How was it even possible that Ashlyn had loved him for more than ten years?
Jessie must have exaggerated the number.
Gordon was relieved at this thought.
He stubbed the cigarette in the ashtray before calling Lowell. “Ask someone to clean the office.”
After that, Gordon hung up.
He picked his coat up and walked out of the office.
Carl was surprised to see that Talia was calling him. He checked the phone number again to ascertain that it was indeed her before answering the phone. “Hello, Miss Murray. Carl Bryant speaking.”
Ashlyn had taught Carl a lesson, which had him terrified of communicating with her staff.
Talia didn’t have a good impression of the Jones family, but she was always polite. She had developed and cultivated this trait during the time she had worked for Stevie. “Hello, Mr. Bryant. This is Talia Murray, Miss Ramos’ secretary. Miss Ramos wants to meet Mr. Jones. Would tonight work?”
Talia’s words surprised Carl. Ashlyn voluntarily making an appointment to meet Nathaniel was unexpected, but Carl was not in a position to answer Talia right away. “I’ll have to check with Mr. Jones. Could I call you back?” he asked.
“Okay, thank you.”
Carl hung up and immediately made his way to see Nathaniel.
Nathaniel listened to Carl before saying excitedly, “Of course! Why not?”
He paused before saying rather smugly, “See? Ashlyn is just too arrogant. She’s now trying to find a way to meet us after we’ve shown our sincerity.”
Now that he had the jarring experience with Raina, Nathaniel’s attitude towards Ashlyn changed.
“Get back to Ashlyn’s secretary. I’d like to invite Ashlyn to dinner with the Jones family.”
Nathaniel also planned to ask Gordon to come back home, with the intention of creating a chance for Ashlyn and Gordon to be together. He believed that if they met frequently, they would get back together. After all, Ashlyn had feelings for Gordon.
The more Nathaniel thought about it, the happier he became.
But Carl was a little embarrassed as he took Ashlyn’s reply to him. “Mr. Jones, it seems that Miss Ramos would like to invite you to dinner.”
Nathaniel was stunned for a moment. But he soon came to his senses, waved his hand, and said, “Fine. So be it. Young people are always so arrogant.”
Now that he understood that Ashlyn was still angry, he would give her one more out.
Carl nodded and exited the room. He called Talia and relayed Nathaniel’s answer. But Talia had something else to add according to Ashlyn’s instructions. “Please ask Mr. Jones to bring Denise along. Miss Ramos said that there is some misunderstanding between Denise and her and hopes to clear it up tonight.”
Carl had the feeling that there was something strange going on. But he could find nothing wrong with Talia’s attitude towards him.
So he had no choice but to agree. “Okay. See you tonight.”
“See you.”
Carl then told Nathaniel what Ashlyn’s secretary had said.
At this, Nathaniel thought that Ashlyn was going to reconcile with the Jones family and was instantly happier. “That’s fine. Misunderstandings should be resolved. Denise did go too far. Now that Ashlyn wants to clear the air, it’s not a big deal to ask Denise to apologize again. Tell Denise not to go anywhere else tonight.”
Carl nodded and said, “Yes, sir.”
He then went looking for Denise.
Coincidentally, Denise was at home, happily browsing the comments section online. She had even created a new account just to like the comments that were scolding Ashlyn. But she soon began to get bored of doing it alone and thought that it wasn’t enough. So she paid people to do it with her. Soon enough, an article ripping Ashlyn’s reputation apart began trending.
Just as Denise was savoring her revenge, a knock sounded on her door.
Denise guiltily put down the iPad and hurried to open the door. “Does Grandpa have something to talk to me about?”
“He has asked you to attend a dinner with him tonight.”
“Oh, I see!” Denise said, nodding. She made to close the door when a question came to her mind. “Who is the dinner invite from?”
Carl looked up and said, “Ashlyn Ramos.”
Denise’s expression shifted at Carl’s words. He looked at her, concerned, and said, “Is something wrong?”
Afraid that Carl would find out about what she had done, Denise shook her head and said, “Nothing. My phone is ringing. I have to answer it.”
She then shut the door and leaned against it, her legs trembling.
Denise’s instincts told her that Ashlyn had invited them to dinner for revenge.
In the past, Denise wasn’t afraid of Ashlyn. But somehow, Ashlyn changed into a wholly different person after the divorce. Denise suffered several losses because of her.
Denise was both guilty and scared, but she didn’t know what to do. She didn’t expect Ashlyn to come to Nathaniel.
Carl stared at the closed door. The change in Denise’s expression made him realize that this matter was way more complicated than it looked.
But nothing of much importance had happened of late other than the whole fiasco with Denise’s dress at the Haynes family’s banquet where she had made a fool of herself.
Denise was the one to suffer that loss, so it didn’t make sense for her to be scared.
Denise’s expression shifted at Carl’s words. He looked at her, concerned, and said, “Is something wrong?”
Had Ashlyn orchestrated the whole thing?
Had Ashlyn orchestrated the whole thing?
Carl soon learned about what was going on. As he saw that the news about Ashlyn on the Internet was getting more and more serious, he was almost sure that Ashlyn hadn’t invited them to dinner for a reunion.
But Nathaniel was in a good mood right now. And Carl didn’t dare tell him anything without any evidence to prove that Denise was the one to spread the news.
Time passed quickly and soon, night fell.
Their dinner appointment was at half past six. They had about fifty minutes before they were supposed to be there.
Nathaniel had already changed into a suit and was ready to leave.
He asked Carl to send for Denise.
Carl looked like he wanted to say something but thought better of it. Instead, he said, “Mr. Jones, it looks like Miss Ramos and Miss Jones are still at odds.”
Nathaniel didn’t pay it any heed. “I know. I’ll ask Denise to apologize to Ashlyn tonight. Ashlyn is too aggressive to swallow her anger. She just wants me to demand that Denise make an apology.”
Carl looked at Nathaniel for a long moment, not daring to say anything. Instead, he turned to knock at Denise’s door.
Had Ashlyn orchestrated the whole thing?
Carl soon learned about what was going on. As he saw that the news about Ashlyn on the Internet was getting more and more serious, he was almost sure that Ashlyn hadn’t invited them to dinner for a reunion.
It was true that Ashlyn wanted Nathaniel to play a role in keeping Denise in line. But she wanted more than an apology in words.
Denise didn’t open her door, no matter how many times Carl knocked. “I have a fever and feel very uncomfortable. Please tell my grandpa that I can’t come to the dinner tonight.”
Denise stood at the door on the other side, her lips pursed. But as she didn’t hear Carl leave, she became more terrified and anxious.
Carl knew why Denise was making such an excuse, but he also knew that Nathaniel wouldn’t allow Denise to skip this dinner. “Mr. Jones attaches great importance to this dinner. You’d better put up with it and attend it. I’ll arrange for someone to bring you back soon.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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