Chapter 78 Juniper Didn't Return
Juniper's eyelashes fluttered nervously as she snatched the pill bottle from Michael's hand and stuffed it back into her pocket.
"It's just vitamins, I'm not sick."
Michael wasn't fooled, "Juniper, you think I don't know what vitamins look like?"
"Think what you want."
Juniper, cradling her firewood, turned and headed back toward the large lawn without further ado. She didn't want to have anything more to do with the crowd Magnus hung out with. She hadn't taken the medication in a long while, but after Jennifer called her last night to meet up over the weekend, she decided to take it to ease her nerves.
She didn't want to meet Jennifer with a sour expression. She hoped to leave Jennifer with some happy memories before she passed away.
At the big lawn, there were various cookouts and barbecues going on. Michael sat not far from the sales department, glancing occasionally at Juniper, unable to shake his concern.
Pulling out his phone, he searched online: Amitriptyline Hydrochloride.
It was an antidepressant.
Michael froze, taken aback, and it took him a while to snap out of it. He was still distracted when Patricia slapped him on the shoulder, "Bro, come on! The barbeque's ready. What are you so focused on, staring at your phone?"
Patricia leaned in, curious, but Michael locked his phone and put it away.
"Nothing, just browsing. Let's go, time for some barbeque."
Under the umbrellas, the company's executives gathered. Employees from various departments came over, offering skewers of freshly grilled food to the higher-ups.
Both male and female staff participated in this, a perfectly normal gesture, yet when a female colleague approached with skewers, Patricia wasn't pleased.
The woman didn't know Patricia or that she was Michael's sister. When Patricia voiced her displeasure, naturally, the woman bristled with annoyance.
Caught amidst the presence of several senior colleagues, she playfully retorted to Patricia, "Aren't you also munching on the skewers we passed around? If you look down on the skewers given to you so much, why eat them at all? Go grill your own."
Since childhood, Patricia had been spoiled by Michael and couldn't stand the mocking tone of others.
"These lousy skewers, you think I'm eager for them?"
With a flick of her wrist, she tossed the skewer in her hand onto a female coworker's dress.
The coworker was wearing a white dress, and the grease and seasoning from the skewer stood out starkly against the fabric.
Angry, she exclaimed, "Speak with your words, why get physical? What are you losing your temper for?"
Patricia stood up, looking ready to clash with the coworker.
Michael quickly grabbed her, "Patricia, cut it out!"
"But, brother, she—"
Patricia began to retort.
Michael sternly cut her off, "It was clearly you who started this. Apologize to her!"
Apologize? How could Miss Patricia lower herself to apologize to a regular employee?
Defiant, Patricia shrugged off Michael's hand. "I'm your sister! Why do you always side with others? I won't apologize!"
With that, Patricia stormed off in a huff.
Michael felt frustrated by her stubbornness but was at a loss to change her behavior.
He could only personally apologize to the female employee, "I'll compensate you for the dress. I'm truly sorry for today. It was definitely her fault."
Michael had a distinguished appearance and a mild disposition, not to mention he was a leading figure in the company.
The female employee quickly responded, "Oh, there's no need, Mr. Michael, it's just a small matter."
"How much is the dress? Let me send you the money. Otherwise, I won't be able to let it go."
Struck by an idea, the employee took out her phone, "How about I add you on Facebook, Mr. Michael? You can send it to me through Facebook."
"Sure."
They added each other on Facebook.
Michael sent her a transfer of one thousand dollars.
She was pleasantly surprised, "Mr. Michael, my dress isn't worth a thousand dollars. You've sent too much."
"It's okay, consider it compensation. Please, go enjoy your meal now."
The female employee went off happily.
Nearby, Robert, sipping a beer, teased, "Michael, you're too naive. You can make a direct payment with a QR code on Facebook, so there is no need to add as friends."
Michael just smiled gently.
He could easily see through the intentions of the female employee.
But Michael preferred to be the good guy, always outwardly amiable and harmless.
"Adding on Facebook is no big deal, I'll just not engage with her, it's fine."
Magnus, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly said to Michael, "You really need to handle Patricia's temperament. If she can't change, then she needs to leave the company."
His tone was casual, neither cold nor hot, yet it carried the undeniable authority of a superior.
"I understand. I'll talk to her," Michael replied.
He knew all too well that Magnus wasn't joking about such matters.
In fact, Michael also felt that Patricia wasn't a good fit for SY Incorporated. If she stayed, it was inevitable that she would run into Magnus and possibly harbor inappropriate thoughts.
Those thoughts, if taken too far, could drive a person insane and down a dangerous path.
But right now, Michael was more concerned about Juniper than Patricia.
He glanced at Magnus, hesitating to speak.
Magnus had said he would no longer involve himself in Juniper's affairs.
If Magnus wasn't aware of Juniper's depression, it meant she didn't want him to know.
Michael chose not to say anything more.
In the evening, Silver Lake was stunningly beautiful.
The fiery orange sunset kissed the shimmering lake surface, creating a seascape of orange hues.
Juniper had broken away from the main group and wandered into an isolated area of Silver Lake.
She took out her phone and snapped several pictures of the lake.
Right next to Silver Lake was Sherlock Valley, which had a church on it.
Before coming, Juniper had done her research.
There was a belief that spirits would appear at the church in Sherlock Valley.
Sherlock Valley wasn't particularly high.
Having spent a long time by the lake, Juniper then climbed the hill alone, unaware that it was already past six o'clock.
Back in the parking lot, various departments were taking head counts.
However, with so many people in the company, some were inevitably missed.
"Everyone check if your colleagues are here. If someone's missing, give them a call to remind them! We're leaving at six-thirty!"
Being new to SY, Juniper didn't really have colleagues she was close to.
Naturally, no one from the sales department thought to check on her.
The tour bus left shortly after.
Upon arriving at the SY Group's headquarters, everyone disbanded and went their separate ways.
Michael thought of Juniper and couldn't help but go look for her.
He waited by the sales department's bus for a while as everyone got off.
But he never saw Juniper.
It was only when he boarded the bus that he realized everyone had already left.
Michael casually grabbed someone from the sales department and asked, "Have you seen Juniper?"
"No, I haven't. She might have just left. I wasn't paying attention!"
Michael had a sinking feeling.
He hurriedly called Juniper on her cell phone, but it rang for a long time with no answer.
Could it be Juniper didn't come back?
Meanwhile, Magnus had just gotten out of his car.
Michael strode over to him and blurted out, "Magnus, this isn't good. Juniper might not have come back!"
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