Lue: [Why?]


    A pair of earrings, personally designed by J-Five, was worth at least ten million. Giving them away for free wouldpletely undermine their n to milk him for money. This was cash they were talking about. Was her little boss really willing to part with it?


    Juniper thought for a moment before replying: [He''s a good person.]


    Lue: [What?]


    Who was?


    Shanley?


    That was terrifying.


    ...


    Shanley''s gaze fell on Juniper. Her sweatshirt was soaked down the front and on the sleeves, and there was a cut on her right hand. She looked incredibly fragile. "My house is nearby. Would you like to go there for a shower and a change of clothes?" Shanley asked softly. "Your family might worry if you go home like this."


    Juniper looked down at her own disheveled state. After a moment''s thought, she nodded.


    "Let''s go," Shanley said, a smile touching his lips as he tore open a packet of small cookies for her.


    Juniper took them naturally and started eating with relish.


    "Yes, sir."


    Flint and Felton exchanged a look. Their boss was certainly smooth. It had only been a few meetings, and he''d already managed to lure Ms. Payne back to his ce.


    Fifteen minutester, the sports car pulled up in front of a luxurious private vi. The modern, minimalist design, dominated by ck and white, gave it an air of quiet mystery that sparked one''s curiosity.


    "Boss." A bodyguard opened the car door and froze for a second when he saw the extra person in the back. Other than Dana, the old madam, and the firstdy of the house, no other woman had ever set foot in this home.


    "Careful," Shanley said, getting out first and holding his hand over the top of the doorframe for Juniper.


    The surrounding bodyguards looked on, their eyes practically popping out of their heads.


    Holy crap! They must have woken up too fast this morning and were hallucinating. Otherwise, why would they be seeing the boss bring a girl home and even shield her head from the car door? What happened to the cold, aloof man who had no interest in women?


    Juniper, holding her bag of cookies, had nowhere to put the empty wrapper. A momentter, Shanley took it from her. As she bent to get out of the car, the hem of her sweatshirt rode up slightly, revealing a sliver of her pale, slender waist. The unexpected sight made Shanley''s gaze deepen for a moment before he quickly looked away.


    After the news broke, he had looked up her dance videos online. She was like a celestial being, ethereal and breathtakingly beautiful. It was no wonder so many people adored her.


    Shanley carried her backpack while Juniper, wrapped in his suit jacket, walked calmly beside him. All along the way, bodyguards bowed their heads in greeting. The moment she passed, they immediately huddled together, whispering about the mysterious girl.


    "Did you see? She''s wearing the boss''s jacket!"


    "I''ve only ever seen the boss holding a gun. Seeing him carry a woman''s bag... it''s just in weird."


    "Which family is she from?"


    "She looks pretty young. Isn''t the boss robbing the cra-mmph!"


    "Shh! Are you trying to get yourself killed?"


    ...


    Inside the living room, Dana came out from the kitchen.


    "Mr. Schwartz, you''re back?"


    Her smile faltered slightly when her eyesnded on the girl beside Shanley.


    "And this is?"


    "Hello, my name is Juniper Payne," she said, looking up at Dana with a polite and gentle expression.


    Dana finally got a clear look at the girl. She had a delicate, beautiful face, skin as white as snow, and an air of unmistakable grace. Her polite and gentle manner was immediately endearing. She just seemed a bit young. Perhaps she was the daughter of one of Mr. Schwartz''s friends?


    "A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Payne," Dana said, her face warm and weing as she took in the first girl her employer had ever brought home.