More Than A Favor (Elaine and Logan)

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I turned to see Ashton grabbing my hand. His grip was firm yet steady, and when he looked at me, there was a softness in his eyes. Then he shifted his gaze to Logan, his expression hardening with resolve. "I'm not leaving until the final inspection is finished," he said firmly.

That was just who Ashton was. The more someone tried to push him away, the more determined he became-just like before.

I waited for Logan to respond, but before he could, Ashton tightened his hold on my hand and added, "I promised Elaine this."

Hearing him call me "Elaine" and mention his promise sent an involuntary shiver through me. My heart skipped a beat, though I tried to keep my expression neutral.

Both Logan and Miles's faces darkened at his words. as if the air had been drained completely. he tension in the room thickened, suffocating,

I took a deep breath and stepped forward, breaking the silence. "Mr. Miles, Mr. Logan," I said calmly, "even though I'm no longer in charge of this project or part of the company, there's one rule that's always stuck with me: the company's interests come first. No one has the right to jeopardize them-no matter the reason."

I turned to Miles, meeting his gaze directly. "You need to be accountable for your actions. If you want to protect someone else, then you should be prepared to deal with the consequences yourself. Even in ancient times, nobles were held accountable for their crimes, just like commoners."

"If you want this company to succeed, you need to set an example," I added firmly.

Logan and Miles stayed silent, but I could see the frustration in their eyes. Even though I was being logical, they both saw it as me siding with Ashton. Their expressions were tight with anger, but it seemed like the matter was finally resolved.

And then Selene arrived. She hurried over, clearly ignoring her own condition, and blurted out, "I was in charge of this. I'll take full responsibility."

Logan's face darkened even more, the veins on his temples visibly pulsing. It was clear he was on the verge of losing his temper. His fists clenched, and for a moment, I thought he might explode.

If it had been anyone else, they'd be in serious trouble. But this was Selene-the woman Logan had sacrificed a decade-long relationship and even family loyalty for.

I could almost predict what he was going to say. Smirking to myself, I turned to leave with Ashton. I was tired of hearing excuses and even more tired of watching Logan defend Selene.

But then Logan surprised me. He turned to Selene and said coldly, "If it's your responsibility, then you'll face the consequences. The losses will come out of your pocket."

I froze, staring at him in disbelief. His tone was sharp, his expression unyielding.

Selene's face went pale, her usual charm replaced by shock. She stood frozen, clearly not expecting this outcome. I hadn't expected it either. For a moment, I almost didn't believe what I was hearing. Logan, the man who had always shielded Selene, was actually holding her accountable.

Without another word, Logan turned and walked away. Selene stood there, stunned, her expression gradually recovering. Awkwardly, she turned to Miles, clearly hoping for some kind of support. "Miles, I'll have the finance department cover the losses," she said, trying to sound composed.

* 15:13

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Miles's response was curt. "Alright. But please address me as Mr. Mercer during work hours."

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It was obvious from Selene's expression that she was humiliated, both by Logan and by Miles. She didn't even glance in my direction. Not that I cared-I wasn't interested in seeing her embarrassment. After all, she'd already humiliated me long ago when she took my fiancé.

"Let's go," I said to Ashton quietly.

He nodded and held my hand as we walked away. His grip remained firm, never loosening, even as we put more distance between us and the others.

When we'd walked far enough, I glanced down at his hand, still holding mine. "You know there's no one around anymore," I said, raising an eyebrow.

"I wasn't holding your hand for anyone else's benefit," he replied calmly, as if he already knew what I was thinking.

His words carried a teasing edge, clearly referencing how I had hugged him earlier in front of Logan. He was implying that he thought my hug had been for show.

"Well, if it's not for show, then maybe you shouldn't go around holding my hand," I teased, pulling my h

and back. "Do you always casually hold other girls' hands, Mr. Drake?"

"No," he said, straightforward as always. "I've only held yours."

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His honesty had a way of catching me off guard, and I found myself smiling. It wasweet in a way! wasn't expecting.

I looked at him for a moment, and a memory surfaced-Tom, the man I used to call Mr. Elordi when I was little. Something about Ashton made me think of him. The thought that Ashton might want to stay close to me lingered in my mind, and before I could stop myself, I asked, "Ashton, are you flirting with me because you like me?"

"Why else?" he asked, holding my gaze without a hint of hesitation. "Do you think I'm just playing around?" "Are you hiding something from me?" I asked softly. "Like... maybe we knew each other a long time ago?"