Chapter 40 Child?
Magnus turned and walked away from the rooftop, never looking back.
Juniper left the rooftop and returned to the sales department. A female colleague nudged her arm. "Who would have thought? You seem so slender, yet you're so tough!"
Confused, Juniper asked, "What do you mean?"
"Haven't you checked the group messages? The company issued a statement about you! But for some reason, it feels like they're clearing up rumors for you?"
Juniper was clueless until she opened her WhatsApp group.
The company's chat channels were buzzing with activity.
The administrator had posted the announcement.
Sales representative Juniper had kicked a client, Matthew, in self-defense. The rash act was not condoned, but considering it was her first offense, she received a formal reprimand. Colleagues, should you encounter any inappropriate clients, report them directly to leadership, and our legal department will uphold justice on your behalf.
The announcement sparked a flurry of conversations.
"So, Matthew harassed Juniper first, and she defended herself?" someone asked incredulously.
"Man, I totally thought she was flirting with him to make a sale! Oh my God!" another exclaimed.
"Did she kick him where it really hurts?" a voice snickered.
"Does anyone know the full story?"
"If Matthew was mad enough to press charges against Juniper, he must've been hit hard!"
"Cool!"
Juniper paused after reading the messages. On the surface, the announcement seemed critical, but it actually cleared up the situation between her and Matthew. Was this Michael's doing?
She sent a text to Michael: Mr. Michael, thank you for clearing things up.
...
Michael was startled when he saw the message. After quickly browsing through the group texts, he grasped the situation. The clarification wasn't his doing; could it have been Magnus?
As Michael mulled over this, his office door slammed open.
"Are you helping Juniper?!" Patricia stormed in, voice filled with aggression.
Michael stood up and closed the door before confronting Patricia, "And I want to know if you set Matthew up to entrap Juniper."
"What are you talking about? Matthew's a buyer, and Juniper came onto him. How's that my problem?" she retorted.
"Matthew's your friend. Without your influence, would he have sought out Juniper by chance? Don't think I don't know—"
"Why are you defending her over me! Is Juniper more important to you now? And even if I did send Matthew to buy from her, wasn't I just looking out for her business? It's not my fault she always targets the high-hanging fruit and flirts with every man she sees!"
With a resounding "slap!" Michael's palm struck Patricia's face.
Patricia clutched her face, eyes wide with shock as she stared at Michael. "You hit me for Juniper!"
Michael had been both brother and father to her since their parents passed away early. He always doted on his little sister, Patricia.
But with her fiery temper and arrogance, she had grown too proud, relying on Michael's favor. Over time, he found her increasingly difficult to control.
Still, deep down, Michael had a soft spot for her.
After the hit, he felt panicked. "Patricia..."
Tears streamed down her face as she glared at him. "Even you've fallen under Juniper's spell! First Magnus, now you. You'll both see her true colors someday!"
With those words, Patricia, still covering her face, sobbed and ran out.
Michael stood, frozen in place.
It was the first time he had ever struck Patricia. Through all her missteps over the years, he had never raised a hand to her.
...
At the Imperial Bar.
Patricia downed drink after drink, unable to believe that Michael had hit her because of Juniper.
As she cried and drank, men approached her, trying to chat her up.
"Hey, beautiful, flying solo? How about some company?"
She snapped, "Leave me alone! Do you think you're worthy of talking to me?"
"Fine, your loss! No need to be so venomous. Keep that up, and you'll never get hitched!"
"What's it to you if I never get married? My brother's an exec at Sycamore Group! If I wanted, there'd be a line of guys ready to marry me!"
The thought of marriage brought Magnus to mind—the one she truly wanted to marry.
She had fallen for him at first sight that summer when he had come to see her brother.
But at Magnus's side was Juniper...
Why on earth would someone like Magnus fall for a lowlife like Juniper?
Patricia gripped her phone tightly, her eyes red as she made a call to Mary. "Mary, it's Patricia. Juniper started working at Sycamore recently, and she's been using her job to get close to Magnus. Did you know about this?"
Mary exploded with anger on the other end. "That tramp! Does she think she can use her bastard child to snag the Mrs. Blackwood title?"
"Bastard child?" Patricia responded, taken aback.
"Yes, she went behind Mr. Blackwood's back and had a child in secret! Patricia, keep this under wraps for now, okay? I'm only telling you this because we get along so well..."
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