"Really?" Scarlett''s expression lit up with genuine happiness for me. "I knew you were destined for great things!"


    "Come on. Dinner''s on me tonight," I said with a smile.


    At the restaurant, as we talked about thetest project, Scarlett''s expression darkened with frustration.


    "Serena, why don''t you take over and liaise with Schneider Group again? Mr. Schneider is a real headache. A bunch of our team members have beenpletely stonewalled by him. If there''s even the slightest w in the contract, he refuses to sign. The payment has gone through, but the goods still haven''t been delivered."


    She looked genuinely troubled.


    "Really?" I frowned. The way she described Lucas didn''t match the person I knew at all.


    She nodded earnestly. "Of course, it''s true! Do you think I''d lie to you?"


    I hesitated, sensing the sincerity in her tone. She then softened her voice and said


    in a pleading tone, "Serena, you''re done with the Excel Group project, and the follow-up work will take some time anyway. Just do me this favor, okay?"


    After a brief pause, I nodded. "Alright."


    ...


    The next day, I arrived at the meeting location Scarlett had provided. The main agenda was discussing the delivery timeline for the second batch of polymer materials. Hastings Group''s new productunch was fast approaching.


    When Lucas walked in from outside, he was wearing sunsses with oversized frames that covered half his face. But the moment he spotted me, he immediately took them off. "Serena, what are you doing here?"


    "The coboration has wrapped up, so I''m back in charge of your project," I replied with a smile while observing him carefully.


    Something about him feltpletely different from the Lucas I used to know.


    Before, he always drove luxury cars but dressed simply, carrying himself with aid-back ease. But today...


    He was decked out in a Chanel outfit,plete with a matching pearl chain around his neck. He exuded an air of wealth and status. Yet beneath all that refinement there was also an unmistakable arrogance. His hair was dyed an audacious silver-gray, which contrasted sharply with his sharp, clean features, making him seem almost untouchable.


    "That''s great news," he said. The moment he saw me, he had already taken off his sunsses. Sitting across from me, he kept fidgeting with his clothes uneasily.


    "Luke, you look really good today," Iplimented him without hesitation. "It really enhances your presence."


    "Really?" He finally stopped adjusting his clothes and scratched his head sheepishly. "I just wanted to look more like a sessful businessman."


    Looking at him like this, I couldn''t help butugh. "You''re already doing great."


    After signing the contract for the goods delivery, we got up to leave the conference room. But as soon as I opened the door, I found Alex standing right outside. He seemed lost in thought.


    I was unaware of how long he had been standing there.


    "Mr. Hastings," Lucas greeted him awkwardly. "Since when do you have a habit of eavesdropping on meetings? Or are you just afraid I might take Serena out shopping during work hours again?"


    Alex barely nced at him before pointing at me. "Come with me."


    Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away.


    I had no idea where this sudden mood swing wasing from, but I still said


    goodbye to Lucas before following after him. "What''s going on?"


    "Why are you with Lucas again?" His tone was almost usatory.


    I was baffled. "Lucas? Weren''t you the one who assigned me to handle the Schneider Group project?"


    "I..." For the first time, I saw Alex at a loss for words. Then, after a moment, he said, "You don''t need to handle it anymore."