Chapter: 279

Ashley's expression suddenly hardened. The arrogance draining from her face, she rose stiffly and smoothed out her clothes.

“Forget it," she said dismissively, her voice carrying a hint of annoyance. “I'll ask Alan myself if all the employees at Hewitt Group are this disciplined."

She had thought her words would intimidate the project manager, but she seemed oblivious to her threat, dismissing her with polite indifference.

Frustrated, Ashley snorted disdainfully and stormed off.

Around the corner, an employee approached and addressed the project manager, “Manager, what if she complains to Mr. Hewitt?"

The project manager waved off their concerns with a nonchalant gesture.

“She doesn't even understand our procedures. She's all talk. What's there to fear?" she scoffed, her voice tinged with irritation as she recalled Ashley's pretentious demeanor.

“Let's open the window," she suggested, eager to get rid of the strong scent of Ashley's perfume.

Meanwhile, Ashley was seething. She had assumed it would be a simple task to secure the materials, yet it had proven unexpectedly challenging.

Since only Alan could authorize their release, it was clear she needed to put in more effort.

No wonder Shawn had tasked her with this particular assignment. It wasn't something just anyone could accomplish.

Meeting Alan had always been a challenge, let alone securing his authorization.

But at this point, Ashley couldn't afford to hesitate; she was all in.

It was nearing noon when she decided to take action. Ashley grabbed a lunch order and headed straight for the Hewitt Group headquarters.

Familiar faces greeted her as she frequently visited the place.

She headed straight for Alan's office, pausing only to smooth out her attire before pushing the door open.

Inside, Alan was engrossed in a phone call, his long legs crossed, a slight smile playing on his lips now and then.

His demeanor was relaxed yet authoritative.

With his back turned to the door, he was unaware of her entrance.

It wasn't until he ended his call that he noticed her presence.

“What are you doing here?" His brow furrowed, a hint of impatience in his tone.

Ignoring his less than welcoming reaction, Ashley opened the lunch box she had brought and placed it in front of him.

As she did, a strong scent of perfume wafted up, catching Alan off- guard and causing him to sneeze.

"Look at you, not taking care of yourself. What if you fall ill?"