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 him

I have a

the other end of the line.

best

blade that severed my ties

the house. Ashton had neatly folded

wrapped in that small pink blanket made me chuckle.

moments like this reminded me there were

me anxious, but I remained calm. I was

little apartment, tended to the flowers on the balcony, and still, my phone

I brewed a pot of tea and settled into the rocking chair on the balcony with a book.

of

the landlady arrived on her electric tricycle.

was for the new tenant moving into the apartment across from

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

thought made me smile as I

that afternoon, there was a knock

landlady standing there, smiling apologetically. “Elaine, I’m

what she was referring to–her inability to

smiled back. “It’s alright.”

across the hall, I asked casually,

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a hurry at first, but early this morning he called and insisted everything be

huh?” I said, mostly to myself.

good guy. You won’t have to worry. I told him to be a good

try my best

borrow? I forgot to bring one, and I need to clean

you,” I said, heading to the bathroom.

returned with the mop, the landlady was on the phone in the hallway.

white, with a new bed and

and explained, “This young man didn’t mind the old furniture except for the bed and bookshelf. Look at that bed–it’s perfectly fine! But he insisted on replacing it and

around briefly before excusing

received any calls from my employer. It puzzled me.

check if my phone was working.

the previous night, she exclaimed, “Elaine, are you serious about this guy? He sounds amazing! I

in my chair, smiling. “When I’m ready to take him seriously,

tongue. “So

stared at my toes.

saved me and helped me more than once. How could

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

across the hall.

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

you 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 for help if we know

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

laugh. “Really? You

said

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a chance encounter then,” I

lived right across from each other, I figured it wouldn’t take long to run into him.

I was

of my new neighbor. It was as

that Ashton hadn’t