Don't Mess with the Girl with Candy novel Chapter 896

What? Ms. Payne was going to make their relationship official?

After more than a year as her secret, couldn't-be-seen-in-public boyfriend, the boss was finally getting his promotion.

This was cause for a global celebration.

No wonder. He didn't even care when people accused him of being cheated on. Turns out, this was the moment he'd been waiting for from Ms. Payne.

"Postpone all subsequent work."

Shanley, phone in hand, strode out of the office with his long legs.

"Yes, sir."

Felton and Flint exchanged a look and hurriedly followed.

"Boss, where are we heading now?" Felton asked, sitting in the driver's seat with his hands on the wheel, unsure where to go.

"Juniper's class ends at five-thirty," Shanley said in a deep voice after a few seconds of thought. "So, we'll be at the school gate at five-ten to wait. For now, let's go to the mall."

---

At the mall.

Shanley sat on a sofa, his tall frame leaning back, his expression intense as he stared at the dazzling array of clothes. To the informed, he was choosing an outfit; to the uninformed, he looked like he was negotiating a multi-billion dollar international deal.

Felton and Flint had rarely seen him this focused.

"Is this all you have?"

After two hours, Shanley still hadn't found anything he liked. The clothes were either too juvenile or too dated. If not that, the style was off or the colors were too drab.

"Y-yes, that's everything," the sales associate stammered, wiping sweat from her brow. She was exhausted. She had brought out every piece in the mall that might suit Mr. Schwartz, but none had caught his eye.

"Let's try another store."

Shanley uncrossed his legs and stood up, heading for the exit.

After a few steps, he suddenly stopped and pointed to a rack of clothes on the left. "Bag up everything in a size 41," he commanded. "Have it all delivered to the Schwartz family estate and give it to a man named Kurt Schwartz."

"Huh?" The sales associate was stunned, not quite processing his words. "All of it?" she stuttered.

At exactly four-thirty, Shanley sent Felton and Flint back and drove to Eclara University by himself.

"Oh, and one more thing—" Shanley added before they left. "Tell the company's PR department to be ready. Tomorrow's headlines must be about me and Juniper. Understood?"

"Understood, absolutely!" Felton and Flint could hardly contain themselves. The way they looked at Shanley was almost reverent. Ever since their boss found out he was being 'made official,' he was like a new man.

---

At five-ten in the afternoon, Juniper was still in class when she heard a commotion outside. Rumor had it that a big shot had come to the university.

"What big shot?" Hattie asked, craning her neck to see. "Let me do some digging."

Five minutes later, a previously calm Hattie suddenly grabbed Juniper's arm and shrieked with excitement. "Not only is he a big shot, he's drop-dead gorgeous!"

"Juniper, look! Here's a picture from the scene!"

Juniper glanced down, and when she recognized the person in the photo, her brow furrowed slightly.

There he was—Shanley, dressed like a vibrant college student, leaning casually against his car door with his arms crossed, a half-smile on his face as he watched the main gate.