Never Too Far Novel

Chapter 351

Elliot would have to pay a huge sum of money if Anastasia insisted on covering up the story, and she simply didn’t think it was necessary to go to such lengths.

As such, she took it in stride and said, “Forget it. I’ll just let it be.” She was only thankful that the paparazzi had taken a nice shot of her, and she would be lying if she said she wasn’t impressed with their skills.

“You’re really going to let this go?” Elliot murmured as his arms snaked around her waist from behind. A delighted smile curled on his lips as he went on to ask, “Does this mean you’ve officially acknowledged our relationship?”

Anastasia blushed in embarrassment. If she were to deny their relationship now, the public was probably going to call her a succubus who toyed with men’s feelings. With her back to him, she muttered softly, “Fine, I guess we can try dating for a while and see where it’ll lead us.”

“I won’t let you down,” he promised in a magnetic voice as he bent down slightly to kiss the top of her head. “I’ll be sure to satisfy you in every imaginable way.”

She was at a loss for words when she heard this. I think it’s a little early for the kind of satisfaction you’re talking about, Elliot, she wanted to say. She didn’t think she would be ready to take things to the next level so soon.

Suddenly, she found herself thinking about Hayley and wondered whether the girl would go ballistic with rage after seeing the news.

However, Anastasia couldn’t care less about how Hayley might feel, much like how Hayley had not cared about whether she lived or died all those years ago.

“Have you been in contact with Hayley recently?” Anastasia asked, looking up at Elliot curiously.

He answered gravely, “The last time we spoke, she told me that she was going abroad on holiday for three months, but we didn’t speak after that. From now on, my assistant will be the one dealing with her instead and I won’t see her anymore.”

Anastasia could feel that he was getting uncomfortable talking about Hayley, so she nodded and let the matter drop. “Let’s go for breakfast before we head back,” she suggested brightly.

“Okay,” he replied happily and held her in his arms for a while, and it wasn’t until she felt the dangerous tension that was growing between them that she shoved him aside abashedly.

After breakfast, they were coming out of the basement parking lot when a cold breeze suddenly picked up. Anastasia shivered, but the next second, she was pulled into Elliot’s warm embrace. He carefully bundled her up in his suit jacket and led her to the car.

Even though they were a mere dozen or so steps away from the vehicle, she still found his gesture heartwarming. As it turned out, a man who was truly in love with a woman would pay attention to all the little details, and she could definitely feel how much he loved her and wanted to take care of her.

It was hard to tell just how much of the population had their hearts broken by the news of Anastasia and Elliot’s relationship.

Over in the Tillman Constructions’ finance department, Alex heard the news after his subordinates burst into an uproar over it. When he fished out his phone and searched for the news, he was immediately greeted by the picture of Anastasia and Elliot locked in a passionate kiss at the cafe, and he felt his heart twist with bitter jealousy.

His chest tightened at the sight of the woman he loved wrapped in another man’s arms. He knew that he no longer stood a chance with Anastasia, and now, all the feelings he had for her died, becoming a secret she would never know.

However, his feelings for her weren’t the only things that were extinguished right then. The ambition that had driven him all this while was gone too. He wanted to use Anastasia as his stepping stone to take over Tillman Constructions, but it seemed impossible right now.

That said, it didn’t mean he was willing to accept fate’s arrangements. All the hard work he had done for Francis in the last few years was in vain, and the shortcut he could have taken to achieve further success was cut off.

No, this isn’t how it’s supposed to be, he thought grimly. He couldn’t just let his dreams go down the drain without putting up a fight. He had not toiled in Tillman Constructions all these years just so he could give up now, not when he deserved more than what he was getting now.

As frustration and agony seized him, he clutched his head and felt a fiery rage course through him. With a violent swipe of his arm, he knocked the piles of documents off his desk and onto the floor.

No one knew how much he had lost. He was losing out on an entire future that he had planned for himself. The fact that he couldn’t be together with Anastasia did not torture him as much as losing the chance to own Tillman Constructions.

Yet, a man like Elliot who was far above him had gotten everything he ever wanted. He couldn’t even begin to compete with Elliot, much less be considered on par with him.

Just as Alex thought he might combust with rage, an irritating silhouette drifted into his peripheral vision.

It was Erica, Francis’ other daughter. She wasn’t as beautiful as Anastasia, and she was spoiled beyond reason. However, she had the same birthright to the company as Anastasia did, which meant she had an equal chance of succeeding Tillman Constructions.

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A malicious and devious look flashed in Alex’s eyes at the thought of this. That’s right, I still have a chance of owning Tillman Constructions, and that chance lies in Erica! He recalled how Erica had tried to get close to him the last time; he was clever in his own right, and he figured that Naomi had pinned her interests in the company on him. Is that why she got her daughter to seduce me?

In that case, he decided that there was no harm in collaborating with Naomi, seeing as they both had interests in Tillman Constructions that they could not afford to part with.

He glanced at the picture once more, and when he saw how happily in love Anastasia looked while she was kissing Elliot, he felt as if someone had stabbed his heart with a dagger. He wanted to hold Anastasia in his arms as well and claim her as his own, even if it was only for a fleeting night.

If he had the chance to fulfill his desires like that, he would be sure to seize it.

At that moment, his mind was filled with all the lewd things he wanted to do to Anastasia. She was the woman of his dreams, and she was the only one he ever wanted.

Meanwhile, over at Bourgeois, jealousy, and resentment lingered in the air in the office following the news of Anastasia and Elliot’s relationship. Needless to say, a lot of hearts were broken that day.

Aliona, in particular, did not show up for work, and Alice spent the better part of the morning taking her anger out on her assistants and employees. She was furious. She had plotted to her wits’ end to have Anastasia kicked out of Bourgeois, but as things were, it wouldn’t make a difference whether she left or not, for she would eventually marry the president of the company. In fact, she would be marrying the president of the business empire that was Presgrave Corporation.

Anastasia’s status had elevated beyond anything Alice could ever hope to achieve in this lifetime. While she had been toiling away to get promoted in Bourgeois, Anastasia had already taken one huge step forward by seducing and snagging Elliot, thus emerging the victor in this ongoing rivalry.

While this was happening, Aliona was huddled up in her apartment. She had been shell-shocked ever since she read the news this morning, and she had a feeling that Anastasia had seduced Elliot on purpose at the cafe so that she could set this whole love affair in motion, thereby gaining publicity.

To some extent, Aliona believed this was Anastasia’s way of telling others of her capabilities. She’s trying to rile me up, she concluded with gritted teeth. The task that Riley had entrusted her with was now rendered hopeless.

However, she couldn’t give up so easily. Her entire life revolved around her plans of marrying Elliot so that she could take over Presgrave Corporation and present it to her father. This was the best, if not the only way she could ever repay all that Riley had done for her. If she couldn’t manage this, then she would have failed him as a daughter.

She was pulled out of her thoughts by the sound of her phone ringing. She glanced at the caller ID before she picked up the call and greeted in a defeated voice, “Father.”

“I just saw the news about Elliot and Anastasia. Who would’ve thought that they would go public with their relationship?” Riley scoffed icily on the other line as a snide edge crept into his tone.

“I’m sorry for not accomplishing the task you entrusted me with, Father. My incompetence has let you down, and I have been a waste of your time and energy,” Aliona said, wrapping an arm around herself as if she would fall apart if she didn’t.

“Aliona, don’t say that. We still have a long journey ahead of us, so pull yourself together! Who’s to say that Anastasia would live long enough to walk down the aisle and marry Elliot, right?”

Upon hearing this, Aliona brightened up instantly as she asked, “Father, what are your plans?”

“If she’s going to be just as much of a nuisance as her late mother, I’ll just have to dispose of her the same way. I can make her disappear.”

“You plan on eradicating her, Father?” Aliona was excited. With Riley getting involved in this, she might still stand a chance to accomplish the task. More importantly, she was excited that she could get close to Elliot. She secretly found him magnetic and electrifying; she lusted over him and wanted him for herself.

“That’s right,” Riley affirmed. Then, he added encouragingly, “I’m planning something right now, and I’ll let you know when the time comes. However, you must pull yourself together and don’t ever falter, got it? You still have to take down Elliot.”

“Yes, Father. Once you get rid of Anastasia, I’ll be able to take down Elliot for sure,” Aliona said with renewed confidence.

“That’s what I want to hear. Now, just wait for my word!”

As soon as Riley hung up the call, Aliona’s eyes lit up with an almost maniacal gleam. Anastasia was basically announcing her death wish the moment she went public with Elliot, and Riley would never let her live long enough to see her wedding day.

Presently, a hysterical fury descended upon Erica early that morning at Tillman Residence. She never expected that she would wake up and scroll through her phone in bed to find pictures of Anastasia and Elliot kissing spread all over the internet.

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Erica ran down the stairs in the clothes she had slept in and told her mother about the news. Naomi was stunned as well, but her astonishment was quickly replaced by worry as she muttered, “Anastasia has her way with men. Who would’ve thought she’d have some tricks up her sleeves? I can’t believe she managed to bag Elliot in such a short time.”

“Mom, now that she has Elliot on her side, will we still be able to get our hands on Dad’s company? You know how greedy she is, and with a bigshot like Elliot backing her up, she would be trampling all over us if she were to take Dad’s company as well!” Erica pointed out belligerently.

Naomi snorted. “Anastasia has always hated me, and now, she finally has all her cards lined up. It’s only a matter of time before she shows her hand and gets revenge on us. We can’t afford to sit here and wait for our deaths.”

“I totally agree, Mom. We can’t just let her take everything away from us. We have to think of a way.”

“Erica, Alex is our safest bet right now if we want to take the company for ourselves. This is your chance. I’m sure he wouldn’t turn you down if you were to ask him to join us for dinner tonight,” Naomi suggested. The time for her to strike was now, and Alex was going to be one of her most vital pawns in this game of chess.

Erica, on the other hand, was angry and upset that she was saddled with her father’s subordinates while Anastasia got to date a fine specimen like Elliot. She didn’t think this was fair, but she had no choice other than to go through with Naomi’s plans.

At that moment, she remembered Hayley and wondered if she had heard the news. She’s been getting mooching off the Presgrave Family all this while, and she really likes Elliot too. I bet she’s furious right now!

Erica had no idea that Hayley had gone abroad to undergo plastic surgery. This was a secret that Hayley intended to be tight-lipped about, and she couldn’t afford to let anyone know what she was doing.

When Erica returned to her room after her conversation with Naomi, she dialed Hayley’s number, growing exasperated when she saw that the line couldn’t get through.

Meanwhile, Hayley was recuperating from the major procedure that she had just undergone in Hogland. The anesthetics had yet to wear off, and she was still asleep at the moment. She had no idea of the crushing news that would greet her when she woke up later.

She had done plenty of changes and tweakings to her features that put her through unbearable pain, but the man she was so hopelessly in love with had announced his relationship with a woman who was her arch-nemesis.

Over at Bourgeois, Elliot’s car pulled into the basement parking lot, and Anastasia opened the door to get down from the vehicle the moment it rolled to a stop. However, she had only just stepped out when the man next to her pointed out sourly, “I’m good enough to be in paparazzi shots with you, but not enough to show up at work alongside you, eh?”

Anastasia stopped in her tracks, and sudden realization dawned upon her as she said, “Sorry, I forgot about that.”

Elliot sighed, for he wasn’t sure what to do with her. He couldn’t believe that someone who took her work and life so seriously would treat their relationship with considerable laxity.

He marched up to her and grabbed her hand. Then, he led her to the elevator without another word.

For some reason, she felt like her heart was suspended on a tightrope, ready to take the plunge and fall freely into her stomach at any given moment. She had yet to get used to such public displays of affection with this man.

Sure enough, the moment she arrived at the department of design, the employees lingering outside the elevator lobby instantly caught sight of her and Elliot holding hands. She flushed and turned to him. “I’ll be going to my office,” she said quietly.

With that, she turned to walk into the office under the envious gazes of her co-workers.

“Hey, Anastasia.”

“Good morning, Anastasia!”

“You look so pretty today, Anastasia!”

“I love your purse, Anastasia.”

The way to her desk was paved with endless compliments as the girls in the office greeted her with unprecedented enthusiasm, but she regarded them with the same smile that she would any other day. She never cared about how others looked at her, and she still maintained her indifference even though they were throwing compliments in her direction to get in her good books.

Not long after, Felicia turned up at her office and braced her arms against the desk as she eyed Anastasia’s outfit meaningfully. “Oh, someone didn’t change out of their clothes! I’m guessing you had a pretty good night.”

“Please don’t make fun of me,

but I will still congratulate you for bagging President Presgrave! Also, those pictures are more than enough to

embarrassed at the same time. The pictures were going to

completely normal. There are plenty of young couples in the park who go twice as hot and heavy as the both

Chapter 354

but now that everything was out in the open,

her phone rang. She picked it up and glanced at the caller ID, wincing

encouraged before walking away to give

and picked

you have indeed left me

stop teasing me about this,”

my walking iceberg of a cousin could be so passionate

“Nigel,” she warned.

I’m really happy for you guys as well. I wouldn’t have allowed

she said. This was quickly followed by a panicked, “Hey, you

so of course I didn’t show them to him,”

“You can’t ever let

at my place, so I’ll pick him up this afternoon

for saddling Nigel with babysitting duty and said, “I don’t want

the little guy; he brightens up my day like no

said. She felt like she was asking

heart before some other damsel comes and snags him! He’s a popular catch, you know,” Nigel said jokingly and

that these were candid shots, but she still couldn’t believe that Elliot looked good from every angle, and she was flustered to

had become the object of everyone’s envy as heartbroken women announced that they wanted to die after seeing the news. Some even went so far as to call Elliot their husband, though that was more

laugh escaped her at the thought of that. Life would be meaningless if she couldn’t appreciate the humor

not turn him down, and the both of them headed over to

to give her a tour of Presgrave Corporation and his office. Given that she wasn’t in the mood for

found herself standing in the company building, which was a landmark in the central business hub of Averna. It was

the skyline and masculine decorations. It gave the illusion that it was built above

the view?” Elliot murmured as he wrapped

and said

anytime to have coffee and take in the scenery,” he

of her ear. He had kissed her there, and she quickly shrunk away from him as

“No, I only make a habit out

her heart flutter, but at that moment, she heard his

picked up his phone. “It’s my grandmother. She

gasped and quickly put her finger to her lips as though to shush

the sight of the anxious look on her face, he

filled the spacious office. “Is it true? I’m not

Chapter 355

I are officially dating,” Elliot replied with a smile, though his gaze lingered on the flustered woman whose face was buried in her

for him to look her way. She even mimed to tell him to keep

hear Harriet buzzing with excitement on the other line as she quipped, “Alright, then. I’ll

I’ll talk to her

and her child back home in the next few

make the arrangements,” he said patiently and

press snap pictures like those ever again. I don’t want Anastasia’s reputation to be tarnished.” Harriet was already going into protective grandmother-in-law

other hand, said decisively, “I’ll have those pictures on the internet taken care

call with Harriet and turned to appraise Anastasia with interest. “Hear that? Grandma wants us to get married as soon

only just went public with our relationship yesterday, and now we’re talking about throwing

Hogland, Hayley finally woke up after the surgery. She felt like her bones had been detached and put together again, and she was in so much pain that she couldn’t help trembling. This was her first procedure, and she had already arranged for subsequent surgeries that

became her driving force

him with her stunning appearance. She could already imagine the way he would look at her with the same devotion and love as he did with Anastasia, and the thought of that alone was

for the rest of her recuperation period while being tended to by a professional caretaker. The female manager who had recommended her

with her money, and the manager knew that those who had gotten plastic surgery would return for future procedures as well, even if sporadically.

the parts of her face which were still visible were so bruised up that she looked borderline horrific. She took one glance at herself in the mirror and grew so despondent that

to go down and for her new face to be revealed. She turned to

and Hayley wasted no time in connecting to the WiFi here. As soon as she did, her phone chimed incessantly as new texts came pouring in. She saw that most of these texts were from Erica, and she clicked on the first

Did you turn your phone off or something? Have you seen the news of Elliot’s newfound

she read this.

the text message and clicked into her browser, promptly searching Elliot’s name. At once, she was greeted by countless articles written

saw the picture, and though only half the girl’s face was captured by the camera, Hayley could still tell

plastic surgery, she was supposed to rest, and stress did not do any good for her at all. However, she was belligerent after reading the news, and

is everything

with searing pain. She never expected Anastasia to be so shameless as to be pictured being

wounds on her face. She needed to calm down, but the image of Elliot and

to check on her. She was told to keep calm and maintain a straight face most of the time if she wanted to keep her sutures and wounds from tearing, which would lead to scarring and

and felt resentment wash over her. She had gotten work done on her entire face, only to have some other woman swoop in and act all lovey-dovey with Elliot. Worst

Chapter 356

choice but to keep her rage and anguish in check. It was as if a thousand needles were piercing her heart right now as she clutched tightly onto the

Elliot at a lavish French restaurant, the ambiance of which only accentuated the man’s suave demeanor and romantic

time for her to go home after dinner, Elliot drove her back to the neighborhood entrance and parked the car. She grabbed her purse, but just as she opened the door to step down

“No, it’s getting late. Maybe next

You have a bed, and I’ll warm it

door as she sputtered

speak before he got out of the car, and without her registering what he was doing, he walked over to her, grabbed

Elliot! No, don’t do this,” Anastasia cried

drew near to the apartment building. Jared wasn’t home tonight, which meant there was no buffer between her and Elliot; she was at a loss as to how

wasn’t a little girl anymore, but she was still terrified of what would happen now that they were two grown-ups left to their own devices.

now, his gaze darkening

up at him pleadingly.

8.30PM, which I

tomorrow, though,” she countered insistently as her mind scrambled for more

He was the president, after all, and he thought granting his employees days off fell well within

was a restless beast that had been caged for far too long, and he would devour her the moment she opened the

he asked, “Are

I am,” she admitted. “Can

if you let me

confidence, she argued, “I’d never make the first

just a cup of tea,” Elliot needled in his signature husky tone, sounding

puppy eyes even though he was known to be dangerous and domineering. She softened and took her keys out

he promised

the front door, Anastasia turned on the lights, which cast a warm glow over the living room. She set her purse down and changed into slippers before taking out

of you,” he observed with a coy

dad,” she said, not wanting

want,” he replied a little

the house for a bit. Then, she went into the kitchen and brought him a

the water, and suddenly, there was a dark gleam in his eyes as he called out, “Hey, could you

the coffee table and drinking from her own glass when she heard this. She

he put out his foot

her waist in one swift movement, and when she

looked up at him in bewilderment, and when she saw the devilish smirk playing on his lips,

in distress who had just been cornered by a handsome and roguish knight. Before she could protest, he chuckled and murmured huskily, “You’ve made the

and the couch with her face mere inches away from his, and she was

Chapter 357

wanted to cry out in exasperation, for she should have known better than to trust this

swear, if you think

away with it’,

away with this, and it looked like he was succeeding. After all, he couldn’t help himself when it came to Anastasia; it was as if she was his fatal

the man on top of her. In the end, she succumbed to his kisses, the hunger

a muffled one, that nagged at her and made her keep her guard up. She wasn’t

and while the kiss was sweet and lingering, she couldn’t help sensing the danger in it as well. The air

she could keep the floodgates closed any

his testosterone-driven urgency—was shrouding her like a veil. The voice of reason in her mind was being constantly drowned out by her own desire, and for a moment, it was like reality

to nature and primal

then, Elliot whispered huskily, “I

current through her veins, and she shuddered as she willed herself

the couch without warning and carried her over to the master

was so stunned that her mind drew a blank. The dimness of the bedroom became something like a dark space for Elliot to act on his heightened senses. He wanted nothing more than

Elliot away, he clasped her wrists and pinned her hands above her head,

Don’t touch me…

her. It was as if her mind did not perceive the man kissing her to be Elliot, but that sc*mbag from five years ago. His strong arms, his towering build, and his domineering,

was off with

get away from him as she cried, “Go away! Don’t

had become the source of her fear. Bewildered, he quickly got off the bed, strode over to the door,

into a ball on the bed with her eyes tightly closed while her body trembled with insurmountable

been through. Whatever they had been doing just now—or rather, whatever he had

perched on the edge of the bed, keeping a safe distance as he reached out to

that she opened her misty eyes, and she suddenly became aware of how she had overreacted. She flipped onto her

no hiding the guilt in his voice as he said, “No, I should be the one

and buried her face in her hands. “I… I think

possibly leave her alone in this state. He implored softly, “Let me stay here and take care

care of me,” she muttered weakly as she shook her head, though her face was devoid of

how frightened she looked, he was seized with the urge to find out who was the b*stard that dared hurt her five years ago. If he managed to track him down, he would make him

to help her get through this, and he didn’t want her to have to shoulder this