7. Why Come Bother?

Chelsea took off the sunglasses that framed her face. She approached Zalina with sparkling eyes as if she had caught a bounty.

Chelsea's researching gaze made Zalina uncomfortable. Although smiling, that smile is more of a smile to strip Zalina.

"You're still the same as before. How are you, Zalina?" asked Chelsea.

"Fine," Zalina answered curtly. She almost choked while answering.

"Do you work here? Wow, amazing you can work here."

Zalina didn't have time to answer because Pete had already answered Chelsea's question.

"No, she is a pest," Pete said with a chuckle.

Rose chimed in with Pete's words. "She doesn't work here. You can see she's different from the employees here. She's been insisting since yesterday and wants to see Mr. Jasper."

Chelsea looked back at Zalina, showing a suspicious reaction. "Jasper?"

Zalina just remembered that the woman was rumored to be close to Jasper. She thought maybe the rumors were true because Chelsea was there now.

"Yes, I want to meet him. There is something I should ask him," replied Zalina. She didn't want Chelsea to think badly of her.

"Ask about what?"

"Sorry, I can't tell you."

"Oh, OK. But it looks like it's going to be difficult. I could help you if you'd tell me."

"It's nothing, and it must not matter to you."

"Okay, you keep standing here because I'm sure you will find it difficult to meet Jasper. Even though I will help you if you tell me your problem," said Chelsea. She put on her sunglasses again and left.

Rose glared sarcastically at Zalina first before leaving to follow Chelsea's steps.

"Well, you've heard it right. Meeting Mr. Jasper will be difficult. So, now go... go... go!" Pete pushed Zalina away by moving his hand.

Zalina will not give up before she can meet Jasper to live a normal life. Despite being kicked out many times, she didn't stop. Zalina is used to seeing cynical stares like that because, for some people, Zalina is a strange and old-fashioned girl.

Jasper entered the parking lot. There was no other car except his because it was a particular parking space for him. From the parking lot, there is an elevator that goes directly to his room. That's why Zalina didn't meet Jasper, even though she waited all day at the lobby door.

As Jasper had just sat down in his office chair, Linda brought him some files as usual.

Putting the file on the table, she said in a half-whisper.

"There's Chelsea outside. She's waiting for you, and she doesn't know you're here yet."

"Tell him I don't want to be disturbed today," Jasper said. He had already started checking the files on the desk.

"Okay, but I can't promise this will work. You know what Chelsea Stump is like, right?" After saying that, Linda went back to her desk.

As Linda had expected, Chelsea still insisted on meeting Jasper. She always gets what she wants, so no one should refuse her request.

"But Mr. Jasper said he didn't want anyone to meet him. He's been very busy today," said Linda.

"I've come to talk business with him too. I'm sure he'll be interested. It's about land in Yorkshire." Chelsea was sure that this time Jasper wouldn't mind seeing her.

Linda knew that Jasper had been eyeing land in South Yorkshire for a long time. The Stumps owned a large farm there, so she needed to tell Jasper about this.

"Okay, I'll tell him, but I can't change his mind."

"I'm sure he won't turn me down after telling him about Yorkshire," Chelsea said with a smile.

One of Jasper's eyebrows shot up when Linda spoke of Yorkshire.

"Yorkshire?"

"That's what she said."

"Okay, let her in."

Linda was relieved not to have to argue with stubborn Chelsea anymore. Things like that have often been experienced by Linda when facing Chelsea.

"Please come in!"

Chelsea comes out of Jasper's room smiling with satisfaction.

"Hi, Jasper. How are you? It was so hard to meet you," said Chelsea.

Jasper put down his pen. He had to welcome Chelsea for the land in South Yorkshire.

"Sorry, I've been swamped lately. Have a seat, Chelsea," Jasper said, pointing at the sofa.

"You always avoid meeting me. Are you afraid we'll be the subject of media coverage again?"

"Yeah. I'm afraid no woman will approach me because of the rumors," Jasper said.

"Oh, you offended me. I don't seem worthy of being your partner."

Jasper then walked over to Chelsea, who was sitting on the sofa, plopping himself into the chair opposite each other with Chelsea.

"Let's talk about business. You came for that, didn't you, Miss Chelsea?"

Chelsea's face immediately changed, confused about what to say about business and land. She didn't come to discuss business, and it was just an excuse because Jasper was so hard to find. Since she knew Jasper was eyeing land in Yorkshire, she used that as an excuse.

Jasper watched Chelsea with narrowed eyes suspiciously. And finally, he knew that there was no business discussion that the woman brought.

Jasper got up and looked annoyed.

"You can go if there's nothing to discuss."

Chelsea looked nervous, not expecting Jasper's insulting reaction.

"I did want to talk about business, but I came unprepared. We can start discussing it now." Chelsea also rose to convince Jasper.

When Jasper was upset because Chelsea tricked him, Linda suddenly barged in with a panicked face. Before speaking, Jasper seemed to know what Linda would say to him. The man immediately came out without asking.

"What is up with him?" asked Chelsea. She immediately followed Jasper out of curiosity.

Zalina was seen lying in front of the lobby, her body sweating while she held her stomach. About six people were standing not far from him, but they just watched without giving any help.

"Water, I beg you for water!" Zalina said weakly.

"That's what happens when you're stubborn. We told you to leave, but you kept hoping for the impossible." One of them blames Zalina.

"Yeah, and now you're just torturing yourself. What a hassle!"

"Then what? What should we do with her now?" asked Pete.

Rose replied, "Leave it alone. Maybe she's pretending to get our attention."

"But her face looks pale."

"What are you doing? Are you humans?" Jasper came to surprise them.

"Mr. Jasper!"

Jasper immediately approached Zalina and knelt to check on her condition.

"Zalina, how do you feel?"

"Jasper," said Zalina in a weak voice.

Jasper immediately lifted Zalina's body, witnessed by people who were gawking because they couldn't believe Jasper's attitude. He takes Zalina inside the building.

"Jasper? She--" Chelsea cut off speech.

Jasper entered the elevator under the astonished stares of the employees there.

In the elevator, Jasper looked at Zalina, who was closing her eyes. He clenched his jaw against the turmoil within him.

'I was trying to avoid you. But why do you keep coming to bother me?'