Chapter 1006

"Boss..." Watching Juniper slam the door and storm off furiously, Flint is utterly terrified. "Ms. Payne is really angry. Aren't you going to go after her?"

It's the first time he's ever seen her blow up like that. What on earth did the boss say to her?

"Flint," Shanley stands there, a thoroughly satisfied smirk on his face. "You've never been in a relationship, have you?"

"N-no, sir." Flint shakes his head.

"You'll understand when you are." Shanley tilts his head, giving Flint an amused, lazy look. "This is called flirting."

"Right. Sure, Boss." Flint rubs the bridge of his nose, his neck stiff. He really doesn't get it. Ms. Payne was so mad she physically assaulted him, yet the boss looks like

he just won the lottery. What exactly is the 'fun' in this flirting? He has no idea.

...

On campus.

Juniper talks to Luella on the phone as she walks. "How are things with Sanctum Holdings?"

"I used my Subterra Vanguard credentials to contact them," Luella answers. "Told them to wire fifty billion just to show they're serious."

"Tsk." A smirk pulls at Juniper's lips. "You're ruthless." It's an absurdly high number, but it's exactly the kind of outrageous demand that won't make Sanctum Holdings suspicious.

"They didn't even blink," Luella says, sitting on a sofa with her legs crossed, grinning brightly. "The bait is in the water. Now we just wait for the fish to bite."

"What about Celine?"

"The message got passed along. Warren will make sure she's heavily guarded."

"Got it," Juniper hums in agreement. After a few seconds of silence, she asks, "Luella, do you remember the man we rescued from them? I keep thinking he looks incredibly familiar. I don't know if I'm just imagining things."

"Him?" Luella thinks back, then shakes her head. "No impression. Why?"

"I want you to find a sketch artist. Recreate his face and have the Vanguard guys

run it through the system." She hates the feeling of uncertainty; she needs to know for sure.

"You got it." As Luella is about to hang up, she suddenly gasps. "Hey, Juniper, I see Jimmie!" She yells out, as if waving to him. "Hi, Jimmie!"

Juniper frowns.

"And he ran away," Luella sighs.

He runs every time he sees her. Is he that afraid of her clinging to him? He can relax. She can get her hands on an athletic guy with a six-pack anytime she wants. Besides she doesn't eat where she sleep

Shë

would never make a move on her best friend's brother.

"Hitting the bars in broad daylight? Pace yourself," Juniper rubs her temples, exasperated. Ever since Luella joked about liking men and operly flirted with Jimmie, Jimmie has been avoiding her like the plague.

...

After hanging up, Juniper tosses her phone into her bag.

She barely takes a few steps when a figure suddenly steps out to block her path. "What a coincidence, Ms. Payne."

"?" Juniper stops, lifting her gaze and narrowing her eyes at the girl. "Who are you?"

"I—" Sheryl Yardley bristles, infuriated that Juniper doesn't even remember her. "You really do have a short memory."

"Oh, wait, I do remember you."

Juniper crosses her arms, looking at her with sheer apathy. "You were the one at the Schwartz family gathering trying to kiss up to the matriarch and Miranda, and ended up making a total fool of yourself."

"I just remember the joke, not your name. Sorry about that."