Never Too Far Novel

Chapter 321

Anastasia opened her closet, and next to the neat suits was a row of dresses. She rarely wore dresses, but the handful that she had were definitely capable of stealing the show.

In the end, she had chosen a tight, long-sleeved gray polka dot dress with a form-fitting waistline and a nice ruffled hem that accentuated her exquisite body figure.

Since having her son, she had not been dressed like this for a long time as her daily outfit consisted mostly of T-shirts and jeans.

At around 6.00PM, the entire staff from the Department of Design had arrived and all of them were well-dressed for the party. The ladies, in particular, were vying for the limelight to flaunt their beauty, and Alice was no exception. Although Aliona would be the center of attention at the party, they might also have a chance to be seen by Elliot.

The daily office outfits were no longer their battlefield. On the contrary, tonight was the perfect time to present a different side of themselves.

Aliona was the first to arrive and her appearance was particularly eye-catching. Those familiar with international fashion trends could recognize immediately that the sequined pearl dress she was wearing was the Chanel show’s latest fashion. Aside from that, people had also noticed the branded wristwatch and the necklace she was wearing. It was without a doubt that Aliona was the star of the show.

“Aliona, your watch is stunning. It must be exorbitant.” Someone tried to flatter Aliona.

“Not really,” Aliona replied with a gentle smile as she settled in her seat and the empty seat next to her must be reserved for Elliot.

People who already knew the price, like Alice, wouldn’t have to ask because this wristwatch was a limited edition, with only a few available in the country.

People who already knew the price, like Alice, wouldn’t have to ask because this wristwatch was a limited edition, with only a few available in the country.

It was obvious that Aliona came from a wealthy family background, and her purpose to enter the company was not to compete with her but to secure a rich husband like Elliot.

“What do you guys know? This is a limited edition and it is not available for the general public,” Alice said, intending to earn a good impression in front of Aliona.

Aliona said nothing but smiled as Alice’s flattering had worked on her. Riley had raised her with extravagance , so all of the food that she ate and the clothes that she wore had to be the best.

And to repay her godfather, she was to take down the Presgrave Group by marrying Elliot.

At this moment, Anastasia had arrived at the entrance and people’s attention was drawn to her. When she saw Felicia waving at her, she naturally walked toward Felicia and took a seat next to her.

What a coincidence; Anastasia’s seat was the exact opposite of Aliona’s.

“Hi, Anastasia. You have finally arrived,” Aliona greeted politely.

“I’m late. Sorry about that,” Anastasia apologized to everyone in the room. Under the lights, she lightly stroked her hair that was resting on her chest and that movement emanated an amorous atmosphere that stunned them for a moment.

Even if Anastasia seemed pitiful after being abandoned by Elliot, there was no doubt that she could marry into the purple with her gorgeous face.

Everyone had been used to the way she dressed in the workplace, so they never expected her to be as charming as a dazzling diamond after she was dressed up.

At that moment, Aliona’s heart skipped a beat as Anastasia had given her a great sense of crisis tonight.

The fact that Anastasia was here would most likely undermine Aliona’s presence, which was detrimental to her plan.

“Excuse me. I will be back in a moment,” Anastasia said to Felicia and walked toward the restroom.

Seeing that, Aliona’s expression changed. Then, she got up and headed toward the restroom as well.

Anastasia was slightly startled when she saw Aliona’s figure reflected in the mirror while washing her hands in the restroom.”

Aliona raised her head and brushed her long hair with her fingers to reveal her slender wrist with the branded wristwatch. Then, her red lips parted as she said, “Anastasia, out of goodwill, I think you will be better off leaving the party.”

Right then, Anastasia’s hand washing movement halted. She raised her head to glance at Aliona from the mirror and their eyes were locked on each other.

In that instant, Anastasia could sense the animosity that was coming from Aliona.

“Miss Dora, what do you mean by that?” Anastasia asked as she squinted her eyes.

Aliona crossed her arms and turned to face Anastasia. Her gaze looked intimidating. “Don’t you understand what I said? There will be a lot of affectionate interactions between me and President Presgrave tonight. I’m afraid that you can’t handle it,” she bragged.

Chapter 322

In order to drive Anastasia away, Aliona did not mind revealing her dark side as she was threatened by Anastasia’s beauty.

Anastasia stopped for a split second before discovering that this seemingly sweet and harmless girl had a dark side. “You two may go ahead and show off your affection. It won’t affect me.”

She elegantly caressed her long hair in the mirror and intended to leave.

When Aliona realized that Anastasia refused to leave the party, she reached out with her hand and clasped Anastasia’s wrist. Aliona narrowed her eyes and warned, “Anastasia Tillman. I hope that you can leave so you don’t disturb me and Elliot.”

That in itself was already a threat.

Anastasia blinked her eyes a few times and abruptly broke free from Aliona’s hands. “Don’t worry, I won’t disturb the two of you,” she stated.

“Elliot’s eyes are only on me now. Why do you need to be here and make a fool of yourself? So many people are watching!” The mockery in Aliona’s eyes intensified as she had always felt malice toward Anastasia and now, there was no need to hide them.

The old saying is right. Never judge a book by its cover. I learned my lesson here. “Miss Dora, are you lacking in self-confidence? Are you afraid that I’ll steal Elliot’s heart?” Anastasia smirked. She wanted Aliona to understand that she was not a pushover.

“Since you are so shameless and insist on staying at my welcome party, I can only say that you have thick skin.” Aliona snickered, intending to provoke her.

Anastasia was completely speechless. Shameless? Thick skin? Me?

“The cost of this dinner comes under the Department of Design’s expenses, and as a member of the said department, I am entitled to enjoy this benefit,” Anastasia retorted as she arched her eyebrow. Then, she pushed the door open and left the restroom.

After Anastasia left, Aliona bit her lips in annoyance as she had never thought that Anastasia was nobody’s fool.

After Anastasia returned to her seat, she pretended that nothing had happened.

“I just received a call from President Presgrave. He wants us to proceed with the dinner first,” Felicia whispered to Anastasia.

Hearing that, Anastasia froze for a second. So, he is not going to show up?

Soon after, Aliona had also returned to her seat. Her eyes were locked with Anastasia’s and there seemed to be an invisible war going on in the atmosphere. Since Aliona had exposed her true self, there will be no need for fake politeness toward Anastasia.

Is Elliot aware of Aliona’s hidden side? Anastasia thought to herself. Anyway, it was not something she should be concerned about.

It was up to him to decide what kind of woman he was going to marry.

Right then, the food was served.

“Since President Presgrave has yet to arrive, I will welcome Aliona on behalf of our Department of Design. Cheers to everyone,” Felicia stated as she stood up and held her cup.

Anastasia followed Felicia’s lead and held her cup while she glanced at Aliona, who did not hide her gaze.

The long table that held more than twenty people was full of dishes and desserts as everyone had started to eat.

While everyone was eating, Aliona gave Anastasia a malice gaze and took out her phone to dial Elliot’s number. When the other end answered, she asked in a deliberately affectionate tone, “Why haven’t you come yet, Elliot? We’re all waiting for you!”

Anastasia, who sat across from Aliona, could hear everything she said on the phone. After she heard the phone conversation, she couldn’t help but reach for her wine glass and took two sips depressingly.

“Don’t drink too much.” Felicia leaned over and reminded her in her ear.

Only then did Anastasia realize she had almost finished the whole glass of wine. She looked at Felicia and gratefully nodded.

Ten minutes later, the waiter’s greeting voice had drawn everyone’s attention to the main entrance.

Elliot was late, but no one said anything. Under the lights, they could see that he was dressed neatly in a black shirt with suit pants and he walked elegantly toward their table.

The lights had cast a dark shade on his body, which made him look colder and indifferent.

“Sorry for keeping everyone waiting,” Elliot apologized. Then, he gazed around and found the empty seat next to Aliona, so he walked to the seat directly.

However, when he noticed Anastasia was sitting across the table, his deep eyes flashed for a few seconds of consternation. She is surprisingly attractive and amorous tonight. Did she dress up specially?

A faint smile flickered in Elliot’s eyes as if he could see through her intention to dress up beautifully.

Chapter 323

Anastasia’s long locks were swept to one side as she glared into his ocean eyes. Her own eyes looked as though there were stars in them as they reflected the light on the room.

She also looked like a red rose that had emerged from a bed of snow—despite how thorny she was, she was a beauty that no one could resist.

Elliot’s mood began to fluctuate violently because he could feel how strong her jealousy was.

“You are late, Elliot. Your punishment is to drink a glass.” Aliona immediately brought a glass of red wine in front of him, and she smiled sweetly as she propped her chin in her hands.

“That is right! President Presgrave, you have to show us!” Alice was also fanning the flames.

Without saying a word, he picked up the wine glass and elegantly drank its content in one gulp. The light shone on the buttons of his French cuff shirt as the dark gemstones flashed a deep blue color.

In short, he was elegant, extravagant and fatally charming.

Anastasia’s eyes were half-lidded as she gloomily brought her beer to her mouth. Everyone was watching the man across from her drinking as a punishment, but all she wanted to do was drink by herself.

While remaining in the same pose as earlier, Aliona was looking at him with eyes full of admiration. Elliot, on the other hand, was enjoying the punishment in front of everyone.

The entire scene was an eyesore for Anastasia.

Is my glass extremely small? Why is the glass empty after just a few sips? she thought grumpily. She could only pour herself another glass before bringing it to her lips again. Without Felicia noticing, half of Anastasia’s beer bottle had already been emptied.

“Elliot, have something to eat!” After Aliona finished speaking, she reached over to place some food on his plate.

The man, however, only responded in a low voice, “I will do it myself.”

Aliona could feel her heart jolt upon hearing his cold words. She didn’t dare act casually with him after that. As Elliot took his fork to eat, his gaze shifted to the woman across from him who was moodily downing one drink after another.

Anastasia’s eyes were fixated on one spot, but her drinking never ceased once.

At that sight, Elliot furrowed his eyebrows when he saw it and he reminded her, “Anastasia, don’t drink too much.”

glass full of beer and raised it in his direction before she gulped it at one go again. After she drank it, she clicked her tongue and he could tell from her gaze that she didn’t

angry at her because it

some sort of special relationship!” Alice brought

these were the kinds of topics Aliona liked

put down her glass and she smilingly boasted, “To tell you the truth, my dad and Elliot’s father have been good

surprised when they heard her words. None of them had expected her to come

father’s good friend meant that Elliot and Aliona were definitely

was sitting aside, quietly let out a relieved breath and was glad that she had not told Hayley about this. If not, May was sure

of Elliot’s admirers, and that she had not secured the position as Mrs. Presgrave. Seems like

joy in Aliona’s eyes only went up a few notches when she turned to

didn’t directly meet her gaze, she could feel how Aliona felt,

about work that you don’t know from

had indeed fancied this colleague of hers, so she said

look at Anastasia who looked

up from the seat instead of answering

go with you,” a worried Felicia offered after noticing that

how she didn’t realize it when Anastasia had drunk so

pushed her way into a private room along the corridor. The private room was empty because

against the door frame for support, Felicia quickly

Chapter 324

answered with a nod of her head. All she wanted now was to have her own

like this, Felicia couldn’t help but feel bad for her. “There is no need for you to do this

fine.” Anastasia forced herself

phone on the table suddenly rang. Elliot took a glance and

words on the screen—Mr.

As he was annoyed to see the name, he unhesitantly rejected

the opportunity to save his own face as a password to her phone. Now that

have a dinner event. Did you drink alcohol? Do

hint of displeasure flashed across the bottom of his eyes.

‘Tell me your address.

at the screen of the phone and he eventually

was sitting beside him, noticed how the man’s handsome face

he would allow another man to take

to send her back,

is wrong, Elliot?” Aliona asked as she pretended to

only

Anastasia started to feel tipsy as the alcohol slowly took effect in

She raised her blurry gaze and pleaded in

go! I don’t want to

they exited the private room, Felicia had her wait by the exit while she went back to inform the rest of them. She also went to

will be sending her home. Enjoy the rest of your evening, everyone.” She then turned to Elliot. “President Presgrave, we

squinted eyes, only to see that the beer bottles in front of her were all empty. Darn

and it was difficult for her to even stand. Felicia had to hold Anastasia to make

his car keys and Anastasia’s phone in his big palms as he announced, “Enjoy the meal. I am

and she tried to call

diminishing number on top of the elevator, he panicked as the expression overtook his stoicism and he rushed down the

the dining table immediately changed after that. Everyone was

knew who exactly Elliot had

might be the

who knew that he didn’t have the slightest bit of interest in her despite the crazed rumors that had been going around

Elliot hadn’t done anything to control the rumors if he still cared about Anastasia. It was at that moment when a thought dawned on her. Is he

figured it out—she had been

carry the wasted Anastasia across the dimly lit car park. A man’s deep voice soon rang out from behind. “Please

turned her head to the sound of the voice and she saw Elliot walking toward them with his car key in his hand. He then unlocked the doors of his

Chapter 325

“President Presgrave, please

voice. Then, he opened the door to the driver’s

car. She already knew that he

her forehead in her hand to suppress the excruciating headache as she said in the direction of the driver’s seat. “Felicia, take me to any nearby hotel. I don’t want to go

son to see her in such a terrible mood and if they did, she would be grateful to just not

driver’s seat, “Is anyone taking care

is home,” she obediently

car moved, she quickly

long fingers and sent Francis a message in her

didn’t have to worry about her

her right mind, but she was still capable of thinking and emotions. She started to mumble in her drunken state toward the driver, “Felicia,

behind his back, but he soon tilted his head toward her and asked, “So, do you like him? Or do

him.” Her voice sounded like

behaved and he tried probing again, “You are telling me that you hate him even though you are drunk

drink because of him… I would be an idiot for liking him…” she mumbled

He can like whoever the hell

had no clue where she was. The car was only filled with sounds that sounded like ‘b*stard’, ‘trash’

to have fallen asleep

I must have

came to another red light stop, he turned to look at the sprawled out figure in his backseat before he sighed. “I am sorry. This is all my fault. I shouldn’t

the Mansons, and as soon as he carried the drunk woman into the hotel lobby in his arms, the manager of the hotel immediately gave them access to the presidential

of hair on her forehead. Then, he pressed a kiss on her forehead. “Sleep

her glassy

Her head had been so occupied with him these 2 days that

dreams anymore.” After saying that, she reached out to slap herself on her forehead a

slapping herself and he quickly pulled her into his

you hitting yourself

tinted with a pinkish hue due to the alcohol. His mind was giving him ideas as his

was when he couldn’t lay his

fiery-tempered woman would probably snap his neck first thing the next morning if he were to touch her without

Chapter 326

his torso until his face was less than 2 inches away from Anastasia before he said in a hushed voice, “I was wrong, Anastasia. Can you please forgive me? I don’t like Aliona. I

clench teeth, her red

his palms. “I am not lying.” His

handsome features on his face, she couldn’t help but acknowledge the reason why so many women fell for him. He had a face that no one could ever get tired

quicken as he looked at her. His gaze then fell to her slightly quivering pink and pouty lips. They looked like they were quietly inviting him to

that he had always been proud of disappeared in a puff of smoke. He didn’t want to hold back any longer and he started listening to his heart as he slowly leaned in. The woman dazedly blinked at him before a sudden

started to painfully hurl her dinner

quickly gave her gentle pats on

he wondered if he was so visually unappetizing that she started puking after

She puked so much that there was bile after she had emptied her

gave the front desk a call to inform them to

the procedure and when the other suite was ready for them to

Anastasia change rooms, and they couldn’t help but silently exclaim about how handsome and sculpted he was.

bathroom of the presidential suite before he brought the woman on the sofa

her barely conscious mind, she was somewhat aware that she was soaking in warm water one second and in a soft bed the next. She was

predatory eyes. Even though Anastasia was covered with

be Aliona—was going to lose sleep tonight. Not only did she fail to seduce Elliot, she was stupid enough to reveal her hidden

so thirsty that she called out to no one and nothing in particular. “Water… I

he strutted over to the bed. After hearing what she wanted, he quickly brought a glass of warm water and fed it to her

entire time. After drinking the water, she suddenly leaned into the warmth of his embrace as she wrapped her arms around his waist. She then buried her face into his chest as

down and caressed her long locks before he lowered his head to kiss her on the

for the rest of the night until the first

brightness in her eyelids, she let out

she slowly looked up. She

felt as if she had been electrified in that instant. She

come to the hotel with Felicia? Why

into a bathrobe. She didn’t feel like she

white lie, Elliot answered, “You threw up last night. You were changed out of

when a strong arm carried her into the

Chapter 327

Anastasia that he was the

chest and questioned him with suspicious eyes, “Why are you in my room? Where

rest. I am in charge of taking care of you now,” he

sharp gaze then darted to the bathrobe he had on before her heart seemed to come to a stop for a moment. “You…” she stuttered. “Why are

panicked. Did Elliot

then. “You threw

cheeks started heating up. She did vaguely remember puking, but she

no choice but to believe Elliot for

chided him as she turned to look the other way. “I don’t need you to take

me that has been going around these 2 days.” He

to spare him the time of her day for him

Elliot continued to say, “Would you believe me if I were to tell you that the

her bathrobe tightened at that and she let out a smile. From him giving flowers with a pair of couple’s bracelets to Aliona to him walking out of a restaurant with her, how could any of what she had seen with her own eyes be

the whole night, but I don’t care who is involved in the rumors regarding you. I am going home now.” Anastasia started looking

Elliot stood up and grabbed her by her wrist, and the

red with anger as she looked at the relentless man.

before you hear out,” he commandingly interrupted as his arms tightened around

teeth as she gritted, “Do I

then. Why did you pick up Jared with Alex on Wednesday? Have I ever crossed your mind when you were spending time alone and flirting

expected him to

placed her phone on silent when he called. She didn’t call him back after that because she didn’t see

see us. I purposely called you to my office

started the rumors just because of that one time Alex and I picked

for a full minute, she was suddenly curious about the whereabouts of the other bracelet. “Did

on the forehead at that moment. “It is in my

she asked, shocked. Isn’t it supposed

you has the right to wear a couple’s jewelry with me?” His dark eyes were looking

appeared on Elliot’s face. “Why did

drink because I want to?” After having been found out, Anastasia meekly

was back in his embrace a second