Chapter69The Two Nearly Merged as One
He dipped his head, aligning his gaze with hers as they found themselves mere inches apart, their noses almost brushing. Their eyes reflected each other's intensity as he playfully asked, "Do you want to know?"His voice was a husky whisper, a unique charm that was distinctly his own.If she averted her gaze now, it would be a tacit admission of defeat, a sign of vulnerability. Therefore, Ashley held her head high, her breath lightly caressing his face as she responded, "Yes, I do. I can never fathom what's going on in your mind, Damian. Enlighten me."The heat of her breath brushed against the tip of his nose, igniting a warmth within him as he provocatively suggested, "Beg me."Ashley laughed—a captivating, siren-like laugh—as her slender fingers toyed with the buttons on his shirt, "I want to know the answer."Her lips curled up at a 45-degree angle, a mischievous glint sparkling in her eyes.Damian's Adam's apple bobbed as he leaned in closer, his hand, adorned with a white jade ring, brushed past her ear to rest on the antique shelf behind them. His chest was almost touching hers when he queried, "Are you trying to seduce me? Is this case really that crucial to you?"His sarcasm ricocheted off Ashley as if she were impervious to it, "If seduction worked on you, you'd have been history by now. I reckon Damian is a man who values logic over emotion. Choose me, and you'll achieve double the results with half the effort. It's a no-brainer for you."The room's confined space, bathed in soft lighting and the mall's faint, elegant music, created a seductive ambiance.Such intense eye contact could ignite a spark even between strangers, entrapping them in the moment.Damian's arm muscles tensed, "You've got nerve, playing mind games with me. There are plenty of competent lawyers out there; I don't need you."Her fingers continued to toy with his shirt, tracing patterns, and she sensed he harbored feelings for her. Otherwise, he would've dismissed her by now. So, she boldly challenged him, "Those new slippers you bought, do you want them? I have no men at my place, and they'll just gather dust. Might as well throw them away, right?"What she was implying was, do you think I can't see through your little game? You want a piece of me, so what's in it for me?The warmth inside Damian abruptly turned to anger, and he seized her delicate jaw, "Is this how you've won your past cases, Ashley? Do you earn your living with your mind or with your body?"Once he had a notion fixed in his mind, no words could erase it—so she decided not to try."Damian, you're even more hypocritical than I thought. You disparage with your words, but your body tells a different story. If you really looked down on me, why waste your time?"You're overthinking it. I just want to see how low you can stoop," he retorted.Even if uttered in a fit of anger, his words cut Ashley to the core, "I want this case."Her words were deliberate and emphatic.The shop owner wrapped up the gift and, upon exiting, caught sight of the two, almost stacked atop each other, and thought better of it, retreating back inside.Would Damian gouge his eyes out for seeing something he shouldn't have?Damian lowered his hand and removed the object, "Where did you get this tacky trinket? Aren't you embarrassed?"With a flick, the white jade ring sailed in a perfect parabola. Luckily, the shop owner was quick enough to catch it. Otherwise, the expensive ring would've shattered into pieces. "Mr. Damian's seen his fair share of fine things; of course, he wouldn't care for this trifle. I'll put it away, put it away."Something wasn't right. Had they just had a fight in the blink of an eye?Ashley nodded politely and followed Damian out.
The shopkeeper's gaze lingered on the departing figures of his esteemed guests, an unsettling sensation of unease creeping up his spine. He found himself contemplating whether he should reach out to Hayden, just to ensure everything was alright.As the shopping center's doors closed behind him, Damian made a beeline for his car. Ashley, however, was quick to catch up, positioning herself to block his access to the driver's side door. "Damian, you haven't answered my question," she challenged.Damian's gaze dropped to meet hers, his voice cool as he instructed, "Go to the other side."Her eyebrows knitted together in confusion. Was he implying that she should drive? "What about my car?" she asked, to which he responded dismissively, "That's your problem."Before she could protest, he cut her off. "Ashley, if you want this partnership, where's your commitment?" His words stung, and she found herself gritting her teeth in frustration. If she spent any more time with Damian, she feared she might grind her teeth to dust.Despite her irritation, she complied, starting the car and following Damian's directions towards the upscale ManHearston district. She remembered that the Bezos family resided there. Was she really chauffeuring Damian to meet his future father-in-law? What was he thinking? And why was she still bending to his will?Unable to contain her annoyance any longer, she scoffed, "For someone who's been through comprehensive etiquette training, you sure dress casually for a first visit. They'll say you have no manners."Damian barely glanced up from the documents on his phone. "And?" he retorted, unbothered by her criticism. "I don't think it's appropriate," she insisted, only to be met with a dismissive glance. "We're making a stop first," he informed her.Regret washed over Ashley; she should have known better than to expect Damian to play by the rules. True to his unpredictable nature, he decided to stop at a bespoke boutique to shop for clothes. His flamboyance was almost laughable. Damian's wardrobe was a collection of custom-designed clothing, shoes, and ties, crafted by his personal designers both locally and abroad. These designers catered exclusively to the members of Wealthy Lane, charging an exorbitant eight-figure membership fee. As the former Mrs. Hearst, Ashley was no stranger to these extravagant shopping trips. Her closet was once filled with evening gowns, casual wear, home attire, and tea dresses, each boasting a six-figure price tag. Damian even kept outfits in the store year-round, ready for any last-minute trips abroad since the seasons didn't always align with those back home.However, Ashley was no longer Mrs. Hearst, and the shame of her current situation kept her from entering the boutique. "I'll wait for you in the car. Take your time," she told Damian.He snorted in response, "I'm surprised you still care about saving face."With a wry smile, Ashley replied, "I can afford to be shameless, but you, Damian, have your reputation to consider. How would you explain if I went inside?"Damian opened the car door and tossed back, "Who do I have to explain to?" He was right. He owed no explanations. All the dirt and suspicion were hers to bear alone.As Damian's silhouette disappeared into the boutique, Ashley's forced smile faded into a sour grimace. She pulled out her phone and sent a text to Amelia, [Brace yourself, and don't yell at me; I'm with Damian. We're at the tailor we used to visit. He's off to meet the Trinity Bezos family today, and I'm his driver. Don't ask how this came about. I'm clueless myself.]
She attached an over-dramatic GIF.Amelia's response was immediate: [You... got hypnotized or what?]Ashley replied, [Nope, I'm eyeing that project on KM Road, leveraging Damian’s connections for a comeback. He's the only one who can watch my back.]Amelia responded, [Sound plan, but I can't back you up on this. Damian is too smart not to see you're using him.]Ashley ran her fingers through her hair, her gaze drifting to Damian's blurry figure through the large window of the mansion. His posture was impeccable, and the staff attending to him looked subservient. Was her current act any different from theirs?[I always feel like he still has feelings for me,] she texted, instantly doubting her words.Amelia shot back, [Sister, watch your words, will you? He's never had feelings for you!!!]Ashley considered, [Oh, maybe it's because I've changed, and it's stirring his heart?]Amelia sent back a string of frustrated emojis.Ashley ended the chat, [He’s coming out. Talk later.]
