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

I have a boyfriend now.”

a stunned silence on the other end of the line. Finally, Victor stammered,

cut was the best way to

blade that severed my ties with

went back to organizing my trinkets and tidying up the house. Ashton had neatly folded the

image of Ashton wrapped in that small pink

was full of difficulties, but moments like this reminded me there were

was surprisingly composed, waiting for the inevitable termination call

apartment, tended to the flowers on the

settled into the rocking chair on the balcony with a book. That’s when I heard voices from below.

group of movers unloading furniture. Two of

arrived on her electric tricycle.

tenant moving

thought of having a male neighbor didn’t seem so bad. If danger ever came knocking, I could knock on

thought made me smile as I returned to my book

that afternoon, there was a knock on my door.

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

referring to–her inability to negotiate a lower rent for me.

smiled back.

door across the hall, I asked casually, “When will the new

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a sigh. “He wasn’t in a hurry at first, but early this morning he called and insisted everything be ready for

hurry, huh?” I said, mostly

“Young people’s minds are hard to understand. But he seems like a good guy. You won’t have to worry. I told him to be a good

best to get along

have a mop I could borrow? I forgot to bring

you,” I said, heading to the

was on the phone in the hallway. I decided to take the mop into the new neighbor’s apartment

been freshly painted white, with a new bed and a bookshelf

furniture except for the bed

briefly

my employer. It puzzled me. Was Logan’s

if my phone was working.

rescue the previous night, she exclaimed, “Elaine, are you serious about this

rocked gently in my chair, smiling. “When I’m ready to take him seriously, you’ll meet him.”

clicked her tongue. “So

my toes. “I’m not heartless.”

helped me more than once.

Nora said, her tone warm and sincere As Nora and I

across the hall.

mentioned that the new tenant would be moving in today, so it seemed my new neighbor had finally

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 for

on his door right after he moves in, he might think you’re

made me laugh. “Really? You

said

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I’ll wait for a chance encounter then,” I replied, shaking

I figured it

I was wrong.

glimpse of my new neighbor. It was as if he was a ghost.

was that Ashton hadn’t come