<b>Chapter </b><b>556 </b>
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 <b>stepped </b>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.
James‘ gaze swept <b>over </b>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 <b>by </b>James‘ side. She spared him a brief nce before turning her attention back to James. “It’s alright, don’t mind me.<b>” </b>
Asher didn’t bother to exchange pleasantries with Mirabe. Instead, he maintained a polite smile and chimed in, “Shall we head upstairs?” He gestured <b>for </b>them to follow.
James regarded Mirabe, whose delicate features were serene and subtlyposed. “Ladies first<b>,” </b>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<b>, </b>James,” he greeted, “you’ve arrived.”
Their entrance was perfectly timed at noon, not a minutete.