In Love, Never Say Never

Ashton grazed me gently on my nose. “Remember the last time he came to find you?”

I was reminded of the dinner I had with John at La Morera some time back. Not only did he get drunk, but he got Ashton drunk as well. I had assumed his moodiness was due to a couple’s fight with Hannah, so I did not probe any further.

Now that I thought about it, it was probably more than that. “Wait. Are you saying, John is not coming home not because he’s looking for help but he’s avoiding Hannah?”

“You’re heading in the right direction. Continue.”

“And since John and Hannah are not on the best of terms now, he probably wouldn’t have mentioned Uncle Louis’ news to her. This means that someone must have told Hannah about it. That person must have known she would call me for help. Naturally, I would…”

Ashton looked at me with admiration. “Looks like your brain does have some merit.”

I pursed my lips in annoyance. “That doesn’t sound like a compliment. Anyway, who exactly is going in such a roundabout manner to get us?”

He looked at me with his obsidian eyes.

“It’s the Murphys, isn’t it?”

“Smart girl!”

Knowing all this, I decided to give John a call. After that conversation with Hannah, I did not expect my call to go through. To my surprise, he answered.

“How rare is this? I thought you were having so much fun, you’ve forgotten about me.”

I chuckled at his childish remark. “I was busy with a few things. Hannah called. She told me about Uncle Louis. Are you all right?”

“Why’d she call you? There’s no need to meddle in Uncle Louis’ affair.” His voice was evidently annoyed.

“I understand. But did something happen between you and Hannah?” I could tell it was beyond a regular lovers’ quarrel.

“What else? It’s just the usual problem. Are you free tonight? Let’s go grab dinner together. I’ve been so bored by myself recently, I need someone to talk to.”

Beneath his playfulness, I could detect some weariness in his voice. “All right. Let’s have dinner together.”

“Great! I’ll text you the address.” With that, he hung up the call.

I turned to Ashton, smiling. “Shall we eat out tonight?”

“You promised him?”

I nodded.

He remained silent, which I presumed was a yes.

Right then, someone knocked on the office door. Ashton responded, “Come in!” Meanwhile, I went to his private restroom to pick a jacket for later.

“Mr. Fuller, we’ve just received some documents from Mr. Campbell. There are a few that require your endorsement. I’ll mail it back to him first thing tomorrow.”

“All right.”

After some moments of silence, I thought the secretary had left the room. To my surprise, she spoke again, “Mr. Fuller, here is an employee promotion name list compiled by the HR department. They need your approval for this. If there are any issues, you can leave a note on it.”

“Ok.” Like before, Ashton was curt with his reply.

I waited for her to leave before exiting the private restroom. While holding on to my jacket, I looked at Ashton working fast on his documents. “Do you have to finish all these by today?”

He nodded. “It’s not a lot. We’ll meet John for dinner once I’m done.”

Noticing how thick the folders were, I almost suggested going by myself, but I swallowed my words back. Then I went over to his side and picked up the name list on his desk. Seeing the few thousand over names left me speechless.

“So much for being the chairperson. How are you going to look through so many names?”

He took a glance at the list before saying, “Help me look through and circle those who have worked with us for less than three years. As for the rest, check and see whether they’ve met the promotion criteria.”

“Isn’t this a bit too careless? Although some of them haven’t worked long in Fuller Corporation, they’ve displayed exemplary performance. Shouldn’t we give those people special consideration?”

“I’ll leave it to you!”

“I…”

“After settling these, do you think I’ll still have energy left to go through every single name on the list?” It was obvious he was counting on me for this.

I pursed my lips, unable to deny his words. In the first place, I did agree to help him out. Now that he needed my assistance, there was no reason for me to reject.

In love, never say never chapter 917

A request for promotion lay among the stack of promotion documents. I opened it and read Stella’s name written boldly on it. Stella wrote in a sincere, flowing manner, carefully detailing her experience at the Fuller Corporation as well as the expectations that had been placed on her. I noticed that Stella had occupied her position for barely more than a year. However, in all her time at Fuller Corporation, she had not produced any particularly outstanding work. After careful consideration, I set Stella’s request aside.

After a while, Ashton turned to me once he’d completed all his tasks on hand. He glanced at the pile of promotion letters with interest, then picked up Stella’s cast aside one and gave it a casual once-over. Ashton then commented, “There’s no need to take this so seriously. We’ve had no lack of remarkable employees. It’s not even in the criteria for promotion anymore.’

I nodded, then looked at him curiously. “Have you been very busy lately?”

an eyebrow and

heads of department. Everything’s on you now, so it’ll be a miracle if you weren’t busy. You should

stack accordingly and located the document. Scanning through the list, nearly all of

slightly ridiculous and laughed sheepishly.

then pulled me up. “Sure. Leave it. I’ll come back to sign these

that Ashton had been

we entered the elevator, Ashton pressed me against the wall. In a low, hoarse whisper, he

blinked at him, baffled. “What kind of reward do you want?”

the moment.

was used to his pettiness, however, and leaned towards him flirtatiously. Tiptoeing, I planted a kiss on his lips, then teased, “If we don’t manage to do it here, I’ll compensate you

man warmed to my proposal instantly

with Sally and inquired curiously, “Ashton, Mom said that she ran into Aunt Sally at the hospital. She

see her. She’s getting on in years, and it must be lonely for her, living on her own. It would be good for her to

Marcus. All these years, Sally had never had the chance to do anything for herself. If Sally had indeed managed to find someone to enjoy the rest

me out of it. Streams of employees getting off work flowed ceaselessly through the lobby. Many lingered leisurely around the front counter, chatting

a man in his twenties was clutching a bouquet to his chest. With one knee on the ground, both his posture and face

object of his affections to be Stella. I was a

to the large crowd that had gathered around them in eager anticipation of her reply. She gazed helplessly at the man who was still kneeling hopefully before her, then said in a low voice, “Justin, can we discuss

declared, “Stella, I really do love you!

crowd was hollering and cheering. In just a split second, a

Justin, stating, “Justin, I don’t understand why you would propose to me. You know that I don’t love you and

that heartfelt and moving proposal would end so tragically. A hush fell over the

face had

love, never say

didn’t say that the last time,” Justin finally managed uncertainly. He looked immensely vulnerable, his heart having

looked at him coldly. “What else did you want me to say, then?

vibrant bouquet he’d brandished confidently before now hung crumpled before him. Justin had bitterly

I don’t love you. It has nothing to do with your money or your abilities at all. I don’t love you, pure and simple. You can go now. I’m begging you, please

of the lobby, then sighed longingly. “After so many years at university, no one has ever confessed their love to me so grandly before. It only works if the person you’re proposing to love you back, of course. But I rather like this heady rush of emotions and

grip on my arm tightened

of these youths. Since we’ve gotten older, I haven’t been feeling many strong bursts of

Ashton pulled me to face him. Gravely, he asked,

Ashton approaching menopause? I wondered

“I didn’t say you were old. I meant that I admired youths for their wholehearted and energetic approach to life. I’ve been motivated to live my days in the same way, rather than always dragging my feet around. Ugh… Stop

an eyebrow at me. “What wholehearted and

should have known better than to talk about things like romance with an old pedant like

I laughed a little too brightly. “Let’s not dwell on such things! It’s getting late, and John

then wrenched my hand away from Ashton’s steel

however. Stella’s blushing, rosy face resurfaced in my mind, and I couldn’t help but ponder. Does Stella already have someone she loves? Is that why she

his meal. Looking at the half-eaten dishes spread out over the table, as well as the nearly empty bottle of wine, I cried ruefully, “Mr. Stovall, you’re really

in amusement and sniggered. Then he called for a waiter to bring another round of dishes. “I had to fill my stomach first before the sight of you two behaving all

shook my head wordlessly at John, then sidled into the seat opposite

filled Ashton’s glass with wine, then answered, “There’s no concrete evidence. His superiors are biased against him. Uncle Louis has always lived an open, honest life. All the ammunition that those green-eyed monsters have against him are their own baseless rumors. There’s nothing for them to uncover. Uncle Louis should be able to

dishes, and we tucked in eagerly. Ashton and John fervently discussed the state of the market between glasses of wine. I had planned on asking John about his relationship with

rose to go to the bathroom. When I emerged from the stall, I heard a woman’s voice saying, “Don’t you pity Rebecca? Her ex-boyfriend got stolen from her, and now her

Crest. Clearly, Mr. Quinn isn’t too picky. After all, he’s even willing to accept his friend’s hand-me-downs! It’s strange,

right. Don’t forget, Rebecca was tossed aside after Mr. Fuller got tired of her too. These rich people have no morals at all. They treat women and

brow, looking over at those two women airily gossiping away. Judging by their elaborate outfits and appearance, they were probably socialites. I wasn’t part of that circle and naturally

was bothered by what those two women had just

Mr. Crest? Jared?

woman

Joe was practically groveling at Rebecca’s feet, so deep was his affection for

being flung open. A

looked up, then

in W City? Why did she come

she looked away. Sauntering towards the sink, she asked icily, “Don’t you think

never say

aback by Kristina’s sudden confrontation and grasped for a reply. Finally, I said, “I’m not a fan of getting involved in other people’s

arms akimbo. Gazing intently at me, she scoffed, “Don’t act so high and mighty. You were clearly eavesdropping. If you want to

I merely clenched my jaw and turned away. I

each other, let’s spend some time catching up. How can you walk off like that? By the way, how’s Jared’s daughter doing? He’s been in prison for a while now. His daughter

on life is like. I know, however, that we’re not the same. Since you’ve already found someone, please live out the rest of your life peacefully. Stop interfering in others’ business! Besides, Summer is my daughter.

confess everything to you at least, but it seems now that he fully intended on keeping you in the dark. If that’s the case, I’ll keep my mouth

Kristina’s voice. Bemused,

off dismissively. “Nothing! I’ll be

had to admit that what Kristina had said threw me off slightly. I was still

straight into his arms, I gave a loud yelp, but it was already muffled by his broad arms and chest encircling me. I

“I was worried that something had happened

thoughts that were clamoring in my brain. “It’s nothing. I ran into someone I know.

suddenly came the sound of glass violently shattering. Ashton and I both froze and peered in. Seated around a table was a group of middle-aged

at Ashton, then

lips into a thin line but