Never Too Far Novel

Chapter 1601-1610

“President Presgrave, who needs a driver’s license?” Stanley inquired.

“Ellen,” Jared replied.

Although a driver’s license is not a must, accompanying her to the test will be more meaningful.

Meanwhile, at the Orey Residence, Lambert showered and settled into bed to watch a soccer match. As he watched, a mental image of Ellen, whom he had seen earlier that day, flashed like a slow-motion movie scene. Everything about her was vivid, from her eyes to the strands of her hair that fluttered in the wind. It was as if he had met the love of his life.

While recalling that, he could not help but scratch his black hair out of frustration. Unfortunately, she is Jared’s woman, and if she is with any other man tonight, I will steal her away.

For the sake of a woman, he did not even want to watch his favorite soccer match anymore. He was even bored and wanted to know where she lived, what she was doing, and everything about her.

…

After taking a bath, Ellen went to bed and read a marketing book. As she read, she became sleepy, and the book remained in her hand even as she slept.

The following day was the weekend, and she slept in after turning off her alarm. When she got up, she saw that it was 10.00AM. While she was planning where to go for lunch later, suddenly, her phone rang.

She could not help but pick up her phone and look at it, and when she saw that it was Jared on the other end, her heart started racing.

“Hello, President Presgrave.”

“Let’s have lunch together.” The man’s voice sounded domineering.

“Um, I want to eat barbecue. Will you come with me?” Ellen instantly replied because she was craving barbecue.

“Of course,” Jared responded.

“Then, I’ll treat you to the meal. I know a new place that’s really good,” she said.

“Okay, I’ll come to your place.” The man responded readily and hung up.

However, Ellen was still somewhat stunned after hanging up the phone. It is only 10.00AM! It’s too early for him to come over!

When she realized Jared would be arriving shortly, she immediately jumped out of bed and tidied up. She had planned to do nothing and put off any household chores that morning, but since he was coming over, she eventually decided to be diligent.

After cleaning, she felt the floor was still not shiny enough, so she took the mop out. Soon, she realized that mopping her 2,100-square-foot apartment was tiring her out.

Meanwhile, at 10.00AM on the weekend, a black SUV raced down the road like a wild horse. The man behind the wheel was dressed casually and wearing sunglasses, looking languid and elegant.

When the large black SUV that looked like dark matter sped past, many women on foot took notice of it. However, when they caught sight of the man behind the wheel, their hearts began to race.

Oh my God! The figure reflected in the car is so handsome!

At that moment, the bodyguards, whose sole responsibility was Jared’s safety, sped up and followed closely behind his car. His bodyguard was surprised that their young master, who rarely went out, had

developed a sudden interest in social outings. In addition, Jared frequently appeared in crowded locations without regard for time or place.

Shortly after, Jared’s SUV pulled up at the residential area entrance, and the security guard, seeing his imposing manner, waved him in without checking his identification.

After parking the car, he walked toward the building where Ellen lived and waited for the elevator.

At that moment, the female manager of the finance department was wearing a face mask and carrying a bag of garbage as she came out of the elevator. When she met him face to face, she was so startled that her face mask almost fell off.

“P-President Presgrave?” She couldn’t believe she would randomly run into the president of her company in front of the elevator!

“Good morning, Miss Curry,” Jared smiled and greeted her, then stepped into the elevator. Afterward, Joanna awkwardly removed her face mask and looked at herself in her pajamas. Although she was 40 years old and still single, she felt her heart fluttering like a young girl in front of the young president.

Still, Joanna could not help but wonder whom President Presgrave was looking for so early that morning in the residential area. Could it be his assistant who is rumored to be with him?

The assistant appears to be a resident of this building. Joanna had discovered a significant news scoop early that morning, which confirmed that the company’s idle gossip was true. Young Master Jared and that female assistant really have a thing going on!

Meanwhile, Ellen was so tired that she could hardly stand up straight. She could not understand why Jared had to come early to find her that day. After she put down the mop and saw the shiny floor and comfortable living room, she felt a sense of accomplishment despite feeling dog-tired.

At that moment, when she was about to sit down, take a break, and drink some water, the doorbell rang. Therefore, she hurriedly walked to the door, peered through the peephole, and saw the man standing outside. Then, her hand reached for the door handle, opened it, and greeted him warmly, “President Presgrave, please come in!”

Later, he stepped in, and she handed him a pair of men’s slippers. Suddenly, his gaze narrowed slightly as he asked, “Why do you have men’s slippers here? Do men usually come over to your house?”

Ellen was taken aback and quickly explained, “No, no, didn’t you come to my house last time? I realized I didn’t have men’s slippers, so I bought a pair on my way back from the mall. You’re the first one to wear them!”

Soon, Jared’s face brightened after hearing that explanation.

“Hm! Your home is spotless,” he complimented.

On the other hand, she did not dare to say that she had finished cleaning a moment ago without a break and that her back was still sore from the chores!

“Do you want some water?”

“Sure!”

So, she went to get a disposable cup to pour him some water. After Jared saw it, he furrowed his brows. “I don’t drink from disposable cups. I want your cup instead.”

Ellen blinked, but considering his identity, she felt he must be particular. So, she poured water into her cup and handed it to him. He held the cute-looking cup in his hand and pursed his lips. Then, he scanned her apartment and mused, This entire home has a soft, feminine vibe, almost like a pink cloud is floating through it.

“There’s a barbecue restaurant that recently opened nearby. I saw that the reviews online are excellent, and I’ve already made a reservation. Let’s go there to eat later!” she suggested to him.

Jared answered promptly, “Okay! I haven’t had a barbecue in a long time, and I’m a bit hungry now.”

Ellen smiled and said, “I’m sure it won’t disappoint you.”

“I’m looking forward to it,” he answered while holding her cup.

When she realized it was almost 11.00AM, she said, “I’ll go change clothes first. You wait here.”

Then, she went to her room to get changed. There were few clothes in her closet, and the ones she did have were only average quality. Due to her attractive figure and elegant temperament, even a cheap, plain white T-shirt and a pair of simple jeans looked exceptionally stylish on her.

Shortly after, she strolled out of the door, her lengthy hair hanging loose, and he blinked slightly as his eyes widened at the sight of her.

This girl looks good in any outfit. She can dazzle anyone in a luxurious evening gown or a simple white T-shirt.

“Come here. There’s something I want to talk to you about,” Jared said to Ellen.

She immediately sat down beside him and blinked her clear eyes twice. “What’s the matter?”

“Do you want to learn how to drive?” he asked.

However, she was stunned momentarily by his question, then thought about it for a while before saying, “Yes! Before, I lacked the financial resources, but now I lack the time.”

While many of her classmates could afford and obtain their driver’s licenses during university, she could barely cover the tuition cost, let alone anything else.

“Then, I’ll give you three months off. You can focus on getting your driver’s license,” Jared suggested to Ellen.

She was startled by his unexpected proposal. Is he giving me time off to take the driver’s license test? However, she quickly waved her hand to refuse. “No, no, I’m here to work in your company and not to have fun.”

“This is my order. As my assistant, you must learn how to drive a car,” he insisted and came up with an excuse.

“Still, I can’t take three months off from work! I heard that one can get a driver’s license quickly in only one month,” she said.

Jared could not help but chuckle at Ellen’s reply. He had indeed thought that she would be unable to pass it on the first try, which was why he had given her a three-month vacation.

“Okay! In that case, you can come to work in the morning and go to the driving school in the afternoon,” he suggested and scheduled her activities.

Then, she nodded and smiled, “Okay. Thank you, President Presgrave.”

Soon, he was mesmerized by her radiant smile, which seemed to outshine the sun outside the window. She looks charming and lovely, especially with her sparkling eyes and pearly white teeth. Damn, this girl is so sweet.

The more he thought about how sweet she was, the more he wanted to do something wicked to her.

As soon as that thought crossed his mind, Jared made his move. He leaned over and cupped her face, then his thin lips pressed against hers. Ellen’s mind immediately went blank as their warm breaths intertwined. She could feel a sense of closeness and romance in the air.

After a brief kiss, he withdrew and smiled at her. “Do you like it?”

At that moment, she could feel her heart pounding. So, she shyly turned her face away, and her clear eyes blinked frantically.

“Do you like kissing people, President Presgrave?” she asked, feeling bothered.

He was startled by her question, then burst out laughing. “Do you think I kiss every girl I meet? So far, only you have had the privilege.”

If any other man makes this comment after we’ve locked lips, I will reprimand him. On the other hand, hearing these words from this man makes me feel highly privileged.

“We should go to lunch now, or we’ll lose our seats,” she said, trying to regain her composure in that romantic atmosphere.

Then, Jared glanced at his watch and nodded. The two walked to the shoe cabinet, and Ellen changed her shoes. She squatted to pull the heels of her white shoes up, but when she stood up, she collided with something. Moreover, she was so caught up in her thoughts that she did not notice his long leg in front of her, and her face soon bumped into his waist.

Bam!

Her face immediately turned red to the roots of her ears. However, he was not hurt by the collision and simply comforted her with a low chuckle. “It’s okay.”

She could not help but glance at a specific part of him, thinking, what if she had hit it and hurt him?

Soon, the two of them left, and while waiting for the elevator, Ellen was still full of dirty thoughts. So, when the elevator door opened, Jared naturally put his arm around her and walked in with her.

As they descended, they did not encounter anyone on the way out of the elevator. They then got into Jared’s car and headed straight to the nearby barbecue restaurant that was recently opened.

The barbecue restaurant was a very stylishly decorated place. She had reserved a corner table where the two could eat and chat quietly without being disturbed. However, as soon as he entered the restaurant, he became the target of all the women’s attention in the entire restaurant.

As barbecue restaurants were typically frequented by young girls, several tables were filled with girls. Suddenly, they went gaga as they stared in disbelief at the man who had walked past the aisle. My God! Is this what a domineering president looks like in reality? How did we meet such a handsome man in a barbecue restaurant? What’s more, a girl is accompanying him! We’re so envious!

When Ellen was ordering food on the phone, she handed her phone to Jared, asking him to choose. “What do you like to eat?”

“Anything is fine. You can be the one to order the meal.” Following that, he supported his cheek with one hand while gazing affectionately at her.

So, she placed an order for more dishes, after which she got up to get some condiments and mixed up some sauce for him. Soon, many girls purposely walked by their table to catch a glimpse of him, as if he were an idol. However, they did not dare to disturb him and were content to observe him nearby.

When Ellen returned with the sauces, everything was set up and ready to go on the grill.

Soon, she was chowing down as she grilled up all her favorites. She was mid-meal when she suddenly remembered that she had let her long hair down without tying it back and that it was distracting her from her meal.

After hearing her rant about her long hair for the third time, the man sitting across from her got up.

Ellen watched as Jared’s silhouette disappeared, assuming he was going to the bathroom. After that, she hastily grabbed a few grilled vegetables from the grill, and while she was munching on them, a pair of soft hands suddenly appeared from behind her and tied her hair.

Ellen was startled and turned around to see Jared behind her, who was clumsily tying her hair. As he began to tie her hair, she became red in the face and remained motionless, but her heartbeat quickened.

When he heard her rant earlier, he recalled that when he entered the restaurant, he had seen some hair ribbons outside the door intended for customers with long hair, so he went to get one.

The girls around them noticed he had left the table, but when they looked over, they saw the utterly handsome man gently tying the girl’s hair.

Wow! That’s too much for our hearts to take!

Where can we find such a handsome, considerate, and gentle boyfriend?

This girl is so lucky!

At that moment, Ellen was delighted by his sweet and thoughtful gesture. So, when Jared finished tying her lengthy hair, she shyly smiled and said, “Thank you.”

Meanwhile, he gazed intently at his masterpiece. Hmm! At least the ponytail isn’t crooked.

Later, she discovered that he, like her, disliked spicy foods and preferred only vegetables. So, with great satisfaction, they ate everything they had ordered.

Following their meal, Ellen skulked off to the cashier without a word for fear that Jared would offer to foot the bill.

…

Although Selena had an unpleasant Saturday, she finally obtained Lambert’s phone number when she went into the computer system and chatted with the staff. There, she accidentally saw the guest list and found his phone number, which she had written down.

She clung to the phone number as if holding the key to riches. Despite her elation, she was at a loss for action. Moreover, she could tell that he was more interested in Ellen than in her, so she continued to ponder how to lure him with Ellen. She believed that if she could convince Ellen to come out, Lambert would also show up.

Meanwhile, Ellen went to a driving school near her workplace for driving lessons. It was a large driving school that offered one-on-one teaching and attentive and thoughtful service.

She stayed at the driving school as Jared had left for an urgent matter. In the evening, she brought her study materials home and started to read. She fell asleep while reading, and it was already morning when she opened her eyes. Monday had arrived, and she hurriedly got ready before heading downstairs to call a cab. When Joanna from the finance department drove by and saw Ellen, she extended a hearty invitation for them to carpool to work.

Still, Ellen could not refuse Joanna’s eager invitation, so she accepted the offer and got in the car with her. Joanna knew the huge secret between her and Jared, but she had no intention of sharing it with others. However, her attitude toward Ellen had taken a 180-degree turn.

“Ellen, I cook at home. If you don’t have any evening appointments, you can come to my house for dinner. I live alone, too,” Joanna said warmly.

Ellen was pleasantly surprised. “Thank you, Miss Curry. You’re really too kind.”

“We’re from the same company, so we should care for each other.” Miss Curry chuckled. As she sized up Ellen’s youthful appearance, she was secretly envious.

Soon, the two entered the elevator from the underground parking lot together. At that moment, a figure hurriedly walked in from behind. Ellen turned around and saw Selena walking in with her bag. Selena shot her a complicated gaze when she saw Ellen, but she did not show her usual haughty demeanor because she could not feel superior when she compared herself to Ellen.

As they arrived on the first floor, Joanna got off the elevator.

“My dad’s turning 50 this Saturday. You’ll definitely find time to come, right?” Selena asked Ellen.

“We’ll see when the time comes.”

“Other than me, you’re the only one from the younger generation. You have to come,” Selena said.

Suddenly, the image she saw last time flashed through Ellen’s mind, and she looked at Selena sympathetically. If my guess is correct, Uncle Connor has a son outside with another woman.

“If Uncle Connor invites me, I’ll go,” Ellen replied.

As Selena got off the elevator, she could not help but ask, “Did Young Master Jared give you that sports car?”

Selena was particularly curious about this; she was afraid that Jared would force Ellen to take it. If so, wouldn’t Ellen become the one to own a sports car? Only by clarifying this with Ellen would she feel better.

“No,” Ellen replied lightly.

Only then did Selena feel satisfied and got off the elevator.

When Ellen arrived at the floor of the president’s office, she went to the pantry. Then, she started the coffee machine, took out the finest coffee beans, and began grinding the coffee to prepare for Jared’s morning coffee.

At 10.00AM, Stanley passed by her window and said, “Ellen, bring a cup of coffee to the conference room.” Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

Ellen hurriedly said, “Okay, I’ll bring it right away.”

Ellen thereafter went to the pantry again. By then, the coffee had already been ground and brewed. She added a small amount of sugar, stirred it in lightly, then put the coffee on a tray before heading toward the conference room.

Ellen knocked on the door and reached out to push it. It was then that she heard an angry male voice from the inside. “Who do you think is the boss of this company? Who is the decision-maker? Who allowed you to act without an authorization?”

The angry voice was coming from Jared. At this moment, one of Ellen’s feet had already stepped in, and she also saw what was going on inside. She saw six or seven senior managers standing around and receiving the boss’ scolding.

Jared stood before them, looking enraged. At this moment, he had his hands on his hips. His handsome face was as cold as ice, and there was a hint of frostiness in his eyes.

Not to mention the terrified look on the faces of these senior managers, even Ellen, who had nothing to do with this matter, felt her legs tremble. It was truly a volatile scene that she had rarely encountered. She took a deep breath and came to his side with the coffee, carefully placing it down. As she was about to turn around, she tripped over a chair, causing her to fall awkwardly on the ground. Blushing, she picked up the tray that had fallen to the ground and immediately got up. In the end, she hurriedly pushed the door open to leave, feeling very embarrassed.

That was really embarrassing. Also, my knees are hurting so much!

Ellen lowered her head and realized that her knee was already swollen and bruised from the fall.

When she returned to her office, she had just sat down and was about to massage her knee when someone pushed open her office door from the outside.

Ellen was taken aback. Isn’t that President Presgrave who had just flown into a rage earlier?

She quickly sat up in a proper position, fearing that she might accidentally ignite his anger. Jared leaned on her desk with both hands and locked his deep gaze on her. “Did you get hurt anywhere from the fall just now?”

Ellen blinked. “I-I’m fine.”

“Let me see.” The man did not feel at ease. When he wanted to help her up earlier, she had already gotten up and left. As a result, Jared lost the mood to scold the managers and quickly came over to check on her.

“I-I’m really fine. A-Are you okay, President Presgrave?” Ellen asked him in return.

“There’s just a minor oversight in the project. It’s nothing major,” Jared replied to her before walking over to her chair, crouching down, and checking on her bruised knees.

Subsequently, he said with some exasperation, “Be more careful next time.”

He was upset that she couldn’t even walk properly.

“Okay.” Ellen nodded.

After that, Jared picked up the phone and called for someone to bring the first aid kit. Soon, a female assistant came in with the kit. All the staff in this building probably knew about Jared’s special

treatment of Ellen, so no one was surprised. Even when they passed her by, they often greeted her enthusiastically. Who knew? One day, Ellen may become their boss lady!

Soon, Jared applied some anti-inflammatory and wound-healing medicine on Ellen’s knees while she looked at his face with some caution. From this angle, this man’s features were handsome. The angry expression he had just now was replaced by a gentler one at this time.

For a moment, Ellen was a little dazed by the sight and her heart quietly started to race.

What exactly are Jared’s feelings toward me? Is it the care of a superior for a subordinate, or is it love from a man toward a woman?

Ellen knew that it was the latter, but she felt like she was dreaming and couldn’t believe it was real.

“Did I scare you today?” Jared asked as he was done putting ointment on her wound.

Lost in thought, Ellen met his gaze and her heart skipped a beat. She wanted to shake her head but nodded instead. “A little bit.”

Jared stood up and caressed her head. “I got angry at them, not you. Why were you so nervous?”

Ellen didn’t dare say that he looked really scary when he got angry!

“Don’t wander around and rest well in the office.” Jared finished his sentence and took the medicine box with him as he left.

Shortly after, Ellen’s phone rang. It was Connor, so she answered, “Hello! Uncle Connor!”

“Ellie, it’s my birthday this Saturday and I want to have a big party. You have to come.”

“Okay, I will be there.” Ellen couldn’t refuse because her uncle was the closest person to her in the world.

The following week, Ellen went to work every morning and attended driving school every afternoon. She felt fulfilled, especially during her thrilling driving lessons that had her nerves stretched tight. She could see that Jared was also busy; he was either attending meetings or en route to one.

Occasionally, she saw him talking in the corridor with the company’s high-level executives as if they were solving a big problem. So, she tried not to disturb him.

Early Thursday morning, Ellen’s bank account was credited with her salary from last month, which totaled around 82,000. She was puzzled when she saw the amount on her company card. Why was the amount so high? It was her first month’s salary, and there were even decimals. This meant that the finance department had calculated her salary accurately!

Ellen suddenly began to wonder what the purpose of her job was. What she had done was to make a few cups of coffee for Jared, goof off, read books, and study for her driver’s license. Yet, he still paid her such a high salary. To be honest, she felt a little guilty for accepting the salary.

Soon, it was Friday and the week was about to end. When Ellen left work, she intentionally left late. At that time, Jared was still in a meeting. Even though her heart ached for him, she didn’t know how to cheer him up. She thought for a moment and wrote a note. After completing it, she sneaked into his office and stuck the note on the corner of his computer screen.

After sticking the note, she left.

At 7.30PM, Jared, who was a bit tired, left the meeting room and returned to his office. He was in a bad mood, but when he sat down on his chair, he suddenly noticed a heart-shaped note.

In his solemn office, it was rare to see something so girly. He took it down and read the words written on it. His furrowed brows finally relaxed, and a smile appeared on his lips.

‘President Presgrave, I wanted to check on you these past few days, but I didn’t want to disturb you. So, I can only offer you words of encouragement. I wish you happiness and good health. Remember to take a break! Your assistant, Ellen.’

Jared also realized with regret that he had neglected her lately, so he picked up his phone and dialed her number.

At that moment, Ellen was on her way home in a cab. When she heard her phone ringing, she picked it up and her heart skipped a beat. It was from Jared.

Did he see the note I left?

Ellen regretted her actions and felt that it was too childish.

“Hello, President Presgrave! Have you finished your meeting?”

“Rather than writing me a note to show your concern, it’s better if you accompany me for a meal.”

“Ah! But I’ve already taken a cab home.”

“Then wait for me at your doorstep. I’ll be right there.” The man on the other end of the line sounded bossy.

Nevertheless, Ellen’s heart felt sweet as she replied, “I haven’t gone far. I’ll wait for you at the mall.”

“Okay,” the man said.

Soon, Ellen got off the cab and waited for him in a conspicuous location. Sure enough, in less than 10 minutes, the man’s sports car came into view. It was very eye-catching among the other cars. Then, Ellen opened the car door and got in. Inside, the man wore a simple white shirt, looking both charming and enigmatic. This man made her think of a phrase, ‘The simpler, the more luxurious’.

Shortly after, they pulled up at the restaurant Jared often visited in the sports car. There, Ellen gave him a once-over under the bright light. He had faint dark circles under his eyes like he hadn’t slept in ages. Jared was glued to his phone, sorting through work emails. Even without looking up, he could tell she was staring at him. But under her gentle gaze, he felt at ease and felt no awkwardness from her checking him out.

After a moment, he finally lifted his head to look at her. He could tell she was a bit shy, which he found pretty cute.

“So, what’s on the agenda for tomorrow?” he asked.

“I’m probably going to my uncle’s house for his birthday.”

“What time?”

“It’ll probably be noon because other relatives will go over too.” Ellen shrugged; she wasn’t too sure.

“Got it. You’re mine for the night then,” Jared stated with some dominance.

Ellen blushed at his words. That sounded suggestive. What exactly did he mean by that? All night long?

“What do you want to do tomorrow night?” she asked, curious.

“I just want to kick back and relax. Also, I want you there with me,” Jared said with a directness that caught Ellen off guard.

Ellen blinked, thinking about the last time they watched the moon together on the beach. She nodded and replied, “All right, just hit me up with the details tomorrow night.”

After dinner, Jared didn’t rush to drop her off at home. Instead, they cruised around town at a leisurely pace, soaking in the music and city lights.

Ellen was loving the moment. She wasn’t after anything in particular, and she just wanted to be near him. If only time could just freeze like this.

Around 9.30PM, Jared parked his car at the entrance to Ellen’s residential area. Suddenly, he asked, “Do you have a guest room at your place?”

Ellen nodded. “Yeah, I do.”

“I’m tired. Mind if I crash at your place for a bit?” Jared said before hopping out of the car.

Ellen got out too and looked at him, a bit concerned. She nodded and replied, “Sure. Just take a rest and then head out when you’re ready.”

When they got to Ellen’s place, Jared made himself comfortable. He didn’t even bother going to the guest room; he just laid down on the couch. His long legs were stretched out with one arm propping his head. Under the light, Ellen could see his muscles bulging through his white shirt. He had the kind of body that even models would kill for.

Ellen didn’t know what to do with herself. Should I stay here with him or retreat to my own room?

“I’ll head to my room now, President Presgrave. Let me know if you need anything.” Ellen finally decided that it would be too awkward to stay. Thus, she went back to her room.

Jared smirked a little, cracking open his eyes. He was indeed tired, though.

Crashing at Ellen’s place is really cozy.

Ellen showered and came back out, only to find that Jared had fallen asleep. She stepped over to him as quietly as can be to check on him.

As much as she didn’t want to admit it, the man looked good even when he was sleeping. I have to admit that he looks pretty good even when he’s sleeping but staring at him for too long makes me feel all fluttery inside, and that’s not good. So, it’s best not to stare.

Ellen was about to turn around when she heard a low male voice behind her. “This couch is not that comfortable to sleep on; can I sleep on your bed instead?”

Ellen’s eyes widened. Oh my gosh! Is he actually asleep or not?

Without thinking, she quickly replied, “Uh, sure! You can sleep on my bed!”

With that, the man got up and looked at her with a pair of sleepy black eyes. “Did you take a shower?”

Ellen nodded. “Yes, I did.”

“You smell good.”

Ellen blushed a little, and just then, the man grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the main bedroom.

“President Presgrave…” Ellen was about to faint. Is this guy drunk or what?

Jared didn’t seem to care. He just pulled her to the bed, and the two of them fell upon the soft mattress. Jared’s weight on Ellen made it hard for her to breathe. He’s too burly!

When she opened her eyes, she saw his smiling gaze looking down at her, not a hint of sleepiness in sight. He was clearly teasing her.

“Are you going to sleep or what?” Ellen asked, a bit annoyed.

“Yes, I’ll sleep,” Jared responded hoarsely. “But you have to stay with me.”

He spoke with dominance as he grabbed Ellen tightly so that her face was against his chest while her body was in his arms.

Ellen’s hand was held down and she felt uncomfortable, so she tried to adjust her position.

“Don’t move.” A sudden warning came to her ear, sounding dangerous.

Ellen stiffened, afraid to move. She was like a big ragdoll being held by the man that was helping him fall asleep.

She didn’t even dare to breathe too loudly, not knowing how long he would hold her like this. She wondered if being his human pillow was part of her job responsibilities. Aside from sleeping on my bed and holding me to sleep, will he have other strange requests?

Ellen’s head was a mess, and she couldn’t tell if he had already fallen asleep. She was torn between whether to look at him or not.

In the end, she lifted her head cautiously, but she accidentally hit the man’s hard jaw with her forehead. When she looked up to see if he was awake, she found herself looking into his deep, captivating eyes. The next thing she knew, he was holding her face, and his hot lips fell on hers at once.

How could he be asleep? He was in his sexual prime at 26 years old!

Blushing, Ellen couldn’t catch her breath as he kissed her hard. She felt that this was the first time a man had appeared so dangerous and made her feel so vulnerable.

“No… No, that’s not part of my job description,” Ellen gasped, somewhat irritated.

Jared’s breathing was slightly ragged as he propped himself up to look at her. Then, Ellen pushed him away with her hands on his firm chest and blushed, saying, “My job doesn’t involve warming your bed.”

“Job?” Jared was surprised. Did this girl think she was still working her hours?

Ellen’s hand was placed on his strong chest, but she thereafter withdrew it shyly. This man’s aura is just too overwhelming.

“Be my girlfriend!” The man suddenly leaned down and spoke in a low and earnest voice. He was holding her face so that she couldn’t avoid him.

Ellen couldn’t resist his advances. At that moment, her mind went blank. Blinking, she stared hard at him.

“From now on, you don’t have to work, and I’ll take care of you. I’ll give you whatever you want,” Jared proposed with some very favorable conditions.

“Then… Will we get married?” Ellen blinked, wanting a stable future.

“Of course. When my parents come back from abroad, I’ll introduce you to them,” Jared answered firmly.

Ellen felt like she was dreaming. He is such an outstanding man while I am just an ordinary woman. Why would he choose me?

“You don’t have to answer me now. Take three days to think about it.”

The man kissed her on the forehead and added, “I’m going home.”

Ellen felt the pressure and weight on her body lifted, but it also brought a sense of disappointment to her heart. It was such a conflicting feeling—on one hand, she wanted him to stay, but on the other

hand, she was afraid.

“Don’t you want to rest for a while more?” Ellen asked as she stood up.

“Before 10.00AM on Monday, I need your answer.” The man picked up his phone and car keys from the table and even set a time for her.

Ellen blushed and nodded. She was relieved that she wasn’t forced to give an answer right now, so she felt more relaxed.

Jared was finally satisfied and opened the door to leave. As he closed the door, his brows furrowed with discomfort. He left not because he didn’t want to stay with her, but because he was afraid of losing control and hurting her.

Ellen bit her lip, her face still red. All she could think about was the kiss from earlier. It was beautiful and sweet. If her last bit of reason hadn’t held her back, she wouldn’t have been able to resist this man. However, what she didn’t know was that her resistance had already defeated 99.99% of other women because this man’s appeal was so overwhelming that few could resist when he took initiative.

That night, Ellen couldn’t sleep. For the first time in 23 years, she experienced what it was like to lose sleep because of a man.

At 9.00AM, Ellen received a call from Connor. Still groggy, she mumbled a response to him and at the same time, she noticed an address in her message inbox. After that, she set her alarm and promptly went back to sleep.

When her alarm went off again, it was already 11.50AM. Ellen quickly got dressed and rushed out the door. She was on her way to Connor’s 50th birthday party at a luxurious hotel where three tables were reserved for his celebration. Olivia was ecstatic while Selena dressed up in an evening gown with exquisite makeup.

“Will Ellen come for sure, Dad?” Selena asked.

“Yes, I just spoke to her on the phone. She wouldn’t be so petty as to not come,” replied Connor. With more people attending, he would have more face to show.

These days, Selena had been planning how to meet Lambert, but the only person who could attract him was Ellen. Selena became preoccupied with how to use Ellen to reach her goal. Soon, relatives and friends of the family arrived, including the three Andino siblings who had a grudge against Ellen.

Ellen arrived late at 12.30PM, and as soon as she pushed the door open, everyone’s eyes turned to her. Connor immediately came over and said, “Come on, Ellie. Come sit at this table.”

He then led her to the table where Selena and the Andinos were seated. Ellen felt the cold stares of the Andinos and just wanted to finish the meal and leave. Before taking a seat, she left the gift she prepared for Connor on the gift table.

When Selena saw her arrive, her attitude softened given that it was her father’s birthday. “Why are you late? Was there a lot of traffic?”

“No, I overslept,” Ellen replied.

“Where were you last night?” Selena quickly asked.

Ellen’s face inexplicably turned red. “I was with a friend,” she answered.

Selena immediately guessed who that friend was. Who else would Ellen have as a friend? She suspected that the friend was Jared Presgrave.

At that moment, Selena’s appetite vanished. She couldn’t believe how rich and colorful Ellen’s life had become. She even suspected that Ellen and Jared were already together. Perhaps, Ellen would even

announce that she would become Mrs. Presgrave and the boss lady of the Presgrave Group very soon! If that were the case, it would be a nightmare for her.

Selena’s eyes gleamed with a sly light. She had to stop this from happening. If Ellen were with another man, Jared would surely be jealous. It would be easy for Jared to get rid of that other man if it were an ordinary man, but what if the man pursuing Ellen was Lambert?

That day at the club, she had a strong suspicion that Lambert was interested in Ellen. Though she didn’t want to admit it, Lambert’s behavior toward Ellen was like love at first sight.

But how could she bait Lambert to go near Ellen? Selena’s mind raced.

On the other hand, Ellen focused on her food and decided to leave after she finished her meal. She noticed the resentful and aggressive stares from the Andino elders as well as their hostility toward her.

Thus, she went over to Connor and wished him a happy birthday before saying, “Uncle Connor, I have something else to take care of, so I’m leaving now.”

“Leaving so soon? Can’t you stay a bit longer?” Connor was visibly happy and a little drunk.

Ellen replied quickly, “I have something important to attend to.”

“All right, then come over and visit us when you’re free,” Connor said.

Ellen grabbed her bag and hurried out. Selena immediately followed her, calling out to her in the corridor. “Ellie, I left my ID at your place. I want to go look for it.”

Ellen was surprised. “I’ve cleaned up my place, and I didn’t see your ID anywhere.”

“I’m sure it’s there. It might be in the corner of your bed. I need it urgently, so I want to go to your place to look for it,” Selena insisted.

“I’ll look for it back home and send it over to you once I find it,” Ellen replied, not wanting Selena to go to her place.

Selena thought for a moment and then pulled out a bracelet. “Oh, I almost forgot. This is the bracelet that Mr. Orey told me to give to you after you left last time. He also told me to make sure that you receive it.”

Ellen was taken aback. Did Lambert give me this bracelet as a gift?

“Take it quickly. If you don’t want it, you can return it to Mr. Orey personally,” Selena said.

“You took it, so you should be the one to return it,” Ellen replied, not wanting to get involved. Besides, she wasn’t close to Lambert.

Suddenly, Selena put a note and the bracelet on the table, then crossed her arms. Sneering, she said, “Anyway, Mr. Orey’s phone number and bracelet are here. You can return them yourself! If you don’t return them, he will think you accepted it.”

With that, Selena left.

Ellen looked at the phone number and bracelet on the table, feeling a little overwhelmed. Why is Lambert giving the bracelet to me?

She bit her lip. Maybe this was Selena’s way of playing a prank on her. She knew Selena hadn’t left, so she turned and walked toward the door. Seeing that Ellen didn’t fall for it, Selena came out from around the corner where she was hiding before grabbing the bracelet and the note. In a moment of impulsivity, she picked up her phone and dialed Lambert’s number.

At that moment, Lambert was working out at the club when he heard his phone ring. He was surprised to see an unfamiliar number and answered, “Hello? Who’s this?”

“Hello, Mr. Orey. I’m Selena Aguirre. My cousin, Ellen Reiss, wants to meet you.”

Lambert raised an eyebrow. “Ellen wants to meet me?”

Hearing his charismatic voice, Selena wished she could say she wanted to meet him herself. She smiled sweetly and said, “Yes, today is my father’s birthday. My cousin and I were chatting, and she said she wants to meet you. The other day, she couldn’t talk to you much because she was with President Presgrave.”

“Really?”

“Yes! She told me she had a great first impression of you. I’ll send you her number; you can chat with her if you have time!”

Lambert was pleasantly surprised. “Is this really true?”

“Of course, it is! I’ll send you Ellen’s number, but don’t say it was me who gave it to you!” Selena said, nervously hanging up the phone before sending Ellen’s number to Lambert.

Lambert soon received a message with a phone number. He wasn’t one to dilly-dally, so he immediately called the number.

Meanwhile, Ellen had just left the hotel and was walking along a path beside a small park when her phone rang. She saw that it was an unfamiliar number, so she thought for a moment, then answered, “Hello? Who’s this?”

“I’m Lambert Orey, Miss Reiss. Nice to meet you.”

Ellen was stunned. “How did you get my number?”

“Your cousin gave it to me. Didn’t you know?” Lambert replied, surprised.

Ellen now knew exactly what was going on in her heart. Selena deliberately arranged for her and Lambert to meet, but she didn’t know what Selena’s true intentions were.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Orey. It must be a misunderstanding. My cousin was just playing a prank on me,” Ellen explained.

“A prank? Why did she do that to you?”

Ellen hesitated, not sure how to answer.

“Um, there is a personal grudge between us, Mr. Orey. Anyway, I won’t bother you—” Ellen tried to end the conversation, but someone suddenly snatched her phone away.

“Hey! My phone! Stop! Don’t run! Give me back my phone!” Ellen didn’t expect someone to steal her phone in broad daylight.

Jared was the one who bought her that phone, so it was particularly precious to her. How could she let someone just take it away like that?

“Stop, don’t run!” Ellen shouted, chasing after the thief without hesitation.

They were in a park, and the thief ran fast along the path, but he didn’t expect that the girl whose phone he stole would actually catch up to him.

Meanwhile, Lambert had just experienced a robbery through the phone. He had heard Ellen yelling about her phone, and since he was still connected to her through the phone call, he could hear the thief’s footsteps. Then, he heard the thief pant, and soon, the thief muttered angrily, “Damn it! When will she stop chasing after me?”