More Than A Favor
Chapter 62
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I gave a gentle smile. “Maybe in my next life, I’ll be born as their real daughter. Then we can be actual siblings.
Miles’s smile faltered for a split second before he gestured at my food, “Eat more. You’re getting too thin.”
“Sure.” I turned my attention back to the risotto, feeling his eyes on me as I ate until I couldn’t take another bite. I sipped the medicinal tea afterward.
“Logan still cares, you know,” Miles said quietly. “He made that tea himself and used Mom’s name to send it.”
I couldn’t help but smirk. “Too little, too late.”
The pain in my mouth had killed my appetite. As I packed up the leftovers, I said, “Thanks for coming by, Miles. Tell Tessa and Ethan I’ll visit once this project wraps up.
I gestured at the park. “Less than a month till opening, and we haven’t even finished the lighting. It’s pretty intense right now.”
“Logan mentioned that, but don’t run yourself into the ground,” Miles cautioned.
“I know, I know.” I nodded toward Ashton working in the distance. “Gotta get back to it.”
“Take care of yourself,” Miles called after me.
Ashton had skipped lunch and barely spoke two words to me all afternoon. Something was clearly bugging him, though I couldn’t figure out what I’d done to tick him off.
The next few days, he was even more distant than usual, laser–focused on work. Fine by me–I matched his professional attitude. The only change was regular water and rest breaks, though I wasn’t sure if those were for my benefit or his.
By week’s end, we were on schedule, but the road ahead looked rough.
The workload was brutal. Maya was so wiped she couldn’t even stay awake through her favorite shows. But I didn’t have that luxury.
Every night, I had to review and document all the lighting adjustments. Midnight was becoming my normal bedtime.
When exhaustion hit hard, I’d splash cold water on my face and soak my feet in ice water to stay al
alert.
One night, right after my cold water routine, Ashton – who never messaged outside work hours – texted: “Awake? If so, come over. Need to discuss Technical Testing Zone issues for tomorrow.”
If it had just been the first question, I’d have ignored it. But work stuff? Had to reply: “On my way.”
Thank god for that ice water wake–up. I grabbed my laptop and knocked.
He answered in army–green tee and black pajama pants. Something about the casual outfit made him seem even taller, or maybe I was just that tired.
His eyes caught on my face, something flickering in them, but he just stepped aside to let me in.
I was setting up my laptop when he turned his screen toward me. “Can you verify these marked areas against the blueprints?”
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He had both hand–drawn and digital versions – both matched what I had. I was impressed he’d caught Inconsistencies we’d missed after multiple checks.
Better to find it now than during debugging, when it would’ve been a huge time–suck.
“I’ll fix these now and send you the rest to check,” I said.
He set water beside me before returning to work. I tried to focus on the screen, but my eyes kept trying. to close. I had to pinch myself awake repeatedly.
Meanwhile, Ashton looked fresh as morning, like sleep was optional for him.
Just as I was about to suggest continuing tomorrow, he stepped onto the balcony to take a call.
His voice was weirdly soothing, making it even harder to stay awake.
When he came back in, he found me passed out at the computer. Through my half–conscious haze, I felt his gaze on my face in the soft yellow light.
Then I heard him say softly, “Mae…”
Mae?
Was he calling me?
He was.
Before the Mercers took me in, I was Mae, not Elaine.
Nobody had called me that in years.
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