"Please, Ms. Payne, get in." Flint held the car door open for her respectfully.


    Juniper leaned in and saw Shanley with his eyes closed, resting quietly against the leather seat. The faint scent of alcohol wafted through the car. It seemed he''d had quite a bit.


    She slipped into the car as quietly as possible, setting down her backpack and inching closer to him. Just as she was about to check his pulse, the man''s eyes


    fluttered open.


    For a moment, their gazes locked. Juniper stared, mesmerized. In the depths of his serious, intense eyes, she could see her own reflection. Being so close, she could smell the alcohol on his breath, mingled with the faint, warm scent of sandalwood. Her heart suddenly lost its rhythm, thumping erratically against her ribs.


    “Juniper.......” Shanley shifted his neck, his voice a low, rich murmur as he whispered her name. "My head hurts. Let me lean on your shoulder for a bit."


    Before she could answer, he tilted his head and rested it gently on her shoulder.


    Juniper froze, turning her head slightly. Her eyesnded on his chest. His tie was loosened, and the top two buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing the sharp line of his Adam''s apple. She blinked, her gaze drifting lower... but she couldn''t see anything more.


    “Flint, turn on the AC." As if reading her mind, Shanley tugged at his cor, pulling it wider. Now, she could not only see his corbones but could practically count his abs.


    "Yes, boss." Flint, now in the passenger seat, nced back at Shanley and fought to keep a straight face. His boss''s "drunken" act was surprisingly convincing.


    "Water," Shanley mumbled, his performance continuing.


    "Oh." Juniper looked around but couldn''t find another cup, so she unscrewed her own water bottle and held it to his lips.


    "Why did he suddenly decide to go drinking?" she asked Flint.


    “Huh?” Flint''s mind raced for a second. "Well, the business dinner was part of it, but


    I think it was mostly because he identally saw your chat history."


    Juniper turned to him, confused.


    "I think he saw that you asked Melvin out, Ms. Payne," Flint borated, carefully watching. Shanley''s expression Mr. Schwartz has been down in the dumps all day, in a terrible mood."


    Juniper thought back. Shanley hade into her room right after she sent that message. That must have been when he saw it.


    "Why is he drinking just because I asked someone out?" she muttered, ncing at the man beside her.


    "I was wondering the same thing," Flint said, going for the direct approach. "I''ve been with him since we were kids and I''ve never seen him care about a girl this much. You''re the first, Ms. Payne


    Juniper listened quietly, her thoughts in a whirl.


    "But then it hit me," Flint added, his voice full of manufactured drama. "He''s probably


    afraid of losing you, so he''s trying to drown his sorrows."


    Losing her? All because she met Melvin for a meal?


    "Ms. Payne..." Flint continued when she didn''t respond. "Please don''t tell Mr.


    Schwartz I was the one who told you he likes you."


    Like? Although she had sensed it, hearing the words spoken so inly left her feeling a little dazed. She could handle a fight no problem, but this "liking" someone stuff... It was apletely new battleground for her.


    "Besides, I doubt you see anything in Melvin, right?" Flint coughed. "He''s not as handsome as Mr. Schwartz. And as for money, well, there''s noparison."