L turned to nce at Michael, who was already seated in the car. His usual rxed posture was reced by a rigid, upright position as if the were a soldier sitting next to hismanding officer. He looked more tense than someone who had been dead for a while.


    L sighed softly. She could already imagine Michael''s back cramping by the time they arrived at their destination.


    "Let''s grab a bite first," Cole said, driving straight to a restaurant.


    Once they arrived, he stepped out to open the door for Kieran. Just as he turned to help L, she had already opened the door and stepped out on her own.


    Michael, exiting from the same side as L, stretched and rubbed his back, grumbling under his breath. "The boss doesn''t have to treat me so kindly. I''d rather not suffer like this."


    L covered her mouth to stifle augh. Quietly, she offered, "How about I sit next to Mr. Morgan on the way back?"


    Michael shot her a skeptical look. "Why would you want to trade ces and suffer?"


    "Don''t underestimate a manager''s mental fortitude. It''s no worse than yours."


    He clicked his tongue in disbelief, recalling how she had managed to take over a coboration he had been eyeing. "You''re definitely not ordinary. Almost fell for that sweet and innocent act of yours."


    "Deal, then," he muttered, relieved to avoid another round of tense silence beside Kieran. He couldn''t shake the feeling that sitting too close to the boss for too long might give him frostbite—or nightmares.


    Despite there being four people at the table, the atmosphere during the meal was eerily quiet, as though they were sitting in pairs rather than a group.


    Michael tried to focus on eating but couldn''t stop ncing at Kieran out of the corner of his eye. His gaze froze when he saw Kieran calmly cing a shrimp onto L''s te.


    What was that?


    Michael stared in disbelief. Mr. Morgan was renowned for his aloof


    professionalism. Sure, he might care about his employees, but not to the extent of personally serving them food. Did this mean he might get some shrimp too? Hesitantly, Michael lifted his te.


    Cole was stunned by this move.


    Kieran paused momentarily, his expression unreadable. For the first time, L saw


    a flicker of confusion in his usuallyposed demeanor.


    She fought the urge tough, finding the entire exchange hrious.


    To ease the tension, she picked up a shrimp and ced it on Michael''s te. "Eat more. Boost your brainpower and secure that coboration."


    Michael pressed his lips together, stunned, as he watched her immediately pick up another shrimp and ce it on Kieran''s ce.


    "Mr. Morgan, you should eat more too. You''ve been working hard."


    Michael braced himself for an icy response, but to his shock, Kieran picked up the shrimp with his usual refined movements and ate it withoutint.


    The whole thing felt off-very off, but Michael couldn''t pinpoint why.


    After dinner, they headed to the hotel. While helping L with her luggage,


    Michael finally had a moment alone with her.


    "Next time, don''t serve Mr. Morgan food. Watching that today gave me a heart attack-he doesn''t like that kind of thing."


    L raised an eyebrow but said nothing.


    Michael sighed. "I need to rest for a bit. I''lle by this afternoon to rehearse lines. Let me know if there''s anything in the script I''m misinterpreting."


    Over the next few days, Kieran didn''t approach them again. Michael immersed himself in studying his role while L helped him break down the script and deepen his understanding of the character.


    Dorian, on the other hand, tried to contact L multiple times, but she ignored him every time.


    Finally, on the day of the audition, they crossed paths outside the set.


    Dorian still looked like himself, yet there was something about him that seemed... worn down.


    "Well, if it isn''t the great actor Dorian


    ke," Michael said with a mockingugh, his tone dripping with hist


    sarcasm. "Howe you look so...." He left the sentence but his tone made his disdain crystal clear.


    He waved his script in the air. "Your former manager is incredible. Her ability to analyze a script is better than mine. I wasn''t feeling confident before, but after working with her these past few days, I feel like I can take on the world!"


    L watched the scene unfold, amused. Michael''s taunt was almost childlike in its


    simplicity, yet it had the desired effect-Dorian was exasperated.


    Michael, without even trying, had managed to push all the right buttons.