"Help me bathe?"
Juniper extended a slender, pale finger, pressing it against the man's chest as she leaned in slightly.
"Mhm."
Shanley looked down, his Adam's apple bobbing as a wicked smile formed on his lips.
"We got a new bathtub. I heard it easily fits two..."
"Oh."
Juniper raised an eyebrow, her red lips curving upward. "So Mr. Schwartz lied to bring me home just to test out the bathtub's features?"
Shanley kept his head bowed, smiling at her with eyes full of tenderness.
"If it's that good, then it definitely deserves a test run."
Juniper reached into his suit pocket, retrieved her phone, and waved it at him. "I still need to call Ebony Fox. I'll leave testing the bathtub to you."
Shanley ruffled his hair, smiling helplessly.
How was he supposed to test a two-person bathtub all by himself?
But...
He was a little too cowardly to follow her in.
—
In the study.
Juniper dialed Ebony Fox's number and recounted everything that had happened at the main house.
"Thank the elders for me." Ebony Fox's tone was calm. "Once I settle this, I'll visit them personally."
"Alright."
Juniper didn't dwell on the topic, merely asking, "How many days is Kurt's test flight going to take?"
"Three days."
Ebony Fox sat on the balcony, gazing at the pitch-black sky, feeling a bit down. "Today is the first day, so there are two left."
After the test flights were done, factoring in travel time, it would probably be another four days before he was back.
She had never thought four days could be this agonizing before.
"The Ainsworth family won't let this go easily. Just say the word if you need anything."
Juniper gripped her phone, her voice deepening. "Ebony Fox, you have family now. You don't have to carry this all by yourself."
"Yeah."
A warm feeling spread through Ebony Fox's chest, the corners of her lips turning up slightly. "If I really need help, I'll come to you."

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