Chapter 60 To Party
Upon hearing that, Ashley felt desperate. Damian disliked her so much that he didn’t mind throwing away his pride.
Christian jiggled his leg cheerfully. "All right then! I'm on it!"
After a few clicks and swipes, Ashley found herself part of a chat group called "To Party," with a small circle of just five participants.
When she left Rochester, the ties had seemingly faded but never completely severed. They all turned into those ghosts of social media who might as well not exist, never posting updates and uneasily noticeable unless you deliberately scrolled through your contacts.
Ashley was the epitome of ghosting, with not a single status update, not alike in sight. It was as if she had abandoned her account altogether.
A message from Christian popped up in the group chat: "Guys, Ashley’s going to sing for us."
Ashley just stared at her screen, speechless.
Damian remained silent.
No response from Ashley either.
Hayden quickly asked, "What's this all about? Is today a special occasion?"
Christian Brin elaborated, "Ashley is in a good mood, gonna sing 'Wiggle' for us!"
Ashley couldn't help but think, “Great, they even had to mention the song title.”
Hayden shot over an excited gif, "Damn, Ashley, you're full of surprises."
By then, Damian and Jade still hadn't chimed in.
Hayden messaged Ashley privately, "Yo, Ashley, are you at the lounge? Is Christian giving you a hard time?"
Hayden was well aware of how Christian irritated her.
Ashley didn't want to stir up drama between the guys; truth be told, she knew she was no match for Christian in the eyes of Hayden. What good would whining do? The only person who'd end up sidelined would be her.
So, her reply was breezy: "Just having some fun."
Hayden couldn't dislike Ashley, partly because she was quick-witted and didn't put people in awkward situations, "That's just how Christian is, don't take it personally. We're all here to have a good time."
Ashley shot back, "Pulling an all-nighter, aren't you tired?"
"Obviously tired," Hayden replied, his message oozing exhaustion, "Stuck here till eight in the morning. It's no easy work being a doctor. But I’m delighted to see you got my back."
"I understand, this is actually to keep your spirits up," Ashley responded.
Then, Hayden hopped back into the group chat and initiated a video call.
Christian answered and rotated the camera around to include Damian and Ashley, before focusing on Hayden, at which point they started joking around.
"Of all things, why be a doctor? You put on that uniform but you're no angel. Just leave and come live it up with us."
Reclining against his office chair, with a coffee cup in his hand, Hayden replied, "Ease up on the soda, pal, or you'll be coming to this doctor to treat yourself."
Christian grimaced, "Where's Jade? Why isn't she picking up? Give her a nudge, will ya?"
Hayden rolled his eyes, "Not all of us have the luxury to be as bored as you are. Jade's swamped with work at the office."
Christian let out a string of expletives, "So busy she's practically a lackey. Unable to determine if she's working for them or they're working for her. Makes money but lacks the leisure to spend it."
Damian continued to smoke, unperturbed, while Ashley remained silent, the differences in the room were palpable.
Christian got no reply from Jade, "Come on, Ashley, let's hear it!"
Damian exuded calmness, smoking, and indifferent to the commotion around him. Ashley's final glimmer of hope faded. She suspected it was high time to make her presence scarce, considering Damian was probably planning his future with Trinity. As his ex-wife, she felt the need to gracefully step out of the picture.
Holding the microphone, the sultry tones of the music starting up, Ashley was at a loss for how to sing the first line.
She tried to divert her attention by watching Christian's flirtatious antics, consoling herself with some self-deprecating humor.
It's all right; She’s not the biggest clown here!
She was beholden to someone, and if she could drag Christian down with her, it wouldn't be entirely useless.
Christian, a veteran of many a revelry, danced with seasoned grace, his twists and turns sensually fluid.
Hayden shrieked, clapped, and whistled, expertly setting the mood. Even if he wasn't there, he could help with the vibe.
Ashley tackled the climax of the song with the resilience of someone about to die. To avoid any eye contact, she simply closed hers, hiding behind the mic stand, head bowed, her long hair cascading forward to hide half her face.
It was another dark moment in Ashley's life.
Hayden leaned into the camera, "Ashley, you're a true talent! After this, those mediocrities at Blue Star won't stand a chance."
Ashley's heartbeat still hadn't returned to normal. She couldn't shake off Damian's judgmental gaze. She had embarrassed herself in front of him once more, her already fragile reputation crumbling further.
If only she could just let go. But she couldn't.
Hayden called out once again, "Christian, you need to groom your roster of female artists to meet Ashley's bar, posture, figure, and vocals..."
They continued their playful antics, but Ashley picked up her bag, "I've got places to be. You guys keep at it."
The song had ended, and staying with the dreadful Damian without an ironclad spirit was no longer on the agenda. She believed that Christian wouldn't bother Amelia anymore.
Damian lifted his arm, a hint of dark lakes hidden in his gaze, capable of drowning everything in their path, "Putting on quite the show there, who are you trying to impress?"
Ashley stopped, "This is between Christian and I. It's none of your business."
"It's none of my business, but you couldn’t help but stare at me the entire time. Don't your eyes get tired?"
When had she been staring at him?
"Oh? Must be the angle," he said, with a soft, frosty chuckle.
Her pride had taken one too many hits, leaving her exhausted, "Birds of a feather you are, taking joy in toying with others."
Damian retorted, "Ashley, are you not enjoying the game you're partaking in?"
Ashley felt a stinging in her nose, the precursor to tears, so she tilted her head back and laughed it off, "I just hope you forever sit on your thrones, never to fall. Because all those you've trampled will rise to retaliate!"
"Here's some friendly advice for you, Ashley. If you want to stand your ground, start climbing faster. Revenge isn't sweet at seventy," said Damian.
"Thanks for the tip, Mr. Hearst!"
"Don't mention it."
Once she stepped out of the lounge and the soundproof door shut behind her, Ashley exhaled deeply.
Then her phone rang.
"Harold?"
"Where are you? You're not answering calls or texts. Who have you been with? Did someone give you a hard time?"
Ashley mustered her energy, "It doesn't matter who I meet, as long as I get things done, right? How are you and Amelia?"
Hiding in the bathroom, Harold was at his wits' end, "Did Amelia take taekwondo lessons or something? She's got an iron grip and nearly tore down the house fighting over my phone, like a Hulk on a rampage. I had to lock up all my electronics in the safe."
"Harold! Don't think for a second that hiding in the bathroom will save you! Give me the phone now!"
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Harold replied, "Hear that? Wasting her voice on anything but singing."
Ashley couldn't help but laugh, "All right, I'm heading back now. Hang in there."
"Be quick. All her yelling is giving me headaches."
Settling into her car, Ashley opened her Twitter to find that Ellie, probably miffed about being snubbed at the club, unleashed a frenzied attack on Amelia. Her fans had turned on Amelia, digging up dirt, a photo of Amelia at a dinner party, toasting with the bosses, accompanied by unsavory comments.
Furious, Ashley was tempted to turn back and give Christian a piece of her mind.
Unexpectedly, Christian reached out first, "Yo, have you left already?"
Ashley gripped the steering wheel, her words measured and deliberate, "Christian, make sure you remember your promise."
"My promise? What promise?"
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