Ynda stood frozen in ce.


    The counselor looked up at her, confused. "Is there something else?"


    "Ma''am, the ss schedule..." Ynda began, deciding to remind her, worried she had forgotten in her busy schedule.


    But just as she opened her mouth, the phone rang, cutting her off.


    "Hello, Director," the counselor''s tone instantly became respectful. "The speech? Yes, it''s ready. No problems at all. I''ve already called the freshman representative toe and pick it up."


    Ynda straightened up, a faint smile ying on her lips. The counselor was finally getting to it.


    "Understood. I''ll make sure she''s aware," the counselor said, hanging up. She looked back at Ynda. "So, what was it you wanted to say?"


    "Huh?" Ynda was baffled. Wasn''t it about giving her the speech?


    Just as Ynda was about to speak, an assistant from a nearby desk spoke up. "I got in touch with Juniper. She said she''lle byter to get the speech script."


    Juniper? The speech?


    "Good," the counselor nodded. "Let me know as soon as she arrives. There are a lot of important peopleing this time, and as the freshman representative, there''s a lot she needs to be briefed on."


    "What?" Ynda''s face turned deathly pale, and her voice shot up into a sharp shriek. "Juniper is the freshman representative?"


    "Is there a problem?" The counselor, startled by Ynda''s sudden outburst, frowned. "She was the top scorer and was recognized as an outstanding cadet during military training. Isn''t it logical to choose her? Or..." The counselor stared at Ynda, her voice t. "Did you think someone else was more qualified?"


    She couldn''t possibly be thinking of herself, could she? Surely she knew her own limits.


    Ynda stood there, utterly stunned, her mind aplete nk. So, it had all been her own wishful thinking from the very beginning?


    "Oh," she muttered, her face grim as she walked out of the office, crestfallen.


    So what if she got a perfect score? What''s the big deal? Ynda tried to console herself by thinking that her boyfriend was far more impressive than Juniper''s.


    Besides, it remained to be seen whether Juniper''s speech would even go off without a hitch.


    At that thought, Ynda''s hands, hanging by her sides, clenched into tight fists, a sinister expression clouding her face.


    ...


    In the car, Juniper casually scanned


    the speech script. From her


    impressions of starting school and reflections on military training to her vision for the university''s future Good grief, it was a full three pages. Were they trying to milk her for all she was worth? This couldn''t be repaid with just one meal. It would take at least three!


    "I made shrimp scampi tonight, your favorite, Shanley said from beside her, his


    favesting lightly behind her


    as gazed at her affectionately.


    "You cooked?" Juniper quickly finished reading the script and tossed it into her bag,


    her clear eyes focusing on him.


    "I did," Shanley nodded, his voice deep and alluring. "I just learned how. It turned out pretty well."


    "Alright," Juniper said, her gaze fixed on him as she raised an eyebrow. "In that case, thank you?"


    "How will you thank me?" Shanley leaned closer, pressing his advantage, his voice husky.