More Than A Favor

Chapter 56 Ashton strode over, givinga casual look. "Let's go." Wait, what? Wasn't he going to explain why he wanted a room right next to mine? I wanted to ask, but felt like that would just make things awkward.

Get 5 = Menu "Mr. Drake, why'd you pick a room so close to ours?" Maya blurted out. Sometimes her directness cin handy - she'd ask what I was too chicken to.

He walked to the elevator and hit the button. I caught a glimpse of his room key-308, right next door to mine.

"For convenience," was all he said.

Convenient for what exactly? Talk about leaving things open to interpretation.

Maya looked as confused as I felt. She glanced between us and pressed, "What kind of convenience are we talking about here, Mr. Drake?" I wanted to smack her. Why couldn't she leave well enough alone? The elevator doors were mirror-like, reflecting all of us. Through the reflection, I caught Ashton's eye. We held each other's gaze for a moment before he looked away.

"Just in case," he replied to Maya.

That shut both of us up.

Even Maya got quiet, just tugging at my sleeve.

Looked like Ashton had finally found a way to silence her.

We hit the third floor and headed to our rooms. Before going in, Maya chirped, "Mr. Drake, just letknow if you need anything!" "Sure," he said, disappearing into his room.

The second we got inside, Maya pounced. "What's his deal? Why's he want to be so close? What if he's screep hiding behind that handsface? What if he wants to... you know!" Funny how she suddenly thought about safety after letting her crush cloud her judgment.

But I didn't want her paranoia affecting work, so I cut in firmly, "He's not like that." She blinked. "How do you know?" I regretted saying anything - I'd forgotten how nosy she could be. Mental note: keep my mouth shut around Maya from now on, or I'd spend forever explaining myself.

"Just a hunch. Could be wrong though. Feel free to find out," I teased.

Maya's eyes lit up. "Really? I wouldn't mind!" I grabbed a sofa pillow and threw it at her.

14:37 10.31% *Chapter She yelped as I headed to my room, dropped my suitcase, and asked to the father Stripping down for my shower, I suddenly remembered something and tracked my water Sure enough, there was a nasty purple bruise where I'd hit the equiorment. My sale she made took si Touching it gently, I couldn't help remembering how Ashton had graphedto break my fail I shut my eyes tight, forcing the memory away Before I could finish my shower, Maya called out, "Elaine, your phone's ringing" I turned off the water: "Who is it? "Don't know unknown number." I frowned. "Let it go. Probably a wrong number 1 kept every number saved in my phone-clients, friends, family, even Logar's "Okay," Maya said, then added, "How sweet do you want your lemonate! "Light on sugar," I replied, turning the water back on | Twenty minutes later, I was out and Maya took her tum Towel drying my hair, checked my phone. The number was from Amaty my first thought was Chloe Maybe she missedor had something to tellI called back. After a few rings, "Hello, who's this?" "It's me. Can you cover? Ashton's voice caughtoff guard. Weird how he hadn't crossed my mind as a possibility.

"Need something? I asked.

"Yes," That's all he said before hanging up.

Since he was basically our lifeline for fixing the lights, I couldn't afford to tick him off.

So I threw a jacket over my PJs and went to knock on his door When he opened up and saw my wet hair, he swallowed hard.

"Still hurting?" he asked.

I didn't follow. "What?" His eyes dropped to my waist, and it clicked.

My heart did this weird little jump. "Oh. I'm fine "Wait here," he said, leavingstanding in his doorway.

I peeked inside. His laptop was open on the desk - looked like he'd been working while I was in the shower Not bad. Points for being professional.

He cback, his tall frblocking my view. He was still in the sclothes, but his T-shirt was TË 152% fucked in, making his lege not even inniger Like srunway moder No wonder Maya was so into him. Can't Mher angesating Beauty a jar gan sa po wouldn't want to look at something that perfectz Put this on the braise it helps them fare pre Han HAUS MAA SALON Te of sentiment "Thanks," I said, taking it If it's really bad, get it checked out he added The ointment and his concem madewonder if he actually cared Then he added, "Don't want anyone slowing down the propers with rides serene So not concern just didn't want delays a: I mentally kicked myself for being so romantic and forces a smile box weny the Sha want this finished more than you do The sooner we wrapped up and I could hand things over to legan, the less I TESNE i encoron 199 "Thanks for this," I said, holding up the ointment before heading bac GAY I tossed it on the bed and let out a huge sigh. For sreason, I felt really down Maya finished her shower and belly flopped onto the bed in her robe TREATIST "Ow! What's this?" she yelped, finding the ointment. "Where's this cfrom? is yours "Who else's would it be? I grabbed it back "Why do you need it? Are you hurt? I almost laughed at her questions She'd seenfall, but apparently only registered Ashton catching me, not what causes Meanwhile, Ashton had noticed I was hurt.

in My thoughts were getting messy squeezed my eyes shut, trying to clear my head Lying downl checked my phone Lots of unread messages sgroup chats, sprivate Nora: "What's up? Miles: "When are you free to showaround this city I'm gonna get lost in? Logan "This message has been deleted" I stared at Logan's deleted message, wondering what it had said.

Wrong number? Second thoughts? Something he shouldn't have sent? Het my mind wander briefly before switching to reply to Noral Suddenly, my phone buzzed with a new contact request The profile picture was a honey locust leaf. The name: Ashton Drake.

Chapter 56 tucked in, making his legs look even longer.

Like srunway model.

No wonder Maya was so into him. Can't blher appreciating beauty is just human nature. Who wouldn't want to look at something that perfect? "Put this on the bruise. It helps them fade." He handeda small tube of ointment.

"Thanks," I said, taking it.

"If it's really bad, get it checked out," he added.

The ointment and his concern madewonder if he actually cared.

Then he added, "Don't want anyone slowing down the project with injuries once we really get started." Oh.

So not concern - just didn't want delays.

I mentally kicked myself for being so romantic and forced a smile. "Don't worry, Mr. Drake. I probably do." want this finished more than you The sooner we wrapped up and I could hand things over to Logan, the less I'd have to see Ashton.

Thanks for this," I said, holding up the ointment before heading back to my room.

I tossed it on the bed and let out a huge sigh. For sreason, I felt really down.

Maya finished her shower and belly-flopped onto the bed in her robe.

"Ow! What's this?" she yelped, finding the ointment. "Where'd this cfrom? Is it yours?" "Who else's would it be?" I grabbed it back.

"Why do you need it? Are you hurt?" I almost laughed at her questions.

She'd seenfall, but apparently only registered Ashton catching me, not what caused it.

Meanwhile, Ashton had noticed I was hurt.

My thoughts were getting messy. I squeezed my eyes shut, s shut, trying ton clear my head. Eying down, I checked my phone. Lots of unread messages - sgroup chats, sprivate.

Nora: "What's up?" Miles: "When are you free to showaround this city get/lost I'm gonna get lost in?" Logan: "This message has been deleted." I stared at Logan's deleted message, wondering what it had said.

Wrong number? Second thoughts? Something he shouldn't have sent? I let my mind wander briefly before switching to reply to Nora.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed with a new contact request.

The profile picture was a honey locust leaf. The name: Ashton Drake.