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.”

but I cut

I have a

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

cut was the best way

hoped Ashton would be the blade that severed my ties with

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

wrapped in that small pink

of difficulties, but moments like this reminded me there were also

but I remained calm. I was surprisingly composed, waiting for the inevitable termination call

tended to the flowers on the balcony, and

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

of

later, the landlady arrived on her electric

new tenant moving into the

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

I returned to my book

was a

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

knew what she was referring to–her inability to negotiate a lower

smiled back. “It’s alright.”

the hall, I asked casually,

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

a hurry, huh?” I said, mostly to myself.

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

“I’ll try my best to get

borrow? I forgot to bring one, and I

I said, heading to the bathroom.

I returned with the mop, the landlady was on the phone in the hallway. I decided to take the mop into the

painted white, with a new bed and a bookshelf

explained, “This young man didn’t mind the old furniture except for the bed

around briefly before

my employer. It puzzled me. Was

even called Nora to check if my phone was working. It

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

I’m ready to take him seriously, you’ll

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

stared at my toes. “I’m

more than once. How could I not feel something?

Nora said, her tone warm and sincere As Nora and I continued chatting happily, I heard

across the hall.

tenant would be moving in today, so it seemed

to my new neighbor? You know, just in case something like last night happens

chuckled on the other end of the line. “Elaine, your neighbor is a man. If you knock on his door right after he moves in, he

me laugh.

said firmly.

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

that we lived right across from each other, I

I was wrong.

I didn’t catch even a glimpse of my new neighbor. It was as if

even more was that Ashton hadn’t come by