"Money?" Shanley paused for a few seconds, a sexy smirk ying on his lips. If that was all it took, things were about to get a lot simpler.


    “Juniper...” he whispered, leaning in close until his lips were right beside her ear. He murmured a few words, a wicked grin spreading across his face.


    Juniper''s eyes widened, her favorite smoothiepletely forgotten. After a moment, she grabbed her phone and messaged Lue.


    Juniper: [Shanley just made a deposit.]


    Lue: [???]


    Juniper: [Just now. He gave me his bank card and safe passwords. Said... it was a deposit for being his future girlfriend. Once I ept it, I can''t like anyone else.]


    Lue: [HOW MUCH?? TELL ME HOW MUCH!!!]


    Juniper: [I tried to count the zeros, but I ran out of fingers, so I lost track.]


    Lue: [And you epted?]


    Juniper: [It was a hard offer to refuse.]


    Lue: [Good!]


    Who would have thought? The old man knew how to y to his strengths. That little move had hit Juniper right where it counted. Now, even if just for the sake of his fortune, Juniper would never leave him.


    ...


    At the airport, with only one day left until the international music awards were announced, Jimmie packed his things and headed to the venue.


    "The inte is in an uproar. Do you know what they''re calling our sister?" Melvin stared at Jimmie, his voice low and tense. "What''s the n?"


    "Soon," Jimmie said, his expression grave. "I will give Juniper the justice she deserves and make those who ndered her pay the price."


    He was a public figure, and revealing his rtionship with her would undoubtedly cause a massive stir f Juniper was at school when the news broke, she would be


    overwhelmed. He had


    right time to make the


    choose the


    announcement.


    "Alright." Since Jimmie had a n, Melvin didn''t press further. As long as his sister wouldn''t be wronged, that was all that mattered.


    Jimmie nodded, his gaze softening as he looked at the quiet girl beside him. "Are you sure you don''t want toe with me?"


    She was, after all, the choreographer and lead actress in the music video. If it won, the credit was all hers.


    "No," Juniper shook her head. Those kinds of events were boring. Thest time she''d attended one, she was sitting on the judging panel.


    "Okay." Jimmie didn''t insist. He reached out and stroked her hair gently. "Stay home


    for the next couple of days. Let Shanley and Melvin handle everything else."


    "Okay.” Guessing he was about to make the announcement, Juniper nodded obediently. "Got your eptance speech ready?"


    "That confident?" Jimmie smiled warmly, though his tone was modest. Although he felt the music video was perfect, the voting was blind this year and he didn''t know the quality of the other entries.


    "Of course," Juniper pouted, radiating self-assurance. "If I say it''s going to win, it''s going to win."


    “Alright,” Jimmie''s smile widened. "If it wins, the prize money is all yours."


    The music video had been made for her in the first ce. She was the star.


    Neither of them noticed a paparazzi hiding in a nearby corner, camera raised. The angle was perfect, capturing the tender moment as Jimmie gently stroked Juniper''s hair.


    ????


    He''d hit the jackpot! He had just photographed Mr. Tate''s rumored girlfriend fit was only a rumor before now he had concrete evidence. The head pat! The gentle smile! Who would believe this was the same Mr. Tate who hadn''t been linked to a single female artist in his entire career?


    The paparazzi''s hands trembled with excitement as he saved the photos.