Chapter 363: Chapter 363: I’m Not Worthy
Ashley Shaw turned around and asked, "Is there anything else?"
"I have something for you. Wait for me a moment, one minute, no, thirty seconds."
After saying this, Warren Prescott rushed hurriedly towards his office.
The employees who came to the break room to get tea caught sight of this scene and felt that the current situation was just like what happened with Rosalind Lynch earlier.
Beneath the seemingly calm exterior, there was a hint of humility.
But no matter how you think about it, the word ’humility’ doesn’t seem to fit with Warren Prescott.
The employees exchanged glances, sensing that Ashley Shaw’s identity was not ordinary.
They had seen Ashley Shaw before. She had come for "part-time" work a couple of days ago but disappeared after just one day.
Because of her, the company terminated someone, and another senior executive was demoted.
Thinking of this, as they passed by Ashley Shaw, each of them offered a courteous smile, afraid of offending her by not greeting her.
Seeing the unfamiliar faces greeting her, Ashley Shaw instinctively smiled and nodded in return.
Once the employees had left, Warren Prescott returned.
He was holding a bright yellow cloth pouch, not larger than a palm, with something unknown inside.
Is this... for her?
As she suspected, without saying a word, Warren Prescott pulled her hand and stuffed the cloth pouch into it, then physically made her clench her hand tightly around it.
"A couple of days ago, Assistant Lowell took the afternoon off to accompany her mom to the temple to pray for blessings, and she brought a peace charm for each of us. This one’s extra. Keep it."
So, it’s a peace charm...
Ashley Shaw nodded, "Thank you, and please thank Mark for me."
"Mm." Warren Prescott nodded, glanced at his wristwatch, and said, "I need to go to The Prescott Group headquarters. I’ll have Mark take you back."
"It’s fine," Ashley Shaw replied, "I still have somewhere near to go. It’s more convenient alone."
Warren Prescott was indeed in a hurry to return to headquarters because the matter concerning the project with the Sutton Family required an urgent supplementary agreement to be signed in the presence of both parties’ lawyers.
So when he heard Ashley Shaw say this, he didn’t insist. After saying "Mm," he quickly went back to the office to gather his documents.
Earlier he had been afraid Ashley Shaw would leave, so he didn’t even think to take the documents with him. Now he went back to get them.
Ashley Shaw stood in place and opened the drawstring pouch to find an exquisite beaded pendant inside.
In the center of the pendant was a thin gold piece inscribed with scriptures, surrounded by eighteen colorful beads, with black tassels hanging at the bottom.
Ashley Shaw had never seen such a peace charm, wondering which temple it came from. If it was nearby, she could take Ariana to get one too.
Apart from ensuring safety, it also served a decorative purpose. It could be hung on a bag, and it looked beautiful. Ariana would surely like it too.
She just didn’t know how much it would cost to get something like this, considering its exquisite craftsmanship, it probably wouldn’t be cheap.
After all, for these things, it wasn’t about money but fate, tens of thousands or even eighty thousand dollars.
She couldn’t help but marvel at how Assistant Lowell was indeed Warren Prescott’s trusted aide - knowing how to get things done!
Perhaps the pendant in Ashley Shaw’s hand was too eye-catching, and passing employees couldn’t help but glance at it.
Top floor.
One employee came up from the lobby and happened to run into Assistant Lowell, immediately stopping and saying, "Assistant Lowell, you lied."
Mark looked bewildered.
"What did I lie to you about?"
The employee said, "The amulet from today that was delivered by the special car, didn’t you say it was Mr. Prescott Jr.’s? I clearly saw a beautiful woman carrying it out just now. Come on, tell me honestly, where did that amulet really come from?"
"Beautiful woman? Do you mean... the one wearing jeans?"
"Yeah, is she your girlfriend?"
Assistant Lowell spat twice and said, "Don’t try to tempt me! I don’t deserve that."
"Then she is?"
"I advise you not to pry into things you shouldn’t."
The employee shrugged, "Then at least tell me, where did that peace charm come from? It’s so beautiful; I want to hang it in my car as a decoration."
Assistant Lowell smiled mysteriously and said, "You’re probably not able to afford that peace charm."
"It’s very expensive? How much?"
"About the price of a house in the city."
"How, how much!? You’re not kidding me, are you?"
"You know the master who once conducted rites for Emperor Yongzheng?"
"What? That master is still alive and kicking?"
Assistant Lowell waved a finger and said, "It’s from his third-generation disciple, personally consecrated by the disciple. It’s priceless. You need both money and fate."
"Tch! Don’t try to fool me. If you don’t want to say, just say you don’t want to share!"
The employee pretended to be angry and stormed off, swaying his hips.
Assistant Lowell looked innocent.
What he said was true.
If there was a single false word, he’d never find a wife in his life.
...
Leaving Spectator Tower, Ashley Shaw headed straight for Rural Bliss.
She brought small gifts for everyone, and the only female staff member received a miumiu hair clip, while the presents for the other staff were of similar value - not too expensive but not cheap either.
Everyone was deeply moved by the gifts, feeling touched and reluctant at the same time.
"Why are you leaving a week early? We still haven’t gone to the party at Ms. Grant’s house we planned."
Ashley Shaw thought to herself that the party probably wouldn’t happen anytime soon. Forget about a week; even another month might not be enough.
But she only thought about it internally and changed the topic by asking, "Has Ms. Grant not been to the shop these past couple of days?"
The assistant manager nodded, "No, she hasn’t, but Cillian occasionally stops by. Each time he leaves, he takes a cake with him."
Upon hearing the first part, Ashley Shaw was confused as to how Cillian Xavier had so much time to help Claire Xavier manage the store.
However, with the latter part, she realized he was coming to buy cakes for Ivy Bond.
She always felt guilty towards Cillian Xavier.
Because she had been hurt by love before, she particularly understood Cillian Xavier’s feelings. It’s called empathy.
So she wasn’t keen on bringing up Cillian Xavier often, quickly changing the topic while handing over a delicate little gift box to the assistant manager, saying, "Please pass this gift to her if she comes to the shop."
"Sure, okay."
Having finished her last task, Ashley Shaw waved goodbye to everyone.
The assistant manager accompanied her to the entrance.
Just then, an empty taxi approached, and Ashley Shaw waved to flag it down. As she was about to get in, the assistant manager suddenly called out to her.
"Ashley."
Ashley Shaw paused in her movement of opening the car door, looking at the assistant manager in puzzlement.
"Is there anything else, manager?"
The assistant manager opened his mouth, feeling a momentary impulse to express what was on his mind, but the words turned into, "Send us a message when you get there so everyone can be at ease."
"Got it! If you ever come to Aethelgard, remember to call me, my treat!"
"Mm-hmm."
Ashley Shaw waved her hand, opened the car door, and bent down to get in.
It wasn’t her fault for not noticing the assistant manager’s unusual behavior; she had always been slow in matters of emotion since childhood.
Back in elementary school, there was a boy who liked her.
But that boy loved to bully her every day. When graduation came, the boy gave her a love letter, and she was shocked for a long time.
Having always thought he hated her, it turned out he actually liked her?
However, at that time, she hadn’t fully understood what it meant to like or not like someone.
She simply thought liking someone meant sharing snacks with them.
So she never anticipated that the boy would have liked her.
Being a late bloomer in coming to terms with emotions, she was naturally slow in gauging feelings. While others started to experience the early stages of romantic feelings, she understood nothing; when others were already "skilled and practiced," she was still at the "vague" stage.
Just like now, she didn’t catch the hidden emotions in the assistant manager’s eyes.
Or rather, she hadn’t even considered that possibility.