"So many people had tried and failed. In Kreshill alone, countless people had vied for Dr. Nancy's approval, hoping to gain her authorization. But in the end, only Mr. Johnston made it happen." The others nodded in agreement. When it came to this, everyone thought Lance was exceptional. It was nearly impossible to find anyone in Kreshill who could match his competence and leadership. Perhaps only Keith, the president of Raven, could be considered his rival. However, while Keith was comparable to Lance in terms of leadership and execution, he was hardly ever in the office. Out of 365 days a year, he was absent for at least 340. At this rate, it was only a matter of time before Raven fell apart. With the way Keith ran things, there had to be some powerful backing behind the scenes keeping the company afloat. In contrast to Keith, Lance was fully dedicated to his job—day in and day out, he was always in his office. They had him to thank for their jobs. If not for him, they would've lost their jobs long ago. "If it's not an issue with the lab, then it has to be a lost deal, right?" That was the only explanation they could think of for Lance's foul mood. "That's probably it," the group murmured in agreement, some even sighing. Mr. Johnston is just too invested in the company. Deals fall through all the time—it's part of business. There's no need to get this worked up. Only Isaac sat silently, pressing his lips together. Because he knew ... there had been no lost deals lately. With how decisive and ruthless Lance was, once he secured a deal, there was no chance of it slipping through. So what could've made him this furious? As everyone whispered among themselves, the CEO's office door suddenly flew open. Bang! Lance strode out, coat in hand, his eyes narrowed in an icy glare.The chilling look on his face sent a shiver through the entire floor. Everyone immediately ducked their heads and buried themselves in work, pretending they hadn't seen anything. ... Following the address Addison had sent him, Lance navigated his way to Summit Bistro. Stepping out of the car, he cast a long, meaningful glance at the restaurant in front of him, his expression growing even darker. Anyone from Halton knew about this restaurant's "curse" — couples who dined here never lasted more than a year before breaking up. That's why local couples avoided the place entirely, leaving only clueless tourists to wander in, unaware of its reputation. So why had Addison chosen this restaurant for their lunch? What was she trying to say? Lance pressed his lips together. Did she know about the so-called "curse"? He wasn't the type to believe in superstition, but he still wanted to know what was going through her mind.Was this her way of telling him that there was no future between them? Was she hinting that no matter how long they dragged this out, their fate was already sealed? Arms crossed, he stood there, staring at the restaurant for a long time—his presence exuding an almost tangible pressure. Like an ancient monolith weathered by desert winds for millennia, he remained unmoving, his imposing aura impossible to ignore. The server at the entrance hesitated. At first, she wanted to step forward and greet him, but something about his demeanor made her uneasy. Is this sharply dressed man here to cause trouble? He certainly didn't look friendly. Still, she forced herself to approach him. "Hello, are you here for lunch?" Lance cast her a brief glance but said nothing. Without breaking stride, he walked straight into the restaurant.