Chapter 4: Bankruptcy

"And what do you think happened?" Juniper asked as she prepared to leave her office.

Emily stood at the entrance of the office with her arms crossed over her chest.

"I wish I knew. I was having a meeting with my manager about a new drama I will be auditioning for when your mother called me to deliver this message to you. She sounded urgent on the phone, though."

Juniper continued to ponder why her mother would choose to communicate in this manner.

"I'm done," she declared, leaving her office, with Emily hurrying to keep up.

"Can't you walk slowly?" Emily exclaimed, her cheeks flushed as she struggled to catch her breath.

"I don't have time for your antics; I have more important things to attend to."

As Juniper approached her car in the parking lot, Emily held the door, preventing her from closing it.

Juniper calmly looked up from the steering wheel, her once cheerful demeanor now replaced by a hardened expression. Seeing her friend in such a state broke Emily's heart.

"Juniper, are you still fixated on the issue with Cole? Can't you let go and move on? It's for your own good. Who knows, you might find love again?"

"And who said I'm still fixated on Cole and his matters? Do I look desperate to you? And as for love, I have no time for such trivial matters."

With that, Juniper shut the car door, causing Emily to jump in surprise.

"I'll see you later."

Emily didn't even have time to react before Juniper sped off, leaving her behind.

"But what about me?" Emily exclaimed, throwing her hands up in frustration.

She hadn't even brought her own car and now had to call her manager. "Such an annoying human being," she muttered.

At the Reed Family mansion, Juniper sat before her parents, casting a curious look between them.

"Okay, you guys called me in here as soon as I entered the house, and you're not saying anything."

Her father, Mark Reed, looked at his wife, Shanel Reed, and received a nod of approval from her.

"We called you here for something very important," her father stated.

"Well, I know it's something important; otherwise, Mother wouldn't have called Emily, who was a thirty-minute drive away from my office, to come and tell me you wanted to see me," Juniper replied, giving her mother a serious expression.

"I only did what I thought was best. Your phone wasn't going through, and neither were your assistants," Shanel explained.

Juniper rolled her eyes, implying that her mother had called her numerous times before and always managed to get through, even when she was at work.

"And you know perfectly well why I couldn't answer. So why send Emily to come see me? We both know she has her own life, and constantly calling her isn't cool," Juniper argued.

Mark, sensing another argument brewing between his wife and daughter, held Shanel's hand to calm her down. He knew that the real reason for this meeting might not have been discussed yet.

"Juniper, there is something very important that your mother and I need to discuss with you," Mark said, his expression serious.

Observing the gravity of her father's face, Juniper quietly looked at him, waiting to hear what he had to say.

"I don't know if you've noticed, but the profits of Reedal are rapidly declining."

"I have noticed, but I thought it might be due to changes in the market. I believe we can make a comeback with a different strategy. That's why I've been working so hard these past few weeks," Juniper responded.

Mark shook his head with a serious expression, causing unease to stir in Juniper's heart.

"What's wrong? Are the investors pulling out?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.

Little did she know that his words would shock her to the core.

"You have an arranged marriage that is going to take place soon."

With a surprised and startled expression, Juniper stood up abruptly

"Are you kidding me? What kind of joke is this?"

Her outburst was understandable, and her parents remained calm.

"Juniper, my dear," Mark spoke gently, his voice filled with concern. "I understand your reservations, but we must consider the future of our family. An opportunity has arisen, and we can't let it slip away so easily."

Juniper raised an eyebrow, her gaze fixed on her father. "An opportunity? What do you mean? You want me to agree to this absurd proposal? Are you even listening to yourself? I'm your daughter, for crying out loud."

Mark hesitated for a moment before continuing. "There is great benefit in this proposal, my dear. It may not be what you desire, but it could provide security and stability for all of us, for our family."

Juniper's heart pounded in her chest as the weight of her father's words sank in. An arranged marriage? The very notion disgusted her, reminding her of the chains that bound women to lives of servitude. Yet, a glimmer of curiosity danced within her.

She hadn't even moved on from her past, and now they were already considering giving her away. Were they truly her parents?

"You know, you're really something!" Juniper exclaimed, her frustration evident. "You expect me to agree to this just because of a problem I can solve myself. If it's about the falling stocks, as I've said, I have everything under control."

She hoped that her words would convince them to change their minds. However, she never anticipated their next words and how they would forever alter her life.

"You don't seem to grasp the gravity of the situation. We're not just losing profit; we're on the verge of bankruptcy," Mark revealed, delivering the most shocking blow to her.

Juniper stood up in shock as she stared at her parents. Who were giving her the biggest stupefaction to her. 

"What!" Juniper exclaimed, her stupefaction evident as she looked from her mother to her father..