Chapter 1254

"Please, please, please..."

Luella didn't notice the subtle shift in Jimmie's expression. She just kept buzzing around him like a broken record.

"Do you want me to get on my knees?"

When he didn't respond, Luella sharply pivoted her approach.

In a flash, everyone's eyes snapped toward them.

Who was Luella kidding?

Would she really humiliate herself like that just for a free flight?

Jimmie stared at her in silence, mentally scrambling for a way to say no.

Even though her personality grated on his nerves, she was Juniper's friend. He didn't want to be completely heartless.

"No-"

Jimmie started, but before he could finish, Luella placed two fingers on the edge of the table.

With a swift motion, she made her fingers 'walk' over to his hand, bending them to tap the table three times as if groveling in a dramatic bow.

*Pfft—*

Melvin burst out laughing at the makeshift display of submission.

Unbelievable.

"Is this how you usually beg people?" Kurt asked, wandering over out of curiosity. "Nope."

Luella lifted her chin, brimming with confidence. "Usually, I beg like this."

She deliberately cracked her knuckles, the loud pops echoing in the air.

"Oh."

Kurt shrank back and immediately retreated to Ebony's side to act as her personal water boy.

Seeing this, the others couldn't help but smile.

This kid was quite the character.

No wonder Juniper got along with him so well.

Watching Luella's utterly shameless display, the corners of Jimmie's mouth twitched into a microscopic smile.

"Next Wednesday, 11:30 AM." Dropping the exact time, Jimmie stood up. "I still have business at the company. I'm heading out."

"Thank you so much!" Luella jumped up and gave him a mocking, overly dramatic bow. "Safe travels! Take care now!"

That bow... if people didn't know better, they'd think she was giving him a funeral send-off.

Jimmie pressed his lips together, desperately wishing he could take his offer back. "Bye, Jimmie."

Juniper nodded, watching him go.

"Yeah."

Jimmie slowly pulled his gaze away, grabbing the jacket draped over his chair and striding out.

His assistant, Clark, was already waiting at the door.

Jimmie

into the back of the car

unbuttoning his collar as het asked in a low, gravelly von

did you handle the car situation?" sŵnovels

"It's already at the shop. Might take a month to get it back," Clark replied while steering onto the main road. "That mother and daughter practically emptied their pockets and still couldn't cover a tenth of the damage."

"When I told them we weren't pressing for compensation, they were so relieved they practically dropped to their knees to thank you."

*Knees?*

Hearing that word immediately summoned the image of Luella's ridiculous finger- kneeling routine.

Thick-skinned brat.

Only someone like her would come up with a stunt like that.

Thinking about it.

Jimmie's lips curved up against his will, a faint warmth settling in his eyes.

Clark glanced in the rearview mirror and blinked.

Was he seeing things? Was his boss actually smiling?

He hadn't even said anything funny!

"Did you think of something funny, sir?" Clark asked cautiously.

"What?"

Jimmie snapped out of it, suddenly realizing he had been thinking about Luella— and smiling about it.

*Heh.*

He was lucky not to die of sheer frustration around that kid; there was absolutely nothing to smile about.

"You're seeing things." Jimmie

its

s tone instantly reverting suakicy professionalism. Just focus on driving, Clark."

.net>

"Yes, sir."

Clark wiped a drop of cold sweat from his brow, stealing another quick glance in the

mirror.

Jimmie's face was now a mask of irritation as he stared out the window.