Chapter 239 We Need to Talk
However, Hayley had only warned Anastasia to stay away from Elliot.
Anastasia was more than happy to oblige, but Elliot simply wouldn’t leave her alone. As things were, she was at her wits’ end trying to shake him off.
Initially, she thought it was a brilliant plan to have a fling with another man so that Elliot would see that she was taken and back off, but having heard his very ominous warning just now, she was starting to have second thoughts. If Elliot made good on his threats and decided to go berserk, the men whom she had taken advantage of for the sake of a tactical fling would become sacrificial lambs.
At that moment, her phone chimed with a new message. She picked it up and saw that it was a text from Alex which read, ‘Miss Tillman, will you be dropping by the company to see how things are anytime soon?’
It was only upon reading this that she remembered she had promised Francis to drop by the company and check things out. A while had passed since then, yet she still had not gotten around to it.
‘How about this Saturday? I’ll try to clear my schedule.’
‘Friday might be better; we don’t work on Saturdays.’
‘Oh, right. Well, Friday it is. I’ll see you at my dad’s company,’ she replied.
‘Very well, Miss Tillman. I’ll see you then.’
After the conversation ended, Anastasia suddenly recalled the matter of Francis’ company getting acquired. She wondered how that was going. If Dad hasn’t said anything about it, does it mean that the acquisition won’t be happening?
She was still deep in thought when she heard the sound of keys turning outside the door. Jared had returned from his evening stroll, and his little face was flushed and glistening with sweat following the exercise.
“Time to shower up and go to bed,” Anastasia said. It was already 9.40PM, and it was a school day tomorrow. She stood up from the couch and added stoically, “President Presgrave, you ought to be getting home now that it’s so late at night.”
Elliot was drinking when he heard this and choked. As he coughed, he turned to look at the cold and unfeeling woman that he was so in love with.
Meanwhile, Anastasia didn’t think he would actually choke on water. She hurried up to him and asked out of concern, “Are you alright?”
He was exasperated. The woman had mood swings that were as unpredictable as the June weather. She had been fine moments ago when he and Jared left for their evening stroll, but now, she was treating him like he was wholly unwelcome in her home. He thought his anger was perfectly justified.
“Go and give Jared a bath while I catch my breath here,” he said in clipped tones as he walked away with the drinking glass in hand. Then, he sat down on the couch and took another graceful sip of water.
Anastasia gave him an incredulous look, but she proceeded to ignore him as she turned to give Jared a bath.
Ten minutes later, the little guy was dressed in pajamas, and he padded over to where Elliot was on the couch. Anastasia, on the other hand, was bringing in the laundry from the balcony when she saw this scene, and even she had to admit that Jared and Elliot shared a striking resemblance.
However, not even their striking resemblance could change the fact that they were not biologically related. Unfortunately for Jared, his father was a douchebag through and through.
Anastasia took a deep breath and said to her son, “I think it’s time for bed now, Jared. I need to talk to Mr. Presgrave about some work stuff.”
Jared blinked his large doe-eyes at her and asked, “Can I stay and listen?”
“No. This conversation is strictly adults-only, so you have to go into your room,” she insisted. Then, she took on a semi-threatening tone as she added, “You wouldn’t want me to drag you out of bed tomorrow if you wake up late, would you?”
It was only then that Jared clambered out of Elliot’s arms and hurried into his bedroom. She went to tuck him in and turned on the air-conditioning. Then, she closed the door behind her as she left.
She glanced over at the man lounging on her couch and steeled herself for the conversation she was about to have with him.
Elliot seemed to have sensed this as well, for he appeared to be waiting to see what she wanted to talk to him about. Whatever it was, it definitely wasn’t about work.
She poured out a cup of tea for him and set it down on the coffee table. Anastasia then looked at him solemnly as she said, “Elliot, we need to talk about whatever is going on between us right now.”
“I’m listening.” He would very much like to hear what she was thinking.
Anastasia sighed. “First of all, I’d like to thank you for all the help you’ve given to me and Jared. You’re a good man, and you shouldn’t have to waste your time taking care of us. Secondly, I want you to walk out of my and my son’s life and leave us alone. I can tell that Jared is starting to grow attached to you, and I don’t want whatever might happen between us to hurt a kid like him. Thirdly, I’d like to make it clear that ours is a strictly professional relationship, especially in the workplace where any dating or flirting is prohibited. Finally, I’m really grateful for all the help you’ve given to my father’s company. I promise you that I’ll find a way to repay your kindness.”
