More Than A Favor

Chapter 99

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I didn’t take Ashton’s effort lightly. After finishing the breakfast he had prepared for me, I sent him a simple message: “Thank you.”

Two small words, but they carried more weight than they seemed. I didn’t want to take his kindness for granted.

After sending the message, I busied myself with the trinkets I had bought from the night market the night before. I hadn’t even gotten far when my phone rang.

For a fleeting moment, my heart raced. I felt a brief surge of anticipation.

But when I saw the number on the screen, my heartbeat returned to normal. I sighed and answered, “Mr. Langston.”

Victor cleared his throat before speaking. “Ms. Hart, have you found a new job?”

The question caught me off guard. “Yes,” I replied, nodding even though he couldn’t see me. “Is there something you need?”

Victor cleared his throat again, clearly hesitant. Instead of answering, he asked another question, “Have you started yet?”

His evasive tone made me suspicious. “Mr. Langston,” I said, my patience thinning, “just say what you need to say.”

“Uh, no, it’s nothing. Just checking in,” Victor replied, still beating around the bush.

I scoffed lightly. “If you’re so concerned, Mr. Langston, why not come out with it instead of dancing around the point?”

Victor fell silent. I could sense he was struggling, debating whether or not to tell me the truth.

I wasn’t in any hurry. I placed my phone on speaker and continued tinkering with the little trinkets in front of me, waiting for him to gather his courage.

Finally, Victor sighed and confessed, “Mr. Mercer knows about your new job.”

I wasn’t surprised. Of course Logan would find out. But I knew Victor hadn’t called just to tell me this.

I stopped fiddling with the trinkets and asked bluntly, “So? Is he planning to stir up trouble again?”

“Ms. Hart, you know Mr. Mercer well,” Victor admitted with a sigh.

I frowned. It seemed Logan wasn’t going to let me start my new job in peace. But I hadn’t received any calls from my new employer yet.

Even though I hadn’t officially started, I had already signed the contract. If they wanted to back out, they would have to notify me.

I wasn’t angry–just amused. I let out a light laugh and asked, “Did he threaten them? Did he say that if they hired me, he’d make sure they disappeared from Hilcord?”

Victor chuckled awkwardly, which was answer enough.

Logan Mercer, the quintessential overbearing CEO, really thought the world revolved around him. If someone crossed him, he’d try to erase them from existence.

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“Well,” I said, my tone dripping with sarcasm, “he better be prepared to get rid of every company in Hilcord.”

Victor sighed again. “Ms. Hart, Mr. Mercer still cares about you.”

I laughed, but there was no humor in it.

Victor hesitated before adding, “He was quite embarrassed when you didn’t show up for the proposal yesterday. He threw a fit at first, but on the way back, he told me that if you came back to him, he’d let Selene go.”

I stared at my phone, my expression unreadable. “It’s too late.”

began, but I cut

a

stunned silence on the other end of the line. Finally, Victor stammered, “What? So soon?”

best way to

be the blade that severed my ties with Logan

up the house. Ashton had neatly folded the pink blanket he had used the night before and placed it

wrapped in that small pink blanket

was full of difficulties, but moments like this reminded

should have made me anxious, but I remained calm. I was surprisingly composed, waiting

my little apartment, tended to the flowers on the

pot of tea and settled into the rocking chair on

Two of them

arrived

tenant moving into the apartment across

date the night before, the thought of having a male neighbor didn’t seem so bad. If danger ever

thought made me smile as I returned to my

a

there, smiling apologetically. “Elaine, I’m really sorry,” she

knew what she was referring to–her inability to negotiate

smiled back.

across the hall, I asked casually, “When will the new neighbor move

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“He wasn’t in a hurry at first, but early this morning he called and

I

hard to understand. But he seems like a good guy. You won’t have to

my best to get along with him.”

way,” she added, “do you have a mop I could borrow? I forgot to bring one, and I need to clean up his place before handing over the keys.”

I said, heading

phone in the hallway. I decided to take the mop into the new

been freshly painted white, with a new bed and a bookshelf already in place.

bed and bookshelf. Look at that bed–it’s perfectly fine! But he insisted on replacing it and even paid

around briefly before excusing myself.

hadn’t received any calls from my employer. It puzzled me. Was Logan’s

Nora to check if my phone was working.

she exclaimed, “Elaine, are you serious about this guy? He sounds amazing! I can’t wait

I’m ready to take him seriously,

her tongue. “So you’re interested, huh?”

my toes.

me and helped me more than once. How could I

moving on from Logan. That guy was such a jerk.” Nora said, her tone warm and sincere As Nora and I continued chatting

across the hall.

mentioned that the new tenant would be moving in

think I should go introduce myself to my new neighbor? You know, just in case something like last night happens again. It might be easier to ask

the line. “Elaine, your neighbor is a man. If you knock on his door right after he moves in, he might think you’re either overly friendly or…

me laugh. “Really? You think

she said firmly.

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for a chance encounter then,” I replied, shaking my head

I

I was wrong.

glimpse of my new

surprised me even more was that Ashton hadn’t come by