More Than A Favor
Chapter 164
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Seeing him like that, I set my teacup down and walked over to the window. “Ashton, I know you must have discovered something too. That’s why you don’t want me involved–it’s dangerous. But this involves my parents, and I can’t just stay out of it.”
I glanced out at the moonlight. “I’m not reckless. I can take care of myself. Besides, you’re here with me, aren’t you?”
Ashton looked over at me. After a brief silence, he finally said, “You’re just as stubborn as you were when you were a kid.”
I smiled at his words and turned to face him. “Ashton, you’ve known who I am for a while, haven’t you? Did you approach me just to investigate your father’s death?”
His brows furrowed. “Is that what you think?”
“Yes.”
He opened his mouth as if to respond, but instead, a helpless smile crossed his face. “Is my charm really that insignificant to you?”
I blinked, not quite understanding what he meant. “What?”
“Heartless,” Ashton muttered under his breath. Then he stepped away from the window and said, “Finish your tea and go to sleep.”
“And you? What are you going to do?” I asked, surprised at myself for blurting out another question li that.
Without turning back, he walked into his bedroom. Just before closing the door, he replied, “Read.”
I stared at the closed door for a moment before shaking my head with a small smile. Finishing the tea, I glanced at the cartoon cup he had bought just for me and gave it a quick kiss before heading back to my room.
Once there, I lay down on the couch and sent Caleb a text to let him know I was home.
The next morning, I woke up early, did some yoga, and made myself a cup of coffee before accepting Jeremy’s friend request.
I figured he was probably still asleep, so I wasn’t worried about getting a message from him right
away.
When I arrived at the Hueton Corporation, Alex was already there. He gave me a curious look but didn’t say anything.
I hadn’t been in the office for a few days, and as a result, there was a pile of work waiting for me. I worked straight through the morning, sorting everything out before noon.
When I finally stood up, stretching and preparing to head to the cafeteria for lunch, Alex knocked on my door. “Ms. Hart, care to have lunch together?”
It was obvious he had something on his mind. His gaze wasn’t exactly subtle.
I gave him a polite smile. “Sure.”
As we sat down, Alex glanced at the food on my plate and commented, “Why are you eating so little?
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Are you on a diet? Your figure is perfect as it is. You really shouldn’t lose any more weight. Women who are too thin don’t look good.”
Even though Alex was the boss of the Hueton Corporation and carried a commanding presence with most people, he seemed oddly eager to please me. It was almost as if he was afraid of saying the wrong thing.
Looking at the food on my plate, I suddenly thought of Ashton’s cooking. “I’m not on a diet. My taste buds have just been spoiled,” I admitted.
“What?” Alex looked momentarily confused. Then, as if recalling something, he nodded knowingly. “Ah, I see.”
He probably assumed that growing up at the Mercer estate had made me accustomed to luxurious meals.
What he didn’t realize was that it was Ashton who had spoiled me.
As I thought about how Ashton had mentioned cooking something special tonight, I found myself looking forward to dinner. The food in front of me suddenly seemed utterly unappetizing.
“How about I take you out for a proper meal?” Alex offered enthusiastically.
I quickly declined, shaking my head. “No, no, that’s not necessary.” I picked up a small bite of food to emphasize my point.
Alex wasn’t deterred. “Ms. Hart, may I ask… that gentleman you were with yesterday–is he really yo.. boyfriend?”
Ah, so that explained the strange looks he had been giving me all morning. I thought about Ashton’s earlier assessment of Alex and couldn’t help but smile faintly. “What did you think of him?”
Alex hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully. “He seems fine, but he doesn’t strike me as someone who could give you a real sense of security.”
I took a sip of my soup, letting his comment hang in the air. Alex continued, “A delicate and beautiful woman like you should be with someone… tougher.”
His description of a “tougher” man immediately brought Ashton to mind. I also thought about what Caleb had mentioned before–Alex’s friend with the last name Drake, who had invested heavily in his
b.company.
I looked at Alex with a thoughtful expression. “When you say ‘tough,‘ what exactly do you mean? Do you happen to know someone like that, Mr. Hall?”
Alex cleared his throat, seeming slightly flustered. “It’s hard to explain. It’s about presence–someone who’s strong and upright, someone who commands attention. Like… like the men you see on TV.”
He pointed to the large screen in the cafeteria, where a news channel was showing footage of flag bearers standing tall in perfect military formation. Their postures were rigid, their expressions fierce and resolute.
I couldn’t help but think of Ashton again. Alex’s words seemed almost like a deliberate hint.
I mulled it over. “Is his last name Drake? A tough man? A soldier–like presence? Isn’t that Ashton?”
