More Than A Favor

Chapter 56

Ashton strode over, giving me a casual look. “Let’s go.”

Wait, what?

Wasn’t he going to explain why he wanted a room right next to mine?

I wanted to ask, but felt like that would just make things awkward.

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“Mr. Drake, why’d you pick a room so close to ours?” Maya blurted out. Sometimes her directness came in handy – she’d ask what I was too chicken to.

He walked to the elevator and hit the button. I caught a glimpse of his room key–308, right next door to mine.

“For convenience,” was all he said.

Convenient for what exactly?

Talk about leaving things open to interpretation.

Maya looked as confused as I felt. She glanced between us and pressed, “What kind of convenience are we talking about here, Mr. Drake?”

I wanted to smack her. Why couldn’t she leave well enough alone?

The elevator doors were mirror–like, reflecting all of us. Through the reflection, I caught Ashton’s eye. We held each other’s gaze for a moment before he looked away.

“Just in case,” he replied to Maya.

That shut both of us up.

Even Maya got quiet, just tugging at my sleeve.

Looked like Ashton had finally found a way to silence her.

We hit the third floor and headed to our rooms. Before going in, Maya chirped, “Mr. Drake, just let me know if you need anything!”

“Sure,” he said, disappearing into his room.

The second we got inside, Maya pounced. “What’s his deal? Why’s he want to be so close? What if he’s some creep hiding behind that handsome face? What if he wants to… you know!”

Funny how she suddenly thought about safety after letting her crush cloud her judgment.

But I didn’t want her paranoia affecting work, so I cut in firmly, “He’s not like that.”

She blinked. “How do you know?”

I regretted saying anything – I’d forgotten how nosy she could be. Mental note: keep my mouth shut around Maya from now on, or I’d spend forever explaining myself.

“Just a hunch. Could be wrong though. Feel free to find out,” I teased.

Maya’s eyes lit up. “Really? I wouldn’t mind!”

I grabbed a sofa pillow and threw it at her.

14:37

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*Chapter

She yelped as I headed to my room, dropped my suitcase, and asked to the father

my shower, I suddenly remembered something and tracked my water Sure enough, there was a nasty purple bruise where I’d hit the

help remembering how Ashton had graphed me

shut my eyes tight, forcing the memory away

could finish my shower, Maya called out, “Elaine, your phone’s ringing”

turned off the water:

unknown number.”

it go.

kept every number saved in my phone–clients, friends,

sweet do

turning the water back

I

tum Towel drying my hair, checked

missed me or had something to tell

back. After a few rings, “Hello,

guard. Weird how he hadn’t crossed my mind as

I

“Yes,”

he said before hanging up.

was basically our lifeline for fixing the lights, I

threw a jacket over my PJs and went to knock on

he opened up and saw my wet

he

follow. “What?”

to my waist, and

this weird little jump. “Oh.

leaving me standing

inside. His laptop was open on the desk – looked like he’d been working while I was in the

bad. Points for being

back, his tall frame blocking my view. He was still in the same clothes,

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his lege

runway moder

so into him. Can’t Mame her angesating Beauty a jar gan sa po wouldn’t

the braise it helps them fare pre Han HAUS

said, taking

get it

his concem made me wonder if he actually

he added, “Don’t want anyone slowing down the propers with rides

concern just didn’t want delays

a:

and forces a smile box weny the Sha want this finished more than

we wrapped up and I could hand things over to

i encoron

I said, holding up the ointment before heading bac

on the bed and let out a

and belly flopped onto

TREATIST

she yelped, finding the ointment. “Where’s this come from?

it? Are you hurt? I almost laughed at her questions

registered Ashton catching me, not what

in

my eyes shut, trying to clear my head Lying downl checked my phone

of unread messages some group chats, some

“When are you free to show me around this city I’m gonna get lost in? Logan “This message has been

stared at Logan’s deleted message, wondering what