Page 80 of His Untoward Hate

“Oh, I see. So, you’re Jasper Granger,” the woman said, smiling warmly. “I’m Zita, the owner and pharmacist of this drugstore.”

She extended her hand, and Jasper gladly accepted the handshake.

“And I believe you’ve already met Norma. She’s my cousin,” Zita continued. “The most trusted person and the backbone of this establishment, so you’d better treat her well.”

The playful warning in her voice made Jasper blink. Miss Norma merely shook her head, flashing a wide smile.

“Don’t worry, she’s just joking. No need to feel intimidated,” she reassured him.

“Anyway, I’ll leave you two for now so I can help out front,” Miss Norma added as she headed toward the door. “That way, you can have a proper conversation.”

Jasper tossed a smile at Miss Norma and nodded before turning his attention back to Miss Zita. To his surprise, he caught her looking at him with a gentle smile.

“Have a seat,” she offered.

Though slightly hesitant, Jasper took the chair across from her. Their conversation began with a few questions about Jasper’s background, but once Miss Zita started talking, she barely seemed to stop. The exchange quickly became far livelier than he had anticipated.

Honestly, it was a little overwhelming.

Jasper had initially thought Miss Zita was intimidating, but he soon discovered that she was incredibly bubbly and open. She wore a pair of thick eyeglasses. Numerous strands of white had begun to appear in her hair with age. She had a slightly chubby figure and a set of perfectly aligned white teeth. Faint pitted marks were visible on her cheeks, which Jasper assumed were scars left behind by acne from her younger years. Despite these features, there was something undeniably pleasant and attractive about her appearance. Overall, Jasper thought she was pretty.

Jasper had expected their discussion to revolve around work, especially since Miss Norma had already briefed him on his responsibilities the previous week. Instead, Miss Zita chatted with him as though they had known each other for years. The warmth and ease with which she spoke to him caught him completely off guard. Somehow, her warm personality made it difficult for him to feel uncomfortable.

Miss Zita went on to tell Jasper how she ended up pursuing pharmacy and the many struggles she faced before reaching where she was today.

“My favorite subject in college was actually only Botany,” she said with a laugh, covering her mouth with one hand.

She also admitted that pharmacy had never been her first choice. Originally, she had wanted to study nursing, but her parents encouraged her to take pharmacy instead. At first, she was reluctant, but as the years passed, she gradually fell in love with the profession.

“In the end, everything turned out to be worth it,” she said with a smile.

Listening to Miss Zita alleviated the nervousness Jasper had been carrying since earlier. Any intimidation he had initially felt disappeared completely as he realized how genuine and kind-hearted she was. Before he knew it, he found himself talking and listening to her comfortably. Jasper could not help but think that perhaps this was her way of making her employees feel welcomed, comfortable, and appreciated. If so, it was no surprise that she had become so successful.

Miss Zita eventually began sharing stories about her family.

“You know what?” she said, leaning back in her chair. “Living under the same roof with two men can be a little suffocating sometimes.”

She laughed dramatically before continuing.

“Working here at the pharmacy, surrounded by women and patients, is honestly such a relief. It’s my little escape.” Her hands moved animatedly as she spoke, as though she were delivering a speech to an audience. “My husband is a neurosurgeon, and he’s always busy. Then there’s my son, who is just as occupied with his own life. Our house is pretty quiet most of the time. We barely get the chance to spend time together.”

Though she spoke with humor, Jasper caught a hint of loneliness beneath her playful tone.

“But do you know what makes me the proudest and keeps me going every day? Is it that they are both incredibly loving. They never hesitate to show how much they love me,” her voice softened as if she were sharing a precious secret.

With affection shining in her eyes, she leaned back in her swivel chair, clasped her hands together, and gazed upward dreamily.

A moment later, realization hit her.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry,” she exclaimed, covering her mouth with her hand. “I think I’ve been talking way too much.”

Jasper could not help but chuckle at her reaction.

“It’s okay, Miss Zita. We uphold confidentiality here,” he assured her and smiled.

“Good thing, then.” Miss Zita smiled back at him and fixed her eyeglasses on the bridge of her nose. “By the way, if you want, you can be my daughter.”

Jasper’s eyes widened instantly.