As we left the meeting room, Samson let out a cold snort. "Serena''s just relying on connections. Otherwise, how could she predict the numbers so urately?"


    "Aren''t you just jealous?" Patricia shot back and rolled her eyes at him. "Serena has a sharp business mind. Even if you trained for another ten years, you still wouldn''t be able topete with her."


    Samson''s expression darkened, and he walked off first.


    Patricia excitedly grabbed my arm. "Serena, you''re amazing! Your estimate was almost exactly the same as what Mr. Hastings predicted."


    I smiled calmly. "I just analyzed thepany''s coborations over the past two years and Excel Group''s development trends, then provided a rtively conservative estimate."


    Back at the office, Samson was already at his desk reviewing some documents.


    Despite his attitude toward me, he alwayspleted his assigned tasks on time, and the quality of his work was solid.


    But keeping things tense like this wasn''t a good long-term solution. With a sigh, I sat down. "Patricia, Samson, the meeting today went well. Let me treat you both to lunch."


    "Really?" Patricia, an undeniable foodie, lit up. "There''s a new restaurant downstairs. Can we go there?"


    I nodded. "Of course. I''ve been wanting to try out their food."


    "I highly rmend it!" Patricia said passionately. "I wish it were lunchtime already."


    Samson kept his eyes on the papers. "I''ll pass."


    "What? Why?" Patricia was more outraged than I was. "Serena doesn''t treat us


    often. Do you have other ns for lunch?"


    "No." Samson looked a little awkward.


    "Then you''reing," Patricia dered and smacked him on the back of the head lightly. "Serena invited you, and you''re really going to act all difficult? You''re a grown man. Stop being so sensitive."


    "All you ever think about is food," Samson muttered, scowling.


    "Of course." Patricia returned to her desk. "If you don''te, that''s two fewer dishes we get to order."


    Though reluctant, Samson eventually caved under Patricia''s relentless persuasion and followed us downstairs. Patricia and I walked ahead while Samson trailed behind, looking like he was being dragged to his doom.


    "You''re impressive," I whispered to Patricia and gave her a thumbs-up.


    She raised her eyebrows at me. "If he didn''te, we''d have to order two fewer dishes. Of course, I wasn''t going to let that happen."


    From ordering to the food arriving, Samson Stayed silent while Patricia and I chatted away. The dishes were all spicy, and Patricia devoured them happily. Meanwhile, Samson and I were sweating buckets.


    "How can you two be such spice wimps?" Patricia teased, thoroughly enjoying her te of buffalo wings.


    I reached for a bottle of water, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn''t twist it open. Just as I was about to give up, a hand reached from behind and took it from


    me.


    "Mr. Hastings." Patricia finally put down her fork and knife, looking like she had just spotted an impending disaster.


    Alex handed me the bottle he had unscrewed. I blinked in surprise. "What are you doing here?"


    "Why wouldn''t I be here?" He raised an eyebrow slightly.