Chapter 86


    Candice tensed up as she raised her eyes to meet Alex’s. Suppressing her unease, she said, “He’s a


    friend.”


    Alex, on the other hand, averted his gaze.


    “Is that so?” he asked casually. His skeptical tone was unmistakable.


    Subconsciously, she did not wish for Hanley to be wrongfully criticized, yet she sensed it was useless


    to debate with Alex.


    Candice remained calm and suppressed her impatience.


    “The contract ispleted,” she said, balling her fist. “I’ll send you the necessary documentation. Is it


    okay for me to leave now?”


    Alex observed her closely, a hint of mockery in his eyes, as if attempting to peer into her soul. He


    regained his calm in an instant and stated tly, “No.”


    Candice frowned. It seemed to her that he was intentionally making things difficult for her.


    Her face tumed frosty as she spoke inly. “I haven’t used any of my annual leaves. I’m entitled to that,


    correct?”


    With a cold sneer, Alex said, “Abandoning your boss in the middle of a business trip and going off on


    your


    own. Candice, I’m amazed by your professionalism.”


    Candice was at a loss for words.


    After a brief silence, she inquired, “Should we return to the hotel now?”


    Alex nced at his phone and responded, “First, apany me somewhere else.”


    Candice assumed he was leading her to a business-rted location.


    Surprisingly, he took her to a golf course.


    The caddy who came to greet them stated respectfully, “Mr. Frowler is awaiting you.”


    Frowning, Candice inquired, “Did Sieg request your presence?”


    She was filled with difort.


    Noted for being a yboy in the elite social circles and for being unscrupulous, Sieg probably invited


    Alex here


    to have fun.


    Candice, anticipating mockery and degradation on such an asion, hesitated and objected.


    ‘I shouldn’t apany you to meet Sieg.”


    Alex looked back, questioning. “Then who should?”


    ‘I can give Sonia a call.”


    +15 BONOS


    But before she could borate, Alex dismissed the idea with indifference. “She isn’t as sociable as


    you.”


    Pursing her lip, Candice understood that being called “sociable” was not entirely ttering.


    She followed Alex inside and realized why he had brought her.


    There were around five or six other people there besides Sieg. There was an almost sexual air to the


    way men and women interacted with one another.


    She could tell they were not ordinary people based on their attire.


    Candice grasped that Alex’s concern was Sonia being negatively influenced in this setting.


    Upon seeing Alex, Sieg approached with a woman by his side, surprised to see Candice and


    questioned, “Why bring her?”


    Alex replied coolly, “She’s with me; we’ve just finalized a contract.”


    Sieg, unbothered, shrugged nonchntly.


    He then turned to others nearby, whispering, “They belong to Stugan’s elite group, here to mingle and


    okay?”


    Alex, of course, would not reject them because they were already present.


    Someone asked them to walk over there to y golf.


    Sieg, casually draping an arm around Alex, approached the group.


    Candice was not particrly interested in golf. Although she had visited golf courses often for work, her


    practical experience was minimal.


    Her limited golf skills were acquired from Alex.


    Previously, she had to engage a major client who was an avid golfer. Candice frequently enticed Alex


    to the golf course to approach the client.


    Sadly, her sports abilities werecking. Despite numerous lessons from Alex, she managed just the


    basic


    swing. Her scores were more like a stroke of luck.


    Those rich kids always found ways to enjoy themselves, and so when a bet was proposed during the


    game.


    everyone was in.


    Sieg, grinning, asked, “What shall we wager?”


    Someone suggested, “Money?”


    This was quickly refuted. “Lame!”


    “How about the loser running a circle in the nude?” suggested yfully the beauty Sieg had just


    embraced.” That would be entertaining.”


    She meant it as a joke, but the group unanimously agreed that it was a fantastic idea.


    +15 BONOS


    Candice, shadowing Alex, tried to blend into the background, putting on an act of ignorance.


    Despite her efforts to remain unnoticed, someone stopped to talk with her.


    A woman in a pink mini-skirt approached her, inquiring softly, “Are you new here, or are you


    with someone? I’ve never seen the man you’re with before. Is he acquainted with Mr. Castillo and the


    others?


    Realizing that this woman might be a “caddy”, Candice frowned.


    The woman, noticing Candice’s silence, expressed dissatisfaction and said, “Hey, I’m speaking to you


    The woman’s perfume was overpowering.


    Candice took a step back and prepared to respond, pausing asughter erupted nearby.


    As she averted her sight, she noticed a young man in spectacles giving Alex a business card and


    uttered. “Mr.


    Elysian, it’s an honor to have you join us. I’m Stan Castillo. Let’s get to know each other.”


    Alex epted the card with a polite nod and an air of superiority.


    Candice instinctively moved forward to take it.


    Stan seemed surprised to see Candice, then nced at Alex with a meaningful look and said, “Mr.


    Elysian is a


    lucky man.”


    Feeling uneasy under Stan’s stare, Candice retreated to stand behind Alex, peering down.


    Alex calmly stated, “I thought we were here to y golf?”


    Stan shifted his attention from Candice and replied, “Yes, that’s our purpose here.”


    Alex indicated his readiness. “Then let’s begin.”


    “Hold on,” Stan said, raising his eyebrows. “I assumed Mr. Elysian didn’t bring adypanion, so I


    didn’t


    bring it up.”


    Candice’s heart thumped furiously as she heard the words dypanion”, sensing something


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    unpleasant.


    Sure enough, Stan suggested, “Golf alone is dull, and it’s less thrilling with just men. How about letting


    the


    women participate? The rule is simple-form teams of two, with the woman taking the swing. The team


    shares


    the oue of the game.”


    Stan looked at Alex and asked, “What are your thoughts, Mr. Elysian?”


    Candice maintained a neutral face behind Alex, saying, “Sorry, I don’t y golf.”


    “You don’t need to know how; Mr. Elysian can guide you. I only said you must be the one to swing.”


    Candice got the point. This was supposed to be fun, but she wondered what kind of


    amusement it could be with Alex.


    She nced at Alex, expecting him to decline.


    +15 BONOS


    To her surprise, after pondering, he epted, “Alright, let’s do it.”


    Candice was taken aback.


    Alex faced her, a slight crease on his brow, his voice steady as ever. “Why are you just standing there?”


    Her reluctance was evident, but then she heard him chuckle softly and murmur, “Stan’s dad heads


    Suave


    Corporation. Why do you think I agreed to this silly game?”


    Rummaging through her memories, she remembered Suave Corporation as a notable privatepany


    in


    Stugan.


    Realizing Alex’s motive towork with Stan, she blinked in understanding.


    Others urged them to begin.


    Alex, still calm but with a faintly raised brow, gently urged, “Come here.” Candice walked over


    hesitantly.