"Um..." Oliver, who had tried to drop hints at me, regained hisposure.


    Taking out his phone, he put the call on speaker. "Mr. Hastings, um, are you listening?"


    "Yeah." Alex''s tone was cheerful. "No need for the performance, Serena. You''re a stiff dancer. It''s going to look really awkward and unpleasant."


    I was speechless. Alex was definitely good at hitting where it hurt, and he could


    be really sarcastic too.


    "Just show up looking clean and well-groomed."


    Alex hung up after that.


    I gritted my teeth and snarled at the culprit. "Oliver Wood!"


    Oliver removed his Bluetooth headphones and backed off. "Girl, it''s not my fault! I


    tried to hint at you, but you didn''t even look my way!"


    The next morning, I showed up at the airport in Sulford in my best outfit, begrudgingly weing my boss.


    Alex leisurely strolled toward us with a ck luggage. When he walked past me, he took off his sunsses and remarked, "I could sense your resentment from afar."


    I silently thought, "Why did he put on sunsses so early in the morning? Is he pretending to be blind?"


    I disyed brief anger at his remark, but that was all I could do.


    In the car, Oliver briefed Alex on the current developments. Alex closed his eyes. I wondered what was on his mind.


    "The Schneiders are hosting a dinner tonight. We''ll know what''s up their sleeve tonight."


    ...


    The Schneiders selected a luxury hotel as the venue for their dinner.


    veli


    When we arrived, Lester was already waiting for us at the entrance with Xena and Henry. Lucas was nowhere to be seen, though, which made me a little anxious.


    Thest time I met with the three, spoke up for Lucas and offended his two siblings. I wondered if that would bring Alex trouble when he requested Schneider Group''s help.


    "Mr.


    greet


    Feet Lester hurried over to


    with great enthusiasm a


    stark contrast to his reaction when he had met me and Oliver,


    He made his way over with his walking cane while Xena followed along and held him in case he fell.


    Xena was dressed to the nines tonight in a ck velvet gown. She styled her permed hair into a bun, looking both elegant and sensual.


    "It''s been a while!" Lester held Alex''s hand agitatedly.


    "Mr. Schneider, it''s truly been a while. You look sprightly." Alex put on the fake, professional smile that was a signature look of his.


    Lester merely waved at him. "Nah, I''m getting older. My health is in decline."


    All the time, I kept my head low, fearing that Xena might recognize me.


    Oliver, however, drew attention when he asked me, "What''s wrong with you? Are you unwell?"


    "No." Forced to look up, I met Xena''s eyes. She appeared a little doubtful but did not show other emotions.


    She didn''t seem to recognize me, much to my relief.


    As we walked to the hotel, I noticed Henry''s wandering eye on me. Frowning slightly, I thought, "He''s a yboy for sure."