In Sharon's office, Lance calmed down after laughing for a while, feeling the depression from the recent but continuous downward turn of his hedonistic, responsibility-free life melting away. He exhaled, swept a hand over his face, and looked at the blonde before the desk with a shake of his head:
"Sigh… You don't know Alex yet. You really don't know much about your boss."
He didn't explain. He saw no need to be long-winded, so he returned to the subject:
"Anyway, you wanted to know if some people will do anything to stop Alex and become the chairman of the Group. Let me finish answering your question, starting with his second uncle. Being the second son of the Lenner family, he never got an opportunity for the throne, and he has always resented that. He never shied away from recognizing that, even when the old patriarch had been alive. Marten Lenner has always been open about his dissatisfaction, and his desire for the throne. As for what he is ready to do to get it, well, that is something difficult to fathom, just like the human heart."
Speaking till there, Lance paused, and frowned, as his throat bobbed in discomfort. He looked around, in search of something. He had not visited the place much, when Leyna had still been the owner, but he found what he was looking for not long after, as there were just that many places where it could have been placed, and Sharon was already walking to it.
She took the carafe on the cabinet and served a glass of water which she came to place before Lance.
"Thank you."
He took it with a smile, and drained it in one go to feed some moisture to the throat he had been overworking since he came to meet the blonde in her office.
"Ah~"
He let out a sigh of comfort, put the glass down, and looked at his host with a softer look in his eyes. Even his voice seemed mellower when he leaned back in the sofa and resumed speaking:
"In conclusion, I can't say much. However, Alex's second uncle does look like the kind who could drop a punishing hammer on you at any moment for any mistake, oversight or distraction on your part. Just like that school…"
Lance didn't say who he was reminded of from his school days, but his scowl full of a long-standing grudge said it all about what he was thinking. But considering how he was, how even Alex was, Sharon could imagine that it must have been a stern figure of authority their group of rules-breaking rich heirs had had to contend with.
Even though it was a little amusing, Sharon could not relate, not with how she had held firm onto the opportunity to learn and study so as to succeed and change her fate, hers and her mother's.
Lance didn't linger on the bad memories of his teenage years. Glancing at Sharon, he cleared his throat at her unimpressed expression, and pretended to not have lost his composure as he continued with the second part of his answer:
"Ahem… Now, let's talk about Alex's third uncle. You can never tell what he has in mind, so despite what he said, what he has always shown, it is difficult to really trust him, so if you want to protect Alex's interests, you can't let your guard down against him either."
Sharon had the impression that she was listening to a drama. Rich families had always been rumored to be full of intrigues, with rich people finding ways to keep life interesting. Now, she seemed to be getting a glimpse at that.
It would have been entertaining, if not for the fact that she was involved this time, and indirectly, her mother too, so she raised her eyebrows and tried to clarify:
"What did Alex's third uncle say?"
Lance paused, then couldn't stop the smile that came to his lips. Amusement filled his eyes, its cause making him laugh as he explained:
"Actually, he is a little pitiful. He was born third in the family, with two sons before him. So, since there seems to be no way for him to inherit the family business, he gave up on competing altogether, deciding to keep himself idle."
Lance shook his head, and his words took a turn:
"He has been proven right since then. As expected, the eldest son of the family took over the Group while the second son went on to run himself ragged trying to prove himself. He did manage to, but when something happened, it was Alex's mother who took over after her husband under the old patriarch's order. And even now, it is Alex who is on the seat."
Explaining the situation made Lance laugh again, as Sharon blinked. Sigurd was indeed unfortunate, but also fortunate to not have tried too hard. Recognizing his position had saved him from wasting his time and efforts, and from tasting disappointment, if the latter had not made itself at home in his heart right from the beginning already.
However, looking at the laughing Lance, Sharon frowned:
"According to your words, Alex's third uncle is the most leisurely Lenner of the family, and possibly the most harmless. Why can't he be trusted? You even said to be wary of him. And why did you seem uncomfortable around him?"
The questions did not make Lance serious. He waved his hand dismissively, his answer flat as if obvious:
"Because of his smile. It looks genuine, but Alex has never trusted it, so, with time, I have become unable to feel comfortable around him."
Instead of being satisfied, Sharon's frown deepened:
"But you said that he is a little like Second, Alex's second brother. If he can't be trusted, why do you think Alex's brother can be?"
Lance rolled his eyes, and shot Sharon a sidelong glance:
"Just a little. I said, just a little like Second. When looking at you and smiling, Second never hides that he is thinking about how to sell you and make you count the money for him. Moreover, he doesn't always keep a smile on his face all the time, so he doesn't look fake at all, unlike their third uncle."
Lance took out his phone to glance at the time, then patted his thigh and stood up:
"Alright, I still have to descend to the abyss where I have been cast. I have answered your question and delayed my suffering. I've got to go. See ya, Sharon Kenner."
Without waiting for an answer, Lance waved his hand holding the folder and left the office, leaving Sharon with the empty glass he had drank from, and in the silence, her own thoughts.