r 201 Ashton’s POV trending Post
Chapter 201 Ashton’s POV: Trending Post
Ashton’s voice rang out.
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“Only the people in this room knew I’d be at The Corner Table. So let’s see. Which one of your thought you were clever enough to set this up?”
Someone blurted out, high–pitched, “It wasn’t me!”
Another chimed in at once. “I swear, I didn’t even know you were coming until you walked in!”
“I didn’t have time to call anyone! I just got here”
“It wasn’t me either!”
Their voices overlapped, rushed and clumsy.
Ashton’s gaze shifted past the group and landed on Cassian.
Cassian raised both palms. “Don’t look at me. I worked my arse off getting you here. Why the hell would I sabotage it with a camera crew? What do you think I am, brain–damaged?”
Everyone had spoken now.
Except Rowan.
She straightened, forced a strained smile. “It definitely wasn’t me. I just got back to Skyline. I don’t even know how to contact someone like that. And I wouldn’t do something this
underhanded.”
Ashton said calmly, “Seems no one wants to admit it. Fine. I’ll send the guy to the station. The police will get the truth out of him.”
Rowan gave a dry laugh. “Right. Yes. That’s fair.”
The youngest of the three executives raised his phone slowly. “Um, the post is trending.”
“What? That’s impossible.” Cassian goggled. “I told the PR team to kill the post.”
He was already dialing.
Ashton heard the entire conversation through the speaker.
Someone on the PR end was scrambling to explain that they were pushing it down, but someone else must be feeding the algorithm, keeping it hot.
Cassian hung up, then stared at his screen.
His shoulders slumped.
“They found out who Ashton is.”
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Chapter 201 Ashton’s POV Trending Post
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Everyone in the room looked at Ashton.
He was looking at the comments.
The screen lit up in cold white, lines of text sliding past his narrowed eyes.
[That’s Ashton Laurent from Laurent Global Holdings. He runs the whole empire now.]
[Media’s been trying to get a shot of him for years. He always declines. No photos anywhere. Why’s he hiding if he’s got a face like that?]
[Didn’t think he’d be this young:]
[Just the right age for Rowan.]
[Rowan just got back and she’s already having dinner with him? That’s not casual.]
[Maybe he’s the reason she came back.]
[They were seen going into a hotel together last week. Late night.]
[Is that confirmed? Are they together?]
[Could be getting married at this rate.]
[No! Rowan’s my goddess! She can’t get married this young!]
[They look good together though. Can’t lie.]
The room was quiet except for the faint hum of the air conditioner.
Cassian was sweating. “Don’t worry. It won’t escalate. We’re pushing it down already. Trending will be cleared within the hour.”
“Find the agency behind the planted comments,” Ashton said. “Start with the ones quoting hotel sightings.”
“Leave it to me.”
Rowan sighed. “God, what a mess. All this because of dinner? I’ve already posted a statement to clear everything up. People will stop guessing. Hopefully.”
Ashton didn’t answer.
She paused, then added quickly, “I made it very clear there’s nothing between us. Just friends. That’s all. My team’s handling it.”
She tapped her phone and held it up.
The screen showed her latest post.
[I have no romantic involvement with Mr. Ashton Laurent. We’re friends. Please stop
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spreading false claims. My legal team has already begun collecting evidence for defamation.]
The tone was cold, impersonal.
She’d tagged her lawyers, posted it on both 1*******m and X, and switched the comments off.
Cassian checked his phone, then nodded at Ashton. “It’s working. Buzz is dying down. Trending’s already dropped two spots. Should disappear completely in an hour.”
Ashton stared at the post on Rowan’s screen for another two seconds, then turned away and walked out without a word.
The night air hit hard, cold, sharp–a welcome relief from the stifling room he’d just left.
Footsteps pounded behind him.
“You know it’s not me, right?” Cassian called. “You know I wouldn’t be that stupid. I wouldn’t throw away our friendship over something like this.”
Ashton didn’t break stride.
Cassian jogged to keep up, panting slightly. “I swear I had nothing to do with this. The leak, the photo, none of it.”
Ashton had already pulled out his phone.
“Dominic,” he said when the line picked up. “Get in touch with the organisers of the
Constellation Gem & Jade Forum. Find Mirabelle. Her phone’s off. I want to know where she is and why.”
“I’m on it, boss,” Dominic replied.
“Anything from Hadley?”
“No fresh updates. Police are still digging. Nothing new
Ashton ended the call without a word.
“Are you mad at me?” Cassian asked.
Ashton kept walking, long strides.
“Come on, Ash. Talk to me.‘
yet.
“I’m not mad at you,” Ashton said. “But I’m not going to any more dinners you organise.”
Cassian grimaced. “You’re the one who said you wanted to meet media guys.”
“Is Rowan a media guy?”
“No, but you know how it is. I needed someone, pretty face, to help keep the conversation
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flowing. She just happened to be free.”
“Are you dating her?”
“What? No.”
“Sleeping with her?”
“Hell no. You just asked the same question.”
Ashton’s eyes cut sideways. “It’s not the same, not to you.”
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“She’s just a singer. Newly signed to my company. She wanted to network, I gave her a seat at the table. That’s all it was. What’s the big deal?”
Ashton stopped. Turned.
“That’s always been your problem. You can’t say no to women. You’re too afraid they’ll stop liking you. Yvaine was right to dump you.”
Cassian’s face dropped. “Ouch.”
Ashton walked on.
“Are we still friends?” Cassian called out.
“Depends.”
“On what?”
“On if you make any more stupid mistakes like tonight.”
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