The look in his eyes... it was as if he had just walked in on his wife cheating on him.
"Ms. Payne, your husband is here." Coralie was absolutely hammered. She swayed unsteadily, squinting at Shanley. "He looks really mean. Does he domestically abuse you?"
"He does," Juniper replied dryly, using two fingers to gently push Coralie''s heavy head off her shoulder. "But it''s debatable who''s abusing whom."
"Ms. Quill has had too much to drink. Have someone escort her home." Shanley stepped forward, roughly hauling Coralie aside as he barked the order at Felton.
"I''ve already made the call."
Just as Felton spoke, a handsome young man dressed in casual, stylish clothes hurried into the garden. Juniper recognized him immediately it was Channing Irving, Coralie''s boy toy.
Channing''s gaze swept over Shanley and Juniper. He offered a polite nod before bending down to scoop the muttering, crouched Coralie into his arms.
"Why are you here?" Coralie''s face instantly broke into a sweet, dazzling smile, aplete 180 from her usual fierce, dominant persona.
"I came to pick you up," Channing said, adjusting his hold on her, his voice incredibly tender. "Let''s go home."
"Okay. Let''s go home." Coralie pinched his cheek affectionately and nuzzled into his chest, whispering, "Take me home."
As Channing walked past Shanley, the two men locked eyes.
Shanley: Keep your woman on a leash.
Channing: Right back at you.
With the belligerent drunk gone, the garden fell silent.
"Have you been drinking?" Shanley leaned in, burying his face in the crook of Juniper''s neck and taking a deep breath.
She reeked of alcohol, and mixed in was the distinct scent of a woman''s perfume. It wasn''t hers. It smelled awful to him.
"Your coat is dirty. Wear mine."
Shanley stripped off Juniper''s jacket, tossed it carelessly into a nearby trash can, and gently draped his own heavy wool trench coat over her shoulders.
Juniper stood perfectly still, letting him fuss over her. Tch. What a jealous mess, she thought.
"What is Coralie Quill even doing in Era City?" Shanley grumbled as he wrapped his scarf securely around her neck, ensuring she wouldn''t catch a chill before leading her out.
"Isn''t she discussing a partnership with the Schwartz Group?" Juniper mumbled, her voice muffled behind the thick wool.
Shanley went dead silent, his face darkening significantly.
He hadpletely forgotten. If he had known this woman was going to be so clingy
with his fiancé, he never would have approved the deal.
"She really knows how to exploit an opening," Shanley scoffed, his voice dripping with heavy displeasure.
She was loitering around Era City
all day and constantly hovering around Juniper. And she actually had the audacity to cry on duniper shoulder! But the worst part was that Juniper hadn''t pushed her away.
"Ms. Quill has a great personality. She''s very straightforward. I actually enjoyed talking to her," Juniper said stoway. We''re very alike. We both grew up orphans. But she wasn''t as lucky as me. I found my family; she didn''t."
Enjoyed it?
Shanley looked down at the young girl beside him, feeling incredibly frustrated.
Juniper had been deeply depressedtely because of the news regarding her sixth sister. If Coralie could actually make her smile fine Then the woman had some use.
But she had better behave herself and drop any ulterior motives.
***
Back at the Cloudscape Community.
While Juniper was taking a shower, Shanley called Felton. His tone was icy and upromising.
"You take over the partnership negotiations. I want everything wrapped up by the end of this week. Have Coralie Quill pack her bags and get the hell back to Caelus."
Just looking at her annoyed him.
***
A few dayster.
Coralie received a call from her team. The photograph had been sessfully restored and expedited via air freight to Era City.
The second the package arrived, Coralie tore it open with trembling hands, desperate to see the faces of the family she had dreamed about day and night.
As her eyes fell upon the people in the picture, Coralie''s entire body went rigid.