Ella stood frozen, her ears ringing with the sound of Jasper's tender voice as he spoke to someone named Abby. She had never heard him speak with such gentleness and warmth before, and it caught her off guard. She had always known him to be a strict and distant employer.
Ella was used to hearing him talk to her coldly and deliver harsh words. She felt a pang of hurt when she saw him talking so lovingly with Abby. She thought it was his girlfriend.
As she listened to their conversation, Ella's heart began to race with anxiety. The way he smiled and assured the person on the phone of his safety, Ella was sure that he loved the woman dearly.
Ella's hope crashed. She had foolishly allowed herself to develop feelings for Jasper, and the realization that he was in a relationship crushed her. She felt like a fool for entertaining the notion that he might ever return her affections.
