More Than A Favor (Elaine and Logan)

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I had undoubtedly put Alex in a tough spot, but I was determined to uncover the truth. I couldn't help but wonder if the mysterious big boss behind him could be Ashton. Still, I quickly dismissed the thought. Ashton seemed too poor and far removed from the profile of someone wealthy or powerful. Yet, a nagging feeling lingered-something about the big boss behind Alex resembled Ashton.

Later that afternoon, after a meeting, I opened Instagram to pass the time. As I thought about it, I realized that for now, the best strategy was to observe and wait. This man, whoever he was, was not someone to approach recklessly.

A few days later, the overhaul of the amusement park's lighting was completed. When I arrived at the park for the inspection, I noticed that only Ashton was there.

"Maya isn't here?" I asked, surprised to see it was just the two of us.

Ashton replied curtly, "No need for her."

I laughed, teasing him. "Ashton, it kind of feels like you're trying to cut ties with her now that you've gotten what you needed from her."

He didn't respond, simply leading me further into the park. I glanced around at the newly

illuminated lights and noted, "The lighting looks great now. We'll need to check the overall effect later."

"Didn't you say the best view is from the Ferris wheel? Let's go there and check it out," Ashton suggested.

I raised an eyebrow, a little surprised. "Ashton, I didn't expect you to actually meet the deadline."

"If I promise you something, I'll make sure it's done," he replied matter-of-factly. But there was something deeper in his tone, something he wanted me to hear.

This wasn't the first time he had spoken like this, and I knew it wasn't just about work. He was saying it for me, and I couldn't ignore it. I tilted my head and smiled slightly. "Ashton, I've realized you're quite skilled."

Just then, another unexpected guest arrived-Logan. It wasn't surprising, though. After all, as the amusement park's owner, it made sense for him to check the lighting test in advance.

As soon as Logan approached, Ashton took my hand. His firm grip sent a warmth through me and made me realize something: when it came to playing the role of my boyfriend, Ashton was a natural. The moment Logan appeared, Ashton's dominant, protective side immediately kicked in. Logan's eyes briefly flicked to our clasped hands. His expression was unreadable, though I noticed a subtle tension. With a calm and collected tone, he asked, "What time does it start?" We both knew he was referring to the lighting test.

"In ten minutes," Ashton replied evenly.

"Where are the observation points?" Logan continued.

Ashton's grip on my hand subtly tightened. I glanced at him, and he looked back at me, as if silently asking for my input. Though he had been here countless times and likely knew the observation points better than anyone, he deferred to me.

I gave the official answer. "The observation points vary by area, and there are signs for each. The main

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observation point is the Ferris wheel."

Logan's eyes lingered on my face for a moment before shifting to Ashton. "Where will you be observing?"noveldrama

I wondered if he planned to join us. If he did, he didn't seem to mind the idea of tagging along. Then again, he had moved on from our past and was now involved with someone else. There was no awkwardness in his demeanor.

"Elaine and I will do a preliminary check first," Ashton said, pausing briefly before adding, "Tonight isn't the official test. I just wanted to check the lighting effect with Elaine."

Logan's eyes flickered with something-an emotion I couldn't quite place-before he replied softly, "Alright."

I wasn't sure what he meant by that "alright," but Ashton didn't seem to care. He simply said, "Mr. Mercer, feel free to look around. We'll take a look first."

Ashton led me away, his hand still firmly holding mine. As we passed by Logan, I felt a faint chill emanating from him. It was subtle but unmistakable.

"If you see any issues, let me know," Ashton said as we walked.

But I knew there wouldn't be any issues. If there were, Ashton wouldn't have brought me here in the first place.

As we strolled leisurely through the park, surrounded by the dazzling lights, it felt incredibly romantic. Yet, a part of me couldn't fully enjoy it. Having my ex-boyfriend trailing behind us made it impossible to treat him as merely a stranger.

Ashton, on the other hand, was completely at ease. He occasionally explained the technical aspects of the lighting setup-what problems had been resolved, which areas required more power, and so on. His calm and confident demeanor gradually helped me relax.

For a moment, I even thought Logan had left. But as we approached the Ferris wheel, I realized I was wrong-Logan had been following us the entire time. Though Ashton and I weren't overly intimate, the simple act of holding hands seemed to sting Logan in a way I couldn't quite understand.

Why was he following us? Was he trying to torture himself?

I wanted to believe he didn't care about me anymore, but his actions told a different story. If he truly didn't care, why would he put himself through this? I shouldn't dwell on it, but I couldn't help feeling uncomfortable. It was disheartening to think that all my enthusiasm had been wasted. Ashton, breaking the tension, turned to Logan and asked politely, "Mr. Mercer, do you want to go up

and take a look too?"

"Yes," Logan replied. His tone was calm, almost unnervingly so. It was a stark contrast to the uneasiness he'd shown earlier when he saw Ashton and me together.

"Please, go ahead," Ashton said, his politeness strikingly unusual.

Logan, ever the composed businessman, didn't hesitate. He walked toward the open observation cabin of the Ferris wheel, his posture as confident as ever.

Ashton then turned to me and said, "Let's go up as well."

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