< 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.
“You’re overthinking this. You’re only responsible for helping me play this role. Besides that, my life and health are none of your concern. And as for cooking–this is the last time. If you do it again, I won’t
eat it.”
I wasn’t trying 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 leading him on. I needed to set boundaries.
Still, I ate the breakfast. It was delicious and gave me the energy I needed to face the day.
On my way to the office, a nagging thought weighed on my mind.
The company’s HR department hadn’t called to rescind my job offer, but that didn’t mean I was safe. Perhaps they were waiting to terminate me in person.
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< Chapter 102
The possibility dampened my mood, but I knew I had to face whatever awaited me.
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When I arrived, Alex, the head of the marketing department, greeted me warmly. “Welcome, Ms. Hart,” he said, shaking my hand with enthusiasm.
His demeanor didn’t suggest any intention to fire me, so I decided to address the issue directly.
“Mr. Hall,” I began, “I heard that my former employer might have interfered with my employment here. Is that true?”
Alex smiled, unfazed by my bluntness. “Yes,” he admitted without hesitation.
I studied his friendly face, trying to gauge his intentions. “But you don’t seem to have any plans to fire me,” I said cautiously.
“Why would I fire you?” Alex asked, his tone light and casual.
‘Because Logan is pressuring you,‘ I thought but didn’t say.
Alex’s cheerful smile shifted into a more professional one. “We are committed to standing on our own two feet. We don’t depend on or fear anyone. Our strength lies in our capabilities, and if someone is dissatisfied with us, we confront them with our skills. No amount of external pressure will bring us
down.”
His words filled me with newfound determination.
“Mr. Hall, I won’t let you down,” I promised.
“Don’t worry,” Alex said with a reassuring smile. “Just do your best. Even if things don’t go perfectly, that’s fine.”
His leniency and confidence in me felt genuine, though I couldn’t help but feel there was more to the
story.
Alex then introduced me to the company and the marketing department. He specifically instructed the deputy director and supervisor to cooperate fully with me.
Typically, new hires faced numerous challenges to prove themselves, but I didn’t encounter any of that. Instead, I felt as though I was being treated like royalty.
While the privileges were flattering, I had always believed in earning my place through hard work. Even during my time at Mercer Corporation, when I held the status of Logan’s fiancée, I had refused to be just a decorative figure.
Over the next week, I threw myself into my work. I reviewed all the client files, analyzed the company’s available resources, and studied the performance of every marketing employee over the past two years, focusing on the last six months.
I reorganized the team and implemented a new incentive and punishment system.
My goal wasn’t to show off but to motivate the team to work harder, not just for the company but for themselves. It was also my way of repaying the company for taking a chance on me despite Logan’s interference.
But just as the marketing department began to thrive, trouble struck.
The staff began reporting that our existing clients were proposing to terminate their contracts. Even potential clients we were negotiating with were suddenly delaying decisions or finding excuses to back out.
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I knew immediately this was Logan’s doing.
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Since he couldn’t force the company to fire me, he had resorted to poaching our clients to make me a liability.
I reported the situation to Alex.
Instead of panicking, Alex smiled and said, “Don’t worry about it. If he can take our clients, then they weren’t meant to be ours. We’ll find new ones.”
I was stunned by his generosity.
I showed him the reports, which revealed that Logan had successfully poached 80% of our clients.
“It’s okay,” Alex said calmly. “As long as he doesn’t take you away, I believe you’ll bring in new clients.”
His unwavering trust in me was surprising yet reassuring.
“Mr. Hall,” I said cautiously, “aren’t you going to report this to the president? Losing so many clients at once could cause problems for you.”
Alex’s smile turned enigmatic. “Ms. Hart, I finally understand something…”
He paused for effect.
“I finally understand why Mr. Mercer didn’t want you to switch jobs.”
I frowned, sensing there was something he wasn’t saying outright.
“As for reporting, don’t worry. The higher–ups were aware of potential interference from Mercer Corporation when you joined. Everything is under control,” Alex said, his tone confident.
I nodded, feeling slightly reassured. “I just don’t want to become a burden to the company.”
Alex waved his hand dismissively. “No, no, Ms. Hart. Feel free to be a troublemaker.”
I blinked, confused.
He grinned broadly. “What I mean is, we trust your abilities. You won’t let us down.”
Although his words were encouraging, they only added to my frustration with Logan’s childish behavior.
Logan was willing to sacrifice the company’s interests just to get back at me.
I couldn’t let him continue wreaking havoc. This company had incredible potential, and I didn’t want to be the reason for its downfall.
The only person who could stop Logan was his father, Ethan Mercer.
I couldn’t discuss this over the phone–it had to be handled in person.
Which meant I needed to go to the Mercer estate.
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