I immediately fell silent. I had always assumed that someone like Alex wouldn''t be into such intensely spicy food.


    "Mr. Hastings." Samson also stood up to greet him.


    "Enjoy your meal." Alex nced at the dishes on the table before turning to me. "If you can''t handle spice, don''t push yourself. I asked the waiter to add fish and chips to your order. You like that, don''t you?"


    Patricia''s eyes sparkled with curiosity as she nced between me and Alex. I simply nodded slightly.


    "I''ve already settled the bill," Alex continued. "You three are handling a major project. Thanks for your hard work."


    With that, he turned and left. Patricia practically had stars in her eyes. "I finally understand what it means to be young and aplished. Mr. Hastings is seriously impressive. He''s so young and already in control of such a massivepany."


    I sat down and started eating. Sure enough, fish and chips suited my pte much better.


    "Someone like Mr. Hastings was born with a silver spoon. Even if he did nothing, he''d still livefortably. He has a way easier lifepared to ours." Samson scoffed.


    Hearing his words, I couldn''t help but disagree. "That''s not entirely true. Alex was destined to inherit Hastings Group from the moment he was born. He had fewer choices than the average person, and he has worked just as hard, if not harder."


    Having grown up alongside Alex, I had witnessed firsthand the hardships he had endured and the effort he had put in.


    But Samson only believed what he wanted to believe. He dismissed everything else. "Ms. Ashford, you''ve benefited from the Hastings family, so, of course, you''d defend him."


    I frowned at him, suddenly regretting that I had even considered mending our rtionship.


    "Samson, what kind of attitude is that?" Patricia immediately jumped in to defend me, as always.


    "Serena is just stating facts. Mr. Hastings is smarter and works harder than you. If he were ipetent, Mr. Hastings Senior wouldn''t have handed thepany over to him."


    Samson was clearly frustrated and mmed his cutlery down before storming off. Patricia was stunned. "Wow, what a petty man. Serena, was I too harsh?"


    "It''s fine. Let''s eat." I picked up my fork and ced some food on her te. "It''d be a waste not to enjoy this delicious food."


    Patricia''s eyes welled up with excitement. "Serena, you actually think it''s good? You sure know how to appreciate great food. Come on, eat more!"


    I forced a smile and picked up a piece of fish. "I think I''ll stick with this."


    "But seriously, Mr. Hastings is impressive, Patricia and I continued chatting as we ate. "I joined Hastings Group pretty early. After Mr. Hastings Senior handed thepany over to him, thepany has at least doubled in size."


    "Really?" I widened my eyes in disbelief.


    "Of course." Patricia grabbed a piece of beef and immediately started fanning her mouth from the heat. "Before he took over, Hastings


    Group mainly focused on the


    long-established industries. But once he stepped in, he led thepany into the inte and financial sectors. Thepany''s growth skyrocketed."


    Listening to her, I couldn''t help but pause. I suddenly felt like I didn''t really know Alex at all from the way she described it. Or rather, I had


    never truly taken the time too understand him.


    After the proposal was approved, the next two weeks were a blur ofte nights


    and overtime for Patricia, Samson, and me.