Chapter 123 Love Rival


    Johnny had his gaze fixed on her face. He could tell by her expression that she wasn''t pretending to be


    surprised. Narrowing his eyes, he wondered whether his boss had told her who he really was.


    But it wasn''t his business to worry about that. So he shook off his doubt,ing to his senses.


    When he saw the other staff staring at them, he became more serious than Ashley had ever seen him


    be. "Mind your own business," he told the prying staff. "You know what they say. Curiosity kills the cat.


    So just be aware of your ce and don''t cross the line." His tone reminded one of the way Andrew


    handled such situations.


    And since Johnny was Andrew''s assistant and his position was higher than anyone else''s there, his


    word was almost as effective as Andrew''s. His words had the effect he was looking for. Those who


    were staring at Ashley quickly withdrew their gazes and went back to their work. They didn''t dare mess


    with their superior after all.


    "Miss Mu, please don''t go too far from here. This ce is kind of big. I have to take care of my work, so


    I''ve got to go," Johnny suggested politely.


    "I''ll keep that in mind. You please go ahead with your work. I''ll be fine," Ashley said with a nod.


    Once Johnny had walked away, Ashley strolled across the floor.


    She decided to take Johnny''s advice since she didn''t know this ce or anyone here.


    Thispany was several times bigger than Raymond''s when it came to its carpet area.


    It had a simple, high-endyout. Ashley went up to the French doors, overlooking the scenery of half of


    J City.


    She had nned to spend just minutes taking a tour of the floor. But as she walked around, she


    gradually forgot her n. She had a poor sense of direction, and since each room here shared a


    simryout, she got lost.


    She stuck her hand into her pocket to pull out her cell phone, but to her dismay, she realized that she


    hadn''t brought it with her.


    Ashley was desperate as she remembered with a sinking feeling that she had left her cellphone on the


    couch in Andrew''s office.


    She was out of options now and had to follow her instinct to make her way back to Andrew''s office. But


    it looked like luck wasn''t on her side. It felt like she was walking in circles and what was worse, she was


    exhausted and hungry.


    Regret seized her. ''Had I known this would happen, I would have stayed in his office. It was boring


    there but I could have yed on my phone and had snacks. And now I''m lost.''


    Ashley leaned against a wall behind her. Just as she was about to lose all hope, a figure came into her


    sight.


    ''Turns out I haven''t run out of luck, '' she thought, as her eyes lit up with joy.


    She pulled herself together and walked up to that person. But suddenly, her legs cramped; she lost her


    bnce, and tilted forward.


    The woman, who was three feet away from her at the moment, was caught off guard and froze,


    stunned. It looked like Ashley was pouncing on her.


    Just before Ashley made contact with the woman, her wide eyes went to the steaming coffee in her


    hand.


    Ashley felt her heartbeat go out of control and her breath be short. ''Ohe on! It can''t be! I''m


    definitely dead! What should I do? What if I burn my face?'' she thought frantically.


    Ashley instinctively stretched out her hand and knocked over the mug of coffee. The liquid went


    sshing in all directions.


    "Aahhh!" The woman let out a shrill scream as the hot coffee sshed on her clothes, and looked


    daggers at Ashley.


    Meanwhile, Ashley fell to the ground with a thud, most of the liquid having sploshed on her thighs,


    which she suspected were turning red right now. Excruciating pain took over her. "Ouch!" Ashley


    moaned, her brows knitted in pain.


    ''It hurts so much!'' she thought to herself, almost in tears.


    Considering it was her fault, she ignored the sharp pain, and looked up at the woman. "I''m so sorry!"


    she apologized sincerely. "Are you alright? I really didn''t mean it!"


    The woman, who was in her twenties, was wearing a V-neck id shirt that showed her cleavage. Her


    hot pants and ck silk stockings only added to how her attire showed off her attractive figure.


    She was wearing a bright make-up, and her blond way hair and fairplexion added charisma to her


    persona. However, the twisted expression on her face ruined her beauty.


    Carol Ai narrowed her eyes at the coffee stains on her shirt and then at Ashley who was still on the


    ground. "Did you go blind? Do you really think you saying sorry will make me forgive you? I was going


    to bring coffee to my boss, and now I need to make a new one for him. What if he gets angry because I


    keep him waiting for so long? How are you going to help me with that?


    Besides, do you know how expensive my shirt is? This one is a brand new Chanel! I don''t think you


    can afford to get me a new one!"


    Carol shouted in a disgruntled and arrogant tone, looking disdainfully down at Ashley.


    Ashley bit her lip. ''It was my fault to spill coffee on her, but she didn''t get hurt. Besides, I said sorry.


    Why is she being so mean to me?'' she thought.


    She was slightly frustrated and sad.


    Ashley apologized to her again, and despite her injured leg, she managed to lift herself off the ground.


    This was when Carol realized the extent of Ashley''s beauty.


    Ashley was in her white knee-length skirt, her smooth ck hair cascading down her shoulders. Even


    without make-up, she was white as snow and stunning. And she boasted of a pair of slender, long legs.


    But a patch on her leg was red and swollen, making it look creepy.


    ''I am pretty, and I am apetent woman. Otherwise I couldn''t have be Andrew Lu''s only female


    secretary, '' Carol thought.


    But when she saw Ashley, she became envious of her beauty.


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    Noticing that Ashley was about to turn and leave, she cried out, "Stop!"


    "I said sorry. What else do you want?" Ashley said, stopping in her tracks. She didn''t like this woman at


    all.


    Even though she was reluctant to argue with the stranger, she still paused because it was her fault


    after all.


    Carol walked up to Ashley, studying her from head to toe. The longer she stared at her, the more


    jealous she got.


    ''Alluring eyes, sexy lips, fair. Any man would fall for her, '' Carol thought.


    And as Ashley was petite and delicate, Carol assumed that she hade here to seduce her boss.


    She looked at Ashley with contempt in her eyes. ''She is good looking, but Andrew isn''t a shallow


    person. He will not be interested in her just because of her pretty face, '' she thought.


    Carol leaned in to Ashley, grabbed her chin, and examined her. With a sneer, she said, "I''ll admit that


    you''re hot." After a pause, she leered at Ashley dismissively and continued, "But don''t you dare seduce


    my boss. He will not spare you a look." She tightened her grip on Ashley''s chin, turned her head to one


    side, and released her grip abruptly. As a result, Ashley lost her bnce again and stumbled


    backwards.