Chapter 431
On the way to Speed, Ashley got a call from Emily.
Ashley answered “Grandma.”
“Ashley, Emily said with a kind smile. Sam told me you’d been working incredibly hard lately, sometimes pulling all–nighters. One of my friends sent me some tonics recently, and I’ve had some sent to you. Don’t forget it.”
Ashley knew that even if she refused, Emily wouldn’t listen, so she said, “I know. Thank you, Grandma.”
Emily chuckled, then added, “Oh, right. I talked to Chase a while back, and he agreed to get along with you. After all, regardless of anything else, you’re Sam’s mother. It’s not good for his growth and well–being if you two act like strangers.”
So, that was why Chase had been SO unusually nice at the symposium? Ashley said indifferently, “Okay, I understand.”
After a while, Ashley hung up. She arrived at Speed, and Tanya wasn’t there. George saw her and smiled.“Happy Valentine’s Day, Ms. Jones. Did you get any flowers?”
Before Ashley could answer, a Eternal employee who’d come with her chimed in, “Yes! A huge bouquet of roses! We were so jealous of her.”
George chuckled. The next second, Catherine appeared out of nowhere.“That’s it? Nothing else?”
The Eternal employee stammered, “Well…”
་་
“So, just flowers, huh?” Catherine scoffed.“That’s funny. It’s just bunch of roses and you guys are so happy. Guess what? Tanya got a mountain of gifts this morning, not to mention a stake in Speed from my future cousin–in–law! You should really broaden your outlook.
George didn’t know what to say. That was unarguable.
Seeing Ashley’s confused expression, George whispered to her, “Apparently, Miss Mond is very popular, like a dream girl for those rich guys. Knowing that Mr. Sterling was her boyfriend, they wouldn’t dare make a move. But today’s Valentine’s Day, right? It’s a perfect excuse and they anonymously sent Miss Mond flowers and gifts. They almost filled her office!”
Before Ashley could react, he continued, “But Mr. Sterling was way better than them. He openly gifted Miss Mond a piece of stock in Speed!”
“I’ve never seen anyone spoil their girlfriend like that! We wouldn’t believe it if we didn’t see it with our own eyes!”
Tanya had access to company secrets. Neal and Catherine could come and go from Speed as they pleased. Ashley had thought it wouldn’t be surprising if Speed became Tanya’s.
What George said didn’t matter to Ashley. Chase giving Tanya this specifically on Valentine’s Day clearly showed he was both generous and romantic. Clearly, he was serious about Tanya.
“What are you guys talking about?”
Tanya’s voice cut through the air.
George quickly smiled.“Miss Mond, is the meeting over?”
“Mm.”
16:05
99.9%
< Chapter 431
Speed’s top executives had held an important meeting. As one of the shareholders, Tanya had attended the meeting with Chase.
“Tanya,” Catherine strolled over, glancing at Ashley and whispering sarcastically, “Someone was showing off about her flowers, but after hearing about all the gifts you received and the stock Chase gave you, she shut up.”
Tanya glanced at Ashley, saying nothing.
Catherine continued, “Didn’t you say Tim was good to her? But for Valentine’s Day, he only gave her a bouquet of flowers, nothing else.”
Tanya raised an eyebrow.
Tim only sent Ashley a bouquet of flowers for Valentine’s Day? That was interesting. She’d believed Tim treated Ashley well because she held significant influence at Eternal. But if Tim truly cared about Ashley, why didn’t he give her position or stock?
Zoey walked over. Seeing Tanya, he asked, “Now that you have stock, do you plan to take the reins at Speed?”
Tanya replied, “No, I’ll leave the professional matters to the professionals. I don’t like wielding power.”
As she spoke, she glanced at Ashley. This woman, not professional at all, meddled in Eternal’s affairs to demonstrate her influence, but had no position or stock. It was quite ironic. Ashley, engrossed in work, was unaffected by what they were talking about. Her phone buzzed. It was a message from Burke.
“Come pick me up tomorrow night.”
Last week, Burke had mentioned someone wanting to meet her. Tomorrow’s meeting was probably for that.
Ashley replied, “Okay.”
Afterward, Ashley put away her phone and returned to work.
The next day, Ashley and Tim picked up Burke and took him to a reserved restaurant. Upon arrival, Ashley saw Derek and David. When Burke said someone wanted to meet her, she thought it was someone she didn’t know.
Ashley and Tim greeted them, “Mr. Cooper, Mr. Adler.”
Derek and David nodded with smiles.
After some pleasantries, they were about to go upstairs. At this time, someone got out of a car.“Hey, don’t leave without me!”
Ashley turned. Seeing the newcomer, she was startled. Wasn’t he the guy from the Ministry of National Defense…?
Burke, still expressionless,
introduced him, “This is Edward
Barrigan.”
Edward, toning down his usually intimidating aura in interviews, smiled gently and extended his hand.“Ashley, right? It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Yes,” Ashley said, “You too.”
“Everyone’s here. Let’s go.”
Someone else emerged from another car and approached them. It was another familiar face from
16:05
99.8%
< Chapter 431
the news.
Burke said flatly, “This is Calvin Hughes.”
Ashley shook hands with him. Just as she was about to speak, a voice called out, “Dad?”
Jeffery got out of his car, surprised to see so many important figures besides Derek and David. What surprised him even more was that Ashley was here, too.
< Chapter 432
