Chapter 556


    Mirabe trailed behind James, her head bowed. She tapped out a quick reply to a message that had


    buzzed through her phone as soon as she stepped out of the car.


    Meanwhile, Asher, who had been eagerly awaiting their arrival downstairs, had just returned from a


    quick trip to the restroom. His eyebrows arched with excitement upon catching sight of James.


    Despite the frosty reception Asher had received from the scion of the Shepherd family during theirst


    encounter, he hadn’t taken it to heart. He understood that someone with James‘ pedigree might exhibit


    a mercurial temperament.


    Asher approached with a brisk pace, offering a respectful nod to James. “Mr. James, good to see


    you’ve arrived,” he said with courteous formality.


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    James‘ gaze swept over Asher indifferently before he turned to look back at Mirabe. Noticing her


    preupation with her phone, he stood patiently, waiting for her to finish.


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    A flicker of imitation crossed Asher’s face upon seeing this, but he held his tongue, standing silently


    beside James.


    Feeling the weight of their stares, Mirabe sent off herst message and looked up. “What’s up? Why


    the hold–up?” Her eyes met James‘, filled with curiosity.


    *Just waiting on you,” James replied, his voice cool and unhurried.


    The lobby manager, who had stepped aside, was momentarily taken aback by the sight of Mirabe’s


    face.


    Mirabe pursed her lips and pocketed her phone. It was only then that she seemed to notice Asher by


    James‘ side. She spared him a brief nce before turning her attention back to James. “It’s alright,


    don’t mind me.”


    Asher didn’t bother to exchange pleasantries with Mirabe. Instead, he maintained a polite smile and


    chimed in, “Shall we head upstairs?” He gestured for them to follow.


    James regarded Mirabe, whose delicate features were serene and subtlyposed. “Ladies first,”


    he offered.


    With a half–smile and a raised eyebrow, Mirabe took the lead without further ado.


    Asher felt a momentary twinge of awkwardness, especially since James, a man of high status, was


    deliberately letting an ordinary girl walk ahead. It seemed to be making a point in front of him.


    Asher, always eager to impress James, had disregarded others, particrly Mirabe, in his efforts to


    curry favor. He couldn’t fathom James taking a real interest in a girl as in as Mirabe. But now, his


    opinion started to change. Asherposed himself and turned, following behind James.


    As the group ascended the stairs, the lobby manager shook off his daze, fished out his phone, and


    fired off a message to the corporat management group: [Pretty sure I just saw the Miss Davis herself.]


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    No sooner had the text been sent than the chat exploded with over five hundred members chiming in at


    once.


    [OMG, green with envy over here!]


    [Sounds like someone’s about to climb the corporatedder!]


    The banter continued, eachment dripping with sarcastic envy. The lobby manager’s lips curled into


    a smug grin. He pocketed his phone without responding and waved over to the second–floor


    supervisor.


    One Mana


    Back in the private room, Niki rose from his conversation with Owen and Johnny on the couch as


    Mirabe and James entered. “Mirabe, James,” he greeted, “you’ve arrived.”


    Their entrance was perfectly timed at noon, not a minutete.