken by anyone."
Alright, Ashley believed in his abilities. After all, the Eirondia project, a collaboration between Emperial Avenue Group and KM, inexplicably became solely owned by KM. But now the contract was handed over to Victor, and the project was under his name. How could he turn the tide? "Even if you can get it back, it would take a lot of effort. Besides, what would the board members think of you? Those people are driven by interests. If Victor gets attention, they could turn against you in an instant."
Damian, sitting behind the desk, looked up with a deep gaze and a slight smile, "You care about me that much?"
Ashley was taken aback, "I'm just stating the facts. As the president's assistant, it's my duty to protect my boss."
"Victor has been the vice president for so many years, it's rare for him to have a chance to shine. I'll give it to him."
"He won't be grateful to you, he'll just intensify his efforts to undermine you." Ashley had an extremely poor impression of Victor!
Damian leaned back in his chair, sipping his coffee, "You should be worried about yourself. If Grandpa deals with me, he'll also deal with you."
Having experienced Anthony's methods against Damian, Ashley felt a bit scared, "Got it."
"Scared now? You still dared to confront my grandpa."
"I didn't think that much at the time."
Ashley now felt a bit regretful, but she couldn't say it. If she did, it would negate her achievements.
Damian suppressed the curve of his mouth, "Don't worry, I won't stand by and do nothing."
"Does that mean you'll protect me?"
"Haven't I always been protecting you?"
Ashley cleared her throat and forcibly changed the subject, "Evelina said she's coming to see you at home today."
"I refused, over the phone."
Of course, with so many of her personal items at home, wouldn't Evelina's visit expose everything?
"The heads of the marketing department, procurement department, and planning department will be here later. Victor will also come. It should be to discuss the handover."
"Okay."
"Can I leave first?"
Damian's lips slowly curved into a sexy arc, making him particularly attractive, "Who are you afraid of? They combined are not as good as me alone."
"I'm not afraid of anyone. I just have something to do at the legal department. They're having a team-building event at Nine Creeks Garden on Saturday, and I'm going too, so I need to give them a heads-up."
Good excuse!
"You're going too?"
"Can't I go?"
"You can."
Ashley walked out of the office, recalling Damian's last meaningful look. What did he mean by that?
After three days of rest, Damian's back injury had mostly healed, with only some faint marks remaining.
The bandage on his forehead had been replaced with a new one, just a small piece covering the stitched area. The swelling around the wound had subsided, and his bangs, casually falling over his forehead, not only covered the scar but also made him look particularly young and stylish.
Today, Damian wasn't wearing a suit. In a black polo shirt, black pants, and white casual shoes, his tall and slender figure looked like a model from a photo studio, but with more charisma and good looks than those models.
With his hand casually in his pocket, he was very charming.
Ashley, while packing items for the team-building event, pouted. Dressing so handsomely on a weekend, where was he going to attract women?
"Are you going out?" Ashley asked in an unfriendly tone.
Damian picked up his car keys without looking back, "Yes, I have something to do."
"I'm not coming back to stay tonight. You can order takeout or eat out."
"I'm not coming back either."
Ashley zipped up her backpack heavily and gave it a hard pat, not caring if the snacks inside would get crushed, "Great! We'll each do our own thing and not disturb each other. By the way, don't call me for work. It's the weekend, no overtime."
Whether she could refuse was one thing, but she had to take a stand.
"I probably won't call you."
The door closed.
Ashley stomped her foot in anger!
Damn Damian!
Looking at him, it was obvious he was going out to meet women!
Ashley and the legal department staff took the KM Group bus to Nine Creeks Garden.
To make it easier to play, everyone was dressed casually, looking very different from the usual suit-clad lawyers, and they were very relaxed.
Ashley was also in casual attire, a white T-shirt, black pants, white sneakers, and a high ponytail. She only wore skincare and sunscreen, looking as clean as a college student.
Cheryl, upon boarding, saw her and eagerly sat next to her, greeting her happily, "Ms. Astor, it's really you? I thought Janet was kidding. Great! We can play together."
During her time in the legal department, Ashley had treated everyone to coffee and afternoon tea, was low-key and enthusiastic, and actively helped them solve problems, earning quite a bit of goodwill. Most people welcomed her presence, though there were still some jealous and sarcastic remarks.
"Ms. Astor, why don't you join the KM legal department? That way, you can participate in team-building events legitimately, and Janet wouldn't have to report to the general department."
The speaker was Emma Lee, a lawyer in charge of contracts. Ashley remembered that Emma had reviewed the contract for the Dragon Brilliance Group collaboration.
Twenty-eight years old, single, a top student from law school.
Short hair, oval face, not particularly striking features, but well-coordinated, especially her eyes, which were very sharp, like she was scrutinizing a criminal. Above-average looks, but with a great figure, standing at 5'8", with long arms and legs, a typical model's build.
During her time in the legal department, Ashley was often subjected to Emma's sarcastic remarks, but she usually smiled and let it go to avoid trouble.
Today was a recreational activity, and she didn't want to endure it anymore.
"Honestly, I don't want to participate in the legal department's activities as an outsider either, but Mr. Hearst said that the legal department has been working in the same mode for a long time and might not hear other opinions. He asked me, as an outsider, to provide some feedback and compile a report. If you have any objections, you can talk to Mr. Hearst. You know, getting up early on a weekend, I'm still groggy."
If she was being criticized for not having an official position, she would turn it around and say she was above it all, not caring.
Isn't it your boss's hard requirement?
If you're not happy, talk to Mr. Hearst!
Emma gritted her teeth, "Mr. Hearst trusts Ms. Astor more than us who work tirelessly. I think Mr. Moretti's position should be given to you."
Dante, sitting in the front, just closed his eyes to rest.
Emma's accusation was clearly meant to embarrass Ashley.
With so many eyes watching, if Ashley said something wrong, she would become the target of criticism. Among a group of lawyers, who wasn't scheming?
With a slight smile, Ashley said, "What you said, I can't comment on. Fortunately, Mr. Moretti is generous and won't take it seriously or hold it against his subordinates. If it were someone else, they might be very wary of me, thinking I, a nobody, could covet the leader's position. Jokes should be appropriate; going too far hurts feelings, Ms. Lee."