More Than A Favor

< More Than A Favor

Chapter 102

It was 5:00 AM when I woke up.

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I rolled out of bed early, determined to start the day with yoga to prepare myself for a challenging new workday. I wanted to feel fully energized and ready to tackle anything that came my way.

By 6:00 AM, I was washed up, dressed, and ready to make breakfast when my phone buzzed with a text message from Ashton.

“”Breakfast is on the table. The key is hanging on your door.”

I stared at the message for a few moments, feeling a mix of surprise and confusion. Curiosity got the better of me, so I opened my front door. Sure enough, there was a key hanging from the handle.

I used it to unlock Ashton’s door and found the breakfast he had prepared, neatly laid out and still

warm.

Last night, I hadn’t been able to refuse his dinner invitation. The food had been too tempting, and honestly, his cooking skills were impressive. But now, breakfast too?

‘Was he planning to be my personal caretaker?‘

While it was undeniably nice to be pampered so early in the morning, I couldn’t let myself get used to it. It was too much, and I didn’t want to blur the lines of our so–called “pretend” relationship..

So, I sent Ashton a message.

“Ashton, are you looking for a side job?”

He replied almost immediately.

“Yeah, just pay me a little fee for my efforts, Ms. Hart.”

I rolled my eyes at his playful response, but I knew very well that wasn’t his true intention. After a few moments of thought, I sent another message.

“Ashton, you’re crossing the line. We’re just pretending to date.”

His reply came just as quickly.

“Even though the relationship is fake, I still need to take care of your health during this period. Otherwise, as your pretend boyfriend, I’d have to worry about you.”

I sighed. I hadn’t asked for his care or concern, so I responded firmly.

this role. Besides that, my life and health are none of your concern. And as

eat it.”

to be heartless, but I couldn’t give him what he wanted, and I didn’t want to accept his care or affection if it meant

It was delicious and gave me the energy I needed to face the

to the office, a nagging thought

but that didn’t mean I was safe. Perhaps they were waiting

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< Chapter 102

knew I

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of the marketing department, greeted me warmly. “Welcome, Ms. Hart,” he said, shaking my

to fire me, so I decided to address

heard that my former employer might have interfered with my

by my bluntness. “Yes,” he

“But you don’t seem to have any

Alex asked, his tone light and casual.

pressuring you,‘ I thought but

committed to standing on our own two feet. We don’t depend on or fear anyone. Our strength

down.”

words filled me with newfound determination.

Hall, I won’t let you down,” I

do your best. Even if things don’t go perfectly, that’s

genuine, though I couldn’t help but feel there was more

story.

introduced me to the company and the marketing department. He specifically instructed the deputy director and supervisor to cooperate

but I didn’t encounter any of that. Instead, I felt

always believed in earning my place through hard work. Even during my time at Mercer Corporation, when I held the

I reviewed all the client files, analyzed the company’s available resources, and studied the

reorganized the team and implemented a new incentive and punishment system.

for themselves. It was also my way of repaying the company for taking a chance on me

the marketing department began to thrive, trouble

staff began reporting that our existing clients were proposing to terminate their contracts. Even potential clients we were negotiating with

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this was

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company to fire me, he had resorted to poaching our clients to