Chapter 66


    Although Alex’s voice was calm, Candice could sense the annoyance in it since she knew him well.


    Confused about the reason for his irritation, she remained silent, her lips tightly pursed.


    This response seemed to intensify Alex’s contempt. He narrowed his eyes, his tone icy as he


    used, “Ms. Renault, it’s working hours. Should you be flirting with men?”


    Taken aback, Candice looked up sharply, meeting his gaze and noting the brief sh of disdain. She


    attempted to rify, “I just ran into a friend by chance.”


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


    “You seem to have a lot of friends,” Alex mocked. “Which one is it?”


    His interpretation of “friend” was inly different from Candice’s. She could put up with Alex


    humiliating her, but he had gone too far in dragging Hanley into this mess.


    She swallowed and cleared her throat, “Can’t your thoughts be less filthy?”


    Adding bitterly, her tone twinged with rage, “Can’t I have my own friends?”


    Alex’s face hardened as he locked his gaze on Candice.


    His already formidable demeanor, nowced with his foul mood, felt even more imposing.


    Candice’s hands shook slightly under his scrutiny.


    Nina approached with files in her hand, just as she was ready to say something.


    She nced at Alex, asking. “Mr. Elysian, shouldn’t we be heading back to the office for a meeting?


    Why are


    we still here?”


    Candice was taken aback. She raised her eyes to Alex, who had already averted his gaze and was


    walking


    away.


    Nina trailed after him with the files in her arms.


    After a few steps, she paused, turning back to Candice with a probing stare. She warned, “If you


    don’t want to be around Alex, better keep it that way in the future.”


    Candice detected a hidden implication in her words, but before she could reply, Nina had already


    left.


    She felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her only after they were both out of sight.


    Realizing Alex might have been waiting for her to join the meeting, she frowned and looked in the


    direction he had gone.


    Hanley’s voice interrupted her thoughts, asking. “Is that your boss?”


    Remembering that Alex had unjustly criticized Hanley, Candice pinched her brow, apologizing. “I’m


    sorry you got dragged into this because of me.”


    Hanley, however, gave her a thoughtful look, replying apologetically, “It seems my appearance


    caused you


    +15 BONOS


    Candice shook her head. “It’s not your fault.”


    She knew Alex would have found a reason to be upset with her regardless of Hanley’s presence.


    Not wanting to delve deeper into her issues with Alex, she quickly changed the topic, “Did you need


    to see me


    for something?”


    Hanley motioned towards a nearby warehouse, mentioning. “I’m working on some model tests here


    and need an extra pair of eyes.”


    “Don’t you have staff?” Candice asked curiously. “Jackson said you have a team.”


    Hanley rified. “They’re currently at the exhibition site from yesterday.”


    As they conversed, Candice followed him into the warehouse. Inside, the dim lighting cast shadows


    over numerous wooden frames, all different sizes,id out in an arrangement that seemed chaotic


    yet organized.


    Candice, looking around, asked, “Are you nning another exhibition with this setup?”


    Hanley shared, “The client is looking for something unique and impactful.”


    Candice, having seen various exhibitions, recognized that Hanley’syout was distinct from the


    norm.


    Noticing her puzzled expression, Hanley began sketching in his notebook, exining. “An exhibition


    is more than just disying art. Factors like positioning, lighting, electronics, and engineering are


    crucial.”


    Candice pondered, “Is this amon theme in your work?”


    Pausing his sketching. Hanley looked at her and said, “Commercial exhibitions are driven by profit.”


    Candiceughed, querying. “Is that how it really is?”


    Just as she finished speaking, she heard some noise, resembling something falling.


    Startled and bewildered, Candice looked up, only to be met with Hanley’s urgentmand, “Move!”


    She was a moment toote to react as she noticed arge wooden frame toppling above her.


    Suddenly, she felt an arm grab her waist. Hanley pulled her swiftly to safety just before the frame


    could fall on


    her.


    Candice stood there, terrified, watching the wooden frame lying on the ground.


    Hanley, after ensuring her safety, released her and checked the fallen frame, apologizing.


    “Sorry, I should have warned you these frames aren’t securely attached and could fall.”


    Experiments were frequently dynamic during the early stages of setting up an exhibition, and items


    were not


    permanently mounted to the walls.


    Candice, although startled, was unharmed.


    She reassured him. “It’s fine.”


    +15 BONOS


    However, she spotted a cut on Hanley’s forearm, likely from the frame’s edge while protecting her.


    Concerned, she rummaged through her bag for a disinfectant wipe, saying, “Hanley, you’re hurt.”


    Hanley nced at the injury, his demeanor unchanged. He acknowledged with a grunt and focused


    on


    repositioning the big frame.


    Candice watched as the cut seemed to worsen with Hanley’s movements, but he seemed unfazed,


    Once the frame was back in ce, he returned to his notebook, continuing his work despite the


    injury.


    After Hanley was done, Candice gently rmended, “You should have that looked at in a


    hospital,”


    There was a clinic not far away. His cut was long but not deep. They left the clinic after cleansing


    the wound and applying medication.


    Candice mentioned the need for a tetanus shot, but Hanley informed her he was allergic to the


    vine and had his own treatment.


    “Do you often get hurt?” Candice inquired, wondering who kept tetanus medication at home.


    Hanley responded, “It happens asionally when handling things.”


    By the time they finished, it waste in the afternoon. Hanley rushed back to his work, while


    Candice headed to the hotel.


    The


    e sky was cloudy, and she got caught in evening traffic, reaching the hotel past dinner time..


    She felt alright outside, but when she returned to the hotel, she waspletely spent, especially


    mentally.


    Candice shut the door, grabbed her clothes, and went to the bathroom. When the hot water poured


    over her body, it took away some of her tiredness.


    Emerging from the bathroom, Candice was surprised to find Alex sitting on her couch. The room


    door was open, likely because she had not closed it properly.


    Standing frozen for a moment, she then cautiously asked. “Why are you here?”


    Alex’s expression was unreadable, his gaze cold as he scrutinized her.


    After a pause, he softly said, “You seem eager to shower. Are you worried I’ll discover something?”