Instead, she would have time to refine every detail and prepare a proper presentation for their next meeting.

"Understood, sir," Ashley replied politely.

However, the moment those words left Mr. Lowe’s mouth, Gideon’s brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

His already indifferent gaze turned noticeably colder as it settled on Mr. Lowe. The temperature around him seemed to drop several degrees, causing those nearby to instinctively tense up. It was clear that he wasn’t particularly pleased by the prospect of another private meeting between Ashley and Mr. Lowe.

Yet Mr. Lowe appeared completely unaffected.

As though he hadn’t noticed Gideon’s chilling stare, or simply didn’t care, he remained calm and composed, meeting Gideon’s gaze without the slightest hint of discomfort or retreat.

"Why don’t you include me in your meeting?"

Gideon asked with a smile on his face, but there was no warmth behind it. His gaze was icy, and his tone was even colder, causing the atmosphere around him to grow noticeably tense.

Mr. Lowe remained completely unfazed.

"There’s no need," he replied calmly. "We’ve already discussed everything that needed to be discussed inside. However, I haven’t yet discussed my business with Miss Gildenvale."

As he spoke, Mr. Lowe cast Gideon a smug glance.

The look was subtle, but to Gideon, it was incredibly irritating.

A vein on his forehead twitched as he struggled to keep his temper in check. The urge to wipe that smug expression off Mr. Lowe’s face grew stronger by the second. Unfortunately, he couldn’t find a single flaw in the man’s reasoning.

After all, Mr. Lowe wasn’t wrong.

Their discussion had indeed concluded, while Ashley’s business proposal was an entirely separate matter. Even if Gideon wanted to object, he had no legitimate excuse to do so.

"I’ll come as well," Gideon said firmly, leaving no room for negotiation.

Mr. Lowe merely glanced at him before replying in the same patient tone as before.

"There’s no need."

The two men stared at each other.

Watching the exchange, Ashley suddenly began to question everything she thought she knew about them. From what she had heard and observed, both Gideon and Mr. Lowe were supposed to be serious, ruthless, and intimidating figures whose names alone could make others nervous.

Yet at this moment, they looked less like powerful businessmen and more like two stubborn children trying to outdo each other.

The contrast was so bizarre that Ashley still hadn’t gotten used to it.

Afraid they would continue arguing indefinitely, she hurriedly stepped in before either side could say another word.

"Sir, why don’t we exchange numbers first?" Ashley suggested. "That way, I can get your email later and send over the details."

The interruption successfully diverted both men’s attention.

"Alright," Mr. Lowe agreed without hesitation as he pulled out his phone.

Gideon’s expression darkened slightly.

For some reason, he felt as though he had lost a round despite not knowing exactly when the competition had even started.

"Get mine too," Gideon offered.

Since both men had already taken out their phones, Ashley simply scanned their QR codes and saved their numbers.

Only then did Mr. Lowe seem to realize that they had been standing outside the room for quite some time. Without further delay, he turned and led them out of the underground arena. It was already getting late, and with the business discussion concluded and both parties having agreed to the terms, there was little reason for Ashley and her entourage to remain.

As night fell, the arena would only become more crowded. The larger the crowd, the higher the chances of conflicts breaking out. While Mr. Lowe kept a firm grip on his people, most of them were hot-headed individuals who could turn the smallest disagreement into a full-blown fight within seconds.

To avoid unnecessary trouble, it was best for Ashley’s group to leave before the atmosphere became even more chaotic.

Soon, they emerged from the VIP passageway, a secluded route connected to the main road behind the building. The road was rarely used and noticeably wider than most of the narrow streets winding through the slums.

By this time, the other VIP guests had already left. With the major players of the underground arena gone, there was little reason for anyone else to linger.

Unfortunately, taking this route meant Ashley and the others had a longer walk back to their car. Still, the detour was not without benefits. At the very least, they now knew the quickest and safest way to access the underground arena should they need to return in the future.

"Let my people escort you to your destination," Mr. Lowe offered, his gaze settling on Ashley.

"We actually have a car. It’s just that we parked it a little farther from here," Ashley replied shyly, rubbing the tip of her nose.

Her embarrassment had nothing to do with Mr. Lowe looking at her. Rather, she felt a little guilty for turning down his goodwill. After all, regardless of whether they accepted his offer or not, they would still have to walk back to where they had parked. It almost felt as though she was deliberately making things more difficult for herself.

At the same time, however, she had a feeling that if she agreed, the sharp gaze that had been boring into her from the side would become so tangible she could practically feel it piercing through her skin.

"Well then, let my people drive you to your car," Mr. Lowe offered. "After all, this isn’t exactly the safest neighborhood. If you’ve parked a good car somewhere around here, there’s no guarantee it’ll still be waiting for you when you get back. And if that happens, you’ll have to figure out another way home."

A hint of amusement flickered in his voice as his gaze drifted toward Gideon. The remark sounded less like a genuine warning and more like a subtle jab, as though he were ridiculing Gideon’s lack of street sense.

Hearing that, Ashley fell silent. Truthfully, she had been worried about the car as well. Although she had asked the children to keep an eye on it, what could they really do if a gang of thieves or local hoodlums set their sights on the vehicle?

The children were no match for grown criminals, and if someone truly intended to steal it, there would be little they could do to stop them.

After a moment of consideration, Ashley finally nodded.

"Thank you, Mr. Lowe, for your consideration. I’ll be sure to return the favor the next time we meet."

She offered him a gentle smile, her gratitude genuine.

However, the moment she accepted his offer, she could practically feel a dark cloud gathering from the direction where Gideon was standing. Even without turning her head, she could sense the oppressive atmosphere radiating from him.

From the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of his darkened expression, making him look as though he had just swallowed something bitter.

What puzzled her most was that she had no idea what he was sulking about this time.

Hearing Ashley agree, Mr. Lowe nodded at once and promptly started walking, as though afraid that if he delayed for even a second, Gideon would find another reason to object.