Chapter 112 I Want You
Alison hurried after Jack, and when she finally caught sight of his back, even though she was only a few steps away, it felt like they were miles apart.
Images of Jackson and Erin being taken away flashed through her mind. She couldn't hesitate any longer, or she would end up hurting them.
"Jack... Jack, wait up," she called out softly, her voice timid. It had taken all her courage to speak up because asking for $1.2 million was no small feat.
Jack seemed not to hear her and continued walking with Stephen. Stephen, noticing her, kindly reminded him, "Jack, Alison's calling you."
"Is she?" Jack turned around, puzzled. "Alison, you need something?"
"Yeah, Jack, I need to talk to you."
"Is it about work?" Jack's eyes showed a hint of annoyance, as if her mere presence irritated him.
Alison shook her head.
"Then it's personal?" Jack pressed.
Alison nodded, feeling so embarrassed she wished she could disappear.
"I'm sorry, but the company policy clearly states that personal matters can't be discussed during work hours. Alison, your behavior is against the rules, and I think your performance review for this month will be canceled." With that, Jack turned gracefully and walked away, leaving Alison standing there, mortified and at a loss.
Alison was desperate. Besides Jack, she couldn't think of anyone else who could help her.
"Jack, I really need to talk to you. If not now, can we meet tonight?" Alison tried to stop him, regretting how pathetic she sounded. But for Jackson's sake, she mustered the courage to call out to Jack again.
Stephen glanced back at Alison, seeing her biting her lip, and felt a pang of sympathy. He urged Jack, "Jack, it seems like Alison really has something urgent. If you don't have plans tonight, maybe you could meet her."
"Tonight? You have time tonight?" Jack emphasized the word "tonight," making Alison feel even more humiliated, as if she were inviting him to something inappropriate.
But Alison didn't hesitate and nodded solemnly. "Yes, I have time."
"But I don't." Jack smiled, giving her another humiliating rejection.
Alison's mind was in turmoil. Jack's ruthless refusal made her feel utterly hopeless. Tomorrow was the last day to save Jackson.
"Jack..." Stephen couldn't stand it anymore, sensing that Jack was deliberately making things difficult for Alison.
"Fine, I'll meet you. But I really don't have time tonight. After a quick break at the café, I can spare a few minutes. Meet me at the café across the street from the office at lunchtime. But I'll only give you ten minutes." Jack finally relented.
"Thank you, Jack." Alison breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Jack agreed to meet her, she would do whatever it took to get him to lend her the $1.2 million. The thought of that amount made her heart tighten; she might spend a lifetime paying it back.
After Jack and Stephen left, there was still half an hour until the end of the workday. Alison returned to the office, distracted, and began inputting and organizing the notes from her meeting with Stephen. She did it mechanically, her mind filled with thoughts of Jack. How could she convince him to lend her the money in those ten minutes at lunch?
"Alison, what are you doing?" Claire's sudden question snapped her back to reality.
Alison realized she had been holding her water cup for a long time without drinking. She looked down and saw water spilled all over the desk. She hurriedly tried to wipe it up, but the water kept dripping onto the keyboard. She quickly picked up the keyboard and shut down the computer.
"Alison, this kind of work attitude won't do!" Claire said. Aidan wasn't around, and he hadn't given Alison any important tasks lately, so Claire wasn't afraid of her. She disliked Alison and had recorded her distracted behavior on her phone. She planned to show it to Aidan, hoping he would finally get rid of Alison.
"Sorry, I'll clean it up right away."
By the time Alison had cleaned up and organized everything, it was past the end of the workday.
She glanced at her watch and rushed out of the office, praying that Jack was still waiting at the café.
Alison ran whenever she wasn't in the elevator, afraid that Jack would leave if he got tired of waiting.
When she reached the café entrance, she saw Jack already walking out. Stephen was gone, probably having left earlier.
Alison, out of breath, ran up to him. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be late." Seeing Jack continue walking away, she felt like a cat on a hot tin roof.
"I'm sorry, but our agreed time has passed. I have another appointment and don't want to be late."
Jack's gentlemanly demeanor, tinged with mockery, made them feel like strangers. Alison pleaded, "Jack, please, just ten minutes. I won't take up much of your time." She grabbed his arm.
"But I've changed my mind." Jack strode forward, and Alison refused to let go.
Jack shook her off forcefully, and Alison nearly fell. But she held on tightly to his arm. "Jack, I really need to talk to you."
Jack shook her off again, and Alison fell to the ground like a leaf, scraping her knee. The pain made her grimace, but she gritted her teeth and tried to stand. She managed to get halfway up before collapsing again. Her vision blurred, and she could only see Jack's resolute back as he walked away. She felt utterly helpless.
A crowd began to gather, people of all ages watching Alison with curiosity, speculating that she had been dumped by the handsome man and was trying to win him back.
The murmurs grew louder, and a woman suddenly pointed at Alison and shouted, "Oh my, she's bleeding! Someone call an ambulance!"
"Blood..."
Jack, who had intended to continue walking, stopped in his tracks when he heard the word. He turned around and saw Alison sitting on the pavement a few meters away, staring blankly in his direction. But when she looked at him, her eyes became vacant and lifeless.