Chapter 144


    Candice’s expression darkened, and she rebuked in a cold voice, “Alex!”


    Alex remained veiled in shadows, his voice still cold but with a hint of mockery, “I’ve done what I’ve


    done. Are you afraid?”


    Candice felt suffocated. She stared at Alex for a while before turning to Hanley and saying, “Sorry,


    can you


    step out for a moment?”


    Hanley’s longshes drooped, veiling his thoughts. He nodded, “Call me if you need me.”


    Only after Hanley exited the room did Candice suppress her frustration and speak slowly, “Alex, if


    you want to belittle me, do you have to involve others?”


    “Belittle?” Alex repeated the word. He raised his eyes to look at her and said, “What aspect of you is


    worth


    belittling?”


    She closed her eyes briefly. “Then please refrain from spreading rumors.”


    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    “Daring but unwilling to face the consequences seems to be your consistent style.” His voice grew


    even deeper. He clicked his tongue. “Candice, you never fail to disappoint me.”


    The scent of alcohol lingered in the room as Alex sat on the sofa. Even if she couldn’t see clearly,


    Candice


    could imagine his current expression to be quite ironic.


    Ironically, he used her of hypocrisy, unscrupulousness, greed, and poor morals. Yet even


    Candice herself didn’t know when she had transformed into such a person in his eyes.


    That sense of helplessness seeped from the depths of her heart again. She took a deep breath and,


    swallowing her dry throat, said, “Is that so?”


    She wanted to leave, but the room’s door suddenly swung open. Yana, once again in her high


    heels, returned. This time, she was apanied by several familiar faces.


    Sieg was in the front. He saw Alex and said, “Yana said you were here, but I didn’t believe it. Yet


    here you are.”


    But then he spotted Candice standing there and raised an eyebrow. “Alex, how sly of you, bringing


    your


    secretary along for a blind date?”


    He seemed not at all surprised about the blind date between Alex and Yana.


    This group of people was all about having fun as they only cared about having fun.


    But evidently, Sieg hadn’t expected Candice to be there. He sized her up, his tone lightly mocking


    as he said. ”


    Didn’t expect you to be so dedicated.”


    Yana sensed something amiss and asked Sieg, “Do they know each other?”


    Sieg paused for a moment and then said, “Yeah, Candice used to be Alex’s secretary.”


    The term “secretary” was emphasized, hir


    some ambiguous implication.


    +15 BONOS


    However, Yana didn’t catch on. She looked at Candice and suddenly had an epiphany. “No wonder


    you didn’t want to hang out with us. Who can have fun with their boss?”


    Sleg choked for a moment, not expecting her reaction,


    But Yana went straight to Candice’s side. “Since you can’t hang with your boss, let me tell you about


    Hanley’s childhood. Hanley was often sick=”


    “Yana.” Hanley cut her off before she could finish. Then, he turned to Candice, “It’s windy outside.


    Let’s head


    home.”


    Candice had intended to leave, so she stood up as Hanley spoke. However, Yana took out her


    phone and waved it. “Add me on WhatsApp, let’s hang out sometime.”


    After leaving with Hanley, she heard him saying, “Are you okay?”


    Candice understood he was concerned about her and Alex. She shook her head. “I’m fine. But you,


    you’re always inexplicably involved. I apologize.”


    Hanley didn’t mind. He nced at his phone and waited outside while Candice drove her car over.


    He advised her, “It might rainter. Take care.”


    “Okay.”


    He nodded and paused before adding, “I’ll be in Dorrington City for a while. If you need anything,


    you cane


    find me.”


    Candice paused, realizing he was referring to her intention to change careers,


    She smiled, thanked him, and then drove away.


    Honestly, Hanley knew his limits. At least in regard to Alex and Candice’s affairs, even if he sensed


    something amiss, he never questioned her about it.


    When Candice arrived home, it was still early. She took a shower, sat at her desk, and pulled out


    some books


    she’d bought about curation to read.


    It rained outside in the early hours, but Candice slept well that night.


    When she arrived at the office on Monday morning, she happened to run into Ka and.Queenie


    together.


    Seeing her, Queenie greeted with a smile, “Morning, Candice.”


    Candice nodded. “Morning.”


    They had arrived a few minutes early, so there weren’t many people near the elevator. Queenie


    probably knew she was going to be confirmed as a regr employee, so she wasn’t as restrained


    while talking to Candice.


    She even curiously asked Candice, “Candice, I heard that Sonia’s confirmation used a slot from the


    secretary’s


    office?”


    Candice nced at her. “She was originally from the secretary’s office.”


    203. 203.


    +15 BONOS


    Queenie had something in mind but didn’t say it. Where could Sonia be from the secretary’s office?


    Clearly.


    she was the canary brought to the CEO’s office to be kept.


    However, she didn’t dare to say that aloud. After all, she had heard some gossip from the old staff,


    mentioning


    a brief rtionship between Candice and Alex.


    Candice wasn’t aware of what was on her mind. As usual, she was preparing for the weekly


    meeting in the


    early morning. However, just as the meeting had started, Sonia walked in carrying documents.


    Candice looked at her, her expression slightly cold. “Don’t you know you should knock before


    entering?”


    Sonia’s smile remained on her face. She walked up to her, speaking gently. “Candice, I’m here to


    hand over the work to you.”


    She scanned everyone in the meeting room and then said, “It’s okay, you don’t need to mind me.


    Continue the


    meeting.”


    Her tone was unsettling, no matter how one heard it.


    Ka couldn’t help but retort, “Secretary Song, this is a meeting of our secretarial department. It


    doesn’t seem rted to your CEO’s office, does it?”


    “It isn’t rted,” replied Sonia calmly. She was in a very good mood right now.


    After all, she had heard from Julie in the morning that Candice had submitted a resignation


    application to HR, and Alex had approved it.


    Even though she thought so, she didn’t show a hint on her face. Instead, she pretended to be


    surprised and looked at Candice. “Ms. Renault, haven’t you told them yet about processing your


    resignation?”


    The meeting room fell silent for a moment, then discussions erupted.


    Ka asked, “Candice, are you leaving?”


    Candice didn’t answer.


    After a moment of silence, she threw the pen in her hand onto the table and then looked


    expressionlessly at Sonia. “You want to handle the handover with me?”


    Sonia smiled and nodded. “Yes.”


    Candice paused and said, “Ms. Summers, I doubt the reason Alex sent you here for the handover. I


    don’t believe someone whocks basic courtesy and doesn’t rememberpany policies can take


    over the secretary’s office.”