Chapter 80 When a Man is Mean to a Woman, It's Love
Damian's hand closed around the handle of a hammer. "If not with me, Stephen, then who?" he challenged. Four tents lay sprawled out before them, each one staked out by a couple. Damian had no intention of sharing his quarters with Stephen for the night.Ashley found herself in a quandary. The prospect of sharing a tent with a man, alone, was daunting. No matter how many justifications she could come up with, by dawn, the camp would be buzzing with rumors. It was a situation fraught with both opportunity and potential disaster.Noticing Ashley's hesitation, Damian prodded her impatiently. "What are you pondering now?"Feigning indifference, Ashley retorted, "I was just wondering if you're actually up to the task. Pitching a tent is strenuous work, and you don't strike me as someone who's ever done it."Damian merely shot her a detached glance before instructing her to assist him.As the tent began to take shape, Ashley couldn't suppress her irritation. "Is it really this small?" Christian had claimed the luxurious igloo model for himself, leaving the others to make do with what were essentially miniature double beds. There was barely enough room to stand upright, let alone turn around without the risk of tumbling out.Hayden chimed in with his own grievances. "Seriously, Christian, I thought we were on good terms. Why are you treating me like this?"Reclining in his chair, Christian continued to sip his drink. "Don't you get it? A dark, windy night is the perfect excuse to snuggle up close. If I'd given you a larger mat, you'd have lost each other. Where's the fun in that?"Frustrated, Hayden flung a clump of grass. "Get lost, you hypocrite, with your giant tent."Christian, his legs swinging leisurely, glanced over at Damian's tent. "Hey Hearst, am I good to you or what? I'm going out of my way to create an opportunity. Don't forget this favor."Clutching a ten-centimeter-long tent peg, Ashley wished she could give him a good whack on the head. "Yeah, thanks a lot."Christian's laughter was chilling as he murmured, "Let's see how you fare tonight!"Gregory, lost in his thoughts, softly inquired, "Is there bad blood between you and Hearst?""Does it look like it?" Christian retorted.Gregory pursed his lips. "It seems like you really don't like her.""She's my romantic rival. How could I possibly like her?"Gregory was taken aback. His first instinct was to turn towards Damian. "You..."Bisexual?Christian's large hand caressed her exposed white leg, his tone suggestive and playful. "Why do you care what I am? Didn't I give you a good time last night?"Christian was her first man, and she was still somewhat reserved about these matters. Her cheeks flushed a deep red as she spoke in a quivering voice, "You're so bad."Christian's fingers played along the hem of her skirt, his touch deliberate. "When a man is 'bad' to a woman, it means he's in love."Meanwhile, Ashley was busy setting up the tent, threading the ropes and securing them with stakes. Finally, everything was in place, and she let go, the tent standing proud and round."Success, not bad at all!"Damian dropped the hammer and brushed a trace of dust from his hands. "So..."Before he could finish his sentence, the tent collapsed with a whoosh.Ashley blinked, doubting her own eyes.Stephen was equally surprised. "What happened?"Hayden burst into raucous laughter, slapping his thigh with schadenfreude. "Who would've thought that our jack-of-all-trades couldn't pitch a tent!"Christian chuckled. "It must be the curse of the bad luck charm—its power knows no bounds."Damian rolled his eyes but coolly said, "Let's try again."Ashley was annoyed but didn't show it and simply continued to cooperate.Finally, the tent was securely pitched.Damian straightened his clothes and strode forward, kicking over Hayden's half-finished structure. "Subpar construction."Hayden hopped madly, itching for a fight. "Was that really necessary? Do you have to hold onto a grudge like that?"Damian replied, "I'm just having fun."Ashley turned away to stifle a giggle.Sometimes, she thought that these men acted like children when together, displaying all sorts of immature behavior. If the corporate directors under them ever saw this, she wondered what they would think.Before bed, the four men gathered for a chat while the three women had their scenes.Gregory was wise enough to flatter Ashley, being both flattering and polite: "Ms. Hearst, a lawyer, right? It's the first time I've seen such a beautiful lawyer; I'm quite envious."Ashley played with an effect light on the table, casting soft, shadowy light spots across her face, obscuring her gaze with her thick lashes, making her true emotions unreadable. "What year are you in?"Isabel rolled her eyes discreetly on the side."Senior year, and I'm also studying Latin dance."Another one into Latin dance; Christian sure had a type.Ashley smiled. "Oh, fellow students? Wouldn't you happen to also share a dorm room, by chance?"Isabel was taken aback. "How did you know?"Ashley remarked, "I wasn't sure before, but now I am."Isabel bit the tip of her tongue; she'd been skillfully outwitted.Gregory's contempt for Isabel grew as he offered a veiled jibe, "So quiet and gentle Jenna falling for Dr. King? I'm surprised, but congrats on landing a role in Gary's new film. Our dorm practically went to war over that one!"Isabel scoffed. "Not bad yourself—dumping the top guy in our department and cozying up to Christian! Weren't you all high and mighty before? Decided to slum it, have we?"Clinging to his glass, Gregory said, "Aim high, remember? That's your golden rule from your own wall. I'm just following your lead."Ashley suppressed a laugh. Two women, both reduced to playthings, yet still mocking each other.What a fascinating world, indeed.Stephen's tent was set up far from the others; after the men finished chatting, he was the first to retire.Hayden and Isabel also slinked into their cozy haven.
Christian casually draped an arm over Gregory's shoulders, casting a knowing smile up at Damian. In the cool evening air, Ashley stood just outside the tent, her brows knotted in consternation. "You can have the tent," she offered, "I'll sleep in the car."Dismissing her concerns with a wave of his hand, Damian retorted, "And risk losing face over it?"Suddenly, a burst of laughter echoed through the night air. "Ah! That tickles!" From the tent to their left, the sound of Isabel's unrestrained mirth filled the air, completely indifferent to the thin canvas walls that did nothing to muffle the sound.Feeling even more uncomfortable, Ashley tried to reason with Damian. "It's not about pride. I'll sleep in the car, wake up early, and we can get going before anyone else is up."Running out of patience for her reasoning, Damian abruptly grabbed her hand and pulled her into the tent.Inside, the space was cramped and sparse, furnished with only a sleeping pad and a thin blanket. Forced to kneel immediately upon entering, Ashley's hand inadvertently landed on the chest of the man lying down.She recoiled from the unexpected heat, as if she had touched a hot coal. "You…"Damian silenced her with a finger to her lips. "Shh."Confused, Ashley peered out of the tent, her ears picking up the sound of rustling outside.A shadow slanted across the fabric of the tent.Then, with a flick of a wrist, a small box was tossed in.The light inside the tent was dim, but Ashley didn't need to see to identify the condom box.Damn you, Christian!With a swift motion, Damian slipped the box underneath the sleeping pad and pulled Ashley down to lie beside him.Startled, Ashley quickly moved to one side of the tent. "Well, it's clear to me now, men are no good."Propped up on one arm, Damian turned to look at her wide-open eyes. "If I wanted to do something, do you think you could get away?"
