Early the following morning, she sent Archie and Benny to the kindergarten, then hurried to the research institute. She thought she was early, but to her surprise, Jack was there before her.
When she arrived, he and Colby were standing in the corridor, deep in conversation. Both of them looked very serious. Roxanne waited quietly at the side and did not interrupt.
It took a long while before they wrapped up their discussion, and only then did she pipe up apologetically, “I’m sorry I’m late.”
Jack flashed her an understanding smile. “That’s all right. I know you have to drop off the kids at kindergarten. In any case, we’re not on a time crunch here. Your children are much more important.”
Since he had taken the words right out of Colby’s mouth, the latter could only give a tight smile as he greeted Roxanne. “Good morning, Dr. Jarvis.”
Then, the trio walked alongside each other. toward the research facility while chatting. about the project’s progress.
Suddenly, Jack turned to look at Colby and said, “Oh, right. I forgot to mention I’m officially participating in this research from today. onward. I look forward to working with you, Dr. Galloway.”
Colby’s expression stiffened for a fleeting moment when he heard those words.
Just as Roxanne looked over, however, he quickly composed himself and smiled pleasantly. “I’m sure our research will go on even more smoothly with your participation.”
After uttering that reply, he lowered his gaze, hiding his emotions behind the thin lenses of his glasses.
Even before this, Jack has been coming to the research institute almost daily. He’s practically glued to Roxanne. Now that he’s so-called officially participating in the research, there’s no saying how much closer they’ll become.
A wave of jealousy washed over him as the image of Roxanne and Jack being together all day appeared in his mind.
Whether on purpose or not, Jack’s lips quirked into an unfathomable smile after he dropped the bomb. It was not long before they entered the research facility.
Roxanne formally introduced Jack to the other researchers, who welcomed him warmly, then led him to their laboratory bench.
Initially, they only carried out pre-testing in small batches. Hence, the bench prepared by her was not that large. There was just enough space for two people to work together.
Previously, Colby and Roxanne were the ones working on the pre-tests together. With the addition of Jack, however, Colby had no choice but to relinquish his spot and play second fiddle.
After pre-heating the apparatus, Roxanne prepared to add the materials. When she turned around, the materials that had been weighed out were already passed to her.
She was momentarily surprised. Then, she lifted her gaze and looked at Jack with a smile before accepting the materials and continuing with the experiment.
Perhaps because the pair had worked together to some extent during that previous period, she found they had good teamwork. If she had to compare it to collaborating with Colby, she did not find it much different.
Watching Roxanne and Jack working in harmony with each other made the flames of jealousy in Colby’s heart blaze even more fiercely. The pre-testing went on for three whole days.
By the end of it, they succeeded in testing the various properties of the finished product and determining its basic feasibility. Only then did they start gradually increasing the dosage.
Following the increased quantity of medicinal herbs used, the stamina required for the experiment also gradually rose.
Due to the delicate nature of the experiment, they could not add the materials all at once. Instead, they could only stand watch at the laboratory bench and add it slowly, a little at a time.
On top of that, it was not easy to obtain the materials. Hence, they had to be extra careful while adding them. Noticing the beads of sweat on Roxanne’s forehead, Jack offered in a low voice, “Let me do it.”
As he spoke, he made to take the materials from her.
However, she dodged his hand cautiously. She was worried about spilling the materials and dared not move about too much or abruptly. Nonetheless, that action was enough to indicate her refusal.
After all, there was no one else she trusted more than herself to carry out such a delicate task.
Seeing that, Jack raised his brows but did not insist any further. Instead, he grabbed two pieces of tissue from the side and said, “You’re sweating. I’ll help to dab it off.”
Without waiting for her to respond, he stretched his hand toward her forehead.
Absorbed in observing the process of the experiment, the sudden realization that his hand was in front of her face took her by surprise, and she subconsciously jerked her head away.
For a moment, Jack’s hand froze in midair. Only when Roxanne noticed the tissues in his hand did it finally dawn on her what he had wanted to do. Even so, she felt a sense of repulsion in her heart..
“Thanks, Mr. Damaris, but I can do it myself,” she uttered after returning to her senses, breaking the awkward atmosphere rather abruptly. Then, she took the tissues from him.
Jack smiled nonchalantly in response. The sight of his smile threw her into a daze for a brief moment.
No matter how I think about it, what he tried to do earlier seems like a rather intimate gesture. Looking at that smile on his face now, however, I can’t help feeling that perhaps that ambiguous feeling was merely my imagination.
Just as she was wondering whether she had read too much into it, Jack reached for the tissues in her hand that she had used to wipe her sweat as though it was the most natural thing in the world.
That caused her to waver again. Meanwhile, jealousy and rage intermingled within Colby as he watched the pair interact as if they were the only people in the room.
If this goes on, sooner or later, something is bound to happen between those two! At that thought, he furrowed his brows and strode over to Roxanne. “You must be tired by now, Dr. Jarvis. Why don’t you rest for a while? | can take over here.”
I can’t let these two spend any more time alone! Roxanne was also at a loss for how to face Jack, so she went along with his suggestion. “Okay, then. Thanks.”
Suppressing the raging jealousy in his heart, Colby shot her a reassuring smile. Soon, she was standing at one side, leaving the two men at the bench by themselves.
After discarding the tissues, Jack turned around and gave Colby a cryptic smile. “It’s a pleasure to work with you, Dr. Galloway.”
“Mr. Damaris, since you’re specifically here to assist with the research, please don’t do anything unnecessary,” Colby replied, looking somewhat grim.
Jack snorted. “How can you be sure it’s unnecessary? Who knows? I may gain some unexpected results after the research is concluded.” Both of them understood the unspoken meaning behind their conversation. Colby’s gaze darkened instantly when he heard Jack’s reply.
That was because he knew there was a high possibility that what Jack said would turn into reality after seeing how well the latter got along with Roxanne.
His fury spiked as that prospect crossed his mind. I’ve been by Roxanne’s side for so long, yet she isn’t even willing to spare me a glance. How can I possibly let Jack get his way?
The atmosphere between the two men turned silent abruptly as both kept quiet afterward. Colby looked down at the experiment, his mind racing with various thoughts. I cannot allow Jack and Roxanne to interact further in this manner. I must think of a way!
All of a sudden, Jack’s phone rang The man looked at the incoming caller ID and smiled apologetically at the other two in the room. “Excuse me. My grandpa is calling me. He probably wants to check on the progress of our experiment.”
Roxanne nodded in understanding. Soon, Jack left the research facility with his phone. Roxanne wanted to step forward to help out, but Colby waved his hand in dismissal. “You can stay there and get some rest. The reaction has already started. I can keep watch by myself.”
Once the reaction began, there would not be much for them to do. Their only task would be to monitor the entire process to ensure no accident happened.
Hearing that, Roxanne did not insist further and returned to her seat. She could not help but be reminded of Jack’s gesture earlier.
Even though she could not fathom his intention, based on that earlier incident alone, she felt that she had to keep a distance from him. Meanwhile, Colby stole glances at Roxanne before carefully picking up a bottle of material on the laboratory bench.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.