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.

eyes landed on the new bracelet on her friend’s wrist and she laughed out loud. “A present from President

burning. “Felicia, did you

me a rather abrupt call one day, and I had to rush off to a jewelry store to pick out

breath hitched. 2,000,000? That is

“I didn’t expect it to be for you. I

to turn red from embarrassment under Felicia’s scrutinizing eyes. She felt as though all her

her on the shoulder a few times. “You have to be braver if you like President Presgrave. Don’t

“I—” Anastasia stammered.

like someone isn’t something for you to feel ashamed of. Anastasia, I know that you feel pressured about bringing

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 and Elliot had shared a past made it so much harder for

she saw that it was Elliot calling, she

park. I will see you in five.” In his low, clear voice,

Elliot insisted on buying her a meal, she had

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

a question that she really wanted to ask him. “I heard that the company is

is.” He

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

front of his collar with his fingers intertwined as his elbows rested on

a second there. Does he really come to

measures in Bourgeois are quite poor. It doesn’t help me with my work, and this is why I decided to relocate the company. By moving, we can finally work in the same building. We can also see each other every day, get to and from work together, have coffee together… It will be easier

Chapter 334

atelier was

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

want to see me for

met you,” Elliot responded as he glanced into her eyes. Although he was not good at loving someone, the way he communicated his love was direct and didn’t beat around

was too overwhelming, which caused her a lot of

it.” Anastasia stroked her long hair as she said. Under the afternoon

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

world and make me madly fall in love? In the face of loving

her face in embarrassment before she begged,

burst out laughing as he teased, “You can’t take it? What if I spend the rest

want to be stared at by you for the rest of their life?” Anastasia retorted, but her eyes were

do you want to be stared at?” he jealously asked and

She had nothing to do with Alex, so how could Elliot

anything to do with Mr. Hunter. We’re just friends,” she explained

too close to him,” Elliot commanded as

if Anastasia hadn’t noticed it lately, he could see through Alex’s dirty thoughts about her at

heard him. She could only say that

to make up for what angered her

served her food, she would definitely 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

now go to work in the Presgrave Corporation where all the high-paid financial tycoons are!

in her mind. “I made this decision just to

such lengths to see her, I guess she would be madly

was sitting in a high-end hospital’s

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

beautiful faces and all of them looked like masterpieces created by God. However, she shook her head and took a photo from her bag,

photo had perfect bones

will do, but I would like to have her eyes,” Hayley

face before he turned to Hayley and paused for a while before he continued, “The operation is quite risky. We need

Chapter 335

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

her determination, the doctor nodded

back in the country, Aliona found an excuse to knock on Elliot’s office door. She planned on inviting him to dinner tonight since the scandal between them had unfortunately been proven to be inaccurate. Everyone could tell that Elliot

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

voice sounded

over with a bright smile. “Are

asked as he closed

together tonight? I want to ask you

not available for dinner. If you have any questions, please ask them now.” He declined

anything important to do tonight, Elliot?” Aliona

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

important

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

deliberately acting depressed and

will take care of you,” Elliot comforted her and glanced

is time

choice but to leave the office 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

at her car, Elliot was already there. His tall figure was leaning against her small car and he looked

next to my

you to pick Jared up,” he

thanks. I can do this by myself.” Anastasia instinctively didn’t

After saying that, he held her wrist and walked

I am driving,

is not safe enough. Take mine.” After Elliot settled her in

her son

along the drive. As she bent her head and glanced at her bracelet, she quickly peeked at Elliot’s one. The matching bracelets of theirs looked so intimate that it made her

the way 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 days; that was why

the 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 collect

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

speak, he had already claimed himself to

had previously asked by the teacher about Jared’s father’s employment. At that time, she had lied that he was abroad. Now, Elliot’s appearance had successfully covered up for

Chapter 336

out of the office with the corners of his lips curled up. “If you’re not free

is right, Anastasia thought. It was always a good idea to have a person as a backup

that you think might trouble me are nothing

found him sitting on the

her with his sharp eyes

ran over with an overjoyed expression, she didn’t know it was because he saw

into her arms, he suddenly went past her and ran toward someone behind her. At that moment, she felt disheartened. When she turned around, she noticed

turned her head just to meet Elliot’s upturned eyes and his 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 Jared’s heart to such a degree? she

as Jared got in the car, he began bombarding

Presgrave, were you

you come to pick

coming to my house for

don’t you go to my house for dinner

you so much,

to cover Jared’s tiny mouth so that

reflected from the rear-view mirror, she merely glanced at him and

in the evening, as

cleaned up the table and washed the dishes, Elliot took Jared downstairs to the park for a walk. They felt like a family

on the couch and switched on the news. The door swung open at 9.00AM and

that next time? I want to be the same as you,” Jared asked as his

teach you when you’re older,” Elliot answered him in a low-pitched

soon as he entered the door,

glass of

Instead, his large palms 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,

to me.” He

hand out and passed the water to him as

the water, raised his head and gulped down the glass of water. His sexy Adam’s apple moved up and down as he swallowed.

leave,” she said politely as she couldn’t rush him to head

entered the bathroom, he suddenly said, “I can bathe myself, Mommy. You can leave me here. Mr. Presgrave said that

Silence greeted the air.

from Jared, Anastasia was very pleased that her son desired independence. She then showed him how to turn on the water and adjust

door and came out of the bathroom. Elliot was casually sitting on the couch, and his lazy look was still charming. He was fiddling with

Chapter 337

wants to bathe by himself,” Anastasia said to Elliot. Then, she asked, “Do you want

he

cherries. Although they were expensive, she still bought them

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. His.

her mind went blank for a moment and her cheeks were heated. When she came back to her senses, he was gracefully chewing the cherry that should have

was so repulsive and he had been playing these ambiguous games

sweet. Just like you.” At this point, Elliot still had the heart to

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

reach

a thick coat on him to keep him warm. Meanwhile, Elliot glanced at the

Presgrave, see you tomorrow.” Jared waved

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

awake until early morning. In the darkness, she gazed at the luster reflected by the diamonds on her bracelet

fell asleep, she slept peacefully

and Jared were out of the apartment early the next morning, making it feel that winter had already arrived. When they were halfway to the kindergarten, it even started

at the kindergarten, she rushed to the

had merged with Presgrave Corporation and they were going to work at the headquarters. All of them were pumped as if working

didn’t realize was that the atelier’s fate

atelier to be closer to Anastasia, it would have remained a classic domestic brand whereas its marketing

under the Presgrave Corporation was in Elliot’s hand, there were only

to Anastasia since this decision was only made to

move because she had calculated that the distance between Presgrave Corporation

in the office making the final changes to her work for the jewelry show since The Starry Night diamond manuscripts had satisfied

door as she was staring intently at the manuscripts. Just as she raised her head, a man pushed the door open

was Elliot walking in with a bouquet of bright

Anastasia swiftly stood up in astonishment and

her and handed it affectionately.