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?”

eyebrow and

it’ll be a miracle if you weren’t busy. You should be supervising the work and contributions of a few

a name list that’s already been vetted. You can take a look,” Ashton advised. I flipped through the stack accordingly and located the document. Scanning through the list, nearly all of its names had

ridiculous and laughed sheepishly. “If I told you that I didn’t see it, would

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

had a sneaking suspicion that Ashton

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

him, baffled. “What kind of reward

face looked almost petulant at the moment. He

pettiness, however, and leaned towards him flirtatiously. Tiptoeing, I planted a kiss on his lips, then teased, “If we don’t manage

over. The man warmed to my proposal instantly

at him. Just then, I recalled the matter with Sally and inquired curiously, “Ashton, Mom said that she ran into Aunt Sally at the hospital. She

shook his head. “I’ve been busy lately and haven’t been to see her. She’s getting on in years, and it must be lonely for her, living on her

had lived in the White residence for years. She’d 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

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

glanced at their faces inquisitively. In the middle of the crowd, a man in his twenties was clutching a bouquet to his

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,

looked rather awkward, perhaps due to the large crowd that had gathered around them in eager anticipation of her reply. She gazed helplessly at the man

tugged at him, but Justin seemed resolute on seeing his proposal through. He gazed at her adoringly and declared, “Stella, I really do

hollering and cheering. In just a split second, a chant picked up, “Say yes,

smile that had frozen on Stella’s face faltered. It was evident now that she hadn’t been shy. 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. Why are you fooling yourself? I’ve told you this more than once already. Please leave, and don’t ever use this sort of romantic proposal to harass me ever

had imagined that that heartfelt and moving proposal would end so tragically.

Justin’s face had turned crimson with

love, never say

He looked immensely vulnerable, his heart having been promptly ripped to shreds before an entire

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

Justin hung his head, deflated. Even the vibrant bouquet he’d brandished confidently before now hung crumpled before him. Justin had bitterly wrung it in his despair. “Why? Is it

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 like that ever again, OK?” I’d only ever been exposed to the sunny, endearing side of Stella. Thus, I was rather startled to see that she was capable

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

my arm tightened

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

to face him. Gravely, he asked, “Are you

menopause?

forehead in exaggerated frustration. “I didn’t say you were old. I meant that I admired youths for their wholehearted and energetic approach

“What wholehearted and energetic things

known better than to talk about things

“Let’s not dwell on such things!

Ashton’s steel grip

and I couldn’t help but ponder.

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

bring another round of dishes. “I had to fill my stomach first before

then sidled into the seat

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

another round of dishes, and we tucked in eagerly. Ashton and John fervently discussed the state of the market between

a woman’s voice saying, “Don’t you pity

answered, “I don’t know about that, but I heard Mr. Quinn’s woman used to be with Mr. Crest. Clearly, Mr. Quinn isn’t

Fuller got tired of her too. These rich people have no morals at all. They treat

Judging by their elaborate outfits and appearance, they were probably socialites. I wasn’t part of that

by what those two women had

Mr. Crest? Jared?

ever taken a woman for a ride? Who

deep was his affection for her. Having gotten this opportunity to prove himself to her, why had Joe ended up offending

abruptly interrupted by the sound of a door being flung open. A woman dressed entirely in

looked up, then started in

in W City? Why

eyes met. A glimmer of hesitation appeared in Kristina’s gaze before she looked away. Sauntering towards the sink, she asked icily, “Don’t you think

say

for a reply. Finally, I said, “I’m not a fan

she scoffed, “Don’t act so high and mighty. You

I merely clenched my jaw and turned away. I had nothing to say to

her voice and challenged, “Haven’t we been friends for a long time, 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 can you

outlook 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. Jared isn’t good enough for her, and neither are

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. If that’s the

in Kristina’s voice.

concern off dismissively. “Nothing! I’ll be off then. See you around,

with a clack of her high heels. I remained rooted to the spot, gazing after her absently. Though unwilling, I had to admit that what Kristina had said threw me off slightly. I was

out in the hallway. Walking straight into his 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 daze. “Why are you

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

clear the thoughts that were clamoring in my brain. “It’s

sound of glass violently shattering. Ashton and I both froze and peered in. Seated around a table was a

gaped at Ashton, then whispered tentatively, “Is

pressed his lips into a