Chapter 249 I Won't Let Miss Robbins Down
Fiona rose early the next morning, her routine dictated by the scheduled seminar. After getting ready and dressed, she descended the stairs to find Ashton already busy in the kitchen.
"Up with the birds, Mrs. Walker?" Fiona greeted her in passing, making a beeline for the elevator.
"Hold on a sec!" Ashton called out, dashing over with a bag in hand. "French toast, black coffee, and a berry smoothie for the road."
"Thanks a million," Fiona said, blowing a kiss as she accepted the bag.
"Don't forget to eat!" Ashton reminded her just as she stepped into the elevator. "Knock 'em dead!"
"You betcha!" Fiona affirmed, and with the elevator doors closing, Ashton hummed a merry tune and returned to her kitchen activities.
Cooking had never been Ashton's strong suit. She'd considered picking up culinary skills for Chris, but their taste in food was poles apart, and he was too much of a perfectionist. Cooking together was a rare occasion that usually ended up with him taking charge of the kitchen. And so, the idea of learning to cook had been shelved indefinitely.
She could confidently manage breakfast, a skill honed while caring for her energetic nephews, Chicago and Charles. It was during their transition to solid foods that Ashton's maternal instincts had blossomed most fiercely. With a lull in her work schedule, she'd spent several months whipping up breakfasts and nurturing her kin.
When Kenny arrived, clad in sportswear, he was the picture of vitality. His mere presence seemed to brighten the room.
"Feast your eyes on this," he said, genuinely surprised at the spread laid out in the dining area.
"Not sure what your favorites are, so I went ahead and made a bit of everything," Ashton said with a beaming smile. "Just let me know which you prefer, and I can make it again when we have the time."
An unexpected break had cleared up Ashton's schedule, giving her a few days of respite before she plunged back into her hectic routine. After tomorrow, there'd be no time left for leisurely breakfasts for Kenny.
"This all looks delicious," Kenny remarked, ever the charmer in Ashton's eyes.
Unable to hide her smugness, Ashton boasted, "Not to toot my own horn, but every time I make these dishes, my godchildren gobble them up with glee!"
"Your sister's kids?" inquired Kenny.
"Yep!" Ashton confirmed with a nod. "But honestly, these are pretty much the only dishes I've mastered."
She recounted the tales of her overflowing maternal affection during those nurturing days.
Kenny chuckled, "So, baby food, huh? Does that make me a ward under Mrs. Walker's care too?"
A blush crept up Ashton's cheeks. "A twenty-something baby?" she muttered, urging, "Dig in! Eat up!"
Kenny nodded obediently and proceeded to eat his breakfast. True to form, Kenny was meticulous, savoring each bite with the manners of a gentleman.
"Do you need a ride tomorrow?" Kenny asked between mouthfuls.
Ashton shook his head dismissively, "You do your thing and I'll do mine. No need to make a fuss."
Kenny glanced at her. He wouldn't mind being bothered by her, but... he knew that coming on too strong would just put pressure on her.
So, with a nod of understanding, Kenny consented, "Alright."
After breakfast, each went their separate ways: Kenny to the office, and Ashton to spend time with her grandma at the hospital.
Grandma Carey's spirits had lifted considerably over the past few days, and she had stopped urging Ashton to let go of the vendetta against the Ayre family. Ashton credited the improvement to the move to a better hospital with superior care.
Grandma Carey's spirits seemed lifted, brightening her entire demeanor.
Meanwhile, at RH Company, Fiona and her team were making their entrance. Although the main competitors were Monsoon Investment and Solomon, there were actually four teams in total. The other two teams, lacking the clout of Monsoon and Solomon, often fell out of the main conversation.
Not only the competing teams, but all of RH Company's shareholders were in attendance. Additionally, local dignitaries including the district mayor and the business department had sent representatives.
RH Company was, after all, a pillar of national enterprise, and the community was invested in its success. No one wanted to see yet another local business falter and fail.
“Miss Rhoads!” Roy greeted Fiona with a beaming smile.
“Roy.” Fiona nodded with a polite smile.
They were about to exchange a few more pleasantries when a sweet, soft voice interjected, “Chelsea, looking stunning today.”
Fiona turned toward the voice, “Miss Robbins.”
Lilian stood there in a pristine white suit dress, her hair in a meticulous high ponytail. She struck an image of alluring professionalism.
“I’ve admired your previous work and I'm really looking forward to your presentation today,” Lilian said, her smile warm.
Fiona's smile was subtle, “I hope not to disappoint Miss Robbins.”
A slight tension crossed Lilian's face, and the crowd around Roy couldn’t hide their mixed reactions—some frowned, some stifled laughs. In their culture, it was customary to return pleasantries with the same grace, yet Miss Rhoads's blunt honesty was somewhat unexpected.
Without giving Lilian any chance to recover, Fiona excused herself, “Roy, we still have some things to finalize. We should head over.”
“Of course, go ahead. I know you’re all working hard,” Roy replied.
With a purposeful stride, Fiona and her team moved off to prepare.
The assistant couldn't resist commenting, “He's certainly fit to be the next head of the Rhoads family; his presence alone... even his smile radiates authority.”
As it neared nine o'clock, the seminar was about to kick off. Everyone had taken their seats. Suddenly, someone hurried in through the door, whispering urgently into Roy's ear. Startled, he quickly stood up and followed the person outside.
Lilian, slated to present first, noticed Roy's hasty exit with a subtle furrow in her brow. Then, her gaze shifted to Chelsea, who was in the front row chatting with an assistant. Clutching her tablet a bit tighter, Lilian knew her goal for the day was no longer just to win the project but to crush Chelsea in a humiliating defeat.
Just as Lilian's eyes, full of malice, locked with Chelsea’s, an unexpected panic surged within her. At that moment, the doors flew open again. Roy re-entered frantically, leading a group and at the forefront was none other than Darwin, towering over the others, drawing everyone’s attention.
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