Never Too Far Novel

However, Josephine didn’t seem to react. Ethan grabbed a blanket and draped it across her. As he knelt on the carpet and looked at her beautiful face, he would be lying if he said he had nothing on his mind. Any man would want to take advantage of Josephine’s vulnerability, and Ethan was no exception.

Looking at her, he thought, I’m sure she won’t notice if I secretly kiss her. Then, he decided to take action!

Just as Ethan leaned down and was just inches away from Josephine’s face, he saw her open her eyes and look at him.

“What are you doing?” she asked. Josephine was a light sleeper. When Ethan draped the blanket on her, she was waking up. When she opened her eyes, she saw that Ethan’s face was close to her.

“I…” Ethan had never felt so embarrassed in his life.

However, Josephine knew what he was trying to do. At that moment, she blinked her eyes and asked, “Are you trying to kiss me?”

“Can I?” Ethan squinted his eyes and asked.

Looking at his handsome face, Josephine replied without hesitation, “Well, it will be a waste if I let go of this opportunity.”

When Ethan heard her words, he was stunned. Before he could react, Josephine wrapped her arms around him and kissed him first. Her actions startled Ethan since he had never expected her to be so bold. Meanwhile, Josephine had been dying to kiss him since they kissed on the cruise ship. From that day onward, she had been reminiscing about the kiss. Truthfully, she knew what she was getting into when she entered his room. She wasn’t an innocent girl anymore. After all, she had never allowed Luke to hold her hands, even when he had courted her for over a year. Yet, she allowed Ethan to be alone with her because she also had feelings for him.

As the saying went, “Hunters often appear as prey.” Josephine was the representative of this quote.

As the duo kissed inseparably on the couch, Ethan grabbed the back of her head and deepened the kiss. Suddenly, Josephine’s phone rang. After the call had died down, it rang again, seemingly as if the caller was persistent in getting Josephine to answer.

Ethan pulled apart from Josephine and panted. Then, he leaned his forehead against her and asked, “We can continue after you answer the call?”

Josephine was also panting. Never had she expected that a kiss would make her breathless. When she looked at the caller ID, her mind went clear instantly. Then, she looked at the time and saw that it was 9.30PM.

Oh my! What a pity that it is already this late!

As she thought about it, she took a deep breath and redialed the number. “Hey, Mom. I’m heading home right now,” she said casually.

“You have to be home by 10.00PM. You’re making me worry! There was just news about a woman getting murdered late at night,” said Heidi.

“Alright, Mom. I’m safe. I’m coming back.” Josephine promised. After that, she hung up the phone and looked at Ethan, who was reluctant. “I have to head home.”

Then, she was going to get up. However, Ethan pulled her into his embrace without hesitation and kissed her again. “Give me a few more minutes,” he said in a raspy tone.

Hearing his words, Josephine could feel her heart beating rapidly. She had to admit that Ethan looked goddamn sexy when he was being dominant.

The second kiss was bringing out their lust. Josephine was suppressing herself, and she knew that Ethan was the same. Hence, she wanted to end this kiss as soon as possible.

“Let’s just stop for today!” she said.

Ethan chuckled and asked, “Do I need to make an appointment for the next time we kiss?”

Hearing his words, Josephine couldn’t help but laugh. Why does he take kissing like a date?

“I’ll think about it! Anyway, I need to head home now.”

“I’ll drive you.” Ethan tugged on his tie and slightly raised his jawline. His sexy posture made Josephine’s eyes widen. Noticing her gaze, he asked her deeply, “Are you lusting over me, Miss Jacobson?”

In the split second, Josephine’s face was flushed red. She realized that she couldn’t hide her emotions in front of him.

After the duo had left the room and entered the elevator, Josephine felt Ethan hold her hand casually. She didn’t take her hand out. Now that she had sobered up, she was in disbelief and dared not to look at him.

After they got into the car, Ethan turned on some music for her to relax. As Josephine looked at the lively night street, she felt something different. It felt like… They were in love.

After some time, Ethan arrived at Josephine’s home. Just as Josephine was about to exit the car, Ethan suddenly leaned toward her and held her hand. “Are you in need of a boyfriend, Miss Jacobson?”

Josephine was shocked. At that moment, she recalled their kiss just now and thought, Is he taking advantage of the kiss to court me? Thinking about it, she quickly said, “I’m still dizzy from the alcohol, Mr. Quarles. Can we talk about this tomorrow?”

Ethan knew what she was planning. “Is this a hit and run, Miss Jacobson?”

Josephine was embarrassed. After all, he seemed to be implying that she was a playgirl. She wasn’t, though! She was unprepared as she had never expected such a thing to happen tonight!

“I’m dizzy, Mr. Quarles. I need to get home now. Goodbye, and drive safe.” As Josephine spoke, she quickly exited the car and closed the door. Then, she hurried into her house and stood by the bushes, looking at the car from the gaps as it slowly drove away. She sighed and rubbed her lips. God, it must have been swollen, she thought. When she entered the living room, she quickly said to Heidi, who was watching the television, “I’m exhausted, Mom. I’m going to go upstairs.”

“You should have come home sooner if you are exhausted,” replied Heidi. However, she didn’t ask anything more and continued watching the TV.

After Josephine entered her room, she quickly rushed to the bathroom. Looking at the mirror, she saw that her face was flushed, and her lips were rosy red even though she had no lipstick on. It was obvious that it was because of the kiss.

“This is so embarrassing.” Josephine buried her face in her hands. Ethan would be her boss, and they would encounter each other in the company. Yet, she did such intimate things with him.

Josephine was indeed exhausted. After taking a bath, she went to sleep and had a dreamless night.

The following day, she went to the company as usual. However, before stepping into the building, she heard someone call out to her. “It’s me, Joey.”

Josephine turned around and saw Luke waving at her by the entrance. There was also a cardboard box by his side, seemingly to have something expensive inside. “Come over here and open it, Joey. You’ll be surprised,” said Luke.

“What is it?” asked Josephine.

“You’ll know once you open it! I’m going to take a call. Hurry up and open it.”

Josephine felt speechless when she saw that Luke had told his assistant to record the moment of her being touched by his gift. “Not now. I need to clock in,” she said to him.

“No, no, no. Just open it, Josephine. I put so much effort into this.” Luke pleaded. He reached out and stopped her from entering the company.

Josephine had seen how clingy he would get. If she refused to open this present, she knew he would bring it to her office and ask her to open it. Thus, she decided to open the gift immediately to stop him from disturbing her colleagues.

“You’ll let me go to work as long as I open it, right?” she asked.

“Yes. As long as you open it, I will not disturb you,” Luke said confidently.

After thinking momentarily, Josephine walked toward the purple box while Luke stood aside and made a phone call.

Josephine crouched and untied the ribbon. When she opened the box, she saw that it was filled with balloons. Moreover, they seemed to be helium balloons.

After she had opened the box, she allowed the balloons to fly toward the sky. Beside her, the assistant quickly shouted, “Miss Jacobson! Grab the balloon! Grab it!”

Josephine was stunned, wondering how she was going to catch the balloons. They’re already about two meters above my head!

At that moment, Luke turned around as soon as he finished his phone call. Upon taking a quick stride, he charged at one of the balloons with lightning speed in an attempt to grab it, only to fail in embarrassment due to his short height. Nonetheless, he still did his best attempts to grab the balloon with his assistant, unknowingly presenting a hilarious and amusing sight.

On the other hand, Josephine was still dumbfounded by that sight until she saw a truck parked in a hidden spot. On the truck, there was a sports car that contained many colorful balloons. In that instant, something seemed to dawn on her as she looked up. To her surprise, there was a set of keys dangling on the balloon that was floating in the air.

Luke, who did everything he could but still failed to retrieve the balloon, came complaining to Josephine with a bitter look on his face. “I thought you would get the balloons. Do you know what’s on them?”

Josephine gulped and rhetorically asked, “Your car keys, I guess?”

“Yup, both sets of them.” Luke smiled awkwardly in response.

“I’m sorry.” Josephine apologized.

“No worries. I can always duplicate a new set. It’s not a big deal.” Luke said and stuck out his fingers. “This car is a gift for you. Do you like it? I specially bought a pink one for you.”

Josephine was speechless in response to Luke’s words. A sports car? What is he thinking? She shook her head and waved her hand. “No need for that, Luke. I’m happy with our friendship, so let’s just keep it that way. Give this car to someone else who deserves you, perhaps. Anyway, my work starts soon, so I need to get going.” Josephine ran through the entrance of her company like she was a refugee who was escaping from her captor.

Nonetheless, their interaction was secretly recorded by the paparazzi and was later made the headline with a title that read, ‘The love that flew away with the balloons.’ While there was a paragraph that detailed the story of the incident, it was accompanied by two pictures in which Luke and his assistant were seen trying hard to retrieve the balloons hilariously.

In the meantime, Josephine had been suffering from a headache so severe that she couldn’t focus on her work at all since the morning, although she expected the after-effects of her hangover.

“Are you alright, Joey?” Wren asked in a concerned manner.

“My head hurts.”

“Oh, come on. Is your age catching up to you? You’re not that old as far as I remember.”

“No, it’s not that. I’m having a hangover.”

“Who’s the client you were busy entertaining?” Wren asked curiously.

head. “Nah, it wasn’t a client but our

entertaining our company’s director?” Wren

“Our boss is someone else now. The director is no longer the biggest shareholder

shareholder of our company then?” Wren pressed on with

not going to ruin the surprise.” Josephine smiled

from a distance as Wren curled up and stepped away timidly. When Josephine turned

grabbed

last night?” Katrina threatened Josephine. Then, she bent over and leaned closer to Katrina’s ear. “I’m going to tell everyone in our company about the intimacy you

man.” Josephine blushed in her cheeks while trying

stood up with an unhappy look on her face. She then walked out the door with Josephine following right behind her until they found themselves in

Josephine’s face, Katrina grew more and more annoyed the longer she glared at her. “Now, tell me about you and Mr. Quarles.” She demanded an

her eyebrows. “Why should

have known each other a long time ago, huh? Did you get to know

grandpa has nothing to do with it. Don’t drag my family into this.” Josephine responded angrily, warning Katrina not to involve her family in

have a wide network connection.” Katrina couldn’t believe her ears. In fact, she just confirmed with her brother-in-law that Ethan was not an ordinary tycoon. After all, his family owned a logistics company that was ranked first

her life for the better by sponging off him. Even if she couldn’t be his wife in the end, she was hoping to secure a huge sum of money that would keep her fed

right. We know each other indeed. So, what are you going to

fool the others, Josephine, but

her reluctance in answering her question. Nevertheless, Katrina was observant enough to notice her blushed cheeks, which confirmed her suspicion. “Let me guess. So, you both really spent the night in the hotel, didn’t

didn’t. He took me home instead,” Josephine replied while

a dead person. It’s hard not to think that

I go back to my desk now?” Josephine intentionally raised her wrist and looked at her

square manner because I have feelings for him too.” Katrina made her point understood as she flicked her hair to flaunt her elegance. “I believe I’m a match for you in every aspect.” Katrina was confident in herself due to her good looks, as well as her wealthy upbringing. Furthermore, the fact

night before. Because of that, she was sure a man like Ethan would surely succumb to temptations. I’m not that good-looking, but if Ethan had eyes for me, he would definitely fall for a

off shortly after. Then, Josephine returned to her desk, but as she was about to take a sip of water, Wren suddenly leaned closer and asked, “Joey,

heard that, whereupon she immediately shifted her gaze to the phone screen to take a closer look at the pictures. Wait, what? The balloon confession is now on the headline?! Although her face and Luke’s were blurred, she still couldn’t help but feel a little pissed off. After that, she rose from her seat and made her

censored your faces, didn’t we? Furthermore, we didn’t mention your name either. We just said the woman is a reporter.” One of

because she didn’t expect herself to go viral one day. Hope Luke will be fine with getting on the news. As soon as she

multimedia department doing? Am I a joke to them?” Luke

Luke. Take it easy,

you treat me to a meal. Otherwise, I’m going to make a scene in your office.” Luke took advantage of the incident to make Josephine treat him

losing earlier that day. “All

See you tonight,”

him curious and tapped into it. The next thing that came into view was the familiar building of the Department of Multimedia and Communication along with two blurred faces of a man and a woman. With a pair of furrowed eyebrows on his face, Ethan could tell that the lady was

and checked it out, she saw a name that made her heartbeat race like a jackhammer. Damn it! Is he still trying to hold me responsible for that kiss or something? Josephine quickly hid in a corner and answered in a hushed voice, “Hey,

sports car as

she didn’t expect Ethan to learn about the news. She asked, “How did you know

saw it on our company’s

you could recognize me even though my face was

new car?” The question

she said, “I have to go, Mr. Quarles. My team leader needs me to be in a meeting. See you.” She hung up the call

assistant and said, “Get me a feminine-looking sports

“Yes, Mr. Quarles.”

where murmurs of gossip were ongoing. Everyone envied Josephine because she would own a sports car as soon as she accepted Luke’s gift, but to their surprise and bewilderment, she rejected him and turned down an expensive sports car as a gift. Everyone thought, Come on, what’s Josephine thinking? She has no intention of accepting Luke as her boyfriend, does she? Soon, Ethan exited the hotel and made his way to Tribus TV. As the biggest shareholder of the company, he was given a spacious office with a good view,

hand, Josephine heard her phone ringing not long after her meeting ended. “Hello, this is Josephine speaking from the Department of Multimedia and Communication. How may I

Ethan spoke

Josephine widened her

meet me on the 18th floor,”

didn’t expect Ethan

come up here.” Ethan hung up the call as soon

thief. Upon looking at her surroundings to make sure she was alone, she pushed the button and headed to the 18th floor on which the management office was. When she got there, she had no idea where to go until she heard footsteps from the corner,

who quickly scurried in his way. Seeing her hilarious

there anything I can help

Then, he sat on the couch

face started heating up.

a sports car,” Ethan brought up

a few seconds. Is he okay? Why would he

it. You mustn’t send it to

supposed to do with the car if you don’t take it?” Ethan threw the question back

Eventually, she bit

“Nope!”

have asked for my opinion before you bought the car!” He’s too

underground parking lot. You can drive it whenever you want.” Being the high-and-mighty person he was, Ethan would not take back a present

fair share of domineering people in her life, but she had never met someone so unreasonably

perfectly fine. I don’t need a sports car,” she muttered

and gracefully shrugged. “It’s fine. A sports car is just a normal gift to me. If you don’t want it, just leave

at his rows of pearly whites. He sure was a sight to behold when he

that it was a call from Luke, she quickly went to

a restaurant for us tonight. I’ll come to pick you up after work.” Luke’s voice rang

on him when she

tonight—she and Luke could only be friends. She wanted him to stop wasting his time on

sure that he wouldn’t give up just like that if she only rejected him verbally. That being said, there was a possibility he would if she let him know that she had given her heart away to someone she

pondering over it, Josephine realized she only knew one man who was more outstanding, handsome, and wealthier than Luke which could

the couch before she walked over. “Mr. Quarles, are you free tonight?” she

“Mhm.”

me with a little something, please?”

more

you pretend to be my boyfriend

high spirits as a

readily Ethan agreed to help. She only hoped that Luke would come

when I get off work tonight,” Josephine

didn’t want

some pictures taken in the underground parking lot. The pictures were of a red Ferrari sports

it? It’s parked in the VIP

so cool! It’s probably worth

Does anyone in the group know which rich lady this car

who was beside her, “Joey, do you know whose car is it? The group’s gone

explode as she stared at the sports car on the screen of the iPad. It can’t be the sports

I wonder which big shot’s gift it is. I’m guessing it is Tori’s car! She has

was unattached, on top of possessing both beauty and talent. At this moment, everyone was guessing that she

yet, the woman in question suddenly chimed

it’s not Tori’s?” Wren immediately grew more interested in the

assistant came over and put a

was inside the bag from the outside, she couldn’t help but pick it up, only to be surprised by what she saw. It turned out to be a box with a Ferrari logo on it. After she opened the box in the bag, she saw two neatly placed car

should I do now? The whole office is talking about this now. If

Wren narrowed her eyes like a detective

bag under the table. She rested her head in her palms, feeling her mind a mess. There were only five minutes left before

documents in her arms before she instructed directly, “Josephine,

at a loss for words when she looked at the other woman. “But it’s after work

that will be needed tomorrow morning. You’ll be held responsible if they’re not done.” Katrina intentionally kept these documents until now before bringing them

friend. I

me that? Go tell the team leader.” After

a look at the four or five different sets of documents in front of her. Right then, Wren poked her head in Josephine’s direction and commented, “She’s definitely targeting you!

Josephine grumbled to herself, The only reason Katrina is acting hostile toward me is probably because of

from Luke. ‘I booked us a table at a restaurant, Joey. I’m coming to pick

don’t have to pick me up,’ she replied. ‘I can

I’ll be waiting at the restaurant, then!’

the documents, she turned to Wren. “Wren, can I borrow a

her one. “But you have to send the documents back here tonight,

only nod. “Got it. I’ll bring the documents here before 9.00PM.” Since these were real-time news, the production and writing of news releases

began to ring, she reached out and

“When are we leaving?”

deep, magnetic male voice. Quickly cupping the

man on the other end of the call asked with a chuckle, “Are we

will be using my car. Surely, you’re

“Of course not.”

the documents in the bag, Josephine tidied up the table and bid Wren goodbye. Without anyone noticing, she picked up the bag with the car keys and scurried

bored in the office that she dialed the director’s office

Atticus uttered after picking

will Mr. Quarles come to work

in the

here? Does

didn’t request

office is he at,