Never Too Far Novel

In the afternoon, Anastasia made a call to Lorelai before she left for the restaurant where she had made a reservation.

Lorelai was the first to arrive between the two, as she set off from the company.

Around 11.50AM, a woman in business attire turned up by the entrance. She had her raven hair styled in an updo. Her whole appearance set her off gracefully, giving her amorous vibes.

Lorelai had heard from her father that Anastasia had taken over Bourgeois. She always thought Anastasia would be content with being a housewife, so Lorelai was surprised to see the woman become a chairwoman of a jewelry company right after marriage.

It was obvious that Anastasia was not a woman who lacked motivation and only sought pleasure in her life. Having her own career turned her into a more competent woman.

A woman like her was more attractive than ordinary housewives, and it was hard for men to resist her charm. Anastasia didn’t even need the help from Elliot to shine.

Lorelai couldn’t help but feel envious of her, as Anastasia got off on the right foot with a favorable background of her husband’s family.

No matter how hard Lorelai tried and how determined she was for her goals, as long as her family could not provide her with a better opportunity, she would still need to work for others. On the contrary, Anastasia was managing a listed jewelry company right after marriage, which had a market value of more than 10 billion.

“Anastasia.” Lorelai stood with a smile as Anastasia made her way to the table.

“Long time no see.” With ease, Anastasia took a seat opposite her.

“I heard that you had taken over Bourgeois. You’re amazing.” Lorelai gave her a heartfelt compliment.

“You are thinking too highly of me. I am just trying to find something to pass time because I get bored at home. Elliot wants me to have fun rather than trying to make a killing.” There was a hint of love in Anastasia’s tone as she said that.

Lorelai had a smile on her face, but the smile did not reach her eyes. “That’s quite sweet of Elliot.”

Happiness was written all over Anastasia’s face. “You’re not wrong. Other than my dad, he is the second man who spoils me rotten.”

“When are you going to have a second child? I remember that Jared is going to be seven soon, isn’t he?” Lorelai was curious.

“We’re not making any plans at the moment. It will come naturally.” Anastasia smiled at the thought. Just then, her phone rang, interrupting their conversation. “Excuse me for a moment.” She nodded at Lorelai and picked up the call. “Hello?”

At the end of the call, Anastasia had already made a decision. “In the future, Bourgeois will never consider the artist from this company to act as our brand’s spokesperson.”

Throughout the call, Anastasia had remained a serious face and once she ended it, Lorelai could finally express her curiosity.”What happened? Is something wrong?”

“It was just about an artist who overestimated her own boundaries,” Anastasia explained casually, but her eyes seemed to bore into Lorelai’s soul. “She tried to seduce Elliot right under my nose in a conference not long ago, but I happened to be aware of it.”

Lorelai’s smile stiffened slowly, and she hung her head low in shame. “That artist must be out of her mind to mess with you.”

“I cut off her endorsement contract and gave her a warning. I am going to blacklist her if she dares to do it again the second time. At present, none of the artists from her company will be given the opportunity to become Bourgeois’ spokesperson.” Anastasia’s smile was gentle, but her eyes pierced through Lorelai intensely.

Lorelai’s knuckles turned white as she held onto her cup tightly, unable to speak as a result. She was aware that it was a warning coming from Anastasia.

“Do you think I made the right choice?” Anastasia questioned with a hint of amusement. As if on cue, Lorelai agreed with her statement. “Right, I thought so too. Nobody shall think about sabotaging your marriage.”

“She is far from being a threat, more like an eyesore to get rid of.” Anastasia sipped her tea and changed the topic. “Let’s not dwell on this matter. We shall talk about something else instead. Have you found a job already?”

“I am currently working in a financial firm.” Lorelai nodded at her.

“Knowing you, I have no doubts you could find a great job. However, it is important to seek love too.” Anastasia smiled.

“I am devoted to my work, and I don’t have any free time to pursue a relationship.”

“I can introduce someone to you if I find them suitable.” Anastasia was enthusiastic about the topic.

“I’m good. You don’t have to.” Lorelai gave a dismissive wave at her suggestion hastily.

Anastasia didn’t insist on it as Lorelai declined. In the meantime, the food was served, so they had steered their conversation to other topics. Anastasia believed that the latter could understand her meaning, even though she had not spoken the obvious.

After finishing their lunch, they both got up to leave. Lorelai took out a suit and showed it to her. “This is the suit Elliot wore yesterday. Do you need help to send it for dry cleaning service?”

“There’s no need to trouble you. I will do it myself,” Anastasia said as she took the suit from Lorelai.

Once they got out of the restaurant, they parted and Anastasia pointed at a car not far away. “My car is over there. See you next time, then.”

“Goodbye.” Lorelai watched Anastasia as she got in the car, where a female bodyguard was waiting in the driver’s seat. The car then sped away.

When the car was out of sight, Lorelai could finally let out a sigh of relief. Anastasia was not a woman to mess with, as she insinuated her disapproval of Lorelai’s misbehavior.

On the other hand, Anastasia took out Elliot’s suit and ordered Adriana, “The suit is ruined. Deal with it.”

“Alright, madam.”

Anastasia thought it was a waste of the nice suit. However, it was now ruined by another woman’s scent. She wouldn’t keep it, and wouldn’t let Elliot wear it either.

She would not be generous when it was concerning her relationship, and she had no other hopes but for Lorelai to behave and stop stirring up trouble for her.

Meanwhile, Sophia was doing household chores in Arthur’s villa.

She was alone in the villa. Emily had gone out shopping, while Arthur had some matters to attend to. Sophia started with organizing his study table, followed by cleaning the dust on every surface.

A familiar signature caught her eyes when she was sorting out Arthur’s files on the table. The signature pressed hard to the paper, showing a hint of grace from the owner’s personality, and it no doubt belonged to Arthur.

Sophia crouched under the table for a better angle to clean. Just then, someone pushed the door open and it startled her, so she hurried to stand.

Suddenly, a thump echoed in the room. As Sophia tried to stand up, she bumped her forehead into the table.

Arthur stared at her with wide eyes from the doorway. He found her holding a cleaning rag in her hand, while another hand was pressed to her forehead.

“What are you doing?” That was all he could manage to ask.

“I’m cleaning the table,” Sophia answered meekly.

Taking in mind her eagerness, Arthur walked toward her and took a close look at her forehead. There was a bump on the spot where she hit hard on the table.

“You should use a cold compress.”

“I’m alright.” Sophia didn’t mind the pain. However, just when she was about to continue the chore, Arthur put an arm around her waist. Shocked, she quickly leaned backward, but he seized the opportunity and pressed her against the table.

“You just can’t wait to repay me?” he teased and closed in.

Before her were a pair of eyes as black as night and cold as stone. They were clear but full of mystery. Sophia felt pressure alone just by looking at Arthur.

Her lips slightly parted in disbelief because she had always thought that the man was cold and distant from the moment she first met him. However, right this moment, he was standing so close to her underneath the afternoon sun.

“I-I do think about repaying you…” Sophia spoke with hesitation.

“Then you shall do it as I prefer,” he demanded. There was a sudden urge building inside him to taste her lips again. Since he kissed her out of the blue in the hotel yesterday, the thought had started to linger on his mind. He had a need to confirm his thoughts, so he simply had to taste the sweetness on her supple lips.

Without further hesitation, Arthur wasted no time and went in for a kiss on her lips.

W-What? His bold actions made Sophia’s mind go blank.

Did he just kiss me again?

Her lean body was soft under his touch. The feeling of their bodies pressed against each other on the table sent a tremor through Arthur’s body, making him feel hot and bothered. The kiss lasted for a long time, as he did it again and again, to prove he was right.

Passion filled the study room.

With her eyes shut, Sophia responded to him eagerly. He was forceful one moment and gentle the next, and she was surprised to feel happy from his actions as if they were in love.

Finally, Arthur broke the kiss and pulled himself away. It was a cue to Sophia as she took to her heels almost immediately. However, passion lingered in the study room, like a reminder to everyone that they had just shared an intimate moment.

Sophia gasped as she returned to the room like a frightened white rabbit. As she covered her red lips, all she could think of was the man’s cool yet domineering kisses, which was way beyond her acceptable limit.

The impression that Arthur gave her was one of abstinence—or was it her illusion? He even mentioned earlier that he wanted to repay her through his own methods, so she suspected that he meant her giving herself to him.

He stood in front of the window walls with one hand in his pocket. Dressed in a black attire from head to toe, he carried with him a tough posture while his gaze reflected the facial expression of his cold handsome face. It also did not help that his breath had become a tad bit unstable. I’m having feelings for Sophia? What the hell is going on?!

His thoughts were proven earlier when everything was spilled out on his desk.

Emily returned from her gallivanting outside as today was yet another shopping spree for her. Behind her was a servant who entered with the items that Emily had purchased.

“All of you should head downstairs!”

The said servant left the items and departed while Emily raised her head to call, “Sophia.”

Sophia pushed open the door to make her presence known and responded from upstairs, “Miss Jennings.”

“Come down and help me to tidy up,” Emily instructed as she sat with crossed legs.

After Sophia came downstairs, Emily asked her to remove the items from their bags to organize them. Then, Emily announced the price of each item that Sophia took out.

“This is a limited edition pair of high heels with a value of a hundred and eighty. Please be careful with it.”

“This pair of silk pajamas cost me ninety thousand. Even a single thread cannot be damaged.”

“This purse has a purchase price of 1.8 million. You won’t be able to compensate me if you damage it.”

Sophia was speechless upon hearing Emily’s words. She could never agree with Emily’s concept of consumption. Obviously she was not jealous of Emily either because she was aware that Emily could use shopping as a way to pass her time.

“Artie, do you think that the dress I bought would look good on me?” Emily took a skirt and compared it to her physique.

Arthur’s hand was on the banister as he stared at the girl bending over to arrange the shopping haul.

When Sophia heard footsteps behind her, she was so frightened that she dropped the bag on the floor and collapsed.

Emily was shocked when she saw the scene before her and blurted out, “You had the nerve to drop the most expensive bag?!”

“I’m sorry,” Sophia apologized quickly.

His long legs walked toward Sophia and he ordered thereafter, “Come out with me.”

“Now?!” She lacked the courage to look Arthur in the eye.

“Yes!”

first, after which she informed Emily, “Miss Jennings, let me head out with

accompany you there!” Emily said as she hurriedly

he slid into the driver seat of an SUV and informed the

we need to ensure

insisted, “You are not to come

as he drove away from the gates of the villa. “Young Master Weiss, where are we going?” she asked

where we

about it

on the road ahead of him as he answered, “That

the study was a fact! She secretly

Sophia could

and would take them more than an hour to arrive at the church. By the time they arrived, the mid-afternoon prayer session would

it illuminated the

him while Sophia went ahead to light up a candle at the front of the altar. When she emerged,

at that moment when she regained her composure and approached him. Suddenly, she

lost her

man, she landed in a kneeling position in front of his legs and her face was exceptionally close to a place in

wanted to die on

lowered his head and sighed because in all his time of knowing her, this was the umpteenth time of

for them, there was no one around them. So, he reached out and helped her to her feet,

gripped onto hers. It was evident that

and walked up the steps, which they estimated to be at a distance of 200 meters, to where the main

decision as she panted. Of all the places that she

his face wasn’t flushed either. As the wind gently blew his hair into a somewhat messy

climb up anymore?”

can.” Now that she was under his gaze, she bravely

forced herself to follow from behind as a film

work since the view from where they were

he brought from the car. Then, he walked toward her

saw that the bottle was half full, she realized that he had

something against

bottle cap. Who am I to slander? We’ve already kissed, so what am

went to the main area of the church where candles could be found for them to use to offer

it to him. “Follow my actions and say your prayers. They say that miracles

he followed her suspiciously. Firstly, they left the bright candles at the candle holder at one side of the church before they walked to the pews and

was unaware that when she made a wish, the man beside her still had his eyes open as he observed her beautiful yet serious face. It was as if

Arthur to subconsciously follow suit and when

and long eyelashes, he hurriedly closed his eyes in a comical manner, so as to pretend that he was in the midst

to admire him, she realized that he still had

facial features seemed to have been meticulously carved by the angels

softly swallowed and harbored inexplicable thoughts while watching

to race as she thought of this. Wait! This isn’t going according to plan! I’m the one who seduced him to

Arthur’s eyes were closed, he was a sensitive man and knew that Sophia was sizing him up. As a

say, “Young Master Weiss, this is where the young single people meet up to socialize with each other. Do you want to head in and get to know a few girls? Who knows you might be able to meet your Ms.

me to

don’t have to since I won’t be married before

community center to mingle around

inside the church on the hilltop. The security guards had already knocked off work at this stage and forgot that Arthur and Sophia were still inside before they

cats and dogs and did not look like it would stop for a

she couldn’t resist informing him, “I think their staff has

dogs, so how are we going to leave?” Arthur felt at ease as he

until night time!” She cupped her

reached out to play in the rain. The sky gradually darkened over in the distance, which meant that nightfall

way down,” Sophia said to Arthur. “If we’re drenched, so be

into the rain. As they were heading down the steps, he reached out with his hand and explained, “I’ll

don’t have to…” She

This woman had been repeatedly too reckless for her safety, so he could predict the

held hands in the rain and created the impression that

right as she yelled without receiving any response. She cursed as she slapped her own mouth. “I really have a crow’s mouth because what

this, Arthur, who was next to her, puffed in amusement because

are still laughing! See, we are stuck here,” she

and noticed a wall measuring about two meters in height next to him

and looked around. “How can you climb up the wall

the top of the wall. Then, he easily climbed up before stretching out with his hand while saying, “Come, I’ll pull you

surprised Sophia did as instructed, after which he yanked her up

he jumped to the ground and reached out to break her fall. “We’ll jump down together since I’ll

aside; I’ll jump down on my own.” She was

mind breaking her fall by carrying

wall in preparation to make

in hot water? She

had already anticipated her reaction and when they made the fall, he tightly hugged her. As she was

of being in the rain and now that they

did you manage to grow up without injuring yourself?” an irritated Arthur asked

had a peaceful upbringing that was devoid of mishaps and injuries! Yet, after running into Arthur, she seemed to be landing herself in

that the sky was completely dark by now. He switched on the heater in the car, but he was nowhere in a better shape than her. His

he pushed his hair to the back, it revealed a different kind of attraction—one

Arthur and Sophia had just climbed off the

nearby and take a shower there.” He turned his head to Sophia and suggested. It would take about another hour

objection, they arrived at a five-star hotel twenty minutes later. However, he could not get the suite like he expected to as they were all reserved by foreign visitors who came for

time being. Sophia was not picky about their limited choice,

double room then.” Having no other choices, Arthur

checking them in and distributing the key card, the receptionist stole a glance at him. Even though he

in, they entered

in the mirror, Sophia crossed her arms around her chest immediately. Oh, god! She was surprised to see her white t-shirt drenched against her body, which revealed her curves

entering the room, she could see that the double room only came with a bathroom. Therefore, she suggested, “Mr. Weiss, you may go first. I might take a long time to wash

not bothered by the fact that he needed to wait and instead, he offered with courtesy. “Ladies

by his generosity, Sophia kindly accepted his suggestion. “Alright, I will

a shower to clean

finished showering. She slowly remembered that there were only towels prepared in the bathroom. If she

her body and began to dry her hair. Her silky hair cast down

which could reflect light; such a combination gave her a perfect appearance. Before she walked out of the bathroom, she took a deep breath and hoped

was Arthur waiting on the couch with his bare chest. He was wearing only his pants right now and his hip bone was shown as he lounged casually on the

have finished. It’s your turn to shower.” Pulling the towel close to her body, she walked out of the bathroom and

his head and took the view in. A glint flashed across his eyes at the sight in front

living smoothly without any obstacles or hindrances, so this was the first time he felt charmed as

his eyes like usual. Instead, his eyes were bright as if they

sudden moves. Just as she thought he was

make a snarky comeback against his remark. However, needless for him to say, she was always aware of her fit body and

take the bathrobe with him, Arthur had already entered

expected to see him with a towel around his waist later, even

changed into the attire. It was a brand new experience for her to only wear a

Water was still dripping from his hair and he was in his towel as Sophia had

fair skin, but it did not mean that his body was not kept in shape. He had a

are we heading home later?” She waited for him to settle before

send us some clothes. He is on his way.” Using the towel she

in the room, they were looking at each other at

occurred to him as he observed

is probably only wearing a

about the same

she reminded him, “The robe is in

bathrobe and wore it. Right after

breath came to

in front of

look at her. As soon as

before?” Feeling bored as he was waiting for clean clothes, Arthur popped a question at

already twenty-three years old, but somehow she felt like a loser if she answered honestly, so she lied

his question, she pretended

you have?”

“Just one.”

did you

“Pardon?”

were you guys at?” Arthur’s eyes stared intensely into hers and his voice

the explicitness in his question, Sophia stuttered, “C-Can I not answer

our secrets. You can ask me the same question later.” His eyes

times at the suggestion and considered it. In her opinion, it would not

in to the temptation with a lie. She was aware that the most intimate thing she had ever done with a man was sharing a kiss and that happened

hint of satisfaction when he

She kept a straight face even though she was certainly not telling the truth. Remembering her promised right, she

on the bed. He then lifted his chin and fixed

many girlfriends have you had

at all,”

any of your words!

never lie.” His eyes lit up like a

on his words with thoughts running through her mind. If he

she wanted to know, she decided to change the topic. Arthur might never have had any serious relationship, but could he say the same about those women whom he

kissed!” His answer was

she was dubious with him, she shot him another question. “With

Her mind froze as she heard him answer without hesitation. With a shocked expression, she stared at him while having a hard time believing his words. She could feel the burning

he had been only kissing one woman, which was

so good at kissing last time.” Sophia intended

that come naturally to man and one of them is kissing.” However, Arthur was serious with an explanation. A smug smile slowly formed on his face as he explained, “Are you trying

she shook her head hard. “I’m not!” I am not going to

she trying to say

with determination and walked toward her. “Why don’t you tell me how I am doing at kissing exactly? I

as she wondered about

regarding this matter? He is only trying to

With his face staying dangerously close to her, his hands cupped

moment, he pressed his lips onto hers and began

for excuses to kiss her. But soon enough, the woody scent of cedar filled her mind

wrapped around his neck reflexively. The thought of Arthur had been on her mind lately and she found

it that time when he risked himself to save her at the beach; or the moment he tried to rescue her but ended up rolling down the hill with her; or when he

himself

could not help but panic as everything was going out of her control. Right now, he was giving off a dangerous vibe as though he could devour her with the

go of her promptly. Emotions were surging in his eyes and his face showed a trace of him restraining

the same time, even if he wanted to trigger a reaction out of her to explore her effect on him, he still

the stalemate grew heavier between them, someone rang