Forlorn Hope

"Oh, Colrdrick boy. What a coincidence you're here. Are you going to see Alicia?"

No!! Jessica couldn't allow Theodore to provoke Reiner and cause chaos here.

Jessie must immediately get Reiner away from Theodore. She walks to Reiner's side, grabs his arm and hopes he will voluntarily withdraw himself. "Sir Reiner, I believe Mr. Weisberg has been waiting for you. Let me escort you to meet him."  

"Ah, yes. I have to see Mr. Wiesbierg," that’s what he said but Reiner still couldn't take his gaze off Theodore. 

What's so great about that guy? It is said that Alicia was crazy about him and even fought her father to be with Theodore. He’s just a little brat without his father's money. 

Jessica had already taken a step to lead Reiner away, but Theodore's words stopped them.

"I'm here for Miss Becker.”

Jessica lifted her head abruptly.  Did she hear wrong just now?  Theodore is here to look for her?  What's wrong? More to her surprise, Theodore never called her by her name let alone address her surname respectfully. 

"Me? I’m…" Jessica is not sure how to apprehend the situation.

"It's okay. Then, I'm going to meet Mr. Weisberg myself." Reiner wisely chose to retreat and went to meet Alistair Weisberg alone. 

Leaving Jessica under Theodore’s care. That man stood there doing nothing but staring at Jessica with both his cold eyes. Jessica returned to stand at the back of her desk, trying to ignore Theodore's gaze at her.

"You can go straight in to see Miss Alicia."  Jessica sat back down and looked for something for her to do.

"Were my words earlier not clear to you? I'm here to look for you, not Alicia."

Jessica lowered her head deeply, she didn't want to know why Theodore was looking for her. If possible she didn't want to talk to him at all.

"Give this to Alicia." Theodore placed a large package on Jessica's table.

Woah! Where did this big package come from? Jessica didn't see Theo coming with the package. As if he’s hiding it with magic. So.. Did Theodore come to get her to deliver this big parcel? 

[ Whatever. Is it necessary to scare me by saying he was here looking for me!] 

"Damn it! Why don't you give this to Alicia directly?"  

Oops! Jessica cursed her mouth, what was that just now? Jessica didn't mean to put it that way. She’s always courteous and modest to tend Theodore in every action. 

Theodore sharpened his gaze toward Jessica. It’s just like what happened this morning, but no one wished Alicia to come out of her room and catch them again. It felt like they’re having an affair.

"Um, my, my apologies. I—I'll pass this on to Miss Alicia right away. Thank you for coming." 

Jessica took the package on the desk and tried to escape to Alicia’s room but Theodore caught her hand before she opened up the door. Ah! She shouldn’t leave her desk in the first place. It opens up opportunities for Theodore to openly approach her closely.

"There's no need to rush. Just give it over at lunchtime."

Theodore came before Jessica. Although this time, he didn't try to shove Jessica because right behind her was Alicia's door. One push and the door might open.

"You…" Theodore said to Jessie's ear, breathed the air around her and engulfed himself with the alluring fragrance. Is it some seductive scent? It’s not like him to get infatuated easily like this. If possible…

No! Theodore had a hard time restraining himself. He almost lost it.

"Whatever the smell is, I hope I don't get a whiff of it again when you're around me or else I promised the worst for you." He waved his hand as if to dispel the bad smell. After saying that Theodore turned around and left.

What a smell! Jessica was frightened needlessly.  Is Theodore just making fun of her? She smelled her own fragrance. There is nothing wrong with them. 

Jessica even remembers she accidentally sprayed the best perfume she ever bought this morning. She had no intention to use such expensive perfume today. That perfume cost her a month's salary. It’s heartless to say it smells.  

Theodore must have a nose problem! He doesn't even smell that good. Way too far to teach her about aromatical scent. 

…

The event in the afternoon might not be caught by Alicia, doesn't mean she wouldn’t hear it from anyone. "Theodore said he came looking for Jessica?"

"Yes, that's what Reiner told me." Alistair happily shares the story with her daughter. After the meeting today, Reiner asked him about Theodore's relationship with Alicia’s secretary as if he was trying to report the secret rendezvous.

Alistair had no right to defend Theodore's action nor did he want to do something about it. He’s not reasoning with Reiner and let that man assess it himself.

Alicia thought back to the package she received this afternoon. Jessica said Theodore came to deliver the gift and then left it because he’s on errand. 

Alicia did feel a little upset to not see Theodore's face. Why doesn't he give it in person? Usually Theodore tends to make any necessary reason to see her face. Somehow the thought annoyed Alicia a bit. What a fuss! 

"To think of it, your plan seems to be promising. It might work out well."

"Pardon, what plan?"  Alicia failed to listen to her father's generous plot. 

"Making Theodore fall in love with another woman. That way he will soon let you go."  Alistair reminded his daughter again.

"Ah, that plan?"  Alicia was now unsure if the plan was her idea. 

Where did it come from?

"Alicia, that very idea is the best we can do. Let's do our best, after that, I'm sure a man better than Theodore will come for you."

Alicia had not thought about other men. She didn't think it would end there. For a moment she thought about escaping Theodore's entanglement.  Alicia was sick of feeling confined even longer but now she was thinking again.  

Will she be able to see Theodore with another woman?

…

Next day in Alicia's Office.

"Miss Alicia, your idea will not work. This is a bad idea. I would never do something like that."

Alicia tried her luck once again. She had made up her mind to make Theodore walk away from her life. This time she really hoped that Jessica would sympathize and help her.

Unfortunately, the world can't go your way. 

It’s futile to place your hope in others.

"Come on, this will work if you try at least once. It's you that always says to try something before saying it's hard. Right?"

"That’s a different case. I can't do this for you, Miss Alicia. How do you think I can betray you like this?"

"Jessie, you didn't do this to betray me. You know best, I'm fed up with Theodore. There is no other way to get away from him."

"No, I'm sure there is a better way than this."

"If you think there is another way. Then do it for me! As long as it doesn't affect my father or this company. I will be happy to accept anything that could make Theodore leave me." 

Jessica naturally couldn't promise Alicia anything. She is just an ordinary girl.  What power did she have to make Theodore make such a deal? 

"What if I could find another woman to do this job?"

Alicia looked at Jessie with a look of despair. "If only there was a woman who could grab his attention this whole time I would grant her a nobel. You know, Theodore is hard to approach. He’s petty and picky when it comes to socializing with people.”

"Then it absolutely won't work when I try it either."  Jessica saw that opportunity like bullshit.  If it was that hard, why did Alicia think Jessie could do such an impossible job?

“No, Jessie, listen to me Theodore already knows you. He acknowledges your existence and you’re different from other women. If any woman can approach him, then only you are the one. Nothing else!"

Jessica, still unable to accept Alicia's logic. She steadfastly continued to refuse.  Meanwhile, Alicia was increasingly convinced that no one could carry out that mission but Jessica.

However under what conditions would Jessica agree to her request?

Alicia didn't plan to use any means to make Jessica help her but if she could do something then it can't be helped.