Chapter 281: Chapter 281: Upset
Maybe it’s the sound that’s a little hypnotic, Ashley Shaw actually started feeling sleepy again.
She felt exceptionally drowsy today and didn’t know why.
Maybe she got a heatstroke.
Once they reached the final destination, she needed to find a place to buy some herbal medicine.
Of course, it could also be car sickness.
But no matter what, she couldn’t fall asleep.
If it’s really heatstroke, falling asleep could mean you might not wake up easily.
Ashley Shaw forced herself not to fall asleep by gently pinching the flesh on her other arm.
"What’s wrong with you?" Warren Prescott suddenly asked.
His voice also caught the attention of Leo Quincy, who was messaging.
Ashley Shaw was a bit surprised at Warren Prescott’s observation skills.
He was driving, and even when Leo Quincy was chatting with her about interesting things, Warren didn’t say he needed to focus on driving and not participate in the conversation. How did he notice she was not okay?
What an incredible guy.
No wonder everyone at Spectator Corp is so loyal to him.
With this insight, any momentary lapse would be quickly discovered.
Ashley Shaw forced herself to say energetically, "It’s nothing, maybe just a bit of car sickness."
Warren Prescott didn’t say another word, just reached for the control button on the car door.
As he was about to open the window, Leo Quincy asked, "Ashley, I remember you never had car sickness before."
Ashley Shaw mumbled, "I might have gotten sick from a fast ride once; almost threw up that time. Since then, I’ve been getting car sick."
She was making up the lie on the spot, but Warren Prescott took it personally.
He had indeed driven fast once.
Ashley Shaw did almost throw up from that ride.
He couldn’t tell if he felt regret or resentment, but it was annoying.
"So that’s how it is. Warren, open the window a bit. She’ll feel better with the window down."
Warren Prescott pressed the button expressionlessly.
The window rolled down quickly, and the outside wind whooshed in. Despite it being summer, today’s breeze was quite cool.
Ashley Shaw did feel more awake.
"Feel any better?" Leo Quincy asked.
"Yes," Ashley Shaw nodded. "Much better, feels like all my pores opened."
Warren Prescott coldly said, "It’s not like you didn’t have your own button, why didn’t you think of opening the window earlier?"
Ashley Shaw wanted to say she didn’t know it would feel this good before, but she swallowed her words.
Too lazy to communicate with him.
Didn’t want to waste her breath and affect her mood.
Ashley Shaw closed her eyes, rested, and said nothing.
Warren Prescott felt even more uncomfortable.
His mood was now not just gloomy but stormy.
As if it could pour down a torrential rain at any moment.
Leo Quincy finally finished messaging and asked Warren Prescott, "How long till we reach the observatory?"
"Fifteen minutes."
"Alright," Leo Quincy nodded.
"If you’re in a hurry, I can speed up, just that..." Warren glanced at the closed-eye Ashley Shaw and wanted to say speeding might trigger someone’s car sickness again, but he held back and said, "If in a hurry, I’ll drive faster."
"It’s okay, no rush. Just deliver the item today."
"What is this thing, so important you even have two bodyguards?"
The two guards, who had military ranks, both changed their expressions at being called "bodyguards."
They held back out of respect for Leo Quincy.
Leo Quincy didn’t continue, just said, "Drive at this speed."
Warren Prescott realized that this thing must be classified as well, so he focused on driving.
When Ashley Shaw was in the car, he drove like a beginner, cautiously, afraid a fast turn might trigger her car sickness again, and she’d hold onto that grudge.
But little did anyone know, Ashley Shaw was just speaking off the cuff, not remembering that incident at all.
...
Time indeed matched Warren Prescott’s estimate.
The car arrived right in front of the observatory’s glass door in exactly fifteen minutes.
Ashley Shaw felt the car stop and opened her eyes in the process.
She almost got scared by what she saw.
Because there were dozens of people dressed similarly to the two guards standing outside the observatory.
Except, their epaulets were all different.
Ashley Shaw had never seen so many military personnel in her life, and she was inexplicably nervous, like seeing police at a traffic junction even when she hadn’t been drinking.
"Wait for me for ten minutes, and I’ll be right back."
"...Alright," Ashley Shaw replied.
Through the car window, she saw Leo Quincy get out of the car with the two guards and walk straight to the group of military officers.
The man in front reached out to shake hands with Leo Quincy.
After the handshake, he took the briefcase from Leo Quincy’s hand.
Soon, two officers in military uniform took the briefcase and went into the observatory.
The two guards also stood behind the older-looking officer.
Apparently, those two were sent by this chief to ensure Leo Quincy’s safety.
However... Ashley Shaw suddenly wondered, since the document is so secret, why not directly ride in the military officer’s car instead of using their private car?
The question was soon answered.
Because after Leo Quincy finished talking to the military officers, they quickly walked over to the car where she was sitting.
"Knock, knock."
The leading officer, or uncle should we say, knocked on the car window with curled fingers, politely gesturing to Warren Prescott to open the window—the window had been rolled back up once they hit the airport highway.
"They’re not going to give us trouble, are they?" Ashley Shaw asked nervously.
"Relax, no one would dare trouble you, they should be thanking us," Warren Prescott said casually, lowering the window.
The window rolled down slowly.
"Chief Hayes, long time no see."
"Long time no see, Warren. Handsome as ever, breaking the hearts of many young girls, I bet?"
"With my temper, who’d fancy me?"
"At least you know yourself well."
Ashley Shaw listened to their familiar banter and relaxed.
Chief Hayes said, "Thank you for escorting our important documents today."
Escort?
Ashley Shaw looked at Warren Prescott, perplexed.
Warren Prescott’s face showed no extra expression.
He calmly asked, "What documents? I’m just here to pick up my buddy."
Chief Hayes chuckled and passed him a cigarette.
Warren took it and held it in his mouth, but didn’t light it.
People with car sickness can’t stand the smell of smoke; it’d make a mess in his car.
Car washes are super expensive now.
"Escort people and goods and just get a cigarette, stingy."
Chief Hayes playfully scolded, "You little rascal," before solemnly saying, "I’ll be busy these few days, but once it’s over, I’ll visit your grandfather and take you all out to dinner."
"Now that sounds good," Warren Prescott said as he tapped the car window sill with his finger. "Anything else? We’re here to escort Leo, don’t think of keeping him. I’ll go mad."
"Just give me three more minutes with him, then he’ll be all yours."
Warren didn’t reply, instead, he picked up his phone from the car holder, opened the timer app, and set it to three minutes.
"You little rascal!"
Chief Hayes seemed to particularly fond of saying this phrase. After muttering it twice, seeing Warren wasn’t joking, he quickly pulled Leo Quincy to the side for a chat.