Don't Mess with the Girl with Candy novel Chapter 1603

Shanley picked up his phone and opened the messaging app.

Juniper had sent him a photo.

In the picture, the girl was sitting on a balcony holding an ice cream cone, flashing a sweet, triumphant smile at the camera.

Her little expression practically screamed: *No one here to stop me, total ice cream freedom.*

“Heh.”

Shanley's lips curved up, a soft chuckle escaping his throat.

The executives: “?”

One second the CEO was radiating pure frost, the next he was smiling. It was like he was losing his mind.

*Smack—*

The subordinate currently giving the presentation was so shocked by the laugh that he lost his grip on his files, sending them slapping loudly onto the table.

Everyone else: “!!!”

The subordinate hastily apologized. “I'm so sorry, Mr. Schwartz!”

Shanley slowly turned his head and gave him a faint smile. “It's fine.”

Everyone else: “???”

Why was the CEO suddenly smiling so benevolently?

They understood now.

Ms. Payne had definitely just fed him some reassurance.

The executives frantically pounded their keyboards in the group chat:

[Ahhhh, pass it on! The CEO isn't getting dumped after all!]

[*Sigh of relief.jpg* Ms. Payne, please come back soon and control your man.]

His mood swings were giving them whiplash. Who could survive this?!

Shanley pinched the photo, zooming in, zooming out, zooming in, zooming out...

He did it several times, the emptiness in his chest finally feeling a little less hollow.

He put his phone down and looked up at everyone. “Performance this quarter has been solid. Everyone gets a double bonus.”

Everyone: “!!!”

—

After finishing up his work.

Shanley sat in his car, staring out the window at the neon-lit streets.

His phone screen was still lit up with Juniper's photo.

Calculating exactly when she would be waking up.

Shanley dialed Juniper's number. It rang for five seconds before she picked up. “Hello.”

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