I pushed open the door and saw that Lucas was already waiting inside.


    "Mr. Hastings." Upon seeing Alex enter, Lucas stood up as well.


    I followed closely behind Alex, keeping my head down as I yed the role of a dutiful secretary.


    "Serena, why are you here too?" Lucas'' eyes were filled with anticipation and joy as he looked at me.


    His gaze was so intense that I instinctively nced at Alex. "Uh... I''m Mr. Hastings''s assistant. He asked me toe along."


    I quickly shifted the topic back to Alex. Lucas nced at him before gesturing politely. "Please have a seat. Mr. Hastings, you''ve seen my sincerity. Now, shall we discuss our coboration?"


    Alex walked over and sat on one side of the table while Lucas sat opposite him.


    It was a business meeting between my superiors, yet I had been dragged along. Staring at therge table, I hesitated, unsure where to sit.


    "Serena, sit next to me," Lucas said with a smile. "It''s been a while since west met, and I have to thank you for introducing me to Mr. Hastings."


    Alex remained silent, but from the look in his eyes, it was clear he was displeased. He kept signaling for me to sit beside him.


    Lucas'' eager anticipation and Alex''s silent warning were both apparent. After hesitating for a while, I finally caved under Alex''s authority. He was my boss, and his word was final.


    The moment I sat down next to Alex, disappointment shed across Lucas'' face, but he had always been someone who knew how to weigh priorities. In just a second, he hadposed himself again.


    "Mr. Hastings, I invited you here today mainly to discuss our partnership." His usual smile was now tinged with a new sense ofposure and confidence.


    "You heard about today''spetition. Xena is probably still waiting for you to visit her, but I''m different—I''m taking the initiative to build connections with you."


    "You''re putting me in a difficult position," Alex said, feigning


    innocence as he yed the cunning businessman. "The Schneider


    family''s internal strife has turnel.ne


    Hastings Group into a battleground for alliances, but your actions are interfering with our productunch."


    "Mr. Hastings, I understand your concerns. Rest assured. I''m not asking you to


    take a stance right away. I''ll do my best to meet your needs.


    "Let''s set a one-month deadline. If, after one month, I haven''t secured control over Schneider family''s business, you can still proceed with your engagement to Xena and the Hastings family''s business will


    remain unaffected. How about that?"


    It was a win-win proposal. At that moment, I hoped Lucas could seize control of Schneider Group.


    Alex remained silent, but I knew this was the only viable option.


    Xena and Lester held more than polymeric materials, and they also had ess to leaked confidential files from Hastings Group. Even someone as powerful as Alex Rad


    P


    no choice but to bow to the situation


    for now.


    "Alright. Now that business is settled, let''s eat. This restaurant serves excellent Grandview cuisine. Mr. Hastings, you should try it."


    Alex nodded slowly. "Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Schneider."


    "Serena, I specially ordered your favorite pork schnitzel today," Lucas said,


    looking at me as if presenting a gift.