Alyssa had always been like that. She would bepletely focused on an object of her interest and fall


    into a world of her own.


    Suddenly, it urred to her that Jameson was waiting for her. She quickly spun around to find him


    patiently standing on the side, this time with a straw basket in his hand filled with pink roses that carried


    an understated beauty.


    The breathtaking char m of the flowers reminded her of a quote from Wiwa Szymborska, which said,


    “Only a rose blooms as a rose, no one else.”


    “Ms. Taylor,”Jameson addressed herwhile approaching with the flower basket.


    “Oh, don’t step in here! Be careful not todirty your clothes!” she hurriedly stopped him when she noticed


    his sparkly clean outfit. However, he made his way through


    the thorny shrubs in an attempt to get to her.


    She pursed her lips in embarrassment.


    “Ms. Taylor, this is for you.” His eyeswere as soft as the sunset colors when he handed her the basket.


    “Thank you, but I can’t ept your gift,”she turned him down with a smile.


    The basket might be a small gift, but she thought it would be inappropriate to ept roses from him,


    which appeared more like a symbol of courtship.


    Her rejection was expected. He reframed his act with a smile.”A beauty like you is worthy of the roses.


    More importantly, I wanted to give you a basket of roses for your research because you seemed


    interested in them.


    “The rosese with soil. You can ntthem in your garden and keep them blooming year-round with


    proper care.”


    Upon hearing that, Alyssa had no reason to turn down his rose basket. After some deliberation, she


    caved in and took it from him.”Well, thank you, then.”


    Suddenly, he frowned and bent toward her. She blinked in surprise, holding her breath as his face


    loomed before her.


    “What’s wrong? Is there something on myface?”


    “Yeah.” He nodded in seriousness.


    “Where?” She wiped her face inconfusion, leaving a soil mark on her cheek like a dirty kitten.


    With a doting look, Jameson took out a white handkerchief and wiped away the stains on her cheek


    and forehead. It took her a while to react to his swift move, and she frantically said, “I’ll do it myself.”


    “It’s fine. You look clean now.”Gazingdeep into her eyes, he quickly withdrew his hand. He had a knack


    foring to a


    stop at the exact moment she started feeling uneasy at their intimacy.


    He was flirting. The idea popped up in her mind, but she shrugged it off very soon. Perhaps Jameson


    was merely being attentive because of his mild temperament and the fact that she was a childhood


    friend.


    Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    They heard a flurry of footsteps in their direction. Alyssa raised her gaze and was instantly stunned. 1


    Jasper was standing stiffly a few steps away from her. He was not agitated nor furious, even though


    something was simmering in his eyes. It felt like the calm before the storm.


    Apparently, Jasper had observed the interaction between Alyssa and Jameson. He clenched his fists,


    white-knuckled.


    He watched helplessly as Alyssa beamed at Jameson and epted the rose basket. He also


    witnessed Jameson gently wiping


    away the dirt on her cheek.


    The two were close to each other, like a match made in heaven.


    Jasper felt the musicles in his back stiffening as he gritted his teeth. His mind was buzzing and in pain


    from the shock.


    He realized that Alyss a wasn’t here to fight for his project. She was here to view the sea of roses with


    her new lover.


    Deep down, he’d rather Alyssa show up as a business rival to seize his partnership opportunity and


    inflict torture on him.


    He’d willingly give her anything she wanted rather than watch her showering another man with all her


    affection that was once reserved for him.