Chapter 53 Encountering Damian Shopping
Amelia linked arms with Ashley, their heels clicking in a rhythm of confident, "Ashley, Chanel or Dior, what's your pick?"
"It's the same old stuff in rotation; boring. Let's check out some indie designers instead. Their styles are fresh and it's less likely we'll be twinning with someone else."
A Chanel piece could cost a small fortune, and Ashley was loath to spend Amelia's money so freely.
Pulling her toward the boutique, Amelia dismissed the objection with a giggle, "Can those up-and-comers even hold a candle to the top dogs? Besides, as a Harold’s second, who's going to recognize you in some no-name brand?"
Still hesitant, Ashley protested, "Just a minute ago you were all about my looks, and now you want clothes to make the statement? Stay consistent, won't you?"
Amelia wouldn't have it; she sifted through the racks and plucked out a spring-summer suit in lavender, its slim fit design adorned with a hand-embroidered white camellia at the neckline. "Smallest size. Go on, try it!"
Reluctantly, Ashley changed out of her soiled clothes and slipped into the new outfit.
Stepping out, the look on Amelia's face was pure starry-eyed amazement. "Wowza! It accentuates all your best features, bust, waist, and hips. Ashley, it's made for you. This one!"
Armed with a new set of clothes each, the pair giggled and chatted their way to the shoe and handbag section.
Gratitude filled Ashley's heart; she made a mental note to work harder on her cases to repay this generosity. Meanwhile, Amelia mused bitterly about Damian's blindness to Ashley's charm, fantasizing about his eventual regret and remorse.
While their shopping high was at its peak, Amelia's phone rang—her agent. Her face fell instantly, "Ashley, It’s my supervisor, I've got to go. Wait for me, okay?"
"Ashley?"
As soon as Amelia left, a familiar, mocking voice floated her way.
Ashley knitted her brows, immediately spotting the identical Chanel dress on Trinity. "Trinity, what's up?"
Arms crossed, Trinity sneered, scanning Ashley with a patronizing sweep of her eyes. "Really? Going for the same dress just to stir up awkwardness?"
Before Ashley could utter a word, she lifted her gaze and saw Damian arriving nonchalantly, his hand idly in his pocket, parting the flap of his blazer, and the other gripping a cell phone. Seemingly surprised to see her, a strange look flickered in his eyes before he set down his phone. "What's the fuss?"
Damian being seen here with Trinity could well be the scoop of the year, if only the outside world recognized him. Despite its seeming inadvertence, this experience suggested a serious relationship developing.
Ashley glanced up at the mall's dome without a word, "Trinity and I were just discussing the awkwardness of wearing the same outfit. What do you think, Damian?"
Trinity mentioned she didn't want to wear her dirty clothes home and asked if he'd join her for a little shopping. Suddenly, Damian got a call from Christian Brin who mentioned he ran into Ashley.
Instinctively, Damian nodded in agreement.
Once inside, Trinity picked out several outfits and asked for his opinion. Distracted, he said they all looked fine, but upon taking a closer look, he realized one was eerily similar to Ashley's.
Ashley was slim yet curvy in all the right places, while Trinity had a more svelte, almost formless figure that couldn't quite fill out the clothes.
The outcome was clear at first glance.
"Seems Ashley's doing quite well for herself, maintaining such a standard of living," Damian remarked.
Ashley looked back with a lifted chin, "You flatter me, Damian. We all have our ways to make a living, each to their own skill."
Trinity, snuggling up to Damian, chimed in to suppress Ashley, "Look at how gorgeous Ashley is. Why wouldn't she be well-fed? There are tons of guys out there just waiting to give her some attention."
Ashley, cool and collected, smiled calmly, "If you ever go broke, Trinity, you might consider moonlighting as a street performer, that should shoot you to stardom."
"You!" Trinity fumed, her face reddening as she clung to Damian's arm coquettishly, "Damian, did you hear what she said? Such lack of manners!"
Damian stared straight into Ashley's furious eyes, his demeanor unchanged. The once-kind-hearted woman he remembered had turned into something untouchable and unimaginable. "Watch your tone."
A sharp pain pricked Ashley's heart.
Trinity relished the moment, snuggling even closer to Damian, "It's okay, I won't stoop to her level. But this outfit is uncomfortable; stick around and help me pick out some more, will you?"
She had finally caught a precious moment alone with Damian and didn't want Ashley to ruin it.
Ashley had no desire to linger and witness their flirtation. Before Damian could speak, she excused herself, "Please, continue. I'll take my leave!"
From the reflection in the store's glass wall, Damian watched her tall figure storm off with a surge of presence, feeling an inexplicable emptiness grow inside him.
"Damian?"
His train of thought broken by Trinity, Damian withdrew his arm and ordered coolly, "I have things to do. You go ahead and shop."
"But you promised..."
"Trinity, that's enough."
She closed her mouth, a well of hurt in her eyes, but she dared not protest.
Having caught the tail end of a scolding, Amelia turned to Ashley, her heart brimming with injustice, and said with a quiver in her voice, "Why am I always the one to take the fall? This isn't fair!"
Ashley, who hadn't mentioned her chance meeting with Damian, gave her a comforting arm squeeze and said, "Let's go grab something yummy, okay?"
"You?"
A woman approached, her waist swaying, oversized sunglasses covering her eyes. Amelia recognized her; she was the one who climbed out of Christian Brin's car.
Stepping protectively in front of Amelia, Ashley asked, "Can I help you?"
With a tilt of her head, the woman glared at Amelia and snapped, "It's you, isn't it? Flirting with my boyfriend, clinging to him desperately. When he ignores you, you orchestrate 'chance' encounters. Are you out of your mind?"
Amelia's temper flared, and she brushed Ashley aside, "What’s wrong with you? Who the hell is your boyfriend?"
Clutching her crocodile skin purse tightly, the woman spat out, "Playing the saint when you're anything but. A nobody actress trying to make it big at any cost. My boyfriend wouldn't give you the time of day and yet you persist shamelessly."
"Damn it!"
Amelia grabbed her purse, ready to swing it.
But Ashley grabbed the bag from her grip, her face set sternly, and said, "Miss, I'm her attorney. I'm warning you, you're on the verge of facing charges for defamation and malicious slander. Brace yourself for a letter from us. This argument is pointless; let's settle this in court."
The woman had only heard from Christian that Amelia was vicious in chasing after success but didn't realize her friend was a lawyer.
Hearing the legal terms, she panicked.
But then, bolstered by having Christian in her corner, she sneered, "Your friend can't keep her hands to herself, and now she's encroached on my territory? She's dug her own grave! Even if we go to court, she'll be the one humiliated. Oh, and with her TV show premiering soon, wouldn't a lawsuit affect her opportunity?"
Amelia, her arm cocked back for a punch, seemed ready to explode, but Ashley stayed calm, "Where's the proof?"
The girl tilted her head and smirked as if speaking to a fool, "Are you sure you want me to reveal my proof? Even though she’s just small-time, she is still a public figure. Images of her chasing a man and getting rejected in broad daylight, that's not a good look, right?"
"Bring on your so-called evidence. If I've ever shown the slightest interest in Christian Brin, I wouldn't hold my head high," Amelia retorted with a confidence that came from knowing her innocence.
Christian Brin, who was observing this drama from a not-so-far distance, heard everything through the ongoing call on his phone and his expression turned menacing.
The girl waved her phone, "All the photos are in here, lots of backups. Don't remember sending flirty looks in the restroom at Blue Star Club?"
Fuming already, Amelia knocked the phone out of the woman's hand with a slap, "I despise manipulative phonies the most!"
Clutching her stinging cheek, the girl screamed, “Hey! Amelia Jones is assaulting me!!”
