Never Too Far Novel

Chapter 331

Anastasia arrived at a conclusion with that: Never get involved with a man without thinking it through. Or else, she would end up being the one suffering.

A knock on her door came before she could even start with her work. Aliona, who was clad in an all-white suit, then walked in as she enthusiastically said to Anastasia seated at the desk, “Anastasia, I want to have a chat with you.”

Knowing that this was a mere act Aliona was putting on, Anastasia crossed her arms as she stated with her eyebrow raised, “There is nothing you and I have to talk about.”

“Anastasia, I would like to apologize for saying the thing I did before. I am really sorry for hurting you by saying something so out of line. Can you please forgive me for my ignorance and impudence?” Aliona apologized to save her image. At the very least, she didn’t want to be on bad terms with Anastasia.

It all only seemed like a bad joke to Anastasia. She knew that there was no sincerity in Aliona’s apology as the woman was merely apologizing because she was afraid that Anastasia would tell Elliot the truth.

“I accept your apology,” Anastasia said indifferently. “You can leave my office now.”

“If you accept my apology, this also means that you won’t tell Elliot what happened between us, right?” Aliona had her palms pressed against the surface of the desk, her gaze staring holes into Anastasia. “I beg of you, please don’t tell him about us.”

This was Aliona’s only reason for admitting defeat—she wanted to maintain that innocent mask of hers in front of Elliot.

Anastasia’s raised eyebrow went slightly higher at that. “So, you don’t actually want my forgiveness? You are only scared that I will tell him the truth, huh?”

“I was only against you because I love Elliot too much! I am not usually someone like that,” Aliona tried her best to explain herself.

However, Anastasia had no intention to accept her insincere apology. She answered, “This is not a good reason for you to verbally attack me.”

Aliona looked at her with sharp eyes when she heard that. “Anastasia,” she coldly began. “We don’t have to turn into each other’s enemies. What do you think?”

“I am not afraid of you.” Anastasia glared back at her with an equally unintimidated gaze.

“I heard that you are a single mother. It must be tough to bring a kid up by yourself.” Even though Aliona was smiling when she said that, the threat in her eyes was evident.

Anastasia immediately felt her whole body freeze when she heard Aliona’s words. She felt a strange discomfort at seeing the threatening smile on Aliona’s face.

“What are you going to do?” Anastasia questioned her coldly.

“It all depends on what you do! If you make things hard for me, I will have to make things hard for you too!” Aliona raised her own brow and glanced at Anastasia with a pleased look. “Anastasia, you better know what is best for you. Don’t stand in my way.”

Anastasia stood up from her seat and she gravely warned the woman in front of her. “Try laying a finger on my son and see what happens.”

Aliona was startled by the fight Anastasia was putting up and the proud expression on her face was instantly wiped off. She soon got close to Anastasia again. “That is why it is better for us to come out of this unharmed, no?”

After saying that, she turned around and opened the door to leave the office.

Anastasia’s heart was still thumping wildly as she looked at Aliona’s retreating back. Jared had been her Achilles heel ever since he was born into this world, so she would always feel uneasy whenever someone were to get too close to her son.

There was nothing Aliona wouldn’t do to have Elliot.

She was still worried by the time she returned to her own office. Her mission should have been carried out flawlessly, and yet, she had to face off against Anastasia, who was also the biggest stumbling block in her path to completing her plan.

Elliot looked as though he could never fall for any woman other than Anastasia. Aliona held a grudge against Anastasia because of that and it made her angry that she couldn’t win against Anastasia.

It was around 11.00AM when Anastasia’s landline began to ring, so she picked up the phone and swiftly said hello.

“Come to my office,” a man’s voice informed her from the other side of the call.

When she heard that, she immediately rejected him. “I am busy with work.”

“Come and get your bracelet.” The man’s low voice rang out again.

Not wanting to make a trip to his office for a bracelet, she brushed him off. “Give it to someone else. I don’t want it.”

Elliot started to threaten her. “Anastasia, do you want me to give it to you in front of the whole office?”

His words immediately gave Anastasia a headache and she asked in a baffled manner, “Elliot, must I accept it just because you want to give me it?”

“I will give you 2 minutes. If you don’t come up by then, I will be coming down to you.” He then hung up after saying that.

Chapter 332

Anastasia took in a deep breath and she eventually still stood up from her chair.

A man was fiddling with an exquisite woman’s bracelet in the president’s office. He had a bracelet thicker than the one he was playing around with on his wrist and it complemented the limited edition wristwatch he had on.

As she pushed open the door to come in, a smile instantly appeared on the man’s face. With his deep eyes locked on her, he elegantly stood up and made his way toward her.

“Why don’t you ever listen to me?” Elliot asked grumpily as he looked at her being all upset. It was always after he threatened her that she would listen to him.

Seeing the thin bracelet in his palm, she declared with no mercy, “Bring it for a refund. I don’t want to accept this present.”

However, just as she finished saying that, the man had grabbed her by her wrist and was trying to put it on her despite her refusal. “A refund? For what? I want to wear matching bracelets with you.”

And just like that, Anastasia now had a bracelet on her wrist. Even though the design was simple, the gemstones on it probably weren’t cheap.

“It looks quite lovely on you. You aren’t allowed to remove it,” he demanded.

She looked at the bracelet, her emotions a mess. She was troubled as to whether she should accept it or give it back.

Elliot suddenly started undoing the buttons of his top at this moment, making Anastasia look at him with her guard up. “What are you doing?” she asked him thereafter.

The man only continued to unbutton the first 3 buttons of his shirt, and the moment he did so, she noticed a familiar-looking necklace hanging on his neck. She unknowingly gasped, “How did you manage to get it done so soon?”

It was the necklace that she had designed for him before. She hadn’t expected him to wear it so soon.

“It is a gift from you, after all. Of course I had to tell them to make it faster and I just received it earlier today. I am very satisfied with it as it suits me well.” Then, Elliot started to lovingly touch the necklace. “I will always think of you when I wear it.”

After she heard those words, her cheeks suddenly felt warm. “You bought it with your own money. What has it got to do with me?”

“Of course it has something to do with you. This necklace contains your feelings for me. Don’t necklaces signify lingering affection?” Elliot asked with a smile.

The set of thick and thin bracelets resembled a male and female snake coiled around each other, which was what she had indeed thought of when she designed the necklace. She didn’t think he would see through her intention at a glance.

Such a question had only caused Anastasia’s face to burn even more as she asked, “If this is the case, can I have my commission this month?”

The man let out a vexed ‘hmph’ when he heard her words before he started to complain, “Why don’t you just marry me since you are so concerned about money? You would immediately gain financial freedom.”

“I feel better when I spend the money that I earn myself. It is not something spending someone else’s money can be compared to,” she challenged him with a raised eyebrow.

Since he couldn’t come up with a better rebuttal, Elliot fell quiet for a moment before he abruptly extended an invitation to her. “Let’s have lunch together.”

“No can do,” she swiftly rejected him. “I already have a lunch date.”

Thinking that Anastasia’s lunch date might be Alex, Elliot immediately demanded, “Who is it?”

She would do anything to not have a meal with him, so she smoothly answered, “Felicia.”

“Cancel it. I already booked us a table,” he insisted as he wanted to bring her somewhere nice for lunch.

She was immediately rendered speechless by the man who left her with no leeway.

After that, Anastasia glared at him and scolded, “Can you not be so domineering, Elliot?”

“Okay, I will be more gentle.” Then, a smiling Elliot added, “Only if you stop rejecting me, though.”

Anastasia fell silent for a while before she eventually replied, “I will be accepting the bracelet then, but out of courtesy, I will give you a present as well. I will buy you anything you want this afternoon.”

This was the only solution she could come up with. She couldn’t possibly just take without giving something back.

Hearing that she wanted to give him something in return, he grinned before he joyfully asked, “Is that so? Can you give me everything I want?”

“As long as I can afford it,” she replied as she lightly chewed on her red lip.

“Alright. Select a few underpants for me from an underwear store!”

A baffled Anastasia hurriedly rejected Elliot. “But I don’t know how to pick stuff like this.”

“What do you mean by you don’t know how to? Do you mean to say that you don’t know my size?” He suddenly grabbed her hand and pressed it against his lower abdomen. “Feel it with your own hands, then.”

Chapter 333

As though she had been scalded by boiling water, Anastasia immediately retracted her hand and hissed, “Elliot! Stop messing around!”

“Okay, then! I am fine with a leather belt as well. I want one that fits.” Elliot decided to stop teasing her.

“That is fine. I will give you a leather belt,” she agreed quickly. It was as if she wanted to get away from him as soon as she could.

After she returned to her office, she was called by a nearby Felicia. “Anastasia, can you come here for a second?”

Then, Anastasia followed her to a quiet corner in the pantry.

“Anastasia, have you heard news about our company’s relocation?” Felicia suddenly asked.

As she was surprised by Felicia’s words, Anastasia asked in return, “Relocation? Where to?”

“I heard that they have vacated 2 floors in Presgrave Corporation for us to use as our new office space.” She added with a smile, “We are moving to Presgrave Corporation.”

“What?!” Anastasia couldn’t help but feel surprised about it. Why didn’t Elliot tell me? she thought. Why are we moving to his company out of nowhere?

“Regardless, this is a good thing. Our new office will definitely be bigger than now. I am sure we will have more benefits working there too.”

Anastasia blankly blinked after hearing Felicia’s words. She wanted to find a time to ask Elliot if the rumor about the relocation was true.

on the new bracelet on her friend’s wrist and she laughed out loud.

Anastasia’s cheeks burning. “Felicia, did you choose

jewelry store to pick out a pair. I finally

breath hitched. 2,000,000? That is

smiling Felicia then continued, “I didn’t expect it to be for you. I would have chosen something

red from embarrassment under Felicia’s scrutinizing eyes. She felt as though all her thoughts and emotions were

like President Presgrave. Don’t let anyone slip in when they find the opportunity to. The president always has some rather ambitious women revolving

“I—” Anastasia stammered.

you to feel ashamed of. Anastasia, I know that you feel pressured about bringing a child into a new marriage,

that Elliot was someone whom she could fall in love with. However, she had an emotional hurdle that she couldn’t easily overcome. That night from 5 years ago had left a deep scar within her. On top of that, knowing that Hayley

started going off at 11:00AM sharp. As soon as she saw that it was

you in five.” In his

Elliot insisted on buying her a meal,

car. She then opened the door to the passenger’s seat, but didn’t notice how two black SUVs, one at the front and another behind, had started

soon arrived at a high-end

wanted to ask him. “I heard

It is.” He briefly nodded

and asked with a smile, “Why are we moving? The Bourgeois building may be a little short,

you?” Elliot rested his hands in front of his collar with his fingers

seemed to stop for a second there. Does he really come to Bourgeois everyday just to

relocate the company. By moving, we can finally work in the same building.

Chapter 334

said that the main reason for relocating the atelier was to make

To distract herself, she tapped her finger on the teacup that she was holding. “What’s so

to see me for no

you are the most important thing to me every day since I have met you,” Elliot responded as he glanced into her eyes. Although he was not

overwhelming, which caused her a lot

she said. Under the afternoon sunlight, her heated

his palm and admired her as if he were admiring a masterpiece—every scowl and smile of

in this world and make me madly fall in love? In the face of loving her, my

covered her face in embarrassment

What if I spend the rest of my life

by you for the rest of their life?” Anastasia retorted,

then who do you

where this man’s jealousy came from. She had nothing to do with Alex, so how could Elliot

with Mr. Hunter. We’re just

don’t care. In short, I don’t want you to get too close to him,” Elliot commanded as he

Even if Anastasia hadn’t noticed it

she heard him. She could only say that this

for what angered her for the past two days. It was also because she had appeared to have

reject it. Why didn’t I feel that way when

to the office, she went to the bathroom and overheard the staff discussing the company’s relocation while she was

Great, we can now go to work in the Presgrave Corporation where all the high-paid financial tycoons are! That is where

mind. “I made this decision just

this was any other woman who learned that Elliot went to such lengths to see her, I guess she would be madly in love

sitting in a high-end hospital’s office with a translator

the hospital as well as the plastic surgical projects that they were best at. The doctor in charge asked her to pick one that

her head and took a photo

the photo. The woman in the photo had perfect bones and she was a natural beauty. Her

be identical; even a fifty percent match will do, but I

side promptly translated her words. The doctor examined the woman’s face before he turned to Hayley and paused for a while before he continued, “The operation is quite risky. We need to work on several

Chapter 335

cost.” Hayley’s eyes flashed with determination. For the sake of beauty; for Elliot; and for the status of Mrs.

her determination, the

inviting him to dinner tonight since the scandal between them had unfortunately been proven to be inaccurate. Everyone

staff from the Department of Design had spread the news around the company. As a result, everyone stopped

in.” Elliot’s voice sounded from the

open the door and walked over with a bright smile.

anything?” he asked

want to ask

for dinner. If you have any

you have anything important to do tonight, Elliot?”

do tonight. He’d gone a few days without seeing Jared, so he would accompany Anastasia later today to pick

I have some important things to do.” Elliot

tell that it must have been related to Anastasia. After all, no one could influence Anastasia’s

deliberately acting depressed

can ask Director Evans. She will take care of you,” Elliot comforted her and glanced at his watch. “Aliona, you may leave

time to pick

and she couldn’t react even though she was annoyed. When she returned to the office, she noticed Anastasia was carrying her bag and leaving work. Seeing that, Aliona felt a stabbing pain in her heart. Are they going to

leaning against her small car and he looked even

my car?” she asked with

Jared up,” he replied

do this by myself.” Anastasia instinctively didn’t

must have missed me. I have to come along.” After saying that, he

am driving,

settled her in the passenger seat, he quickly got into the

ended up picking up her son with him just like

she quickly peeked at Elliot’s

Elliot held the driving wheel with one hand was such eye candy that caused her heart to race even harder. She had been thinking too much in the past few

director’s office before she could go to Jared’s classroom. It turned out that he wanted to apply to be in the facial recognition record and

young female teacher operated the facial recognition system, she couldn’t help but peek at Elliot’s stunning face in the camera several times. Oh my, Jared’s father is so

Elliot socialized with the teacher. Before she could even speak, he had already claimed himself to be Jared’s father and she

teacher about Jared’s father’s employment. At that time, she

Chapter 336

came out of the office with the corners of his lips curled up. “If you’re not free in the future, I can

a good idea to have a person as a backup in case of an emergency. “If that’s not

might trouble me are nothing to me,” he

Jared’s classroom, they found him sitting on

her with his sharp

son to come and hugged her. However, when Jared ran over with an overjoyed expression,

that moment, she felt disheartened. When she

expression was like the cat that earned the cream. At first, she was stunned for a second, but she couldn’t help bursting out in laughter thereafter. When did he win over

the car, he began bombarding

Presgrave, were you

you come to pick me up?

you coming to my

you go to my

so much, and so does

tiny mouth so that

she merely

as if their relationship was back to normal after

While Anastasia cleaned up the table and washed the dishes, Elliot

tired, she sat on the couch and switched on the news. The door swung open at 9.00AM and Jared’s laughter could be

time? I want to be the same as you,” Jared asked as his voice was full of

you’re older,” Elliot

face was flushed as he was perspiring. As soon as he entered the door, Anastasia said, “Go and get your pajamas, Jared. I will bathe

get the pajamas. Then, she poured a glass of water for Elliot as he

gently wrapped around Anastasia’s waist and he leaned toward her abruptly. As she held the water in both hands, her beautiful eyes widened. She could feel the atmosphere was getting sensual, and when combined with Elliot’s attractive hormonal smell, it was deadly

being nice to me.” He

out and passed the water to him as she explained, “Jared is too active, so you must be

water. His sexy Adam’s apple moved up and down as he swallowed. It looked so manly and wild that

before you leave,” she said politely as she couldn’t rush him

he suddenly said, “I can bathe myself, Mommy. You can leave me here. Mr. Presgrave said that boys should learn to bathe

Silence greeted the air.

then showed him how to turn on the water and adjust

was casually sitting on the couch, and his lazy look was still charming. He was fiddling with the TV remote control to search for news that

Chapter 337

by himself,” Anastasia said to Elliot.

he answered

cherries. Although they were expensive, she still bought them because she

plateful of cherries, she placed them in front of Elliot. Since she had nothing else to do, she sat beside him and took a cherry to eat. Just as her red lips were about to bite the

it. With.

and her cheeks were heated. When she came back to her senses, he was gracefully chewing the

started to laugh. This man was so repulsive and he

point, Elliot still had the heart to

from happening again, she moved to the side bit by bit and finally sat on the

to reach for

coat on him to keep him warm. Meanwhile, Elliot glanced at the time and rose to his feet. “I should go,”

you tomorrow.” Jared

tomorrow,” Elliot said. Before stepping out of the door,

the darkness, she gazed at the luster reflected by the diamonds on her bracelet that resembled a bright star in the gloomy night, shining on her heart and bringing her

was late when she finally fell asleep, she slept peacefully and

Anastasia and Jared were out of the apartment early the next morning, making it feel that winter had already arrived. When they

the kindergarten,

the one big thing—the relocation of the Bourgeois Jewelry Atelier, which meant that the atelier had merged with Presgrave Corporation and they were going to work at the

realize was that the atelier’s

purchased the atelier to be closer to Anastasia, it would have remained a classic domestic brand whereas its marketing approach had now grown to twice its original size and gained

was in Elliot’s hand, there were only successes

this decision was only made to

that the distance between Presgrave Corporation and her son’s kindergarten would be reduced by

was in the office making the final changes to her work for the jewelry show since The Starry

she was staring intently at the manuscripts. Just as she

was Elliot walking in with a bouquet of bright

in astonishment and looked at him with a

of her and handed it affectionately. “This is for