Never Too Far Novel

Anastasia walked backstage to greet Felicia. After all, Felicia and her design team were the stars of the product launch party.

“Your designs are so beautiful this time, Felicia,” Anastasia commented as she flipped through the art book. Everything in there was well-designed.

“I hope we didn’t disappoint you.” In Felicia’s mind, Anastasia was the boss.

“I believe in you, Felicia.”

“Anastasia.” Suddenly, a lady called out from behind them before Katrina swiftly moved to stand behind Anastasia.

“Katrina,” Anastasia greeted with a smile.

“Do you mind if we talk in private?” Katrina nervously asked. She currently found it hard to talk to Anastasia because she exuded an oppressive pressure that Katrina did not like.

Felicia gently patted Anastasia on the cheeks. “I’ll help the team out now, Anastasia.”

The moment Felicia was gone, Katrina took a deep breath. “I know Bourgeois is looking for a spokesperson for their product. I was hoping I could have a chance to be in your advertisements.”

“That is up to marketing. You can attend the interviews for the job.” Anastasia smiled.

Katrina bit her lip. “Anastasia, can you make an exception for me just this once? Please? My brother helped you all those years, after all.”

Naturally, Anastasia knew exactly what Katrina was thinking. The woman wanted compensation for Mason’s help all those years and if the one making the request had been Mason, she would have gone along with the plan before asking about why.

When Anastasia remained silent, Katrina continued, “I know I should not be greedy and take advantage of something owed to someone else, but we are like a family. Can’t you make an exception?”

Anastasia knew that Mason was not someone to ask for reparations either. “I’ll have to ask the team about it. I’ll let you know when I have news.”

“Thank you, Anastasia.” Katrina smiled. When Anastasia left, she let out a sigh of relief. Her brother would not ask for anything in return because he was a proud man, but she was not like him.

She would use anything she could to help herself since she was not doing well as a model. If she wanted to become a celebrity, she would have to be famous first.

When Anastasia returned to her seat, Elliot was chatting with Larry, who then stood up the moment he noticed her return. The show started the moment she returned.

Lights beamed down onto the stage as masked models strutted while decked out in jewelry made by Bourgeois. Naturally, Katrina was one of the models. She had all her attention focused on doing the best she could. However, when she walked by, she would stare at Elliot.

Anastasia noticed it, of course. She knew what kind of woman Katrina was. As long as there was an opportunity, Katrina would do anything to seduce someone.

Before the show, Anastasia had been contemplating giving her a chance because of her connection to Mason. Now, however, all of those thoughts had been chucked out of the window.

“I have to answer a call, sweetheart,” Elliot softly said.

She merely nodded in response as she was engrossed in the show. Then, just as he stood up, one of the female celebrities stood up as well. Although she left in the opposite direction, the corridors outside the hall were all interconnected.

That celebrity had been waiting for her chance. Using the excuse that she had to head to the bathroom, she walked out of the hall. When she eventually made her way over to the other side, she saw Elliot taking a phone call while standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window.

Elliot was like a magnet that attracted the gaze of every woman present that evening. No matter where he stood, he would become the center of attention.

After all, he was a man whom people rarely saw. Any woman with brain cells would know not to waste any opportunity that came along.

The celebrity’s name was Cathryn Windsor. She was considered one of the most popular celebrities of the year due to a popular show that had recently aired. Due to her fame, she had recently been announced as the spokesperson for Bourgeois’ new products.

However, her ambitions did not end there. She wanted a strong and powerful benefactor, someone like Elliot Pregrave, who stood at the top of the food chain.

Elliot ended the call and turned to return to the event hall. At the same time, she pretended to be busy talking on the phone and acted as if she did not see him there. When she crashed into him, he reached a hand out to her shoulder to stop her from falling to the ground.

Cathryn hastily apologized, “I’m sorry, President Presgrave. I didn’t see you there. This is all my fault!” She then reached out and patted his arm. “I hope I didn’t hurt you!”

Elliot waved his hand and answered, “It’s fine.”

“Oh, sorry about the lipstick stain on your suit. Let me take care of it.” Rather than removing the stain off his arm, she tried to reach out to stroke his chest after saying that.

His arm prevented her attempt right away, and he said in an icy tone, “No need.”

Cathryn let out a frustrated sigh as soon as Elliot walked away. She saw this as an opportunity to stimulate his interest in her. No one could approach him because he behaved in a way that was true with what she had heard about him.

Why was he married if he didn’t like women?

Right after Cathryn left, Felica came out from around the corner. She had just come out from the bathroom when she saw this scene, and she thought it would taint her sight for the day.

She wasn’t often the kind to pry into other people’s business, but she felt it was necessary to alert Anastasia about this. If an actress went out of her way to try to seduce Elliot, then she was not the best choice to represent Bourgeois as a spokesperson.

Anastasia’s phone lit up with texts. She checked it and saw it was a text message from Felicia.

‘I just saw Cathryn trying to flirt with your husband in the hallway, Anastasia. You should take note.’

She read the text calmly and her eyes went to where Cathryn should have been. There was no one there.

‘Thank you, Felicia,’ Anastasia replied graciously. At this moment, Elliot had returned and his large hand went out to grasp hers with the intention to caress it.

She then raised her head to meet his gaze. Despite the dim lighting, the man’s eyes gleamed with affection. When she noticed this, she smiled sweetly and kissed his cheek, showing her affection in public.

Cathryn happened to see their affections as she was going back to her seat. She started to feel a little scared as she thought about the foolish thing she had just done. She was worried that Anastasia wouldn’t let her off the hook if she knew about the flirting earlier.

She was glad Anastasia didn’t know about it.

Who would know what Anastasia knew, though?

When Elliot saw just how bold she was to kiss him in public like this, he gave her a contented smile that made her heart flutter.

Her face started to blush as she felt the gazes of everyone on them. Her confession of love for this man was publicized.

This was a warning for anyone who wanted to take him away from her.

The press conference went smoothly while the online media reaction was spectacular. A great deal of support and encouragement was shown to them with some exceptional items being promoted as well…

After they left the conference, Elliot took her to a posh restaurant for dinner. Tonight was the night of their date.

In addition to that, he had another surprise in store for her. He was pleased to get the most beautiful brooch that was being offered at the event, and he planned to give it to her as a present tonight.

“Oh! When did you get this?” Anastasia was a little surprised, but she was excited that he had just given her something out of the blue.

“It looks good on you,” he told her, praising both the brooch and her.

Anastasia took the gift as Elliot placed his chin on his folded palms and looked at her affectionately. “Since you accepted my gift, Mrs Presgrave has to reward me tonight.”.

“Oh! So, there’s a secret motive here!” Anastasia’s eyes narrowed as she said, “I think I need to pay closer attention to what’s going on around me. I can’t always be fooled by you.”

Elliot kept looking at her with love in his eyes and told her, “I wouldn’t care how stupid you are because you still have me wrapped around your fingers.”

Was he calling her stupid?

She protested, “I’m not stupid. I’m actually quite clever.”

“You are correct. My wife is the most clever woman alive,” he said as his grin grew more endearing. It was as if he would never get tired of flirting with her in this manner.

How could Anastasia continue to fight after noticing that he was being affectionate with her? At this moment, he continued to fill her plate with food. “Sweetheart, you need to eat more in order to have enough energy tonight.”

This caused her to quickly blush. “Is that all you can think about?!”

“Is there anything else?” Elliot closed his eyes and seemed to be thinking about what he was going to say. Then, he said, “I don’t want anything else tonight except you.”

After hearing this, Anastasia didn’t waste any time in lowering her head to start eating, and this man immediately began piling more meat onto her plate. Why did it seem as if he was feeding her to be slaughtered later that night?

The next Monday, there was a meeting at Bourgeois in the morning.

Anastasia sat at the chief designer’s seat and she was dressed in a beige suit with her hair tied back. This gave her delicate and lovely face a natural and tidy appearance.

The first topic she wanted to discuss with everyone today was the termination of Cathryn’s endorsement contract that was recently signed.

“President Tillman, we just invested 10 million dollars on her. If we break our contract with her, we have to compensate her for liquidated damages.”

When Anastasia heard that, her eyes turned cold. “Then, you should figure out how to avoid compensating her for terminating the contract.”

Everyone cringed at this statement. They initially thought that she was more pleasant, but they certainly never expected her to throw such a serious challenge at them on her first day.

“President Tillman, may I know the reason why you are terminating Cathryn’s contract?”

“I don’t like her,” Anastasia answered bluntly as she elegantly twirled her long hair around her finger.

Her response was both arrogant and straightforward.

“President Tillman, I understand. I’ll take care of it right away. We will have to discuss our new spokesperson after launching the new product at the conference. Do you have any recommendations?”

“You may suggest a few for me to select from,” she replied.

Felicia was the only one aware of the rationale for her decision.

Anastasia asked Felicia to stay. “Felicia, please remain. The rest of you may return to work!”

Anastasia with admiration

appreciation. “Felicia, thank

course, Cathryn isn’t the first woman to openly flirt with

smile when she heard this. “It wouldn’t upset me if I didn’t know about it, but I’ll

into Cathryn’s office from Bourgeois’ advertising and planning department to inform her agent that they were terminating their

with my artiste? The contract has been signed. I don’t

was made by our

Vice-president Young, correct? He was there when the contract

our

your big boss?”

Presgrave’s wife, has taken over

who quickly responded, “If you do this, you will be in breach of contract! Bourgeois would be obliged to pay liquidated damages in this manner! This is definitely something that we do not want to happen. We also wish to continue working with

an additional clause. If we believe the artiste has not fulfilled the

the employee from Bourgeois engaged in a lengthy discussion, but Cathryn’s agent was finally

questioned her. “Cathryn, have you been involved in any scandals recently? You were dismissed by Bourgeois due

past is clean. How could they treat me like this?” Cathryn

call it off. Did you

“You mean, Vice-president Young?”

Bourgeois. Out of so many

would I know?” Cathryn snapped back as her guilt gnawed away at her. It couldn’t have been because she tried to seduce Elliot in the hallway that Saturday afternoon,

such a large endorsement fee slip away so easily. She eventually got a hold of Anastasia’s general office line after asking around and decided to

just finished reviewing her upcoming schedule and was

and she reached out to answer it. “Hello?

are great, so I’d like to know exactly

narrowed slightly as she heard this. “You might want to find out what your artist was doing in the hallway on the day of the press conference. Tell her, if she does anything like that again, she will no longer be a part of the entertainment

she said that, she slammed the phone

the press conference?” Georgina

could I have

tell me the truth,”

“I saw Elliot answering the phone in the hallway the

flirt with Elliot! His wife was there at the press conference! Do you even have a brain?!” Georgina

realize I’m wrong

again!” Georgina scolded, “Out of everyone, the person whom you’ve chosen to upset was Elliot Presgrave’s wife? You’ll be left

she really so powerful?”

the compensation. Do you understand? The next time you see her, move out of her way,”

Bourgeois, she was still full of enthusiasm. After a short break, she quickly drafted another schedule. She was a member of the company’s design team in terms of jewelry design, which meant that she could also make managerial decisions with

this time, there was a knock at the door and

said with a smile since

I’m going to address you as President Tillman when we’re in the office! We can forget the formalities after we get off work,” he insisted. Then, he sat on the chair opposite from

had also guessed that he was here for Katrina. After giving it some thought, “Mason, you’ve been kind to me.

came to her for help, and she knew it. Thus, she had

off, so I really hope she

in charge of organizing the event to allow her

you, President Tillman.” After hearing these words, he let out a long sigh of relief. There was no denying

don’t often ask me for help. I had to do this, of course.”

to make some arrangements. As long

3:00PM, Anastasia’s door was knocked on again and she said, “Come

her assistant, Grace, bringing in documents, but it was a tall, charming man who casually

man strolled in slowly with a smile as he had

are you doing here?” Anastasia stood

guy wrapped his arms around her and drew her into a hug before lowering his head and kissing her crimson lips. “I’m here to

she realized that her window shutters were open, her face became

ashamed.” Elliot didn’t seem to mind and he wanted

After all, she had to admit that he

you like a massage from your

shifted her head to look

was. Then, he acknowledged, “You can work for as long as you wish. Just

up her nose playfully and replied, “I know, I know! Don’t worry

and took two steps back before

a little bashful when he observed her in this manner because it made

said, “Your outfit is

at him. “Do not

but laugh out loud. “Does this mean I can do whatever I want when we get

look, but she was still happy in her heart that he

drew a chair for himself and took a seat before he

then did Anastasia realize the reason

could someone be

little

heard this, his eyes lit up with jealousy.

secure an endorsement

when he heard this. “I

walked

he enjoyed that she took the initiative, it caught him

certain skills from him and

her waist. She withdrew just as he was going to get more and she

narrowed his eyes in response to her affectionate gaze. Then, he wrapped his arms tightly around her and said, “Alright, I’m not jealous.

about to move away from his lap, he

the kiss, but the man won’t

back of her head and gave

for her grew

give Anastasia some

face blushed due to her being shy, which resulted in her fleeing

scene inside the room was not

pushed the man away and

her lips. “Do not tell

like she had

won’t dare to. Don’t worry, President Tillman,”

just returned and was making her way toward the entrance of the ward when she heard her father’s anxious voice coming through the open door. “Please don’t tell

you do not repay them, you will have no other option. We need to

takes. If there’s nothing else I can do, I’ll just

you’re gone? The York Family was interested in our Sophia and

fled the country.” Drake was distressed on

I wouldn’t let you

owes the bank a billion? And as long as I agree to marry Christopher,

for Christopher. After she had fled to avoid their marriage the last time, he still wanted

she pushed open the door and interrupted the arguing couple. “Dad, Mom, I’ve heard everything, so you can stop arguing now. I’ll do it. I’ll marry

“Sophia!”

daughter’s determined

as I can pay Dad’s debts; as long as Dad doesn’t go to jail, I’m willing to do

unfilial as she didn’t know that her family was facing

was about to assure her

okay. I’m willing to marry Christopher. I’m

turning to leave the ward. Outside, she

male voice sounded. “Hello, who

“I’m Sophia Goodwin.”

really you? My dream girl has finally decided to reach out to me!” The voice on the other end was

you, but can you really help my father

will be like my own father. I will help him pay off his debt immediately,”

then! Then, let’s find a time to

you. I am abroad now. I’ll come back on Friday, and I’ll pick you up when we’ve set

“Great!”

she sighed as

a resort abroad, Christopher was basking his 200-pound body in the sun; the

to marry Sophia Goodwin and pay off

initial down payment first. After she marries me, she’ll be my wife. By then, she’ll have to listen to me. Then, it’d be up to me to decide whether I really finish paying off her father’s debt or

new group of criminals had just been sent to the women’s prison in Averna. A woman who was wiping the greasy table top raised her head and looked up at the people who were swarming in for lunch. Then, she stopped wiping

here for almost a month now and had nearly severed all contact from the outside

of them: Erica Tillman. She had the same haircut as Hayley and wore the same clothes, so it was obvious that Erica was sent to serve

like a princess. Now, she was forced to eat things she had never eaten before. The food served here wasn’t

Although she

as she was serving over ten years of imprisonment. Erica was quietly eating her rock-solid steamed buns and some rancid noodles when she heard a sharp voice yelling, “Hayley, what are you

direction of the voice and saw a familiar figure. Although the woman had deliberately turned her back toward her, Erica could still recognize her at

suddenly ignited in Erica’s heart because in her eyes, Hayley was despicable and shameless. She had blatantly stolen Erica’s man and fed her with negative thoughts that

head lowered in an attempt to avoid Erica recognizing her. However, at this

her eyes when she was slapped hard across the face

the slap wasn’t enough, Erica started screaming while reaching out to pull her hair. “Hayley Seymour, you b*tch! I’m

correctional officers came over

she had gone through several plastic

face! You look like a witch! It’s disgusting!” Erica sat down and mocked Hayley, who went

you. We’ll have to see each other for more than ten years anyway! Anastasia is a gem now and known as Mrs. Presgrave. Do you know that she and Elliot are married? She is also the eldest daughter of the Tillman Family. As for you, you are just a piece of trash by the side of the

course, she couldn’t tell Hayley how she really felt because of her envy toward Anastasia. However, right now, she couldn’t even have

all ruined. None of us will live

jailed and she herself was imprisoned. At the end of the day, had she ever regretted her

this extent. She would find an average man

Hayley commented as if she

raised her head and asked, “I still have

For her, those days were the happiest time of

it wasn’t a gigolo who entered the room. It was Elliot Presgrave. After Elliot handed her a watch, she then left it on the ground. Then, the waiter contacted me and gave me that watch.” Hayley clearly remembered the day when Elliot came to her store to look for her. He was dignified and exuded a masculine

as she

Elliot returned to my

Erica scolded, “You

was beautiful and happy. I could buy whatever I wanted. There would be nights where I get to dine with Elliot and go on jewelry exhibitions together.”

how Hayley became a wealthy woman overnight. It turned out that she had stolen Anastasia’s identity and