"Well, when Lena met me a few days ago, I already knew that she was pregnant. And something
seemed amiss so I recorded our conversation. But I didn't expect that it would come in handy one day,"
Ashley said.
Amaia nodded. "Well, thank God, you recorded your conversation! Otherwise, the public would not
believe that you were innocent no matter how much you explained. Besides, your sister is really a bad
person! How could she be so cruel? She can't get away with this awful crime!"
"I know," Ashley said.
After their chat, both women got back to work.
The company's annual Jewelry Design Competition would be held soon. All employees of the company
could participate in it.
But most of the participants were from the design department. After all, very few people in other
departments had an interest or the skills required for jewelry design.
A handful of people had learned jewelry design on their own, so they would also participate in the
competition.
The Jewelry Design Competition was going to be held in mid-June and it was already early June. So,
there was very little time left for them to prepare for it.
For the first round, participants needed to design a piece of jewelry, and also write down the
explanation behind the inspiration for the design.
This wasn't a difficult task for many of the participants.
Ashley was working when someone knocked on her desk and said, "Ashley, Miss Mo wanted to see
you in her office."
"Okay, thank you!" Ashley replied.
When Ashley was about to leave, someone pinched her arm gently. She turned around and saw that
Amaia was making a cheering gesture at her.
She smiled at Amaia amicably and left.
Walking into the office, Ashley carefully closed the door. "Miss Mo, you wanted to see me?"
"Yes," Kelly replied and nodded.
She looked at Ashley carefully and didn't say anything for a while.
Ashley was starting to feel a little uncomfortable and almost couldn't help inquiring about it when Kelly
spoke, "Well done! You have solved the problem, right?"
"Yes," Ashley replied.
"Fortunately, you recorded your conversation. But bear in mind that if anyone else wants to frame you
in the future, you may not be so lucky. You still have to be cautious," Kelly advised.
Ashley was a little surprised. She looked at Kelly in amazement as if she had said something
inappropriate.
Kelly's demeanor had always been indifferent and stern. She wasn't someone who would offer such
advice or show concern for an employee's personal matters.
Feeling Ashley's inquisitive gaze on her, Kelly felt a little embarrassed.
Although she had the image of a strict person in the company, at home, she was a tolerant mother, who
spoiled her daughter.
It was her daughter who had warned her earlier that day, so Kelly had acquiesced in her request to be
polite to Ashley.
Why her daughter liked Ashley so much was a mystery to Kelly.
"Okay. You can get back to your work now," Kelly instructed her.
Ashley was still a little confused when she walked out of the office. She would have never in her wildest
dreams thought that Kelly would summon her to her office to offer her advice for her wellbeing.
Quite frankly, Ashley was shocked.
Seeing Ashley's facial expression, Amaia couldn't help but frown. She gently poked Ashley's arm and
asked, "What's wrong?"
'I already spoke to her and asked her to be good to Ashley. She wouldn't have spoken harshly to her.
So why does Ashley look unhappy? Did she treat her badly? Did Ashley get an earful from Miss Mo?'
Amaia thought.
"It's nothing. Don't worry," Ashley said.
"What did Miss Mo say?" Amaia persisted.
Ashley didn't hide anything from her friend. "Nothing to worry about. She just advised me to be cautious
in future and not be framed by others again."
Amaia finally felt relieved.
Seeing that Ashley was confused, Amaia couldn't help asking, "Well, then what happened to you?"
Ashley replied, "I wonder why Miss Mo would say those words to me. Many people say that Miss Mo is
always strict with her employees in the company."
Amaia couldn't help feeling sheepish. 'Yes, she is very strict with these people. But she is very friendly
to her daughter's friends, ' she thought.
But she couldn't tell Ashley the truth...yet.
Fortunately, Ashley was lost in her own thoughts and didn't notice the look of guilt on Amaia's face.
Suddenly Ashley's phone vibrated.
Someone had sent her a message.
She looked at the screen and saw that it was a message from Ron.
She couldn't help but wonder why he sent her a message.
"Ash, do you have some time today? I need to talk to you about something. How about we meet
outside for a chat?"
After reading the message, she typed out a quick reply.
Ron seemed to be waiting for Ashley's reply. After she agreed, he immediately sent her a message,
informing her about the time and place to meet.
Ashley accepted his invitation.
She wondered what Ron was going to talk with her about.
Actually, Ashley could guess the reason without having to think too hard about it. 'I have just exposed
Lena. And the news was broadcast on the Internet instantly. Ron must have known what happened.
Maybe he is going to talk to me about Lena, ' she thought.
She had guessed it right!
She sighed. 'If Ron got involved in this, dealing with this whole situation will become difficult.
After all, he is Lena's brother. He will definitely help her, ' Ashley thought.
At noon, Ashley was thinking about how she would tell Andrew that she was going out after work, and
that she would come back late. Just then, Andrew called her.
"Hello! Andy," Ashley said as she answered his call.
Andrew wasn't surprised that Ashley called him differently from time to time.
But he still couldn't help softening his tone when he heard her voice.
"Well, are you having lunch?"
"I have eaten. What about you?" she asked him back.
"I have also had lunch," he replied.
They didn't say anything for a while.
But no one hung up the phone either.
They just listened to each other's breath, content to be connected this way in the middle of a busy
working day.
Finally, Ashley broke the silence. "Is everything OK? Did you call to tell me something?"
"Yes, I may get home late this evening so Johnny will pick you up after work."
It sounded like he was a little unhappy.
Ashley couldn't help chuckling. 'Is he feeling sad because has to work overtime and we can't go home
together?'
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