Chapter 204


    Chapter 204


    “Good luck, Elliot!” Nigel yelled from across the yard and put up a fist in the air in a show of moral


    support.


    Elliot’s eyes crinkled as he nodded at the younger man.


    Anastasia, on the other hand, was helping Jared fasten his seatbelt, so she didn’t notice anything


    strange going on between the two cousins.


    After that, Elliot took the passenger seat while Anastasia sat in the back with Jared, grateful for the


    ample leg room in the sedan. They first had lunch at a high-end restaurant, where Jared ate his


    food in high spirits. When they were done, the little boy suddenly asked to go to the museum, and


    Elliot agreed to it without a second thought.


    As such, Anastasia could only go along with them. Rey went as well to keep an eye on Jared,


    thinking that he could babysit the boy and give Elliot and Anastasia a break to enjoy some quality


    time together.


    er


    Presently, Anastasia had only just stepped into the museum when her phone rang. Upon seeing


    that it was a call from Francis, she picked it up and greeted, “Hey, Dad.”


    “Is Young Master Elliot alright? I hope he didn’t get a hangover this morning,” Francis said worriedly


    on the other line. “My friends shouldn’t have forced him to drink all that liquor.”


    “Don’t worry, Dad. He’s fine,” she reassured.


    “By the way, I was wondering if Bourgeois is still hiring at the moment. Erica is thinking about going


    to work at yourpany.”


    Anastasia resisted the urge to snort at this. Yeah, right, as if Erica wants to work! She just wants to


    get close to Elliot, and the only way to do that is by working in thepany.


    “Sorry, Dad, but I don’t think Erica is a suitable candidate for thepany.”


    “I know she’s no designer, but she could be a clerk or an assistant or something. It’s not every day


    she ims that she wants to be a working girl, after all. I’d appreciate it if you could help me ask


    President Presgrave about this; perhaps he can make some arrangements for her.” All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    “Dad, I can’t just ask him about these things. He’s not even the one in charge of recruitment,”


    Anastasia argued. After all, she did not want to see Erica loitering around her workce.


    Francis sighed. “Well, I guess I’ll just have to call him myself. He gave me his name cardst night.”


    She faltered, and it looked like her father was dead set on having Erica work in Bourgeois. Guess


    he’s getting tired of bankrolling for her. “Fine, I’ll ask him about it! Don’t go calling him on your own,


    Dad,” she said tiredly, knowing that Francis wouldn’t take no for an answer at this point.


    “Great. Give me a call and tell me how the discussion went. Erica’s finally taking life seriously, and


    we have to help her get a good head start, right?”


    “Sure,” Anastasia replied emotionlessly.


    After she hung up the call, she looked up at the man who was currently bringing her son from one


    exhibit to the next. She let out a sigh and brisk-walked up to them.


    a


    Elliot had brought Jared to his favorite part of the museum, which was the dinosaur exhibit. While


    Anastasia had brought him here before, Jared was still excited, and he was having a whale of a


    time.


    She watched as he trotted alongside Elliot’s towering frame, and she thought they looked like father


    and son. Elliot would asionally pick him up, and there were moments when he would let Jared


    pull him around the museum. Jared would also tilt his head to one side curiously while he asked


    questions about the artifacts.


    Elliot, on the other hand, yed the role of the ever-patient father who borated on the history and


    the scientific evolution of the dinosaurs, and Jared was all ears.


    “Miss Tillman, isn’t it wonderful how President Presgrave and Jared get along so well?” Rey asked


    as he came over to where Anastasia was standing,


    She smiled and nodded. “It is! Jared really likes him.”


    “I think President Presgrave would make an excellent father,” Rey added meaningfully.


    The implication behind his words did not escape Anastasia, but she knew that she and Elliot could


    never work out, and Jared’s affections for him were only temporary.


    When they left the dinosaur exhibit, they ventured into other exhibits that Jared


    liked. Eventually, they found themselves on the third floor of the museum. When Rey walked up to


    her, Anastasia said, “Could you help me look after Jared for a bit? I need to speak with President


    Presgrave alone.”


    “Very well,” Rey said with a polite smile.


    Anastasia then sauntered over to Elliot. “President Presgrave, there’s something I need to talk to


    you about. Rey can keep an eye on Jared for a while.”


    Elliot nced over at Rey and instructed coolly, “Don’t let him out of your sight.”


    When all was settled, Anastasia led him over to the more quiet end of the gallery where there were


    hardly any visitors. As Elliot drew closer to her, she pursed her lips and thought about how she was


    going to phrase things. She didn’t want to owe him any more favors, but it seemed unavoidable


    right now.


    “What is it?” he asked softly as he fixed his dark gaze on her.


    “Here’s the thing-my dad wants to know if Bourgeois is still hiring. He wants my sister, Erica, to find


    work there,” Anastasia exined and looked up at Elliot. Even in the dim lighting, she could still see


    the chiseled nes and angles of his handsome features, and for a moment, she thought she could


    drown in those maic, obsidian eyes of his.