Everyone''s eyes were on my outfit and the bag in my hand.


    "Oh, right." I nodded. "My best friend asked me out to go shopping. I''m just going out for a bit."


    "Alright, break it up." Oliver stepped forward, waving a hand. "What are you all crowding in the hotel hallway for?"


    My colleagues dispersed, and I looked at Oliver. "So, do you have something to say to me?"


    "Nothing gets past you as expected." Oliver scratched his head with an awkwardugh.


    He cleared his throat before continuing, "Mr. Hastings said that if you were going out, I had to follow you."


    "Follow me?" I frowned at him.


    "Uh... Well..." Oliver hesitated. "He just told me to follow you."


    I thought for a moment and immediately had a good guess as to why. Thest time I saw Alex, I had a conflict with Xena. Was he afraid I would leave the hotel to cause trouble for her again and ruin his ns?


    The thought irritated me. "You don''t need to follow me. I won''t go looking for Xena. Tell Mr. Hastings he can rest easy."


    "Huh?" Oliver gave me a puzzled look, then quickly waved his hands. "No, no, Serena. You''ve misunderstood. That''s not what Mr. Hastings meant. I have to follow you no matter what."


    "Why?" I frowned.


    "Because if I don''t, I won''t be able to report back to Mr. Hastings." His eyes were practically pleading.


    I furrowed my brows together. How dare Alex use tricks like this? Just because he was the boss, did that mean he could fire someone at will? Oliver was such a hard worker, and he was capable too.


    I was fuming inside, but in the end, I agreed to let him follow me.


    It didn''t matter. I had plenty of ways to shake him off. At least that way, he could report back to Alex and say he had done his job.


    "I''ll go get the car. Wait here." Oliver


    turned to leave but suddenly


    stopped after a few steps. He turned ando


    back to me, looking torn


    Stful. "Uh... So... Um..."


    "What''s with you today?" I frowned. "Why are you hesitating and mumbling so much?"


    "Serena, how about... youe with me to the underground parking lot to get the car?"


    I was instantly struck speechless.


    Oliver had zero trust in me. He could read my thoughts like an open book.


    "It''s just work. Do you really have to be this dedicated?" I sighed in exasperation.


    ...


    I hadn''t seen L in a long time. The


    moment she saw me at the mall she ran over and threw her arms around me in a bear hug. "Serena! My poor Serena! I missed you so much!"


    Seeing her, I finally felt the weight of the past few days lift off my chest. We hugged tightly,ughed, and chatted away.


    "Hey." L tilted her chin toward Oliver. "Why did you bring a bodyguard along?"


    I let out a helpless sigh and exined the situation.


    To my surprise, L burst outughing, almost gasping for breath. "Mr. Hastings'' secretary is hrious! He totally put you, the little trickster, in your ce." "Stopughing." I sighed.


    She made an effort to suppress herughter andforted me, saying, "It''s not a big deal. Just pretend he''s not there. Hey, you-keep your distance from uster."


    ?


    "Got it." Oliver nodded.