Andrea believed he was upset because she hadn't sought his input before making the decision. Unbeknownst to her, Lucas responded with a look of extreme disinterest, saying, "You're the boss, you make the decisions. I don't really care about that stuff."
Andrea's eyes widened in shock at his response. The Valentine Anderson she knew would have been concerned and eager to address any issues promptly to prevent any negative impact on the company or the staff.
The person standing before her, however, appeared indifferent and uninterested. If she had known this was Lucas Anderson, she would have understood.
"I'm going to go take a shower and change so we can leave together," Lucas Anderson said as he walked towards Andrea. He kissed her cheek before disappearing into the bathroom.
Despite her reservations, Andrea didn't linger in suspicion. She promptly exited the room, and shortly thereafter, Valentine Anderson joined her in the living room. Together, they set off for the Singers Headquarters where the conference was to be held. Given the recent merger, Andrea saw no reason to host the conference at Val. Corp.
As they journeyed to their destination, Lucas Anderson, who was also in the car, began to sing along to the radio with surprising skill, "What is love! Love is sorrow! Love is sadness! I'll never love you again! 'Cause I am going to hate you! 'Cause I love you more!"
Andrea threw Lucas an incredulous glance, taken aback by his melodious voice that harmonized seamlessly with the song on the radio.
The reason Andrea was so astounded was that she knew Valentine Anderson to be tone-deaf. His most dreaded places were karaoke bars, and his singing was notoriously poor—the last time she heard him attempt it was at prom, where his performance was so terrible it became a source of ridicule. He had since sworn off singing and never bothered to learn the lyrics to any song.
"How did you learn to sing like that?" Andrea inquired, her curiosity piqued.
"Over the years," Lucas replied nonchalantly, continuing to sing with a joyous cadence as he drove.
The atmosphere in the car was uplifted by his performance. Andrea settled into her seat, listening quietly, his voice a pleasant serenade that enhanced the drive to their destination.
Andrea and Lucas Anderson made their way into the conference hall, which was already bustling with relatives of the bomb blast victims and a media team invited by the Singers Group.
As Andrea stepped into the conference, the air was thick with grief; some of their business rivals had apparently stirred the emotions of the victims' families to incite trouble.
Undeterred, Andrea marched to the stage and began addressing the crowd. "Welcome everyone. I can feel the weight of sorrow for the loss of your loved ones—brothers, fathers, and sisters. While no amount of money can replace them, we are committed to supporting the families affected by this tragedy. We will sponsor the education of the victims' children and provide a monthly stipend of fifteen thousand dollars for each family..."
Mid-sentence, a heart-wrenching shout cut through the murmurs, "You killed them, you vile woman, driven by your own ambition!"
Andrea's eyes found the source—a woman in tears, her daughter by her side, trying to console her.
The media quickly diverted their attention to the grieving pair.
"My son worked tirelessly to support us! How can money make up for his life?" the woman sobbed, her pain palpable.
Andrea, thinking the issue might be financial, was about to speak when Lucas stepped forward. His demeanor was unexpectedly warm and friendly. "Hello, what's your name?" he asked the woman, his smile disarming.
The woman, taken aback by his approach, hesitated. Lucas's next words were gentle, filled with empathy. "I'm truly sorry for your loss, and I understand your pain. If I could, I would trade places with your son."
His sincerity seemed to reach the woman, who was now visibly confused, especially upon realizing that Lucas was the face of man reported to be killed in the recent blast.
"We will seek justice for your son," Lucas continued, his voice filled with sorrow. "Please accept our condolences, and let's not make this any harder for each other."
The woman, now subdued, looked at Lucas with a mix of emotions.
Sensing the situation was now under control, Andrea swiftly concluded the conference, wary of further disruptions.
Afterward, Andrea eyed Lucas with a mix of suspicion and curiosity. He seemed so different from the man she thought she knew.
"Why are you staring at me? Am I too handsome?" Lucas's playful tone broke her scrutiny.
Just then, Andrea's secretary approached. "Mrs. Singers, this way please." There was a meeting with influencers to manage the narrative online.
"Are you coming with me?" Andrea asked Lucas.
He made a face, half in jest. "Nah, it sounds too dull. I'll wait for you in the car."
Andrea gave him a long look but ultimately left without another word.
Back in the car, Lucas was met with a voice from the back seat. "You need to get that code from her before she realizes who you really are."