"What?" Jolene and I eximed at the same time. Her voice was sharp and full of disbelief while mine was more stunned and distressed. I had never agreed to


    such arrangements.


    "When is this taking ce? Mr. Hastings, a business g is a significant event. How can you just casually bring a new hire to apany you?" Jolene screeched.


    Alex was clearly irritated by Jolene''s questions. He looked up, his expression hardening. "Do I need to report my decisions to you?"


    Jolene''s sharp voice faltered immediately, and she turned to look at me in disbelief. I quickly lowered my gaze.


    "Leave," Alex said curtly, dismissing her.


    I raised my head, startled.


    What was this man''s problem? One moment, he was dropping bombshells, and the next, he was kicking people out without rifying anything.


    But I was in no position to argue. Reluctantly, I followed Jolene toward the door.


    "I didn''t tell you to leave," Alex''s voice rang out again, displeased.


    Both Jolene and I stopped in our tracks, turning to look at him, confused by who he was referring to.


    "Have we resolved the issue we were discussing?" Alex leaned back in his chair, his brows slightly furrowed as his eyes were fixed on me.


    Although Jolene didn''t want to back down, she had no choice. She turned around, throwing me onest venomous re before leaving the room.


    I frowned. What did I have to do with her misfortune? If I had my way, I''d already be out of Alex''s office too.


    Once the door closed behind her and Jolene was out of sight, I stepped closer to Alex''s desk. "Mr. Hastings, what g are you talking about? You never mentioned this to me before."


    "Shouldn''t you be thanking me?" Alex spun the expensive pen in his handzily. "If I hadn''t given you this excuse, all those reports would have been dumped on you."


    So, he was helping me. I let out a smallugh, a touch of gratitude in my eyes. "Oh, I see. Thank you for looking out for me, Mr. Hastings. It must''ve been tough for you toe up with such an outrageous lie."


    "Who said I was lying? This is very much the truth." Alex reached into his desk drawer and pulled out an invitation.


    I stared at the invitation, my heart sinking to the floor. In my head, I was already cursing Alex. He was such an opportunistic, maniptive, shameless capitalist.


    "Mr. Hastings, are you seriously suggesting I attend such an important event?" I forced a weak smile, clinging to a shred of hope.


    You''ve


    "Why not? You''ve attended gs before. You''re not interested in me,


    and your background won''t


    unnecessary gossip. You''re the perfect candidate." Alex leaned back


    with a glint of amusement inchis eyes.


    I couldn''t understand how I was the perfect candidate.


    No one at thepany knew about my connection to Alex, yet I was already the subject of relentless scrutiny because he asionally spoke to me. If I attended the g with him, it would only trigger more gossip.


    "I-I... C-Can I refuse?" I stammered.


    "Sure. Then you can finish Jolene''s reports, and she''ll apany me instead. If you want her work submitted on time, you''ll only be able to sleep five hours a night starting today," Alex said casually.


    I stared at him in shock. "This work is that important, and you''re willing to hand it off so casually?"