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 declared,

sighed, “These matters used to be managed by the respective heads of department. Everything’s on you now, so it’ll be a miracle if you weren’t busy. You should be supervising

stack accordingly and located the document. Scanning through the list, nearly all of its names had been nominated by the respective directors and senior

individual completely unnecessary then? I felt slightly ridiculous and laughed sheepishly. “If I told

gave me a hand, then pulled me up. “Sure. Leave it. I’ll come back to sign

that Ashton had been delaying

against the wall. In a low, hoarse whisper, he demanded, “Aren’t

at him, baffled. “What kind of reward do you

at the moment. He flung my hand

flirtatiously. Tiptoeing, I planted a kiss on his lips, then teased, “If we don’t manage to

was, Ashton was easily won over. The man warmed to my proposal instantly and grinned. “Now that’s

“Ashton, Mom said that she ran into Aunt Sally at the hospital. She sounds like she’s seeing someone now. Have you been in touch with her

lately and haven’t been to 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 have someone keep her

spent her days fighting with Sharon when she wasn’t caring for Benjamin, then had been greatly troubled by Marcus. All these years, Sally had never had the chance to do anything for herself. If Sally had indeed managed to find someone

Streams of employees getting off work flowed ceaselessly through the lobby. Many lingered leisurely around

the middle of the crowd, a man in his twenties was clutching a bouquet to his chest.

was in the middle of a proposal, and further examination revealed the object of his affections to be Stella. I was a firm believer in the magic of youth, and it was

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 this back at

adoringly and declared, “Stella, I really do love you! Say yes, and I promise I’ll take care

and cheering. In just a split second, a chant picked

She was merely embarrassed at having been placed in this difficult spot. While surveying her surroundings, Stella’s eyes fell upon me. She gulped, then turned back to Justin, stating, “Justin, I don’t understand why you would propose to me. You know that I don’t love you and naturally won’t agree.

and moving proposal would end so tragically. A hush fell over the crowd, and

kneeling, Justin’s face had turned crimson with

never say never chapter

say that the last time,” Justin finally managed uncertainly. He looked immensely vulnerable, his heart having been

did you want me to say, then? I thought I’d refused you obviously enough. Couldn’t you

hung crumpled before him. Justin had bitterly wrung it in his despair. “Why? Is it because

reasons! 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 don’t embarrass me

years at university, no one has ever confessed their love to me so grandly before. It

grip on my arm tightened slightly.

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

Gravely, he asked, “Are you tired of me because I’m

approaching menopause? I wondered

didn’t say you were old. I meant that I admired youths for their wholehearted and energetic approach

“What wholehearted

better than to talk

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

from Ashton’s

and I couldn’t help but ponder. Does Stella already have someone she loves? Is that why

and was midway through his meal. Looking at the half-eaten dishes spread out over the table, as well

of dishes. “I had to fill my stomach first before the sight of

wordlessly at John, then sidled into the seat opposite

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

The waiter laid out another round of 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

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 current partner’s cheating on her. She’s

Crest. Clearly, Mr. Quinn isn’t too picky. After all,

forget, Rebecca was tossed aside after Mr. Fuller got tired of her too. These rich people have no morals at all. They treat

my 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 didn’t like

bothered by what

Mr. Crest? Jared?

woman for a ride?

However, Joe was practically groveling at Rebecca’s feet, so deep was his affection for her. Having gotten this opportunity to prove himself to her, why had Joe ended up

being

automatically looked up, then started in

W City? Why did she come

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

say

aback by Kristina’s sudden confrontation and grasped for a reply. Finally, I said, “I’m

dried her hands and leaned against the sink, her arms akimbo. Gazing intently at me, she scoffed, “Don’t act so high and mighty. You were clearly eavesdropping.

jaw and turned away. I had nothing to

Scarlett? Why are you in such a hurry to leave? Since we’ve bumped into each other, let’s spend some time catching up. How

your life peacefully. Stop interfering in others’ business! Besides, Summer is my daughter. Jared isn’t good enough for her, and neither are you. If you do anything to her, I guarantee that you’ll spend the rest

her head back and guffawed. “Are you threatening me now? I’m not interested in Summer. I was merely trying to be kind and remind you that things aren’t that simple. I thought Jared would confess everything to you at least, but it seems now that he fully intended on keeping you in the dark.

Kristina’s

concern off dismissively. “Nothing! I’ll be off then.

that what Kristina had said threw me off slightly. I was still taking our conversation apart and puzzling it over in my head as

arms, I gave a loud yelp, but it was already muffled by his broad arms and chest encircling me. I then looked up at him in a slight

brushed my hair aside tenderly. “I was worried that something had happened to you, so

my head vigorously, partially to clear the thoughts that were clamoring in my brain. “It’s nothing. I ran into someone I know. Let’s go back and continue

As we walked past a private room, there 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 young people,

at Ashton, then

into a thin line but