Chapter 206
Alice’s mind went blank as Jack leaned closer. Then, voices from outside broke the spell.
They both straightened. Alice escaped his arms, fled the restroom without looking back.
Jack remained, his gaze darkening. He touched his lips unconsciously. He couldn’t control his impulses the urge to be near her, to hold her, to kiss her. He leaned against the wall, lit a cigarette.
Alice splashed cold
stairwell, wonderin ater on her face, trying to regain composure. She glanced towards the
stairwell, wondering if he’d come out, but didn’t go to check. She returned to the office.
Everyone was in the meeting room. Andrew Yates, noticing Alice’s flushed cheeks and quick. return, raised an eyebrow. What kind of comforting had transpired?
Alice was quiet. Andrew Yates said, “Let’s begin.”
The representative said, “Mr. Jack isn’t here yet.”
Alice felt Andrew Yates’s gaze on her when Jack was mentioned. Andrew Yates smiled. Let’s start without him.”
Alice, momentarily distracted, quickly refocused. She presented her solutions for the bugs. Work helped her forget what happened.
Andrew Yates, watching Alice’s focused demeanor, texted Jack:“Meeting’s started. Where are you? Little Lemon recovered quickly. Share your comfort secrets.
Jack replied with a single word:“Scram!”
Andrew Yates smirked. The guy said he didn’t need to comfort her, yet he rushed over. A. hypocrite.
After the meeting, Alice went to get water, noticing Jack was back in his office. She quickly averted her gaze. Jack, however, watched her, her earnest expression contrasting sharply with her earlier vulnerability in the stairwell.
Alice, after discussing with her colleagues, felt Jack’s gaze again. But she never met his eyes. Andrew Yates noticed this, his eyes teasing Jack. Did he mess up?
After the meeting, everyone dispersed. Alice gathered her things. “I’ll head back to school. I’ll bet back if there are problems.”
“Little Lemon, take the weekend off.”
Alice quickly glanced at Jack and left.
Jack stood.“I’ll walk you out.”
“No, I’ll take a cab.” Alice hurried away.
Jack watched her go, hearing Andrew Yates say, “How did you comfort her? She looked like a mouse seeing a cat!”
“Single dog, mind your business.” Jack followed.
Andrew Yates was astonished. “You call “me” a single dog? Aren’t you?” Some people were far from getting a girlfriend!
Alice, relieved in the elevator, found the doors reopening. Jack entered. Her face flushed as she saw his reflection.
The elevator finally reached the ground floor. Alice practically fled. Jack stopped her, cornering
her.
He looked down at her.“What are you hiding?”
Alice, startled, whispered, “Let me go.”
“Answer my question first.”
“I wasn’t hiding. I was going to take a cab.”
Jack said softly, “But I have a car.”
“What does that have to do with you?”
“I can drive you home,”
Alice, flustered, was interrupted by voices outside. She pushed him away; people could see them. But he was unmoved. ‘I’ll drive you home.”
The elevator opened. The voices outside stopped.
Alice, flustered, said, “Fine, just move.”
Jack slowly moved aside, glaring at the people outside. They asked Alice, “Need help?” Alice shook her head.“No, thank you.” She fled.
Jack said to the onlookers, “Never seen anyone comfort someone before? Then walked away. The onlookers were confused.
Alice walked on, mortified. What was wrong with Jack?
Jack rolled down his window. “Get in.”
Alice ignored him. Jack followed slowly. Those short legs won’t get you home.
“I’ll take a cab!”
Alice hailed a cab. Jack watched her go, texting her, “Mad?”
Alice sent a cartoon of someone beating someone up. He had been so bold in the elevator!
He sent a cartoon of someone kneeling and apologizing. Alice smiled. He was getting better at this.
Her phone rang. She hung up. Another call came; she didn’t answer. It was Ethan and Luke.
Then, her secretary called. Alice hesitated, then answered. The secretary had been one of the few to help her in her past life.
She said coldly, “What is it?”
“Ms. Alice…”
Ethan’s voice, furious, cut in. “Alice, you’re ruthless! Luke confessed, but you exposed him to the media! Are you satisfied?”
Alice looked out the window. “It’s none of my business.”
The secretary pleaded, “Ms. Alice, the boss is in critical condition. Can you see him one last time?”
Alice’s lips tightened. One last time…?
