Lance was frowning slightly with one hand in his pocket and the other holding a phone. Addison furrowed her brow. It really was Lance! Realizing he was standing right in front of her, Addison instinctively took a few steps aside, putting distance between them. Ryan noticed Addison retreating and couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong, Dr. Daves?" "We'll leave later," she replied without giving a reason. Ryan was puzzled. He followed her gaze and spotted a man in a dark suit standing in front of a car. The man was tall and lean, standing straight with one hand in his pocket. Just from his posture, it was clear he exuded an air of sharpness and authority. Ryan's brows immediately furrowed. From the look on Addison's face, she was deliberately avoiding this man. But why? Who was he? A flood of questions swirled in Ryan's mind, but he couldn't voice any of them. Addison stood at a distance where she could clearly hear Lance's voice. "I understand," Lance said sternly as his gaze fixed on the entrance of Olive Oasis. "Is this the way you guys work? Even if Raven refuses to grant authorization, is that any excuse to hand me such a subpar proposal? "Do you think Johnston Enterprise keeps you around for this kind of incompetence?" His voice was filled with anger, evidently furious. After hanging up the call, he immediately dialed another number. "Mike, Raven is still withholding authorization. Johnston Enterprise can't wait any longer." Addison couldn't hear the response on the other end but noticed Lance's quickened pace and worsening mood. "You're saying Addison's interfering?" Lance's voice suddenly rose.Addison's eyes narrowed. What? Why was everything being blamed on me again? Ryan heard it too, and his discomfort showed. "Dr. Daves, who is that man up ahead?" he asked quietly, lowering his voice to match Addison's. "Lance," she replied, spitting out the name in a low voice tinged with emotion. Lance? Ryan's gaze returned to the man in front of them, his expression darkening while being lost in thought. Addison didn't notice Ryan's reaction. Her focus was entirely on Lance's conversation. "So, you're saying Addison sabotaged things, making Keith refuse to grant authorization for us? Would she really do that?" Lance's tone held a trace of disbelief at first. But after a brief pause, the doubt in his eyes disappeared, replaced entirely by anger. "So, Addison was upset about leaving the banquet early last time and has been holding a grudge against the Johnstons? No wonder Raven refuses to meet with Johnston Enterprise." Addison's eyes widened in shock. Was that really how Lance saw me? What a reputation she must have! It was funny to think she could single-handedly make Raven Company ignore Johnston Enterprise. She abruptly turned to Ryan. "Let's go." Ryan blinked in surprise. "But Lance is still there ... Weren't you trying to avoid him?" "Not anymore," Addison said coldly. She realized there was no need to hide. If Lance already thought so poorly of her, avoiding him wouldn't change anything.Ryan stared at Addison as she walked expressionlessly toward the car and opened the driver's door. He hurried to catch up with her. Before she could get inside, he stepped in front of her. "Dr. Daves, you've been drinking. Let me drive you home," he said in a low voice. "Oh, right," Addison murmured, realizing she couldn't drive. She moved to the passenger side, opened the door, and got in. Hearing the car door, Lance turned around with a frown. He caught a glimpse of someone getting into the car but couldn't see their face. He raised his gaze and locked eyes with the man standing by the car. Ryan looked at him calmly. For the first time, he got a good look at Lance's face. "Ryan?" Addison's voice called from inside the car, breaking Ryan's focus. Ryan quietly withdrew his gaze. "Are you coming?" Addison asked. From her angle, she could only see Ryan staring straight ahead, seemingly lost in thought. "Yes," Ryan replied, getting into the car. "Dr. Daves, where do you live?" "Pendomium Heights." Ryan started the engine, and the car sped off, leaving Lance standing there with only a fleeting glimpse of the vehicle. Lance squinted as he watched the car disappear. The man's look just now had been oddly meaningful. And yet, Lance had no recollection of ever meeting him. "What's your plan now?" Mike's worried voice pulled Lance out of his thoughts. Lance didn't answer as his gaze returned to the entrance of Olive Oasis. Mike sighed on the other end. "Johnston Enterprise is really in a tough spot right now. If we don't get that authorization, it'll only get worse. Honestly, you should've held back at the time. With Addison's connection to Keith, upsetting her was bound to make things harder with Raven." "What's the point of saying that now?" Lance's tone was icy.Mike sighed again. "So, what are you going to do? Because I'm out of ideas." "I'm at Olive Oasis." Lance's response seemed completely unrelated to Mike's earlier question, coming across as a random remark at first. To the average listener, it would sound like Lance was flustered and perhaps even rambling due to his anxiety. However, Mike understood Lance's intent almost immediately. Mike paused, his tone shifting. "You're not thinking of ... " Lance gave a faint acknowledgment. "That's the only way ... " Mike didn't seem surprised by the confirmation; it was as if he had anticipated it all along. ... Inside the car, Ryan drove while Addison stared out the window, lost in thought. Ryan stole glances at her, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. This was the first time he had been alone with Addison in such a confined space, and he could distinctly smell her subtle fragrance. The delicate scent mixed with the rich aroma of the liquor created an oddly captivating combination. "What will you do after you drop me off at Pendomium Heights?" Addison finally asked, realizing the question had slipped her mind. "Uh ... " Ryan scratched his head, momentarily thrown off. "I'll figure something out. I always have a way to get home. If worse comes to worst, I can just take a cab." His nonchalant tone made it clear that getting home was the least of his concerns. His priority was ensuring Addison got home safely. "It's getting pretty late," Addison said worriedly while checking the time on her phone. "Don't worry about it. I'm a grown man; I can take care of myself. You should focus on getting home, Dr. Daves." Addison couldn't shake off her unease. "If I had known, I wouldn't have had that drink." After all, Ryan was just her assistant, and now it felt like he was playing the role of her chauffeur.Am I taking advantage of my subordinate? "That drink was meant to show your sincerity, Dr. Daves. Taking it means you're genuine about the collaboration," Ryan said with a smile. "I'm perfectly fine; don't feel guilty about it." Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Addison's brow furrowing in concern, and he felt a strange mix of emotions. There was something sweet about the way she worried for him and it tugged at his heart. Ryan couldn't help but smile at the thought. Though he still had Lance on his mind, seeing the expression on Addison's face made him feel that the connection between Lance and her had become far less important at that moment.