Chapter 23 The Photo
The term "sell" sounded crude, even distasteful.
Juniper's face paled, her knuckles white on the leather seat of the car.
The atmosphere inside the vehicle was frigid, as if the warmth had been completely drained away.
Michael, ever the peacemaker, offered a reluctant olive branch. "Let's talk next time then, when you're free."
But no amount of smoothing over could bridge the vast distance between Juniper and Magnus.
Juniper's phone rang, the caller ID flashing Ophelia's name.
From the other end of the line, Ophelia inquired, "Juniper, everything's okay now. We're back in Capital City. Have you made it back? Did David give you any trouble?"
Yesterday had been a whirlwind of events.
Juniper struggled to articulate the chaos, "I'll fill you in when I get back."
Then a small voice cut through, "Mommy, I miss you so much! Please come back home soon!"
Jennifer's words sent Juniper clutching the phone closer, anxious not to let Magnus overhear anything.
Luckily, her old phone, a relic of better days, didn't broadcast sound well unless on speaker mode.
Magnus seemed unaware of the conversation's content.
Juniper managed a natural response, "Yeah, I miss you too, sweetheart."
She hung up and sighed, a bittersweet smile playing on her lips. Thank God for Jennifer.
Looking up, she found herself caught in the icy gaze of Magnus. His stare was piercing, and her grip on the phone tightened.
Magnus, with an air of arrogance, looked away and spoke coolly, "Don't forget you belong to me now. Any improper connections you have, it's time to sever them."
Improper connections? It took her a moment to realize Magnus was referring to the call and assuming it was from William.
Juniper couldn't help but respond with a hint of irony, "Speaking of improper, that kind of describes us too, Mr. Blackwood. Should we cut ties as well?"
His lips thinned into a tight line, a crease forming between his brows. For once, she had rendered him speechless—small victory for Juniper.
...
The car cruised into the heart of Capital City.
Joseph inquired, "Mr. Blackwood, are we heading back to the company or to Royal View?"
"Or, should we drop Miss Beaumont off at her place?"
We had just passed by Michael's house, and he had already got out of the car and gone home.
Juniper spoke up, "Joseph, just drop me off at the subway entrance ahead, I'll make my own way from there."
She didn't have the audacity to impose on Magnus to take her home.
Besides, Ophelia and Jennifer might be at home, and it would be bad news if Magnus found out.
"Who said you're leaving? We need to go back to Royal View first; I have something to discuss with you."
Juniper was puzzled. She didn't know what Magnus wanted to talk about, but she couldn't refuse.
Whatever Magnus intended to do, she had no choice but to endure. Even resistance seemed futile.
Now Magnus was far too powerful for someone like Juniper.
...
The black Maybach glided past rows of majestic trees and into an exclusive area of luxury single-family homes.
This was the most coveted real estate in the Imperial Capital, a tranquil oasis in the midst of chaos, where property prices had once soared to astronomical figures, marking it as the most expensive residential area.
The deeper the car drove into the neighborhood, the more profound and serene the atmosphere became; such was the dignified air of a place where the elite resided.
The difference between her and the current Magnus was indeed like night and day.
This was Juniper's first visit to Magnus's new residence. Six years ago, they had squeezed into a small one-bedroom apartment, which Juniper had lovingly decorated, believing that they would always be together.
The car stopped on the vast lawn of Royal View.
Juniper followed Magnus inside the house.
The villa was decorated in a retro style, grand yet simple, with a toweringly high ceiling in the living room, and a wall filled with books.
Amidst the fresh aura of wealth, there was an undertone of a refined gentleman's elegance.
But only Juniper knew that Magnus and the description of a 'cultured gentleman' were worlds apart.
Instead, Magnus had a savage streak in his bones – obsessive, decisive, and imperious. His nickname could very well have been 'The Iron Fist' for his brazenly dominant nature.
That he had come so far in life was no surprise to Juniper at all.
Magnus had always been a man of fierce ambition, possessing the cutthroat capability to carve out his own dominion in the dog-eat-dog world of business.
"Meow~"
A chubby cat leapt from the towering bookshelf, giving Juniper quite a start.
As her eyes adjusted, recognition dawned. "Potato?" she exclaimed.
With a swift crouch, Juniper welcomed the pudgy feline into her embrace.
"Six years, and you've grown so much! You used to be so sleek, what happened to turn you into such a chunky kitty?"
Indeed, living in the lap of luxury, the once scrawny kitten had acquired an air of regal rotundity.
Potato was a scrappy little stray Juniper had found in the park six years ago, abandoned and barely a speckle of a thing. Unable to bear the thought of it fending for itself, she and Magnus had taken the kitten in as their own.
Their mutual fondness for spuds had inspired the cat's name.
Descending from his study, contract in hand, Magnus caught sight of Juniper doting on the cat. Time hadn't frayed their bond; they were as close as they had been six years earlier.
In that moment, Magnus felt a fleeting illusion of divine constancy, as if they had been together all these years.
Juniper looked on wistfully. "I can't believe you kept him. I thought for sure you would have... given Potato away."
"Robert looked after him for three years. After I took him back, the cat was a stranger to me, even scratched me at first. Thought about rehoming him, but he's got such a unique charm, no takers."
Instinctively, Juniper argued, "How could that be? Our Potato is so adorable..."
She bit her tongue at her slip-up. "Our Potato," as if they were still a couple.
Hastily, she changed the subject. "He seems to remember me just fine."
"Does he?"
Magnus' response was noncommittal, yet unsurprised.
Potato had probably seen her photo with him during their countless cozy moments together.
Embracing the cat, Juniper internally chastised herself for the involuntary "our" she had let slip.
Magnus dropped the contract on the table. "Take a look. If it's all good, sign on the dotted line."
Juniper picked up the contract and began to peruse it.
Party A: Magnus.
Party B: Juniper.
Below, a series of overbearing demands from Party A.
"First, whenever Party A requires, Party B must be available on call."
"Second, during the term of this agreement, Party B must not engage in relationships with anyone other than Party A, neither emotionally nor physically."
"Third, Party B is prohibited from frequenting any nightclubs or similar high-expense establishments, and from taking any side jobs such as singing or bartending."
...
At clause three, Juniper couldn't contain herself anymore. "Mr. Blackwood, I can't sign this contract."
Magnus walked over, standing behind her, leaning in to examine the contract. "What's the matter?"
Juniper sat, Magnus’s arm propped up next to her.
The man's closeness sent her heart racing.
She straightened up, somewhat awkwardly, "The, the third clause."
Magnus tilted his head to look at her, frowning, "You like working at those nightclubs that badly?"
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