Annie quickly rejected Lance's words, leaving his expression hard to read. While Lance's expression remained unchanged, calm and indifferent, Addison could sense the underlying tension. His eyes betrayed a silent protest against her rejection. Addison had seen this expression from Lance many times before. "With Mr. Johnston's temper, who knows what you'll do next? You might even target the Fullers," Annie said bluntly. "That's why the bodyguards will never leave. They'll stay right here, no matter what." There were so many rumors about Lance in Halton, and Annie had heard plenty about his ruthless ways. She would never let her grandson or the Fullers, fall into danger. The bodyguards staying here was the only way to ensure the Fullers' safety. However, Addison furrowed her brows. Annie obviously didn't notice the change in Lance's expression. Her blunt tone ... It would only make Lance more angry, and the Fullers would find themselves in even deeper trouble. Addison narrowed her eyes, studying Lance closely, as if trying to catch every shift in his expression. But to her surprise, Lance's face remained unexpectedly calm. He suddenly smiled. Seeing the expression on Lance's face, Addison's tension eased immediately. It seemed she had been too quick to assume Lance was narrow-minded. But as she took a closer look, she realized that although Lance was smiling, the smile didn't reach his eyes. It held a cold, almost chilling edge. She quickly retracted her earlier assessment. Lance was exactly as narrow-minded as she had thought. "Don't worry, I won't do anything to the Fullers. Your grandson seems just fine standing here, doesn't he?" He glanced over at Michael, his eyes unreadable.Michael, caught off guard by Lance's sudden stare, opened his mouth to speak but struggled to find his words. "Well ... " Annie, however, remained firm. "The bodyguards will stay, and I have every reason not to trust Mr. Johnston." Having lived decades longer than Lance, she had encountered all kinds of people and understood just how treacherous human nature could be. In the ruthless world of business, where deception, manipulation, and competition were the norms, trust was a rare and fragile thing. Lance's words were not to be trusted, not for a second. Lance listened to her words, standing there with that cold smile still on his face. Though he was smiling, his expression gave nothing away, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking. While Addison knew Lance, she didn't love him, so her understanding of him came from their everyday interactions. The expression Lance wore now, however, was one she rarely saw during their usual encounters, and Addison found herself unable to read it. The two of them stood there in a tense standoff for what felt like an eternity. After a while, Lance finally spoke, "Then let the bodyguards stay in the private room." Was it a compromise, or was there another reason? Annie wasn't sure, but she knew that having so many bodyguards nearby gave her a sense of security. After speaking, Lance gave a small wave to his bodyguards who immediately understood and pulled out the chair behind Annie. The bodyguard returned to their positions, and Lance calmly gestured with a slight nod. "Please, take a seat." "Yes, please, sit down," Michael said quickly, noticing that Lance's tone was neutral, without any hint of emotion. He hurried to help Annie into her seat. Once she was seated, Michael pulled out his own chair and sat down as well. With the three of them settled, only Addison remained standing, surrounded by a crowd of bodyguards. She couldn't help but reflect on her "good" luck. How was it that the moment she walked in, the bodyguards showed up? She had no idea what Lance intended to discuss with the Fullers or how long it would take. She couldn't stand for long ... At least it seemed the Fullers were no longer in immediate danger. She silently hoped for a chance to slip away. "What kind of contract are you trying to pressure the Fullers into signing today, Mr. Johnston?" Annie asked as she sat down, getting straight to the point. As always, she didn't waste any time cutting to the chase. Addison raised an eyebrow, surprised by Annie's straightforwardness. She didn't notice this side of her when they had spoken earlier. Perhaps it was because she was so fed up with Virginia's sarcasm, that Addison was now drawn to people with a blunt, no-nonsense attitude. Lance picked up the agreement from the table and handed it to Annie. "Take a look." But Annie didn't take it. Instead, she turned to Michael, her gaze shifting to him. Michael gave her a reassuring nod. "This is the same agreement he just handed me. Please, take a look." Annie finally took the agreement and began to review it, quickly finishing after a few moments. "Well?" Lance asked. Annie's tone was serious as she responded, "This agreement is excellent, and the projects involved are among the top in the country. If the Fullers partner with the Johnstons and become part of this, our market value will rise significantly." Lance nodded, agreeing with Annie's assessment. "Once the Fullers sign this agreement, it's a sure win for you ... " "But the Fullers can't sign." Annie's words wiped the slight change in Lance's expression, replacing it with a renewed darkness. "Why?" he asked, unable to hold back the question. "The Fullers have already signed a contract with another company. For a project this large, our funds can't keep up," Annie explained, giving the same reason Michael had earlier. This confirmed that the Fullers weren't lying. "Which company did you sign with?" Lance asked, his voice low. Apart from Raven, he didn't believe there was any company in Halton more powerful than Johnston Enterprise.Raven had always operated independently, never partnering with any other company, which was why Lance had ruled them out from the start. Annie remained silent. Lance saw that Annie remained silent and did not answer. He knew that she must be hesitating. "I'm sure you're more skilled at evaluating the potential outcomes than I am. Choosing Johnston Enterprise would undoubtedly bring greater benefits than any other option." He couldn't believe the Fullers would be foolish enough to choose a company weaker than Johnston Enterprise to partner with. "Take your time to think it over," Lance said, his tone calm and steady, as if he was already confident of the outcome. "If you choose Johnston Enterprise, you'll be able to make any request at any time, and Johnston Enterprise will always be there to help. This isn't just a one-time project collaboration; it's the beginning of a partnership between our two companies." The chance to form a long-term partnership with Johnston Enterprise was an opportunity no company could turn down. Addison shook her head as she listened to Lance, realizing just how confident he was in Johnston Enterprise's power. Little did he know, there were always bigger players out there. He genuinely believed that every company would be eager to collaborate with Johnston Enterprise. ... It was clear that Lance's confidence would be shattered. Without a second thought, Annie said as soon as he finished speaking, her words sharp and unwavering. "No need to think it over. The Fullers won't agree to this agreement." Her words were decisive, leaving no room for negotiation. Lance's expression darkened immediately. Unlike earlier, his anger was now unmistakable, and anyone in the room could see how furious he was.