"Who is Mr. Schwartz''s girlfriend," Hattie pressed. "Is she pretty?"


    "You know her well, too," Juniper replied.


    Hattie pointed at herself. "Me?" How could she possibly be familiar with someone connected to such a powerful man?


    Just as she was about to ask more, Juniper was already striding toward the exit. Hattie quickly followed.


    The entrance was packed so tightly it was almost impassable. Soon, however, a slight opening appeared in the dense crowd.


    "Juniper''s here," someone mentioned, and all eyes turned toward the back.


    "What is today, a holiday? Why is there so much drama?"


    "Does Juniper even deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Mr. Schwartz?" "Shh, keep your voice down."


    "Juniper? What is she doing here?" one of Ynda''s followers muttered as they watched Juniper calmly walk up and stop at the edge of the crowd. "I thought she was too high and mighty to be interested in gossip."


    Could it be―


    Were her three ''boats'' not enough for her? Was she now trying tond the mega- yacht that was Mr. Schwartz?


    "Her intentions are painfully obvious," Ynda said, crossing her arms and lifting her chin arrogantly. "Trying to get close to Mr. Schwartz? She should take a good look at herself first."


    Before, Miranda didn''t know the truth, which was why she had been nice to Juniper. But now? Did she really think Miranda would still like her?


    The person he was waiting for had finally arrived.


    Shanley stood up straight, elegantly adjusted his clothes, and began walking with long strides into the crowd.


    "Ah! Mr. Schwartz ising this way!"


    "Does that mean his girlfriend is here? Where is she? I don''t see her!"


    "He''s heading toward... Ynda!"


    "That''s also Juniper''s direction!"


    "Are you crazy? Why would the president of the Schwartz Group date a disreputable woman like her? Do you really think that''s possible?"


    The person who''d spoken was left speechless. A seed of doubt was nted. "Could he really be here for Ynda?" they whispered.


    "Wow, Ynda is so lucky!"


    For her? Hearing the whispers around her, Ynda''s heart began to pound.


    Could it be? Was Mr. Schwartz really here for her? She nced around. Besides Juniper, she was indeed the


    most likely candidate. Juniper g ne


    reputation was in tatters after ying three men at once. What kind of man was Mr. Schwartz, How could he possibly be interested in her?


    As the man drew closer, Ynda couldn''t help but clench her fists, her eyshes fluttering wildly, her heart about to burst from her chest.


    Just as Ynda expected him to stop, he walked right past her without a moment''s hesitation.


    Ynda: "???"


    What was happening? Wasn''t Shanley here for her?


    In her shock, Ynda watched as Shanley approached Juniper and finally came to


    a stop right in front of her.


    Ynda: "???"


    Hattie: "???"


    The crowd: "???"


    Uh... What... What was going on?


    Did this mean that the "girlfriend" Mr. Schwartz had been talking about... was


    Juniper?


    "What do you think you''re doing?"


    Juniper snapped, frowning deeply at Shanley, who was dressed like a


    preening peacock. asked you to pick me up, not to be a public spectacle."


    With a scene this big, how was she ever going to live it down?


    "I didn''t do anything," Shanley pouted, looking aggrieved. His voice was low and husky. "They wanted to watch. I couldn''t exactly cover all their eyes, could I?"


    "Lame excuses."


    Juniper wasn''t used to this kind of


    attention. She had let him make his appearance, which was her way giving him the official status he wanted. "Let''s go," she urged.


    "Alright."


    Shanley nodded, taking the bag from her shoulder and then gently taking her hand.


    A collective gasp went through the crowd as people stared, their eyes nearly popping out of their heads.