Ch. 1101..1110
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1101
“Mr. Dijon, are you sure this is the best decision? I’m afraid I can’t do the job well.” Hannah was not confident about the promotion.
Hannah had been yearning for an opportunity to advance further in her career. However, she knew that the promotion this time had a hidden agenda.
It is highly likely that the bosses want me to capitalize on my connections with Fabian and Xavier to obtain more exclusive interviews with presidents of other companies. They might not mind it, but I can’t bring myself to take advantage of them. I’m really bothered by it. If this is the case, I’d rather not accept the promotion.
“We’ve witnessed your growth and contributions. You’ve been doing a lot of upskilling. Why would you say you’re not able to handle the job? Moreover, the top management has made this decision because they believe in your capabilities. You just need to do your best. Don’t worry about the outcome. Besides, this might be your one-in-a-million chance in this company, so don’t reject it.”
Bob continued to persuade Hannah as he would not accept no as an answer. After all, he was the one who proposed it to Vivian in hopes of raising the team’s key performance index and fishing some benefits for himself.
Seeing that Bob was so persistent, Hannah sighed as she knew that he had her wrapped around his little finger. Hence, she had no choice but to agree, “All right, I’ll try it out and continue to do my part for the company. Please show me grace if I make any mistakes and extend your understanding for areas that I need to improve on.”
Hannah leveraged on Xavier’s presence and said the last line on purpose. That way, she could claim that she had apprised Bob if her work was not up to expectations.
“Sure thing. As long as you give your best in all that you do, I’ll render my support any time.” Bob was relieved. Had Hannah rejected being the second-in-command, it would have ruined my plans.
“Mr. Dijon, regarding what we discussed earlier…” Xavier asked.
“Don’t worry about it, Mr. Jackson. I’ll see that your orders are carried out accordingly. I’m sure it will turn out to be a pleasant collaboration.” Hannah found Bob’s two-faced attitude questionable.
What did Xavier say to Mr. Dijon? What made him change so quickly? This is the very first time I see Mr. Dijon being so obliging. Perhaps Xavier has given him an irresistible offer? Anyway, it’s impossible for me to find out from him. I shall ask Xavier one day. He should be willing to share the piece of information with me, right?
Xavier replied casually, “Very well. Since you’ve got other arrangements, I’ll take my leave now.”
Xavier grinned from ear to ear as he walked past Hannah. In a soft voice, he said to her, “Congratulations on your promotion.”
Hannah nodded as a response. She found herself in a quandary. Fabian is my husband, whereas Xavier is a good friend, but I’ve used them as a springboard to advance my career. Will they think of me this way too?
Xavier left the office, leaving only Bob and Hannah in the room. Wearing a dull expression, Hannah squinted her eyes as she stood rooted to the spot, seemingly in deep thought.
Bob scrutinized Hannah inquisitively. What charm does this woman have that all the presidents keep coming to us with an offer? I really can’t tell. But I sure hope that she won’t lose herself in the pursuit of material things. Loving oneself and living life to the fullest should be the main priorities instead.
Bob coughed lightly to alert Hannah. “You’ll have to work even harder, Hannah. It’s a realistic world, so you need to ensure that you have strong competencies to gain competitive advantages. Conversely, relying on others won’t get you very far.”
Out of concern for a young rookie, Bob shared his word of wisdom.
“Rest assured, Mr. Dijon. I’ll focus on my job and do it right,” Hannah gave a serious response while looking straight into Bob’s eyes. She could read between the lines and understood Bob’s good intentions.
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1102
“Ok, that’s great. You can get back to your work. I’ll announce your promotion later today. Do consider the candidates for your assistants. I’ll be making necessary arrangements to prepare them after the meeting.”
Hannah acknowledged his instructions and then returned to her work desk. However, she was not in the mood for work. Instead, she leaned against her chair, toying with a pencil.
She was worried about the predicament she had landed herself in. On the one hand, she feared that Fabian and Xavier would think that she used them deliberately for her own benefit. On another hand, she could not help but bemoan Vivian’s decision to promote her.
“What’s this? You’ve really played your cards well, huh? To others, you were the one who improved the company’s performance and reputation. But what about me? This whole situation made it seem like I befriended the two guys so that I could get a promotion.”
After pondering over the issue for a long time, Hannah overcame her sullenness and opted for more positive thinking. Every company is the same; they will look out for the most capable employee with the best performance. Hence, I need to work harder and prove my capabilities so that people won’t have the impression that I depend on luck or some company president to help me climb the corporate ladder.
Thereafter, she channeled her focus into selecting two assistants for herself.
Two assistants? First, they must have some experience in interviewing a company president. Social skills are a plus point. No, wait. A sensitive mindset is more important. Due to the disparity in our identities, many big bosses look at magazine journalists with disdain…
Running through the selection criteria in her mind, Hannah had shortlisted a potential candidate, Jim Leek.
This person has maintained a good track record in our team. Although he’s only joined the company for about a year, his perseverance has enabled him to interview about fifty to sixty company presidents. His interviewees aren’t comparable to Fabian or Xavier, but undeniably, some of them do come from large companies and have a stuck-up attitude.
Hannah recognized Jim’s good work but was unsure if he would be willing to work as her assistant. If he is not happy with the arrangement, it’s useless to have a competent assistant whom I can’t draw help from. I’ll count him in for now and seek his opinion later.
Hannah started contemplating the second person who would fulfill all her expectations, like Jim. However, she could not think of one. As a result, she had to go for the second-best, someone who was easy-going and would not complain.
Oh, what about Winona? She joined the company later than Jim, only about six months. She’s never applied a single day of leave over the months and has a perfect attendance thus far. In addition, I’ve not heard her grumble even once. We’re quite close too… With that, Hannah had shortlisted two individuals as her potential assistants.
Knock! Knock! Knock! Bob was at her door, inviting her to join the meeting. After fixing her clothes, Hannah followed him to the meeting room.
Everyone was surprised to be summoned for an ad-hoc meeting. Usually, they had meetings on the evenings of Mondays and Fridays as the team was quite busy during other working hours.
“Why do think Mr. Dijon called us over so urgently?”
“Who knows? I’m sure it’s something big.”
“Could it be some sort of shocking news that needs all of us to publicize?”
“All of us to publish one single headline? You must be joking.”
The chattering continued.
Hannah kept quiet even though she knew the specific agenda for the meeting.
“Hannah,” Winona walked over and greeted her with a smile.
Hannah was quite confident that Winona would agree to her request. “Hey Winona, can I ask you something?”
“Sure, ask away.”
“Well, the interview I did recently was a success. The top management plans to assign two persons to join me in interviewing more company presidents. Having said that, I’d like to ask if you’d be willing to work with me on this?” Hannah presented her request, then she stared at Winona, anticipating her response.
“Oh, definitely! I’ll say yes to this great opportunity.” Without a doubt, Winona accepted it in a split second.
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1103
Hannah did not expect her to answer without any hesitation. It’s nice to be young, decisive, and worry-.
“Great! Rest assured that I’ll take care of you.”
As the two approached the meeting room, Hannah said, “I’ll inform Mr. Dijon. Let’s go in first.”
The tittle-tattles gradually stopped as people entered the meeting room. Lastly, Bob walked in.
All staff were present, except for a few who were occupied with on-site duty. Bob cleared his throat and started announcing loudly, “I gathered everyone here today because I have something to proclaim.”
He paused for a bit to check that everyone was listening attentively and that all eyes were on him. “After a thorough discussion between all departments and the Chief Editor, the company has decided to promote Hannah Young as the deputy team leader.”
Upon hearing that, the staff exchanged suspicious glances and gossiped under their breath, “Hey, what’s your view on this? Did she get the promotion because of Fabian?”
“What? Your news is outdated. Haven’t you heard that she’s now hooked up with the heir of the Jackson family?”
“Is that true? What’s so great about her that all the presidents are falling head over heels for her?”
Hannah overheard their whispers, but she was not bothered by it. Come what may, my conscience is clear.
“Silence!” Bob roared, feeling very displeased with the ruckus.
Soon, the crowd quietened down and waited for Bob to continue his speech.
“Hannah has joined the company for over two years now. We’ve all witnessed her hard work and effort put into each task. For me, she truly deserves this promotion.”
With that said, nobody dared to refute further. Even if it was deemed an unfair decision, one had no choice but to accept it. Protesting openly at that moment would only make the person stick out like a sore thumb and be pinned as a target.
“She’s done exceptionally well in conducting exclusive interviews with company presidents. Therefore, the top management has decided to have a couple of staff work with her on future interviews.”
His words put Hannah in a bad light again. The past year had seen the proliferation of magazine companies. Coupled with the speed of online media breaking juicy news in a viral manner, it became harder for magazine companies to create a frenzy through print publications. Therefore, news worthy of the cover page were now interviews with corporate presidents.
With Hannah being appointed to interview various presidents, what would be left for the others? Hence, the rest of the team stared daggers at her and treated her as their rival.
Hannah realized the problem. If a staff member is selected to join me in interviewing a president, there’s no guarantee that the interview will be a hit. After all, the scope is quite limited, and the company presidents are often proud and contemptuous. However, if the staff member refuses to work with me, he’ll definitely lose a great opportunity.
Hannah groaned. Mr. Dijon, you placed me in a tight spot. Not only have I been pushed to the cusp of the storm, but I also became a target of public criticism.
“Anyone has an opinion on that? If not, the meeting is adjourned,” Bob asked superficially.
What a joke! Who would dare to criticize the company’s decision openly? Nobody is courageous enough to utter an additional word, let alone question the credibility of Hannah’s promotion. Doing so is downright foolish.
Knowing that the Chief Editor had recommended so, the staff shut their mouths tightly and hid away their disapproving expressions.
Seeing that there was no objection, Bob left the meeting room.
Hannah felt sullen as she watched his leaving figure. Mr. Dijon, how kind of you to leave right after the announcement. Why didn’t you take me with you? The team is fearful of you but not me…
Just as Hannah had predicted, the moment Bob left the room, the staff started bombarding her with comments.
“Hannah, why did you do this to us? We may not be good friends, but we’re colleagues, and we’ve not offended each other. How do you expect us to continue working here now?” a lady stood up and yelled at Hannah.
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1104
Hannah knew how her promotion and the new assignment would affect the key performance index of her colleagues. Admittedly, she said, “I just learned about this in the morning. Sorry for any potential adverse effect this may bring you.”
“What’s the use of apologizing? Without the opportunity to showcase good work, I might lose the job. When that happens, will you compensate me for it?” the lady continued to speak unreasonably.
Someone chimed in, “Precisely. You can’t do this to us for your own benefit. You’ve gone overboard!”
Who’s the one going overboard here? Who’s being a bully and spewing harsh words? Hannah felt wronged.
“This wasn’t my decision to make. If you have any passing remark about the company policy, please bring it up to Mr. Dijon or Ms. Morrison. Don’t bring your complaints to me. I’m just an employee who obeys the commands of my bosses. It’s my superior who made this arrangement,” Hannah retorted.
“Why are you speaking as if it doesn’t concern you at all? If it wasn’t for your hanky-panky, why would Ms. Morrison promote you all of a sudden? I don’t think she even knows you. From the past incident involving Regina, I already knew that you’re insidious and cunning. How could you be so heartless?”
That colleague spoke in a convincing manner, misleading the rest of the staff.
Hannah found it ridiculous. It’s been ages since Regina’s incident has passed and yet, people are mentioning it now. How absurd!
“Oh? I’m the problem? Anyone with a pair of discerning eyes could tell exactly what happened regarding the matter involving Regina. You’re the wicked one who’s trying to fabricate stories here. With the time that you have, why don’t you learn a skill or two to increase your self-worth and keep your job?”
The person was rendered speechless. She could only harp on Hannah’s promotion, “Hmph! Don’t try to change the topic. You’d better fix this today. Otherwise, don’t even think about leaving the room.”
“Yes, that’s right! Sort this mess out,” the rest echoed.
These people are incredibly ludicrous. Though they’ve all graduated from university, their behavior is no different than that of unreasonable villagers living in rural areas. It’s going to be a challenge escaping them today.
“Illogical allegations, despicable conduct, and malicious slanders. I’m utterly appalled,” a deep, manly voice sounded across the room. Though the voice was not loud, it was commanding and imperious.
All heads turned to the man decked in a formal suit and leather shoes, who had just walked in gracefully.
The lady who was admonished by him scowled, frustrated that her hateful remarks were reproached. “Who are you to interrupt us? We’re in the midst of settling an internal issue.”
Shooting a death stare at the lady, the man’s expression grimaced. “You’re not worthy to know who I am.”
As he strode toward the middle of the room, the crowd reverently retreated, opening up a path for him.
In a stern voice, he continued, “If you can’t even obey and respect the instructions given, what’s the use of keeping you in the company? This is indeed the company’s decision. Unlike her, you’re not a visionary. What’s the first and foremost trait of a good employee? To create value for the organization! Reflect on your actions. You’re only thinking for your own sake and ripping the company off its potential benefits. So why should we keep you here? To the company, you’re worthless, an ignorant parasite. I hereby announce that you’ve been fired!”
The man’s voice grew louder as his tone became harsher. When he finally stood in front of the lady, he looked at her contemptuously.
“What… what gives? What right do you have to sack me? I’m not working for you.” The lady studied his face and was certain that the man was not one of her bosses. Yet, his domineering appearance was so intimidating that it made her heartbeat race.
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1105
“Tsk! How naive of you to think that I don’t have the authority to do anything just because I don’t work here!” After saying so, the man approached Hannah with a much softer expression. “Let’s go. Ignore these uneducated people,” he said calmly with a smile.
Hannah was deeply shocked by Xavier’s words and actions. She did not expect that the gentle and graceful man would have a totally different side as such.
He held her hand and exited the room as everyone watched in absolute confusion.
Perplexed, Hannah felt like it was all a dream.
“You don’t need to be polite to someone like that,” Xavier said righteously. “I’ll see your chief editor in a bit and tell her to fire that ridiculous lady.”
Ms. Morrison? Oh no, not again. I don’t want to give her the impression that I’m a trouble maker.
“Um… Mr. Jackson, there’s no need for that. You see, it’s not a big deal. Moreover, Ms. Morrison is very principled. She goes by the book.”
Xavier looked her in the eye. “That lady is a scourge for more serious problems. I’m just nipping it in the bud for her. She should be thankful instead.”
Before Hannah had a chance to persuade him, he had made a call to report the matter. “Hey, what’s up?
“I discovered a rotten apple in your wife’s office. Please get her to fire the person at once.
“Of course, I’m doing this for you. I’m here to support her.”
A ton of questions kept swirling in Hannah’s mind.
His wife? Is he referring to Ms. Morrison? She’s married? So Xavier called Ms. Morrison’s husband?
“All right. That lady’s name is…” Arching his brow, Xavier asked, “What’s her name?”
Hannah stuttered, struggling to reply. “I-I’m not sure.”
Xavier said over the phone, “Go get someone to investigate further. It just happened not too long ago. As for who to fire, it’s all up to your woman.”
Hanging up, he heaved a sigh. “You’re too kind. Have you forgotten how she ostracized you? Even if you sweep it under the rug, Vivian will still find out anyway. So, why do you need to cover up for her?”
Unlike all of you presidents, I can’t just do anything I like. Hannah grumbled in her heart.
“I-I was afraid to cause you trouble.” That was all she could say.
“What’s so troublesome about that? It only takes a phone call to get it done.” Subsequently, his mood changed. “Fine, let’s not think about unpleasant things. I’m here to congratulate you on your promotion. Let’s celebrate.”
What’s there to celebrate? The mess I’m in?
“It’s okay, forget it. I still have a lot of pending work to complete,” Hannah rejected his invitation.
Knowing that she felt dejected, Xavier became more determined to cheer her up.
“Wait for me here.” A thought flashed across his mind, and he left.
Hannah stared at Xavier’s back profile. It was quite impressive how he stood up for me just now. His words were concise and straight to the point.
Moments later, the image of Xavier in Hannah’s mind faded away and was replaced by a smiling Fabian.
Fabian? That’s a rare smile, so warm and bright. Normally, you’re icy cold to me.
Why am I thinking about him all of a sudden? At that thought, Hannah shook her head.
Shortly after, Xavier came walking toward her with Bob trailing behind him.
Xavier informed her, “I told Mr. Dijon that I need you to be by my side today to record my itinerary in preparation for future interviews.”
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1106
As Xavier was staring at Bob, the latter quickly responded, “Yes, Mr. Jackson has notified me. You can leave the office now and focus on recording Mr. Jackson’s daily schedule.”
Huh? Follow Xavier around and record his itinerary? But I’ve just accepted the assignment and didn’t have sufficient time to confirm my assistants. Is it okay to start working on this project now?
Xavier gave him an approving nod. However, seeing that Hannah was in doubt, he gestured for Bob to convince her.
“Oh yes, Hannah, I’ve communicated with Jim about his new role. He’s willing to work with you on this interview. Since he’s quite experienced in this aspect, I’m sure he’ll be of great help to you.” Bob faked a smile. How should I report to the top management about Jim’s new pay scale?
Jim had a good portfolio in terms of interviewing company presidents. Teaming him up with Hannah was a natural thing to do. However, Jim was reluctant to accept the role. Bob had to lure him with a lucrative package in order not to disappoint Xavier. In the end, Jim agreed on the condition that his salary was doubled.
Hannah was over the moon to learn that Jim had agreed to be her assistant. I was still thinking of a way to talk to him about this. The amount of his monthly published work is triple of mine. Making him my assistant was a dream. Who would want to work under someone less capable? It’s great that Mr. Dijon has managed to get him on board.
“Thank you so much, Mr. Dijon.”
Seeing a smile appearing on Hannah’s face again, Xavier uttered, “Indeed, thank you, Mr. Dijon.”
Bob was not born yesterday. Naturally, he knew the underlying meaning of Xavier’s words.
Courteously, he replied, “Don’t mention that, Mr. Jackson. It’s only right to render support to the talents undergoing continuous professional development. I’m sure you have a packed schedule ahead, Mr. Jackson. There’s nothing else on my side, so I’d better not take up too much of your time. I can’t afford to delay you any further.”
Hannah was completely baffled. I’m a great talent receiving training? How come I’m not aware of this?
“Haha… All right, Mr. Dijon. I shall make a move now. I’ll treat you to a good lunch one of these days.” Xavier left with Hannah after engaging in small talk.
“Where are we going?” Hannah asked upon arriving at the entrance.
Xavier’s lips curled up as he asked amiably, “It’s your call since you’re promoted today.”
My call? I’m just following you around to record your itinerary. Why am I the one deciding?
She thought he was joking with her, so she simply responded, “My call? Then, I say we go for a buffet. We’ll eat till we drop, all the way until they close at night.”
His grin deepened. Be careful what you wish for.
“Sure, let’s go for buffet.”
Tsk! I’ll all in. Let’s do it! He’s the top guy in his company, after all. I don’t believe that he’s got so much time to spend. Moreover, what’s there to be afraid of? I don’t need to return to the office, and I can eat all day long.
“Sure, let’s go!” With that, Hannah got into Xavier’s car.
“To a nearby restaurant, but make sure they have an excellent buffet,” he told his assistant, who was sitting in the driver’s seat.
“Huh? Are you sure?” Xavier’s assistant gaped in disbelief. Is he joking? It’s not his style to bring a girl for a buffet.
“Hmm?”
“Noted. I’ll make a phone call now.” Panicked, the assistant quickly gave in in order not to anger his boss.
It was quite comical when Xavier’s assistant started making phone calls to survey for the best buffet in town.
Gazing at Xavier’s serious face, Hannah asked doubtfully, “Are we really going for a buffet?”
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1107
Smirking, Xavier teased her, “Why not? That’s what you said. I must do my best to satisfy all of Ms. Young’s fervent requests.”
Then, he purposely said to his assistant, “Found the best restaurant for a buffet? I need to bring Ms. Young there to eat until the place shuts its door. If the food is not good, you’re going to get it.”
Eat the whole night? What’s Mr. Jackson plotting? Is this a new tactic to pick up girls? I need to learn this. It might come in handy.
“Mr. Jackson, I’ve surveyed all the restaurants within the ten-mile radius. There is a good one ahead. I’ll drive you there now.”
Upon hearing that, Xavier grinned from ear to ear. He shot a gaze at Hannah as if proclaiming to her that he meant business.
Hannah was dumbstruck, unable to utter a word.
You sure you want to eat buffet? The whole night? Boy, I was just kidding. Why did you take it to heart? Looks like I can’t afford to pull his leg.
After some time, they arrived at their destination, and Hannah trailed behind Xavier. It was her suggestion, so she had to bite the bullet.
The restaurant was the biggest one that Hannah had been to. They had very luxurious decorations and a wide array of dishes. Needless to say, a place as such would definitely be very popular.
If it were any other day, Hannah would have entered the restaurant bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. But it was different this time as she did not have the appetite to savor the food there. Every time I think about eating here for the entire night, I feel lackadaisical.
Walking past the entrance, she noticed that the restaurant did not implement a time limit for each customer. Oh my, this can go on all night. Sigh.
They found themselves a quiet corner and sat down. As for placing the order, they gave the task to the unlucky assistant.
He was flipping through Hannah’s file to check her favorite food before he placed the orders.
Seeing how busy the assistant got, Hannah felt slightly sorry for him. I never knew that an assistant could serve such a purpose.
As Hannah consumed the food in front of her, she chatted about everything under the sky with Xavier. Reflecting on all that had happened earlier that day and how they ended up enjoying the buffet together, Hannah found it rather bizarre.
Suddenly, she thought of something, and her body trembled reflexively. Staring at Xavier, she fell into a trance.
Flabbergasted, Xavier served her some food and then asked, “What’s wrong? You don’t like this dish?”
Xavier noticed that she was rather distracted and thought that she was still dwelling on the untoward incident which happened in the morning. It will take some time for her to get over it.
“No. Um… yes.” She felt bashful, not used to having other men serve her food.
I need to remind myself to keep a distance from him. I’m married!
Feeling awkward, she changed the topic, “Right, I overheard your phone conversation this morning. You know our chief editor?”
“You mean Vivian?” Xavier asked to confirm. Seeing that she was gradually getting into the mood again, he responded swiftly, “I know a lot about her.”
Hannah became an eager beaver and leaned over, waiting for him to share more.
He took his own sweet time to have a few sips of his drink before continuing, “She’s the wife of my best friend. They always stick together like glue. A very loving couple. That’s how I got to know her.”
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1108
From Xavier’s phone conversation earlier, Hannah could more or less figure it out. Therefore, when she heard Xavier’s response, she did not get all excited. On the contrary, she was a little disappointed because she thought Xavier had more juicy details to share, judging from his tone earlier.
Narrowing his eyes, Xavier let out a smile. Then he shook his head. “It’s been a while since I last met up with Finnick. Oh, by the way, he’s the one who gave me the rose tea.”
“Finnick? What’s his relationship with Fabian?” Hannah blurted her thoughts out.
Hearing the name, Xavier’s gaze turned cold. He put on a stern look and clenched his fists as if he was crushing Fabian with his bare hands.
Fabian… Do you enjoy competing with me for women? Sure, I’ll fight you till the end. You lost the last time, and I’ll make sure it’s the same ending for you this time.
Soon, he suppressed his emotions and brushed his hair backward. “Finnick is Fabian’s uncle.”
It was only then that Hannah realized she had asked Xavier an insensitive question. She was dumbstruck when she learned that Vivian was the wife of Fabian’s uncle. Does that mean Ms. Morrison is Fabian’s aunt?
Then again, Ms. Morrison’s quite young. Why did she marry someone much older than her? Was it for money? Or does she have a fetish for older men and fell in love with Fabian’s uncle?
Oh my goodness, this is insane! I didn’t expect Ms. Morrison to be…
But why did Fabian address Ms. Morrison by her first name? Something isn’t right. I’m sure there’s something going on between them. I must find out more. Hannah was getting inquisitive. “Then, what’s the relationship between Fabian and Ms. Morrison?”
Xavier huffed as he tried to hold himself together. Then, he said calmly, “Fabian tried to court your chief editor previously, and he almost succeeded.”
Thud! The utensil fell from Hannah’s hand, and she quickly picked it up while trying to conceal the glint of sadness that flashed across her eyes. Lowering her head, she muttered, “Oops, why do I have shaky hands? C-Carry on…”
Xavier sighed. You have a soft spot for Fabian, don’t you? He’s not worthy of your love. Don’t worry. I’ll gradually make you fall in love with me.
Initially, he just wanted to mess with Fabian, so he competed with the latter for Hannah. But somehow, he found himself falling for her. Perhaps he was attracted to her innocence and purity, which were rarely found in other girls.
Packing his emotions up, Xavier said in retrospect, “Well, it’s a long story… Fabian then started wooing Vivian… In the end, the two became a couple.”
He took another sip of his drink before saying indifferently, “Unexpectedly, he dumped Vivian and dated Belinda. My friend Finnick, who’s his uncle, married Vivian later on. However, he made a big fuss over it. Then, the rest is history.”
That’s quite a story. Why did Fabian dump Vivian? He’s not that kind of person. Moreover, he just secretly stared at her photo the night before. It goes to show that he hasn’t let her go. I’m sure there’s a misunderstanding of some sort.
Was that how Xavier’s conflict with Fabian started? Xavier is Finnick’s best friend, and Fabian caused havoc during Finnick’s wedding. That’s probably why Xavier sees Fabian as a rival. However, someone as haughty as Fabian would never back down, even when faced with a domineering figure like Xavier.
If the contention between them is resolved, will everything go back to normal?
“I’m sure there’s a misunderstanding!” Hannah roared as if she was defending Fabian.
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1109
Xavier treated Hannah’s words as an indication of ignorance and brushed it aside since he had labeled Fabian as a snake. He assumed that she was defending him because she did not know better.
“That’s enough. I know you two are close, but I’m just stating the facts. He has a nickname, you know? They call him the Star Collector! He might be the only one who would do ‘multi-timing’ with different female celebrities at the same time.”
Xavier knew what he said would upset Hannah, but he decided it was best for Hannah to find out earlier. Even though Xavier had selfish motives, he told her everything that happened honestly.
Star Collector? Although their marriage was just for show, Hannah actually knew Fabian quite well. She knew that Fabian was not the type of guy that people make him out to be. She even paid special attention to confirm it herself, noting that Fabian had zero scandals a year ago.
Did this all happen after Vivian? Is Fabian trying to numb himself with the actresses because he lost all faith in love?
With that in mind, Hannah was confident that she was right as a sense of pity for Fabian welled up from within. Who would’ve thought that he’d be such a devoted lover?
It took her a while to compose herself before she finally spoke again. “I think I understand. There must have been some misunderstanding. Fabian… “
“Let’s just talk about something else,” Xavier did not let Hannah finish. “No use for us to keep dwelling on the past.”
Nevertheless, Hannah did not back down because it involved Fabian.
“Wait, Mr. Jackson. Let me finish.”
“Here, have some meat,” Xavier said as he picked up a piece of beef and passed it to her in one swift motion. His expression had reverted to the friendly look he always wore.
Seeing how Xavier acted, Hannah was at a loss for words. So, she had no choice but to comply. “Em, Mr. Jackson, don’t worry about me. You should just enjoy your food.”
“Okay,” Xavier replied, but the meat still ended up on Hannah’s plate.
In response, Hannah smiled awkwardly while she fiddled with her food, looking troubled.
The atmosphere of the meal had soured ever since Fabian was brought up, but Hannah was not concerned. However, Xavier’s opinion of Fabian got even worse.
With Hannah’s dejected look in front of him, Xavier secretly decided to bring her somewhere relaxing and have some fun.
That day afternoon, Xavier brought Hannah to an amusement park where he eventually convinced her to face her fear of the roller coaster.
At night, Xavier invited Hannah to dinner, but she turned it down. Hanna wanted to head home and have dinner with Fabian, even though he had not contacted her even once that whole day.
Xavier knew better than to insist, so he dropped Hannah off somewhere near her house. At first, Hannah wanted to refuse, but she had already rejected Xavier’s ride once. She had no heart to do it a second time, so Hannah gave Xavier directions to a place near her house.
“Alright, you take care then,” Xavier bid Hannah farewell.
“Don’t worry. I will,” Hannah replied as she opened the door and got out before she waved him goodbye.
Hannah walked away, turning around only after hearing the roar of the engine fade into the distance as she breathed out a sigh of relief.
What’s Fabian doing right now?
Her shadow, stretched by the warm yellow streetlight as she threaded forward on the empty sidewalk.
Leaves rustled in the wind that played with her hair, falling off as though they wanted to join their brethren on the ground, escaping their isolation with the aid of the breeze.
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1110
Hannah arrived home not long after, opening the door to the darkness of an empty house. She proceeded to turn on the lights as she figured Fabian would be back real soon.
“Hello? Where are you?” Hannah gave Fabian a call nonetheless.
“I’m outside having dinner with some business partners, don’t wait up for me and eat first. Alright, bye.”
The call ended as soon as Fabian finished his sentence. There was no room for Hannah to utter even a single word.
No wonder he hadn’t call me. He’s been busy. Hannah loosened up with that in mind. She was initially worried that Fabian would question where she was the entire day, but that concern was replaced by disappointment. He really couldn’t give me even a single call?
Alone, Hannah went on to have dinner before she took a bath.
After that, she curled up on the couch and turned on the television, watching the programs with a hint of sadness on her face.
Fabian must still have feelings for Vivian. Yeah. She’s beautiful, elegant, and has the status to match his. It’s no wonder he’d like her.
Hannah’s mind started wandering off. I’m the fool here for thinking that I could go on living with Fabian like this. Hannah Young, just look at yourself! Who do you think you are and what do you have to offer? She believed that there was no way she could even compare herself to Vivian.
Huh. The man I’m with is in love with another woman. How ironic. It was all just my wishful thinking. He has never made any promise but I still ended up fantasizing about it.
Things were getting gloom.
Why didn’t you tell me sooner, Fabian? Why did you have to wait for me to fall in love with you? If you had told me earlier that you still loved her, I would’ve never allowed myself to for fall you.
With all those thoughts in her head, Hannah started sobbing. Her body shivered and twitched as she cried a river.
It dawned on her how much affection she had for Fabian, a burning passion that could not be dowsed. The only thing Hannah could do at this point was to hold in all her feelings to the best of her ability. She had no idea how long the current state would last. How I wish this would go on forever.
After a long while, Fabian appeared on the sidewalk, treading along with heavy footsteps until he reached the steel gates of the villa, still slightly drunk. He saw that the lights in the living were lit and was delighted, thinking that Hannah was still waiting for him.
When Fabian stepped foot into the house, he heard the familiar yet irritating conversations from the television. She’s watching those again? Is she still up because of the drama or me? Then, he noticed Hannah was missing. Where’s she?
His gaze shifted around and found Hannah lying on the couch. She was already sound asleep.
The joy Fabian felt was no more while a sudden urge to pull Hannah up grew inside of him. The contrast between his expectation versus reality was too extreme, as it was between a loving wife waiting for him at home and a drama addict that fell asleep in front of the television.
Hmph! Fabian snorted softly to express his discontent before he gently took off his coat and approached Hannah.
Huh? Is she sick? Fabian noticed the balls of tissue on the floor when he got closer, so he bent down to place his lips on Hannah’s forehead. Hmm. It’s not hot though.
His hand moved towards her face and uncovered it from her hair, revealing the tear stains.
She cried?
Fabian was puzzled. I didn’t do anything to her though. Why did she end up like this?
He could not think of anything else that would have made Hannah cry like this besides him.
Other than the few times where Hannah cried because of Fabian, he had never actually seen her cry. No matter what difficulty she faced at work, Hannah would always face it head-on with a smile.