Louisa had already found the perfect place, which was located in a very good location right smack in the middle of an entertainment hub. She had bought a barbecue restaurant, but the place was a little small, so she ended up buying the store downstairs too. She now wanted to connect the two places as one.
But the problem was that the owner of the building didn’t allow her to do so.
Hearing this, Ashlyn finally understood what she wanted. “So you want me to talk to Devin?”
Louisa was pouring coffee for Ashlyn and she replied with a smile, “That building belongs to the Stanley Group. Devin can do something about it.”
Ashlyn looked at the cup of coffee in front of her and couldn’t help but laugh as she asked, “Why do you think Devin will do me a favor?”
“He will. We all know that he loves you,” Louisa said with a smile.
Ashlyn’s face turned red. “That’s not true.”
Louisa also knew that such a simple meal would not be enough for Ashlyn to agree to help her. She pulled out the contract she had prepared and continued, “I will give you five percent of the shares.”
Ashlyn glanced at her and smiled. “Since it’s a cooperation, I’ll give you one million. And I want ten percent shares.”
Louisa thought for a while and said, “Deal!”
After a short pause, she added, “I heard that Devin is planning to eat here today. How about we go to the entrance and wait for him?”
Ashlyn was surprised.
Ashlyn didn’t want to play the waiting game, but Louisa and Jessie continued to persuade her. In the end, she gave in. After a hurried meal, she went to the restaurant lobby to wait.
This was the first time that Ashlyn was doing such a stupid thing.
Louisa said something to the receptionist. A while later, the receptionist served them hot coffee and desserts as they waited.
“The service here is really good,” Jessie said, impressed.
Ashlyn looked at Louisa and ignoring Jessie’s comment, said, “I’ll only wait for fifteen minutes.”
If Devin didn’t appear in fifteen minutes, Ashlyn would take it as a sign that fate didn’t want her to help Louisa.
Louisa’s expression shifted at the condition Ashlyn placed before her. “Fifteen minutes? Isn’t that too short a time?”
“Maybe I should leave now then?” Ashlyn smiled at her.
Louisa hurriedly took her hand and gripped it tightly. “I think fifteen minutes are enough.”
Ashlyn was amused. She didn’t know when Louisa had become so obsessed with making money. When in school, Louisa’s goal in life had been to marry a rich man from a family of equal social status and live as a housewife for a lifetime.
Ashlyn hadn’t expected her to change so much in just a few years.
Since they were sitting idly, Ashlyn couldn’t help but ask, “Louisa, is everything alright? Why are you suddenly so desperate to make money?”
Louisa choked on the coffee she had just taken. Jessie answered quickly for her, “What’s wrong with that? She has seen what you’ve suffered in your failed marriage. She feels that it is unrealistic to get married just to become a housewife. Others are all unreliable. Making money and retiring early is the best choice.”
Louisa, who had just calmed down, felt embarrassed. “Well, it’s one of the reasons…”
Actually, it was the main reason behind her wanting to make money. But she didn’t want to upset Ashlyn.
Ashlyn’s eyebrows shot up as she looked between Louisa and Jessie. “It looks like you have learned a lot from my failed marriage.”
Jessie patted Ashlyn’s shoulder. “Of course. I’ve finally understood that cheap love is worthless.”
As Ashlyn’s best friend, she didn’t mince her words.
“Stop it, Jessie. I haven’t kicked someone’s ass in a long time.”
Upon hearing that, Jessie smiled awkwardly. “Forget what I said.”
As they chatted, the elevator doors opened with a ding. Devin walked out, looking sharp in a suit, followed closely by his secretary. At first glance, he looked like he belonged in the elite, the cream of society. His cold expression, coupled with his equally cold and dangerous-looking eyes, gave him a cool, sexy edge.
Ashlyn looked up and met Devin’s beautiful eyes.
His eyes fell on her face the moment he emerged from the elevator as if he already knew that she was there.
Ashlyn had no time to prepare herself. Before she could react, Jessie waved at him and called out in greeting, “Mr. Stanley!”
Ashlyn had barely come to her senses when Devin walked over to them and said, “What a coincidence!” He nodded as he acknowledged each of them.
“Guess what? Ashlyn is here especially for you,” Jessie said gleefully, a silly smile on her face. “She has something to tell you. Maybe Louisa and I should leave.”
Louisa stood up and winked at Ashlyn before turning and leaving.
Ashlyn’s eyes widened.
“Were you waiting for me?” Devin asked, laughing.
Ashlyn picked up her bag, stood up, and looked at him. “Would you please do me a favor?”
Devin looked at her and said with a smile, “Would you mind having a midnight snack with me? I can’t drive as I just drank.”
At this, Devin’s secretary walked away.
Ashlyn said, “I didn’t drink.”
“Shall we go then?”
“Okay.”
As they talked, the elevator doors opened and Gordon, Aiken, and their friends walked out.
Devin’s eyes narrowed at the sight and he grabbed Ashlyn’s wrist, saying, “I’m a little drunk. Would you mind?”
Gordon saw Devin holding Ashlyn by the wrist when he emerged from the elevator.
Aiken, who had been talking, was also shocked at the sight. He recovered soon enough to greet them. “Ashlyn, Mr. Stanley, what a coincidence.”
Ashlyn glanced in the direction of the familiar voice and found Aiken standing just behind Gordon.
Ashlyn didn’t say anything and she wanted to get rid of Devin. But he staggered forward suddenly and brought his hand to rest on her waist as he said, “It’s okay if you don’t want me to hold your hand, but I hope you will support me like this.”
Devin was so close to Ashlyn, she could even feel his breath. She looked up at him and was surprised to see his charming eyes gazing back at her.
Ashlyn pushed him away and said, “How about you call your secretary back?”
There was no need for a midnight snack now that Devin was drunk.
He withdrew his hand from her waist.
Ashlyn’s eyebrows shot up at this and she looked up at him, a faint smile on her lips.
Devin was looking back at her with a smile as he said, “I’m sober now.”
Then, he looked up at Gordon. “What a coincidence!”
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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