Chapter 61
Candice maintained her professional demeanor, replying, “It’s thepany’s policy, Ms. Burgess.”
Nina scoffed, then asked Alex, “Is there really such apany’s policy?”
Alex’s gaze shifted briefly between Candice and Nina. He then remarked nonchntly, “Remember
that bag you liked yesterday? I’ll take you to get it this afternoon.”
Nina pouted her lips, clearly dissatisfied with the oue. She pressed further, ” Am I not allowed
to sit in?”
Alex considered for a moment, then offered to Nina, “If you’re bored, perhaps Candice could
apany you on a shopping trip.”
Nina hastily rejected the suggestion, “Why would I want to go shopping with her?
11
Her scorn was obvious in her tone.
Candice, momentarily taken aback, looked to Alex, who casually supported Nina’s preference.
“It’s your choice,” he said.
Though Nina wanted to stay, she recognized Alex’s firm stance and eventually departed without
further argument.
Once she was gone, Alex turned his attention to Candice, his tone icy. “Gather the documents.”
She had previously organized the files, but Nina had added more papers to the pile, so everything
was a mess now.
It took her some time to sort through the clutter and pass the documents to her
boss.
Alex grew visibly impatient. He tapped on the table and sharply criticized, “Have your skills
deteriorated to this level?”
As the meeting participants started to arrive, Candice took her ce beside Alex, with her materials
in order.
Charles, appearing anxious, nervously rubbed his hands and addressed, “Mr. Elysian, the
competition is tough. We’re in a rough spot.”
Alex’s face was devoid of emotion, and his icy tone cut through the air as he tapped the table,
demanding, “Where are the market analysis reports and case studies I requested?”
Charles appeared uneasy,cking a convincing exnation.
Alex’s demeanor grew colder, a clear indication of his rising anger.
Candice, sensing the brewing storm, silently organized documents next to him, careful not to
escte the situation.
Yet, in a moment of tension, someone identally bumped into Candice’s arm. As she was next to
Alex who was going over some paperwork, the nudge caused the documents to shift out of order.
Alex’s mood darkened further. He gave Candice a frosty re and barked, “Get out if you’re
incapable of doing your job!”
Candice’s face drained of color, and she meekly apologized, “I’m sorry, Elysian. It was an
ident.”
Mr.
His anger lingered after the meeting. No one dared to cross him for fear of the
consequences.
Charles, tailing him, tried to smooth things over with nods and submissive gestures as he escorted
Alex out.
Candice, maintaining a stoic facade, followed them. She felt wronged, having been chastised
publicly for a mistake that was not hers.
Alex had rarely reprimanded her for work–rted issues after her internship.
Nina, who was waiting outside, saw Alex’s sullen face and cheerfully approached. She asked,
“What’s wrong? Who upset you?”
Faced with her, Alex felt obligated to hold back some of his rage. He pinched his brows and
muttered, “It’s nothing.”
Nina prodded further, “So, are we still shopping for that bag?”
Candice, standing in the background, could not see his face but heard him. respond in a subdued
tone, “If you want to, then yes.”
Nina, evidently pleased, yfully warned, “Better prepare your credit card; I won’t be holding back,”
Herments made Alex chuckle, lifting his mood.
Candice, trailing a few steps behind, went unnoticed by the pair.
The evening was reserved for a client meeting, so Nina had Candice drive them to a popr
shopping area.
Nina excitedly proposed, “There’s this restaurant I’ve been dying to try, but never hadpany.
Alex, how about joining me?”
Alex was on his phone and nonchntly agreed, “Sure.”
Nina’s delight was evident in the response. She then turned to Candice with a
broad grin, saying, “Ms. Renault, would you mind waiting outside while we dine? It’s a ce for
couples, so it might be awkward for you.”
Alex looked up from his phone, frowned, and asked in surprise, “A couple’s restaurant?”
Nina assured him, “Yeah, any issue with that?”
He nced briefly at Candice and gave a short nod. “Alright then.”
Candice caught the underlying frost in his nce. She perceived it as a silent. directive not to share
this with Sonia. But then again, what was her rtionship with Sonia to ry such information?
All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.
As Alex and Nina stepped into the restaurant, Candice found a nearby spot to have lunch.
Theck of rest the previous night,pounded with the stress of Alex’s ire, weighed heavily on
her.
She ordered a meal, managing only a few bites before contemting finding a ce to rx for a
while.
Candice’s phone, which had remained silent through the morning, buzzed with an iing
message.
Hanley, who had been absent since the previous night, reached out with a text. He mentioned that
Jackson had been in touch with him and checked if Candice was up for a meeting, as he was
currently avable.
After a brief consideration, realizing that Alex and Nina likely would not require her services
imminently, she weed the opportunity to meet with Hanley.
It turned out that Hanley was in the vicinity. He proposed that Candice wait for him at the restaurant
where she was.
Candice agreed to the n and quickly texted Jackson to express her appreciation for the
connection./
Jackson’s response came promptly in the form of a voice message, his tone
to interact with him and learn about the ins and outs of the industry.”
…y
As Candice prepared to extend her thanks once more, Jackson yfully suggested that a dinner
treat upon her return would be a suitable way of expressing her gratitude.
Having replied to Jackson, Candice set her phone aside just in time to notice a young man making
his entrance into the restaurant.
He stood out with his height, dressed simply in a white shirt and ck trousers. His attire
entuated his lean, model–like figure and gave off the air of a model.
The young man’s arrival immediately drew the attention of those in the
restaurant.
Candice averted her gaze, considering it impolite to continue staring.
To her surprise, the man surveyed the room briefly before making his way directly to her table.
Stopping before her, he introduced himself with a maic voice, “Hanley Baldwin.”
He lightly tapped the table and studied her with a calm expression, “You’re Candice?”
Candice was taken aback. She avoided looking directly at Hanley when he entered the restaurant,
but she did get the impression that he was attractive and had an extraordinary temperament.
Now, up close, she couldn’t help but notice his striking features, particrly his alluring eyes.
A small, red mole near the corner of his right eye, reminiscent of a teardrop, lent him an air of
aloofness.
Candice’s heart pounded as she returned his gaze. Instinct told her that Hanley was not someone
to be messed with.