Chapter 45


    The sound unavoidably reached Alex’s ears.


    He looked up with an indifferent look and caught sight of Candice. She looked tipsy as she leaned


    against the wall and watched them.


    She seemed a bit more lonely than usual as she stood there alone, and also somewhat fragile.


    Alex’s gaze slightly darkened as he watched Candice slowly enter the adjacent suite.


    When Candice walked past Alex, she paused momentarily, which allowed Alex to catch a whiff of


    the faint scent of alcohol on her.


    After reaching her suite, Candice slept deeply. She only woke up in the middle of the night


    because she was feeling thirsty. She wanted to get up to pour some water but was wide awake.


    Just then, her phone rang. Candice picked it up to find a transaction record.


    Alex had transferred ten thousand dors to her.


    Presumably, it was her sry for the night.


    News of Sonia attending Helen’s birthday banquet quickly spread in the office, stirring a new wave


    of discussions.


    Ka discreetly asked Candice if it was true, and Candice nodded.


    “Yes.”


    This further solidified the rumors that Alex was determined to be with Sonia.


    Sonia was an intern, and she needed three months to obtain her internship certificate. Alex was


    supposed to handle it, but she had first applied to the secretary’s department and forgot to transfer


    it.


    Now, she had to go to Candice.


    Sonia studied at Dorrington University, which was a reputable institution. So, the internship


    certificate requirements were stringent.


    When Candice received her application, she still had several other documents and internship


    certificates to process.


    After some thought, she said. “Come find me tomorrow; I have a lot to handle today.”


    Sonia acknowledged Candice’s reply and turned to leave.


    Candice was busy herself, and Sonia didn’te to see her the next day. With that, Candice


    assumed Sonia had found someone else to help and didn’t bother asking.


    Instead, she processed the internship certificates for others and sent them out.


    Unexpectedly, two dayster, Ka gossiped in the office, “Sonia’s eyes are red from crying again.


    This time.


    As soon as she finished, a call from the upper floors came, instructing Candice to go up.


    Candice’s heart skipped a beat.


    Going upstairs, she indeed found Sonia sobbing on the desk.


    When she approached, Sonia visibly paused. Candice stopped in front of her and asked softly. “Did


    I do something to upset you?”


    Sonia halted her sobbing and slowly raised her tear–stained eyes.


    “Candice, if you didn’t want to provide me with an internship certificate, why didn’t you just tell me?”


    “Sonia.” Candice paused, looking at Sonia. “I asked you toe and see me the next day, but


    t you didn’t.”


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    “But Candice, I sent you emails and messaged you.” Sonia’s voice choked as she spoke, her eyes


    tinted with a hint of grievance. “I sent it to your inbox. The school collected the internship certificates


    yesterday. Mine wasn’t included. If you couldn’t help, you could have just told me. I would have


    found someone else.”


    Candice couldn’t recall adding Sonia to her WhatsApp contacts. She took out her phone and


    checked, finding Sonia’s messages on her work WhatsApp.


    There were only two brief messages:


    [Candice, can you sign my internship certificate?]


    [Sent it to your inbox. Thank you.]


    As she finished reading, the door to Alex’s office opened. He raised his hand and knocked twice on


    the door frame. His voice was cold and detached when he spoke, “Candice,e in.”


    His gaze shifted to Sonia. “You too.”


    Indeed, Alex was here about Sonia’s internship certificate.


    He asked Candice. “Why didn’t you provide Sonia with an internship certificate?”


    Candice pursed her lips, remaining silent for a moment before saying, “I told her toe find me. I


    was very busy.”


    “But you provided internship certificates for the other interns,” Alex said. His face showed little


    emotion as he looked at Candice. “Is there really no differential treatment?”


    Candice opened her mouth, instinctively wanting to refute, but the words on her lips turned into.


    “Did I treat Sonia differently?”


    “Isn’t it?” Alex raised his hand and took out a folder from the desk, tossing it in front of Candice. “In


    the list of outstanding interns submitted, everyone is listed except Sonia.”


    Candice nced at the list. “I didn’t organize this.”


    “The secretary’s office submitted it. Haven’t you seen it?”


    Alex’s attitude made it clear he was taking Sonia’s side, as if Candice had truly done something


    unfair to


    Sonia.


    She examined the list and calmly exined. “This list is based on the interns‘ performance.”


    She looked at Sonia. “Do you understand what I mean?”


    Sonia’s face tumed pale. She understood Candice’s implication.


    The interns in the secretary’s office would go out to meet clients and negotiate business deals. But


    in Sonia’s case, she followed Alex. By doing so, she didn’t know anything about thepany’s


    significant clients, and


    Alex didn’t meet smaller clients.


    So, she indeedcked any substantial achievements.


    However…


    Sonia bit her lip and nced at Candice.


    Did Candice dare say she had no personal motives?


    It was just one slot.


    If Candice really had really wanted to include Sonia in the list, how could she not make room for it?


    Candice happened to turn around and caught Sonia’s gaze. She hesitated and said, “If you want


    that slot. I can


    add you to the list.”


    Her tone was light, seemingly indifferent, but it made Sonia unusually concerned.


    Sonia quickly shook her head, looking wounded and fragile, “Candice, I don’t want it. I know I


    haven’t made any


    progress.”


    “Okay,” Candice responded.


    However…


    “Candice, don’t take advantage too much.” Alex frowned and nced at the open file. He casually


    picked up a pen and elegantly added Sonia’s name.


    He was determined to include Sonia’s name.


    Candice nced at Alex for a moment, then silently took the file and left.


    Before the door closed, she heard Sonia’s nasal voice asking Alex, “Lex, is this okay?”


    “What’s not okay about it?” Alex nonchntly tossed the pen onto the table.


    Before leaving work, Candice received a sudden call from Jackson. He said he had arranged to


    have dinner with the person in charge of the art exhibition tonight and asked if Candice would join.


    Candice knew Jackson wanted to help her and didn’t refuse.


    For her, Aether Corporation might indeed no longer be a good choice.


    Candice silently contemted for a moment, then went through her existing assets. After some


    calctions, it barely covered her expenses for a while.


    Moreover, if she resigned from Aether Corporation, she would also receivepensation.


    It just meant she couldn’t touch this industry again in the future.


    Candice sat at her desk in a daze.


    “Candice, Mr. Elysian said he wants you to apany him to a social event tonight,” Ka said,


    tapping her


    desk.


    Candice snapped out of her thoughts. Alex hadn’t taken her to social events for a long time.


    She looked down at the client information Ka handed her. However, her blood seemed to freeze


    in an


    Instant.


    The expression on Candice’s face was unpleasant.