Your Gold Digger is Actually A True Heiress by Vera Fiore

99.3% Chapter 176 Winters & Associates was thriving with an ever-increasing caseload, prompting the recent recruitment of teneral new solicitors and their assistants.

The HR, Finance, and Administrative departments had likewise expanded, adding fresh faces to their teams.

As the firm grew, its policies and procedures becincreasingly sophisticated to match its new scale.

Thanks to Asher's interventions, the staff now enjoyed gourmet refreshments every few days, which had nofoall brightened the office atmosphere. Thalia couldn't deny seeing a marked improvement in everyone's motration and efficiency.

She had to admit-begrudgingly-that Asher's "charm offensive" was actually working, Her only headache was Asher's persistent presence at the firm, appearing two or even three days out of the the day workweek.

Under the paper-thin pretense of "checking on case progress," heaven only knew what his real agenda was Whenever he appeared, the female staff would becvisibly flustered, stealing glances at him and completely losing focus on their work.

That afternoon, Asher arrived once again.

He strolled into Thalia's office with the easy confidence of someone who belonged there, settled on the sofa, and casually poured himself a cup of tea, acting as though the law firm were his second home.

Thalia kept her eyes fixed on her computer screen, methodically typing legal documents without even a fleeting glance in his direction. For all the attention she gave him, the distinguished man sitting in her office might as well have been invisible.

Asher sat quietly, sipping his tea.

He made no attempt to interrupt her work.

After a couple of sips, he placed the cup on the coffee table, crossed his long legs casually, and let his gaze rest on Thalia.

From his vantage point, her profile was perfectly framed.

For work, she wore subtle makeup, her long hair neatly pinned back, dressed in a light caramel-colered perfectly balanced professional authority with refined elegance.

Her skin had a healthy glow against the neutral tones of her outfit. In profile, the elegant line of her nose was more pronounced, and her long eyelashes flickered slightly with each blink.

Asher's dark eyes remained focused on her, his Adam's apple shifting almost imperceptibly.

15:13 Your Gold Digger is Actually A True Heiress Chapter 176 God, she's beautiful.

I want to kiss her.

Perhaps sensing his unwavering attention, Thalia turned to look at him.

Their eyes met across the room.

Asher held her gaze openly, making no attempt to disguise his interest.

Thalia's fingers paused over the keyboard, her brow creasing slightly.

Finally unable to maintain the charade of ignoring him, she spoke with evident irritation: "Finding yourself with an abundance of free time, Mr. Blackwood?" "Quite the contrary," he replied, his tone lifting with undisguised pleasure. "Simply stealing a moment from an otherwise packed schedule." Thalia scoffed. "Is our firm's performance causing you concern? These constant inspection visits suggest a certain lack of trust." Asher looked at her, his lips curving slightly. "I am concerned, but not about your firm. My concern is directed at a particular individual." "And who might that be?" Thalia's frown deepened.

"Mr. Lysander," Asher said quietly.

"..." Thalia was momentarily speechless. "What exactly has Rupert done to offend you?" Asher smiled. "Attempting to poach my staff-would Ms. Winters not consider that provocation?" Thalia: "..." A weighted silence fell between them.

After a beat, Asher continued with a self-satisfied smile: "Not that my people are so easily poached. I've noticed our mutual friend looking rather deflated lately-rejected, I presume?" Thalia rolled her eyes at him, then pointed to a stack of papers on her desk. "If you're genuinely that desperate for occupation, make yourself useful and shred these documents.” "With pleasure," he readily agreed.

He immediately stood, strode over with natural grace, and collected the stack of papers. Rather than retreating, however, Asher leaned down, his face unnecessarily close to hers as he asked in a deliberately lowered voice" "Where might I find the shredder, Ms. Winters?" 94506 Chapter 176.

He stood too close, the subtle notes of his expensive cologne-sandalwood and something distinctly masculine invading her personal space.

His voice carried that particular husky quality that seemed calculated to disarm. Thalla's pulse quickened Traitorously.

He was being deliberately provocative. She was certain of it.

Thalia felt heat rising to her cheeks-purely from annoyance, she told herself.

"How could you possibly miss a shredder of that size staring you in the face?" Her tone was sharp with exasperation.

"Where exactly?" he persisted.

"It's right there." Thalia instinctively turned her head to point, and her lips accidentally brushed against his. Thalia sprang to her feet instantly. “Asher Blackwood!" He had leaned in even closer, which had caused the inadvertent contact when she turned.

Genuine anger flashed across her face. "Would you kindly stop this ridiculous behavior? I'm exceptionally busy and haven't the slightest inclination to entertain your childish games." Recognizing he'd pushed too far, Asher backed off a bit. He lifted the stack of papers from the desk and adopted a gentler, placating tone: "I genuinely didn't see it, Lia. My apologies." "Do you takefor a complete idiot?" Thalia's face flushed crimson, her voice rising noticeably.

Asher walked to the shredder and began methodically feeding in the papers. "Don't be cross. Letmake it up to you with dinner-that Korean barbecue place you're so fond of." "Absolutely not!" Just then, someone knocked on the door.

Thalia took a deep breath to compose herself before saying, "Cin." Rupert entered, impeccably dressed as always, his gold-rimmed glasses framing an amused expression. "Since when does the illustrious CEO of Blackwood Group perform tasks typically assigned to junior staff?" He then turned to Thalia with a teasing smile. "Ms. Winters, when did our modest firm becprestigious enough to have Mr. Blackwood performing clerical duties?" Thalia was in no mood for banter.

Her expression darkened visibly, her tone clipped: "Speople evidently have an excess of leisure.” Actually A True Heiress 99.7% Chapter 176 Noticing her genuine displeasure, Rupert's smile faded as concern took its place. "Is everything alright? Has something happened?" Before Thalia could respond, Asher interjected: "She's rather occupied at present, and your arrival has interrupted her concentration. Hardly cause for celebration, wouldn't you agree?" Thalia: " Rupert appeared momentarily wrong footed. "Should I cback later, then?" "That would be best," Asher replied dismissively.

"Would you please stop complicating matters?" Thalia directed this squarely at Asher.

Asher fell silent.

He returned his attention to the shredder, continuing his task without further comment.

Rupert glanced between Thalia and Asher, evidently trying to read the situation.

Asher met his gaze with an enigmatic smile.

Suddenly, Rupert's attention caught on something-a smudge of red on the other man's lip.

The crimson streak extended diagonally from his lower lip toward his chin.

Rupert's expression darkened perceptibly.

His eyes moved up to meet Asher's, finding unmistakable triumph and challenge in the other man's gaze.

Rupert lowered his eyes, his voice entirely stripped of its earlier warmth: "I'll leave you to your work, then, Ms.

Winters." With that, he turned and left without another word.

Asher's lips curled into a subtle, satisfied smile as he continued feeding papers into the shredder.

Thalia was bewildered by the exchange-what had caused Rupert's sudden change in demeanor? She turned to study Asher suspiciously.

He was bent over the shredder, casually humming to himselfo m radiating an air of utter contentment with every fiber of his being. Thalia stared at him, trying to decipher Rupert's abrupt shift in attitude.

Sensing her scrutiny, Asher looked up with a smirk. "Your words may say one thing, but your body tells quite Your Gold Digger is Actually A True Heiress 99.8% Chapter 176 another story." Thalia blushed instantly. "What absolute nonsense are you spouting now?"

"I merely meant your eyes betray you-they can't help but find their way to me," Asher met her gaze directly, his expression insufferably smug. "Why, what did you think I meant?" "I wasn't thinking anything! Stop putting words in my mouth!" As she finished speaking. Thalia suddenly noticed the red smudge on his lip.

She froze, horrified realization washing over her.

Her lipstick had transferred to him! And Rupert had seen it! ♡ (0) mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLliIofifl0&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1