Chapter 185
“Not really,” I replied as I noticed Alex waving at me from a distance.
His friendly demeanor felt less like that of a superior and more like that of a friend.
Manu
I returned his smile and turned to Ashton. “You seem to be getting along with him. It’s the first time I’ve seen an employee having lunch with their boss.”
As I spoke, Derick’s words came to mind–he’d once mentioned that the person backing Alex had the last name “Drake.” My suspicions about Ashton flared up again.
“Mr. Hall invited me to lunch to get to know me better. After all…” Ashton paused briefly before continuing, “a three–million–dollar annual salary isn’t a small sum.”
I froze, staring at him in disbelief. “Three million?”
He nodded casually, as if it were no big deal.
I couldn’t hide my shock. I hadn’t realized Ashton was that capable.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, his tone straightforward. “Don’t think I’m worth it?”
I tugged at the corners of my lips awkwardly. “No, it’s just… What was your salary at your last job?”
“Thirty thousand dollars a month.”
I was stunned into silence. Alex had offered him ten times that amount.
“Mr. Hall is… decisive,” I finally managed to say, though my tone betrayed my surprise.
Ashton chuckled. “Actually, I was the one who asked for that amount. I didn’t expect him to agree so easily.”
I couldn’t help but laugh dryly. “He must really be desperate for talent.” After a pause, I added, “But
bold to ask for that, Ashton.”
you’re preth
“That’s my worth,” he said confidently. “Besides, I need money to marry my wife.”
His words made my cheeks flush instantly.
Clearing my throat, I quickly changed the subject. “Where are you heading? I’ll drop you off.”
“What about you?” he countered.
“I’ll head back to the office after I drop you off,” I replied, trying to steer the conversation away from his
earlier comment.
“Mr. Hall said he’s given you the afternoon off so we can hang out,” Ashton said, his tone casual.
I burst out laughing. “Since when did he become so generous?”
“Ask him yourself if you don’t believe me,” Ashton said with a smirk. Just as he finished speaking, my phone vibrated with a text message from Alex, officially granting me a half–day leave.
I smiled helplessly. “Wow, Mr. Drake. You’ve got the boss granting you all sorts of privileges before you’ve even started working. Are you and Mr. Hall friends… or maybe business partners?”
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Ashton didn’t reply, instead meeting my gaze with a knowing look. His silence only fueled my suspicions, but I eventually dismissed the thought.
sull, it was strange. Alex was far too friendly with Ashton, and the investor behind his company also had the last name “Drake.” The coincidence was too glaring to ignore.
A sudden thought struck me. “Ashton, do you have any other siblings? Maybe a wealthy brother?”
“Alice in my only sibling,” he replied calmly.
I pursed my lips. “What about any rich relatives with the same last name?”
“I have relatives, but they’re just ordinary employees–far from wealthy,” he said with a shrug.
His answer felt like a dead end, leaving me no closer to the truth. Perhaps it was just a coincidence. At this point, I realized I was overthinking everything.
First, I had suspected Ethan because of the contract, and now I was doubting Ashton because Alex’s investor happened to share his last name. I felt ridiculous for letting my mind run wild.
“Did you go to the police station?” Ashton asked suddenly, breaking the silence.
I instinctively denied it. “No.”
It wasn’t a lie–I had always been an obedient person. Why would I have gone to a police station?
But then Ashton asked, “What about the molestation incident?”
My heart sank. How could I have forgotten about that?
Still, I had nothing to hide. “It was just an accusation,” I said quickly. “I didn’t molest anyone.”
“Huh?” Ashton’s eyes narrowed, and I could tell he wanted more details.
I sighed and explained the incident, blaming Kian for his ridiculous accusations. “That idiot is just a narcissist. I don’t like men like him at all,” I added.
Ashton raised an eyebrow. “What kind of man do you like, then? Someone older? Mature and calm?”
His question caught me off guard. He was unusually straightforward, and his words carried a weight that made me feel slightly flustered.
Seeing how serious he looked, I decided to tease him. Leaning closer, I smirked and said, “I like someone like you–rough and hard.”
The moment the words left my mouth, I saw him gulp, his Adam’s apple bobbing noticeably.
Satisfied with his reaction, I leaned back into my seat, only to hear him ask in a low voice, “How did
you know I’m hard?”
I froze, my face immediately turning red.
I had thought Ashton was the innocent type, but his question shattered that illusion. Beneath his calm exterior, he was a man through and through.
“Why is your face so red?” he asked, his tone teasing. His slight smirk told me he was enjoying my embarrassment.
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< Chapter 185
“You’re impossible,” I muttered under my breath, trying to regain my composure.
“Have you been drinking?” he asked suddenly, his gaze sharp.
“No!” I replied quickly, denying it outright.
Before I could say more, Ashton shouted, “Pull over!”
“Why?” I asked, startled, but obediently brought the car to a stop at the side of the road.
The moment the car stopped, Ashton leaned over toward me.
His sudden closeness made my heart race. When he tilted my face up to look at him, my breath
hitched.
“Open your mouth and blow,” he said, his voice firm yet calm.
< More Than A Favor
