The Things He Lost
Elliot would have to pay a huge sum of money if Anastasia insisted on covering up the story, and she
simply didn’t think it was necessary to go to such lengths.
As such, she took it in stride and said, “Forget it. I’ll just let it be.” She was only thankful that the
paparazzi had taken a nice shot of her, and she would be lying if she said she wasn’t impressed with
their skills.
“You’re really going to let this go?” Elliot murmured as his arms snaked around her waist from behind.
A delighted smile curled on his lips as he went on to ask, “Does this mean you’ve officially
acknowledged our relationship?”
Anastasia blushed in embarrassment. If she were to deny their relationship now, the public was
probably going to call her a succubus who toyed with men’s feelings. With her back to him, she
muttered softly, “Fine, I guess we can try dating for a while and see where it’ll lead us.”
“I won’t let you down,” he promised in a magnetic voice as he bent down slightly to kiss the top of her
head. “I’ll be sure to satisfy you in every imaginable way.”
She was at a loss for words when she heard this. I think it’s a little early for the kind of satisfaction
you’re talking about, Elliot, she wanted to say. She didn’t think she would be ready to take things to the
next level so soon.
Suddenly, she found herself thinking about Hayley and wondered whether the girl would go ballistic
with rage after seeing the news.
However, Anastasia couldn’t care less about how Hayley might feel, much like how Hayley had not
cared about whether she lived or died all those years ago.
“Have you been in contact with Hayley recently?” Anastasia asked, looking up at Elliot curiously.
He answered gravely, “The last time we spoke, she told me that she was going abroad on holiday for
three months, but we didn’t speak after that. From now on, my assistant will be the one dealing with her
instead and I won’t see her anymore.”
Anastasia could feel that he was getting uncomfortable talking about Hayley, so she nodded and let the
matter drop. “Let’s go for breakfast before we head back,” she suggested brightly.
“Okay,” he replied happily and held her in his arms for a while, and it wasn’t until she felt the dangerous
tension that was growing between them that she shoved him aside abashedly.
After breakfast, they were coming out of the basement parking lot when a cold breeze suddenly picked
up. Anastasia shivered, but the next second, she was pulled into Elliot’s warm embrace. He carefully
bundled her up in his suit jacket and led her to the car.
Even though they were a mere dozen or so steps away from the vehicle, she still found his gesture
heartwarming. As it turned out, a man who was truly in love with a woman would pay attention to all the
little details, and she could definitely feel how much he loved her and wanted to take care of her.
It was hard to tell just how much of the population had their hearts broken by the news of Anastasia
and Elliot’s relationship.
Over in the Tillman Constructions’ finance department, Alex heard the news after his subordinates
burst into an uproar over it. When he fished out his phone and searched for the news, he was
immediately greeted by the picture of Anastasia and Elliot locked in a passionate kiss at the cafe, and
he felt his heart twist with bitter jealousy.
His chest tightened at the sight of the woman he loved wrapped in another man’s arms. He knew that
he no longer stood a chance with Anastasia, and now, all the feelings he had for her died, becoming a
secret she would never know.
However, his feelings for her weren’t the only things that were extinguished right then. The ambition
that had driven him all this while was gone too. He wanted to use Anastasia as his stepping stone to
take over Tillman Constructions, but it seemed impossible right now.
That said, it didn’t mean he was willing to accept fate’s arrangements. All the hard work he had done
for Francis in the last few years was in vain, and the shortcut he could have taken to achieve further
success was cut off.
No, this isn’t how it’s supposed to be, he thought grimly. He couldn’t just let his dreams go down the
drain without putting up a fight. He had not toiled in Tillman Constructions all these years just so he
could give up now, not when he deserved more than what he was getting now.
As frustration and agony seized him, he clutched his head and felt a fiery rage course through him.
With a violent swipe of his arm, he knocked the piles of documents off his desk and onto the floor.
No one knew how much he had lost. He was losing out on an entire future that he had planned for
himself. The fact that he couldn’t be together with Anastasia did not torture him as much as losing the
chance to own Tillman Constructions.
Yet, a man like Elliot who was far above him had gotten everything he ever wanted. He couldn’t even
begin to compete with Elliot, much less be considered on par with him.
Just as Alex thought he might combust with rage, an irritating silhouette drifted into his peripheral
vision.
It was Erica, Francis’ other daughter. She wasn’t as beautiful as Anastasia, and she was spoiled
beyond reason. However, she had the same birthright to the company as Anastasia did, which meant
she had an equal chance of succeeding Tillman Constructions.
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