Juniper asked nonchntly, "Wrap this ne up nicely. It''s a gift."


    A gift? The director nced at the price tag and nearly had a heart attack. He counted the zeros... there were so many. His boss was just casually giving away something so valuable?


    "It''s all wrapped," the director said, not daring to ask any questions. He was just an employee, after all.


    "Actually..." Juniper slung her backpack over her shoulder, her gaze sweeping over the staff working overtime. "You all really don''t have to work this hard."


    She wasn''t a fan of her employees workingte. Maybe she was paying them too much? They were so motivated that they were practically using her, the boss, of not being dedicated enough. It was frustrating.


    "Thank you for your concern, but we''re not tired!" the employees chimed in, beaming at her, their faces screaming "Voluntary Overtime!"


    "Uh." Juniper was at a loss for words. After a few seconds of silence, she said with a sigh of resignation, "Order them some dessert. And... give everyone a fifty percent raise this month."


    "Yes, Boss!" A brilliant smile spread across the director''s face, his voice booming.


    Juniper looked away and was about to head out when her phone suddenly rang. The caller ID read: Shanley.


    "Hello." Juniper paused for two seconds before answering. She usually kept her phone off during work hours and had forgotten she was living with someone now, which meant she needed to let them know if she wasn''ting home.


    "Juniper, you''re not home yet. Are you held up?"


    Shanley stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, his tall figure shrouded in a thin mist. His handsome face was etched with worry, his voice terrifyingly gentle.


    School let out at five-thirty, and it was already eight. When he hadn''t found her at home and her phone was off, he had been so anxious he hadn''t even changed his clothes. Just as he was about to track her location, the call went through.


    "Something came up," Juniper said, her pace quickening slightly. Her voice was uncharacteristically timid. After all, she wasn''t used to anyone calling to check if she wasing home.


    "As long as you''re okay." Shanley''s tense nerves finally rxed, his tone bing gentle and doting. "Are youing home now?"


    Home? The word tugged gently at Juniper''s heart.


    "I am," she replied, biting her lip, her voice softening without her realizing it. Coming home meant Dana''s delicious food and plenty of snacks... She actually quite likeding back to this home.


    "Send me your address. I''ll pick you up," Shanley said, grabbing his car keys and heading for the door. "It''s starting to rain. Find a ce to stay dry while you wait, okay?"


    "Okay." Juniper ended the call and obediently sent her location to Shanley. When she turned around, she was met with the curious stares of her designers.


    "Is there a problem?" Juniper''s expression turned indifferent, her tone a few shades cooler. Everyone immediately sat down, heads bowed, not daring to speak.


    Juniper looked away, pulled on her hood, and walked out. The moment she left, the designers all stood up and huddled together to gossip.


    "Whose call was that? Our boss looked so nervous."


    "I know, right? It''s the first time I''ve ever seen her look a little flustered. It was like..."


    a female designer paused for a moment before continuing, "...like a girlfriend who got caught sneaking out by her boyfriend."


    "I thought the boss only knew how to say ''get lost.'' I never expected her to sound so cute and obedient when she said ''okay."


    Cute? Obedient?


    Hearing those words, the other designers shot him looks of disbelief. He must be new here. They''d let him form his own opinions after he''d been around for a while.