The Billionaire's Obsession

Chapter 5

Junipers Pov

I wake up in bed barely having slept after the Christmas party last night. I thought I had our run my past and my history with Theodore, but the past always has a way of catching up to you and biting you in the ass. I sigh as I get out of bed and head towards the bathroom to take a shower before heading into the office.

I open the tap for the shower water to run hot and then I turn towards the mirror and look at my reflection. The dark bags under my eyes clearly show my lack of sleep from the previous night. I open the shower door and the steam hits my face. I get in the shower, turning around and let the soothing hot water run over my face and hair, washing away the entire encounter with Theodore.

Once I am done in the shower, I wrap my towel around my body and head towards my room. I put on some jeans and my favorite sweater and boots, since it is the holidays, the office is not officially open. But since I had been so focused on The Ivywood's Christmas party that I have quit a few emails to catch up on.

I grab my keys and phone and head out towards my car. On my way to the office, I stop by my favorite coffee shop. As I walk in, the friendly familiar face of one of the baristas greet me by asking, "Would you like your usual cappuccino?"

I nod my head smiling, "Yes please and do you have some of your jumbo chocolate muffins, those with the chocolate chips in?"

"Yes we have and they are straight out of the oven." Carla says smiling.

After a few moments Carla hands me my cup and bag with my muffin. "Thank you, have a lovely day." And with breakfast sorted, I make my way to the office.

When I reach the office, I see that the lights are already on and I frown. Who else could be at the office during the holidays, I think to myself as I walk into the lobby.

Aria, my assistant, walks from the kitchen holding a cup of coffee when she hears the bell from the front door. I look at her in surprise and ask, "What are you doing in the office the day after Christmas?"

"Well, I am escaping some family drama and catching up on some work so that everything is up to date when we open again next year. What are you doing here?"

"I have some work emails to catch up on too." I say as I start walking towards my office in the back.

"Let me know if you need anything." Aria says just as I walk into my office.

Here’s a detailed scene featuring Juniper working through event request emails:

The morning sunlight is pouring through the large windows of my cozy office, dancing across my desk cluttered with swatches of fabric, color-coded sticky notes, and an overstuffed planner. A faint hum of traffic outside provides a calming backdrop as I adjust my laptop screen and prepare myself for the daily inbox battle. I put down my cappuccino and muffin and dive into my emails.

I sigh, running a hand through my hair as I stare at my laptop screen. The inbox number glaring at me, "73 unread emails."

“Alright,” I murmured to myself, stretching my arms and fingers. “Let’s get to it.”

The first email is from a bride-to-be, frantic about securing a venue for her spring wedding. I open the message, my eyes scanning the wall of text peppered with capital letters and exclamation marks.

"Dear Juniper, I NEED YOUR HELP!!!" it began. I chuckle softly. I have seen this tone before, pure panic.

I quickly click "Reply" and begin typing:

***

Subject: We’ve Got You Covered!

Dear Chloe,

Thank you for reaching out to Rhodes of Joy Events.! First, take a deep breath, you’re in good hands.

I’d love to help you secure the perfect venue for your wedding. Could you let me know your wedding date, estimated guest count, and any location preferences? Once I have these details, I’ll send you a curated list of venues that match your vision.

Looking forward to making your big day unforgettable!

Warm regards,

Juniper

***

With a satisfied click, I hit "Send" and moved to the next email, a corporate client. This one is straightforward: a tech company’s annual gala, requesting a futuristic theme with "wow factor."

“Hmm,” I say aloud, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. “Something bold... interactive displays, maybe a drone show?” I quickly jot notes in my digital planner, my mind racing with ideas before crafting a tailored response.

A ping sounded. A new email arrived, the subject line reading: "Urgent: Baby Shower Help!"

I open it, grinning at the message from my first friend I made when moving here. "I’m so overwhelmed, and you’re the only person I trust to pull this off!"

I lean back in my chair, spinning slightly as I think about the pastel color schemes and whimsical decorations that would perfectly suit my friend’s bubbly personality.

“Okay, Sabrina,” I say, snapping back to focus. “Time to shift into high gear.”

Hours pass as I move systematically through my inbox, organizing events in my spreadsheet and replying with a mix of efficiency and warmth. By mid afternoon, I have whittled my unread emails down to a manageable 15.

As I prepare to tackle the last few emails, I barely hear the soft knock at my office door. It opens just enough for Aria’s head to pop through, her blonde curls slightly tousled from the chilly wind outside.

“Juniper?” Aria said hesitantly.

“Hmm?” I reply without looking up, scribbling some more notes and ideas for another event request.

“There’s... someone here to see you,” Aria says, stepping fully into the room.

I finally look up, raising an eyebrow. “Someone? It is the day after Christmas. Why would someone be at our office?”

Aria shakes her head, her expression caught between amusement and curiosity. “I have no idea, he just showed up out of the blue. Says he urgently wants to talk to you and only you.”

I freeze, my pen hovering over the paper. “That sounds very ominous?” I say my tone unreadable. A strange mix of emotions run through my like, surprise, confusion, maybe even a hint of annoyance. As I think to myself who would show up and demand to talk to me the day after Christmas.

“Yep,” Aria says, folding her arms. “Tall, dark hair, kind of... charming in that ‘I know I shouldn’t be here’ way? He’s waiting in the lobby.”

I lean back in my chair, letting out a slow breath. Trying to figure out who it could be and why they are here the day after Christmas. I think about Aria's description of the man again, when my stomach sinks at the realization of who it might be.

Aria watches me closely, clearly intrigued. “Should I tell him you’re busy?” she offers, though her tone suggests she hopes I will say no.

I hesitate for a moment before shaking my head. “No, I’ll see him. Just... give me a minute."

Aria nods and disappears back down the hall, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I straighten my sweater, brushing a stray strand of hair out of my face, and take a deep breath calming myself. Whatever HE wants, I can handle it. After all, I always pride myself on being prepared, for anything.

A few minutes later, I step into the lobby, my boots clicking against the polished floor. I see the back of a man standing by the large windows, hands in the pockets of his tailored coat. He turns at the sound of my footsteps, his expression softening when he sees me.

“Theodore,” I say coldly, crossing my arms. “This is... unexpected.”

His lips curves into a small, sheepish smile. “I figured as much. But I needed to see you.”

I raise an eyebrow, my heart beating faster than I would like to admit. “The day after Christmas? Did you lose track of the calendar?”

He chuckles, running a hand through his dark hair. “You did not leave me with much of a choice, since you were avoiding me all of last night. I have something important to talk to you about.”

I tilt my head, studying him carefully. “I seriously doubt that we have anything left to talk about.” I say after a moment.

Theodore chuckles again as he says, "And that my dear Juniper, is where you are wrong. Sebastian and I want to have a New Years party at The Ivywood Hotel and we need you to plan it."

I look at him skeptically as I say, "Alright, let's talk."

I motion toward my office, my tone all business, even as my mind races with questions. Whatever this was, it wasn’t going to be a typical day at the office.