"What does this have to do with you?" Alex''s sudden change in attitude made me lose my sense of caution. "What does who I choose to be friends with have to do


    with you?"


    I had gone too far. The realization hit me instantly, and I shrank back.


    He grabbed my arm. "Starting today, you''re moving in with me. Then you''ll see exactly how this has everything to do with me. Get in the car."


    I was unceremoniously shoved into the passenger seat. The low rumble of the top-tier Ferrari''s engine echoed like a beast growling before it struck.


    Regret surged through me, but the person I wanted to apologize to remained silent.


    "U-Uh... Al... I-I mean..." I stammered, unable to form a coherent sentence. I wanted to p myself for it.


    "What''s with all the hemming and hawing?" Alex''s voice remained cold. "When you need something, it''s ''Mr. Hastings.'' When you''re trying to be sweet, it''s ''Al.'' What a hypocritical act."


    I was speechless. No matter the situation, he was always sharp-tongued.


    "I don''t want to move in with you." I crossed my arms over my chest.


    His eyes narrowed slightly. "You always believe whatever Lucas tells you. I just don''t want to see you being fooled by him one day."


    I instinctively resisted his lecture. "I know what I''m doing. I''m an adult, and I can make my own judgments."


    "You''re too na?ve and too easy to fool." He turned the steering wheel, his tone carrying a hint of exasperation. "Even with that bet he made with Lester... Sure, Lester didn''t make him the head of thepany as promised. But he still secured the vice president position. With a title like that, do you really think he needs to handle a project personally?"


    "Lucas told me that his colleagues are making things difficult for him."


    The words had barely left my mouth when I heard him let out a mockingugh. "And that''s exactly why you''re easy to fool."


    "Why are you always so prejudiced against Lucas?" I turned to look at him in confusion. "Following him out today was my mistake, but why do you always have to dismiss him?"


    "You don''t even know Lucas, yet you''re defending him blindly?" Alex''s voice held a sharp edge of frustration. "You ignore everything I say but believe whatever he tells you see now-your judgment is just that bad."


    His temper red. "What''s so great about Lucas? He''s nothing special."


    Hearing him belittle Lucas so


    disdainfully suddenly felt a wave of


    bitterness. "When you say he''s


    nothing, are you talking about his


    status? But I''m just a maid''s


    daughter. My background isn''t


    exactly prestigious either."


    At that moment, we arrived at thepany. I stepped out of the car without another word.


    Behind me, he was still trying to exin. "That''s not what I meant."


    I didn''t turn back. It didn''t matter whether that was what he meant or not. I realized now that I needed toe to my senses and ept that Alex and I were from different worlds.


    ...


    That night, I couldn''t sleep. My mind kept circling around everything my feelings for Alex and the vast gap between us.


    At the break of dawn, I got out of bed, washed up, and took the subway to work.


    Just as I stepped into the office, I heard voicesing from inside.


    "It''s not like her background is all that impressive, but she always acts like she''s above everyone else."


    "Right? This whole Schneider Group deal was just a lucky break. Let''s be honest it''s all because of Mr. Hastings. Who knows what she''s been doing behind the scenes to


    stay in his good graces?"


    "Serena!" Patricia called my name. I turned to see her frowning. "Why are you just standing at the door?"