Chapter 195


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    It was a call from Nadia.


    Nadia rarely called her and mostly just messaged through WhatsApp. Furthermore, when she had


    left them this morning the whole group knew that she was going to the hospital.


    Hearing what had happened at the studio yesterday,bined with Nadia’s call now, Candice


    immediately had a bad premonition.


    She waited for Yvonne to get out of the car before she finally answered the phone.


    As soon as the call connected, she heard Nadia’s voice, her tone somewhat serious. “Candice, are you


    still at the hospital?”


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    “No, what’s wrong?”


    “There’s an impromptu meeting in the department regarding the coboration. We rushed over and


    forgot to bring a document. If you can make it, could you help us deliver it?”


    Due to her involvement in the financial exhibition, Candice was officially associated with the studio.


    Though not a formal employee yet, she could be considered an extra.


    Candice hummed her agreement. “Send me the address, I’ll bring it over in a bit.”


    “You might need to hurry. The meeting starts at one this afternoon.”


    It was only eleven in the morning, but the rain made the road conditions poor.


    Candice went back to the vi to grab some things before heading out, and by the time she got


    back to Yvonne’s hotel it was already half–past twelve.


    Yvonne had note down yet, but Candice did not wait and drove off.


    When she heard Hanley and Ryan talkingst night, she roughly understood that the studio that was


    suddenly intervening was a well–established art studio in Dorrington.


    It was how they managed to secure so many corporate coborations.


    After packing the materials requested by Hanley, Candice searched for additional data online. printed it,


    and took everything with her.


    Others might think it strange, but Candice found working to be the most rxing thing amongst


    the stress of her life.


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    Work meant her mind did not need to dwell on many things. She only had to focus on one task, and it


    gave her a moment to catch her breath.


    She delivered the documents just a few minutes before one o’clock.


    Nadia was waiting for her outside. “Candice, you finally made it.”


    Candice carried the files. “Are they already in the meeting room?”


    “Yeah.” Nadia led her inside, where Candice was surprised to see familiar faces.


    Lisa and Francis.


    Lisa had used to work in Aether’s Secretary Office. She’d had a good rtionship with Candice, and


    was highly capable. However, a conflict with Sonia had led to her dismissal by Alex.


    Francis was Candice’s first immediate superior at Aether. And he was also the person who had asked


    her to apany him for drinks.


    Candice had not expected to see Lisa with Francis together, and her expression turned somewhat


    unpleasant.


    Lisa also seemed surprised. “Candice, what are you doing here?” she asked.


    “I came to deliver something,” she replied. Candice turned and walked over to Hanley and handed him


    the files. “Take a look and see if everything is in order.”


    Hanley took the files, and flipped through them while Candice sat nearby. He nodded. “It’s all here.”


    “That’s good.”


    “By the way, what happened to your hand?” Hanley put down the files and nced at Candice’s


    wrist.


    Candice had twisted her wrist that morning, and it was now red and swollen. After pulling Yvonne and


    driving it looked even worse. It had swollen around the wrist in a somewhat frightening way.


    Candice did not pay much attention to it. “I twisted it by ident. I’ll put some cream on it when I get


    back. It should be fine.”


    After enduring the pain for a while, she barely felt it now and only had a sensation that she could not


    exert much strength.


    Hanley wanted to say something else, but the department’s people had arrived.


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    The other studio was named Dream Search, an old and well–established studio in Dorrington with


    years of achievements. The person in charge was Ms. Sadler, a woman in her forties.


    Francis and Lisa were representatives of the coborating enterprises with Dream Search and


    hade specifically to support them.


    The department head was savvy and did not speak directly, instead allowing Hanley and Sk to


    However, with hidden agendas on both sides, smoothmunication was naturally impossible.


    The department head sighed and said, “You all know how important this exhibition is. Our attitude


    is certainly to hope for the best, as this will be a significant showcase for Dorrington.”


    Sk remainedposed and looked at Hanley. “Although Dream Search is native to Dorrington, we


    know Mr. Baldwin’s capabilities. So, we are looking forward to a coboration between both


    parties.”


    Hanley snorted without changing his expression. He pointed to the files Candice had brought. We’ve


    alreadypleted our proposal. Now youe to talk about coboration?”


    “We also have our proposal, and we believe that the ns from both sides can bebined into an


    optimal solution,” Sk said.


    “Then are you going to y second fiddle?” Hanley went along with her words, looking at Sk with a


    yful gaze. “If that’s the case, we are very willing to coborate.”


    Sk remained silent. Her studio had suddenly gotten involved in order to take the opportunity to


    enhance their reputation, and were unwilling to give up the authorship of the exhibition.


    “Mr. Baldwin, this may not necessarily be a win–win option.” Francis, who had been silent all this


    time, suddenly spoke up.


    Francis was in his thirties, wore sses, and always had a cultured-demeanor. He smiled at Hanley,


    his gaze inadvertently brushing past Candice.


    “Mr. Baldwin is talented and promising,” he said, “However, everyone in business knows that your don’t


    throw your weight around in someone else’s territory. Dream Search’s position in Dorrington


    is not lower than yours.”


    “So why can’t we help each other?” Sk added.


    “Help each other?” Hanley’s expression remained unchanged, and he tapped the desk. “Your version of


    helping each other is notmendable at all.”


    As soon as he finished speaking, Candice pulled out two data sheets from the stack of files he


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    They were clearly exhibition attendance figures, one for Hanley’s curated exhibition and the other


    for Dream Search’s exhibition.


    The difference was obvious.


    Candice squinted and looked at Francis. “Mr. Moreno is truly skilled in making good appearances. A


    casual mention of mutual help, and yet he conveniently overlooks Dream Search’s dismal


    performance.


    “Furthermore, I believe you must have heard neers inspire innovation. Even though Dream


    Search has been a local yer in Dorrington for over a decade, it doesn’t necessarily guarantee your


    ability in this matter. An ineffective person, even with ten more years of experience, is still ineffective,


    don’t you agree?”


    Everyone in the room was somewhat surprised by Candice’s remarks. The implication of them


    was clear, and disdainful.


    After the meeting dispersed, Francis had yet to leave, and Candice remained seated, calmly looking at


    him.


    Lisa hesitated but decided to approach Candice. “Candice, are you now working with Mr. Baldwin?


    She had worked in Aether previously, and still had plenty of friends still there, so she naturally knew


    about Candice’s resignation.


    “It seems my guess back then was correct.” Francis interjected before Candice could respond. He was


    wearing sses and looking at Candice with a gentle expression. “Sooner orter, you’ll be dumped by


    Mr. Elysian.”