"Ms. Payne, Mr. Schwartz, please, continue," Dana said, holding the cake in one hand and shielding her eyes with the other as she tried to make a hasty retreat.
"Dana—" Juniper shot up from the sofa and ran toward her. "I want the cake!"
"Ah?" Dana froze, then risked a peek back at the man whose face had turned storm-black. She forced a smile that looked more like a grimace. He wouldn't dock her pay for interrupting him, would he?
—
Three days later, a disguised Juniper walked into the living room, carrying a bag.
"Ms. Payne, you're awa—" Dana, holding a pot of soup, turned and was so shocked to see a handsome young man that she almost dropped it.
Who was this? Where was her Ms. Payne?
Just as Dana was about to scream for help, Juniper spoke calmly. "Dana, it's me."
"Ms. Payne?" Dana rubbed her eyes, afraid they were deceiving her. "How did you... end up like this?"
The neat short hair, the handsome features, the sharp suit... she was completely transformed, and incredibly dashing. Even an old woman like her couldn't help but feel her heart flutter.
"Mm," Juniper said, tossing her bag onto the sofa. "I have some business to take care of."
"Oh." The voice and mannerisms were identical to Ms. Payne's, so Dana didn't doubt her, though she still found it a bit strange.
A short while later, Shanley came downstairs, having just finished some work in his study. He was on the phone, his tone glacial and his presence intimidatingly powerful.
"Cancel all of them. And..."
He was about to give another order when his eyes met those of the person at the dining table. Or rather, the "boy" at the dining table.
He knew Juniper was going to be in disguise, but he never expected it to be this convincing. She looked exactly like a man—and a handsome one at that.
"Mr. Schwartz, is there anything else?" the executive on the phone asked cautiously when he didn't continue.
"Come on," Shanley said with a helpless laugh. He walked back, took her hand, and added fondly, "You're so demanding."
In the front seat, Felton and Flint didn't dare breathe. Ms. Payne's disguise skills were incredible; you couldn't tell at all that she was a woman.
An hour later, the car stopped. Juniper would have to transfer to a ferry to reach Liberty Island. This was as far as Shanley could go; from here on, it was Liberty Island's territory.
"You have to let me know if anything happens," Shanley said, his eyes fixed on Juniper as he gave his earnest instructions. "The entire Sigma Network and the Schwartz Group will have your back."
"Got it," Juniper said, her hands in her pockets, her expression cool.
Shanley's brow furrowed with worry. Just then, Juniper suddenly stepped closer and tilted her head up.
Seeing her face suddenly zoom in before him, Shanley couldn't help but swallow hard. He knew it was Juniper, but faced with a handsome stranger puckering up for a kiss... he was starting to question his own sexuality.
Felton and Flint winced, thinking the scene was deeply unsettling. It looked like their boss was about to be ambushed by another man!

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