What was there to stress about? It was just a matter of picking up a pen.


    "Good to hear," Jimmie said. Then he and Melvin, their faces equally grim, turned and walked away, afraid that if they stayed any longer, the sight of their precious sister being stolen away would make them beat Shanley to a pulp.


    In the back of the car, a faint smile yed on Shanley''s handsome face.


    "What are you smiling about?" Juniper asked, dabbing ointment on the cut on his lip.


    Her expression was a cute mixture of awkwardness and concern.


    "I''m happy you chose me,” Shanley replied, his voice a low murmur. "Today''s beating was worth it."


    “Oh," Juniper arched an eyebrow, not denying it. "What did you say to my brothers?" For them to actually agree to let her stay was surprising.


    "I told them..." Shanley leaned closer to make it easier for her, his eyes swirling with emotion as he gazed at her. "That this is the first time in my life I''ve ever fallen for someone, and that I''m aiming for marriage."


    At his words, Juniper''s fingers trembled. She looked up, her eyes meeting his deep, vortex-like gaze, and her heart began to pound.


    “I also said.....” Shanley''s lips curved, his maic voiceced with a captivating charm, "that I will cherish her, protect her, and respect her. And that after she graduates, I will seriously pursue her."


    "Oh..." Juniper swirled the cotton swab, a smirk ying on her lips. "And what if you fail?"


    "That''s okay," Shanley said, gently brushing a stray lock of hair from her forehead. His voice was azy, maic drawl. "I''m very persistent. If I fail, I''ll just keep trying until I win her over."


    Juniper finished applying the ointment and tossed the swab into a trash bag. She pressed her fingers lightly against his chest, a bright, knowing smile spreading across her beautiful face.


    "You certainly are determined... But I''m quite a difficult person to win over. You''ll have to try very hard."


    "I will," Shanley promised with a low, bewitchingugh.


    Juniper was momentarily


    mesmerized, then quickly turned to look out the window, her cheeks feeling warm. She finally understood what people meant by a face that could topple nations. Sometimes, you really couldn''t me people for falling A handsome man could truly lift one''s spirits, making it impossible not to be drawn in. As long as Shanley took good care of that face, his chances of sess were... probably pretty high.


    "Ms. Payne, your things," Flint said timidly, finally daring to speak after Juniper had


    finished and he''d been force-fed a dose of their romance.


    Juniper took the box, a flicker of recognition in her eyes. So, Melvin was the ridiculously rich client her studio had been talking about, the one who only wanted the most expensive pieces.


    "Something from J-Five?" Shanley''s lips curved into a meaningful smile as he


    looked at her. "You and J-Five seem to have a real connection."


    "I guess so,” Juniper said, blinking, trying to feignposure.


    “I''m quite a fan of J-Five''s work myself," Shanley continued with a smile. “That''s why Schwartz Group has decided to buy out their entire new collection this season."


    The entire collection? A quick mental calction told her the new line was worth at least nine figures.


    Juniper stared at Shanley, her gaze deep.


    "By the way," Shanley added, raising an eyebrow, "at my grandmother''s birthday party, I remember your gift was also from her studio. As I recall, that piece was quite difficult to acquire. Don''t tell me you know someone at J-Five Studio?"


    Juniper''s lips moved as she tried to think of a usible lie, but her phone suddenly rang.


    "Boss! Shanley offered nine figures to buy out our entire new collection!" The design, director was practically screaming with excitement. "He seem to be obsessed with your designst He''s being very aggressive, absolutely insistent. What do you say? Should we raise the price a bit more, squeeze some more cash out of him? A few dozen millionst time was way too little!"


    “Boss?” the director asked when he heard only silence.


    Of course, Juniper couldn''t answer.


    She was too busy dying of embarrassment in her haste, she had identally hit the


    speakerphone button, and the director''s entire speech had echoed


    through the car. Shanley, Felton, and


    Flint all stared at her.


    After a few agonizing seconds, Juniper silently ended the call and calmly uttered the


    words: "You have the wrong number."