"Alright. Wait, what?" I jumped up abruptly, anxiously grabbing Lucas'' sleeve. "Luke, you''re already here. Just sign the contract before you go."


    "But..." Lucas sighed helplessly and flipped to thest page of the contract. "The contract only takes effect with an official seal. Don''t tell me you carry it around with you?"


    "I... Well, no." My voice was tinged with disappointment.


    "Alright then." He chuckled and ruffled my hair. "We''ll sign it next time. Ourpanies are partners now, and since I know you''re in charge, I''ll being by often."


    I smoothed down my hair, which he had messed up, and trudged back to the office, feeling dejected.


    "Serena, how did it go?" The moment I walked in, Patricia hurried over. "What took you so long to sign a contract? Where is it?"


    Her question only deepened my frustration. "Lucas had something urgent to take care of and left early. The contract wasn''t signed."


    I smacked my forehead in exasperation. "I can''t believe I went to sign a contract and didn''t even think to bring the official seal!"


    Patricia''s eyes widened. "What nonsense are you talking about? Carrying the official seal around would be way worse! You may be Mr. Hastings''s sister, but even you can''t be that reckless."


    I paused and thought about it. She had a point. "Maybe today just wasn''t meant to be."


    Patricia gave me a firm nod. "Exactly."


    After work, I dialed L''s number.


    Azy voice came from the other end. "Serena, I''m on vacation abroad. If you''re calling me in the middle of the night and it''s not because you and Alex got together, I swear I''lle back just to end you."


    "L." I sighed, sounding utterly defeated. "I''m so jealous of you."


    L instantly perked up. "Did you and Alex fall out?"


    "No, no." I waved my hands, then proceeded to tell her what had happened today.


    "Serena, to be honest, from the first


    time I met him, I never thought


    Lucas was as harmless as he seemed. And I was right. If he were really as naive and innocent as he appears, there''s no way he would''ve gotten to where he is now."


    I nodded, but I didn''t think being strategic or calcting was necessarily a bad thing. It was good to have foresight.


    "But after today, I''ve realized something else." L''s tone turned mysterious. "What is it?"


    "Lucas probably likes you."


    "Oh,e on." I chuckled. "We''re just friends."


    "Just friends?" L sounded exasperated. "Serena, you


    blockhead. Lucas is totally into you. He didn''t sign the contract today on purpose so he''d have an excuse to meet you again."


    "Ah, a cold and domineering CEO and a tragic yet endearing type.


    Serena, if you weren''t my best a


    I''d be jealous of this storyline you''re


    living."


    I forced a wry smile. "But failing to get the contract signed today has really put me


    in a tough spot."


    "That''s true." L snapped out of her fantasy. "So, the next time Lucas asks to meet, you''d better be fully prepared and give him no reason to refuse."