My Mirror Image by Maybe Not (Candice And Alex’s)

Chapter 0333

Candice's comment was tinged with self-ridicule, yet there was truth in her words. Alex had uttered those exact remarks during their last encounter in his office, in the presence of Nina and Helen.

She was known for her patience and self-control, but even Candice had her limits.

Given the unresolved issues with Sonia, expecting Candice to interact with Alex positively was far- fetched.

And for the time being, Ryan was in charge of the tasks that required communication between the firms. Candice only stepped in when communication with Aether Corporation had a problem.

She blinked at Alex.

The café was serene, and the air was filled with the melodies of a gentle piano tune. In the depths of Alex's eyes, a faint image of Candice was mirrored.

His fingers curled and drummed lightly on the table. He chuckled and asked, "Are you holding me responsible?"

Candice lowered her gaze and spoke coldly, "Mr. Elysian is reading too much into it. I was simply clarifying the cause of the situation you referred to."

Alex's eyes briefly sparkled with a mocking light, but Candice remained calm and unaffected.

"Mr. Elysian," Sawyer intervened gently and reminded, "Your meeting is scheduled at four, which is in forty minutes."

Alex gave him a cold glance before returning his attention to Candice.

He spoke with a frosty tone, but his approach was strictly professional. "Please finalize the third phase proposal and the second phase integration report. Follow through with all necessary procedures and proceed to the finance department for the transaction."

This implied that all was in order.

Candice had expected potential procrastination or objections from Alex, but his response was surprisingly straightforward this time.

She extracted a document from her bag, spread it open, and slid it across to Alex.

"If you would, Mr. Elysian, please sign this." All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

Alex's brows twitched subtly as he watched Candice present the document efficiently. His eyes narrowed, his lips tightened, and a fleeting shadow crossed his expression, leaving his thoughts hard to read.

Candice didn't press Alex when he gave no response but naturally turned her attention to Hanley.

She had always done this. Candice felt it was disrespectful to gaze at the client while waiting for them to evaluate a contract, so she instinctively turned to her colleague.

Alex caught the exchange, but he simply looked at them. His gaze grew colder as he

observed their brief interaction; his fingers on the tabletop barely moved.

A while later, Alex said quietly, "It appears Caspian was correct; you two are going to tie the knot soon."

Candice fixed her gaze on Alex as Caspian’s name came up.

She vividly remembered Caspian targeting Hanley back in Hannah's hospital room. She realized that since Caspian knew Sieg, it was not surprising that he also knew Alex.

Candice was so preoccupied with her thoughts that she didn't realize Alex had taken her silence as approval.

"You couldn’t even endure the slightest discomfort," he said coolly.

With that, he grabbed a pen and signed the document.

Candice didn't understand what Alex meant.

Once he departed, she collected the signed document. The script of Alex's signature was refined, featuring precise and elegant strokes, befitting his cold appearance.

Securing the document in her bag, Candice asked, "Hanley, should we visit your sister now or later?"

Hanley checked his phone. He noticed several calls from Hannah had gone unanswered due to his silent mode.

Gazing at the missed calls and realizing the urgency, Hanley declared, "We better go now."

As soon as he finished speaking, as if on cue, Hannah called again. This time, Hanley picked up.

Hannah conveyed her distress with a frail voice barely above a whisper, "Hanley, I feel terrible."

Candice was surprised by her feeble voice, and she asked, "How's Hannah?"

Hanley probed with a grave tone, "What happened?"

After a brief pause, Hannah mentioned, "Have you not seen my message? I desperately want the inferno soup from the eatery near our home. I want it so badly that if I don't have it tonight, I'll probably die of misery."

The reaction on both Hanley's and Candice's faces was complicated. The two had no choice but to leave and fetch Hannah's inferno soup.

-

"Mr. Elysian, all is set for our return. Julie has arranged everything for the meeting," Sawyer communicated in the vehicle's silence, addressing Alex from the passenger seat.

Aether Corporation had been busy recently, and Alex was always buried in meetings. Finding time for the Burning Star Studio project was a challenge to squeeze into his schedule.

Ordinarily, such collaborative projects wouldn't be the primary concern, and he could have assigned anyone to review them.

Sawyer glanced at Alex, who had his eyes closed and his brows furrowed. He hesitated, and decided to keep his thoughts to himself.

"How long has it been since Candice left the company?" Alex asked.

This sudden shift in topic surprised Sawyer. "Around three months."

Alex hummed through his nose. "Has she been with Burning Star Studio for the same duration?"

"Yes, about three months,” Sawyer confirmed. “The exhibition with Blue Artifact and our company has been ongoing for that period. Candice has overseen the project since the beginning."

Alex fell silent afterward.

As Sawyer peered into the rearview mirror, he noticed Alex staring out at the street. His jawline was strong, and his eyes were expressive and peaceful, like a serene ocean.

Sawyer refocused on the road, driving them back to Aether Corporation.

When they arrived, he was about to remind Alex to get out of the car, but he had already done so. The shadow on Alex’s face disappeared, replaced with a cold and expressionless look.

Alex issued instructions with calm authority, "Arrange for the meeting with our partners. Ensure departments resubmit this morning's reviewed plans before the day ends. Don't worry about Solaris just yet, but make sure we're properly prepared."

-

The sought-after inferno soup was located near an alley where Hanley had taken Candice before. She remembered Hanley's mention that the eatery was close to his grandfather's house.

Tucked away amidst the city's hustle and bustle. The alley offered a serene escape and was surrounded by stone walkways and lush greenery.

Following Hanley's lead, Candice admired the setting and marveled, "Such a pleasant atmosphere here."

"This is a historic street that was preserved a century ago,” Hanley explained. “It has some historical significance, so it retains its unique charm to this day."

"I see," Candice nodded.

Candice didn't notice the tiny vine hanging from the eaves in front of her.

A soft hand covered her forehead, and Hanley's deep and magnetic voice murmured quietly, "Watch out."