Chapter 10 She Is A Mistress (Part Two)

"Why? You were confident when you lied and spoke shit about me. Why are you afraid to tell the truth?" Ashley smirked.

"Cecily, what the hell are you doing in the washroom for so long?" The girls unanimously turned around. It was the director of the advertising department, Cindy Xu. She had come to save the girls.

When Ashley was about to stop Cecily, someone squeezed her shoulder. She was surprised to find her superior, Leona, smile at her.

She stepped forward and blocked Cecily's way for Ashley. "I heard you calling my subordinate a home-wrecker. Did you see it with your own eyes? Do you have any evidence to support your statement?''

Cecily knew that Leona was one of the most influential people in the company, so she didn't dare to utter a word. Seeing that the issue was getting complex, Cindy squeezed herself through the crowd and held Cecily's hand. "Leona, I think it's better if we stay out of their conversation. These young girls are making a fuss; let's not argue with them."

However, Leona ignored Cindy and continued to glare at Cecily. "Do you have it or not, Cecily?"

"No," she croaked.

"I'm sorry, I can't hear you. Can you be a bit louder?"

"No, I don't!"

"Since you don't have any evidence to prove your accusations, better apologize to my subordinate. I will pretend as if nothing happened today."

Cecily's face turned red. She had never been so embarrassed in her life. "Sorry," she said flatly.

Leona turned to address the girl with Cecily. "Amy, don't you live in Maple Residence?"

Amy shuddered; the chain of events startled her. She didn't know why Leona was questioning her. "Yes."

"You had questions about Ashley's wealth, didn't you? Don't worry; I'm going to clear all your doubts now. One-tenth of all the new buildings in A City, including the Maple Residence, were constructed by her father's company. I leave the judgment to you-you can tell whether Ashley is rich or not."

Ashley didn't realize that a crowd had gathered behind them until she heard the murmurs.

Amy's and Cecily's faces turned ghastly pale.

"And you, Ashley, come to my office with me. You shouldn't quarrel with your colleagues during working hours." A warm smile stretched across Leona's lips.

"Yes." Ashley ignored the girls and followed Leona to her office.

The people gathered once again, for they found another gossip to discuss.

"Cecily was stupid enough to antagonize the daughter of a real estate giant. How could she call Ashley a home-wrecker?"

"Yeah. Ashley can do whatever she wants. How could they question her for being a paparazzo? It's her choice."

"Yeah, I admire Ashley. She has always been humble and kind. We wouldn't have known anything if Leona hadn't told the truth. I mean, Ashley looks posh; apart from that, she has never flaunted her wealth."

As soon as they entered the office, Ashley wrapped her arms around Leona and cried. "Leona, thank you so much for standing up for me. You have no idea how much this means to me."

Leona knew Ashley very well. She didn't care about her subordinate's wealth, rather wanted to save a fellow woman who was enduring humiliation for no reason. "It's no big deal. You carry on with work."

Ashley smiled and poured a cup of tea for her. However, Leona refused to drink; she wasn't sure if Ashley had washed her hands after using the loo. "I thought that you were a calm person. Why did you get into a fight with those girls?"

"She said that I was a home-wrecker. I couldn't control myself." Ashley hissed through her teeth.

Leona was aware of the problems in Ashley's family. "Well, although I was a bit harsh, I'm sure it would teach those girls a lesson. From now on, people will think twice before commenting about you. Anyway, let's get back to work. Is there any progress about Dylan?"

"Not yet, but I think I'll find some information soon."

"Okay, do it as soon as possible. The news about him will determine the success of our magazine."

Ashley nodded and returned to her cabin. While working, she cursed Jasper in her heart. Her life had turned into a mess after meeting him.

Three days later, Ashley saw Dylan in the Moon Building. She checked her watch: it was four in the afternoon. This was the perfect opportunity to gather information about him.

Dylan looked more handsome in person. He was suave, handsome, and exuded an effortless charm. Dylan looked like an emperor, lighting up the place with his dazzling presence.

The man entered a room on the third floor. Ashley grabbed her phone and clicked a picture of him going inside the room. Later, a woman appeared. Her features looked similar to that of the woman in the photos that Jasper had given her. Ashley snapped a picture of her entering the room as well.

Taking a picture of the couple walking out together was crucial for the news; therefore, she patiently waited in the building. Three hours later, the two of them walked out of the room and drove away. Ashley's job didn't end there. She had to verify the identity of the woman to avoid problems in the future.

She hailed a cab and followed the couple.

Dusk had fallen, and the street lights illuminated the roads. The traffic was at its peak as people were returning home after work. The honking of the vehicles and the chatter of people filled the air.

Ashley looked out of the window and watched the bustling crowd. One of the biggest tasks would be over if she finished writing the news about Dylan; she could take a couple of days off after that. Ashley planned to cook her mother's favorite food, take it to the cemetery and spend some time with her.

The taxi finally stopped in front of a Chinese restaurant. Ashley followed the couple, made a mental note of the box they were in before leaving the place. She went to the nearest apparel store and bought a set of clothes that were similar to the waitresses' uniforms. Ashley quickly wore the outfit and returned to the restaurant. She stopped outside the box where Dylan and the woman were, and pretended to make a call.

Preparation of Chinese dishes was time-consuming. Ashley was lurking outside the box, waiting to make her next move. A waiter finally arrived with the food. "I'll deliver their order. You carry on with your work.'' She took the tray from him and smiled.