I shook my head.


    "You''re not still hung up on him, are you?" Alex''s voice suddenly sharpened.


    I shook my head again. "I just... think someone like him is kind of pathetic."


    "That''s exactly why I say you have terrible taste." Heunched into another rant. "That brat from the ke family has no real talent or skills, just a head full of tricks. I still don''t understand what you ever saw in him."


    As he droned on, I slowly closed my eyes and pretended to sleep, sessfully dodging another lecture.


    ...


    The next morning, I was woken up by a knock on my door.


    I stumbled to open it groggily only to find someone standing outside.


    "Ms. Ashford, good morning. My name is Lilian Lancaster. Mr. Hastings sent me to take care of your daily needs."


    "What?" I snapped awake instantly. "Take care of my daily needs?"


    "Yes, I''m your housekeeper." The middle-aged woman smiled warmly. She looked kind and gentle.


    I was still processing this, but the doorway wasn''t the ce for a conversation. Stepping aside, I said, "Lilian, right? Come in."


    She wasted no time. As soon as she stepped in, she began tidying up the kitchen and preparing breakfast. I quickly dialed Alex''s number.


    "Has Lilian arrived?" he asked as soon as he picked up.


    "Yeah," I said. "But I really don''t need this. I''m just an office worker. Why would I need a personal housekeeper? Isn''t this a bit over the top?"


    "I just don''t want you eating poorly or letting your ce turn into a mess," he replied with amusement in his voice. "I''m covering her sry. Consider it a bonus for taking on the Excel Group project."


    "No way." I frowned. "Alex, I... I''m notfortable with this."


    "Then you''ll just have to get used to it."


    A strange sadness welled up in me. I was afraid that if I did get used to it, I wouldn''t know how to live on my own once Alex was no longer around.


    "I''m not used to having someone in my home all the time," I said in a voice tinged with pleading. "Let her take care of you instead. I can handle myself."


    He was silent for a long moment before finally relenting. "Fine... She''ll juste once a week to clean."


    Before I could refuse, he added, "Your focus should be on the Excel Group coboration, not on housework."


    Since he put it that way, I had no choice but to agree. I silently vowed to work twice as hard to secure the deal with Excel Group.


    At the first meeting dedicated to the project, I presented the proposal I had spent the past two weeks refining.


    "This coboration focuses on Excel Group''s new energy sector. Based on ourpany''s capabilities and Excel Group''sbor costs in this field, my proposed bid is 80 million dors. If Excel Group raises concerns, we have a


    UM


    five-million-dor buffer for adjustments."


    Alex sat at the head of the table with an unreadable expression.


    It was Oliver who nodded in


    approval. "Eighty-five million dors


    is pret


    close to our initial estimate. Barring any unforeseen issues, this


    should be apetitive bid.


    I nodded at him to express my gratitude.


    Alex remained silent while Oliver stood up. "Patricia and Samson, make sure to


    give Serena your full support. We need to win this deal with Excel Group."


    Patricia, as always, was fired up like she had just taken a shot of adrenaline. Samson, on the other hand, didn''t say a word.