My Mirror Image

Chapter 65

After waiting ten minutes with no response from Alex, Candice stood up, intending to leave the pantry.

However, she caught a glimpse of Charles, who seemed to be in a hurry and had returned to pick up

something.

He appeared surprised to find Candice there and asked, “Ms. Renault, you’re still here?”

Feeling it was her duty to be present, she asked, “Where are Mr. Elysian and the others?”

“They are at Proteus Corporation,” he said, presuming Alex had assigned

Candice responsibilities. “I’m going back there right now. Would you like to join us?”

Feeling it would be improper to decline now that she had been spotted, Candice agreed to join him.

During the twenty–minute ride, Charles attempted to engage Candice in

conversation about the branch company, subtly seeking insights into Alex’s plans.

Candice responded with poise, assuring him, “With Mr. Elysian overseeing things in Stugan, the branch

is in good hands. There’s no need to worry too much.”

Her natural cool demeanor was accentuated by the lack of warmth in her expressions.

Charles twitched his lips slightly, afraid to say anything else.

A representative greeted them when they arrived. He respectfully informed Charles,

“Ms. Goodman has just arrived and is with Mr. Elysian inside.”

Candice, surprised to hear of Ava’s presence, frowned slightly.

Charles, seizing the chance to impress Candice, boasted, “Ms. Goodman and I go way back.”

As they spoke, the meeting room door opened. Nina emerged, hand in hand with her mother, followed

by Alex.

Charles quickly approached them, receiving a courteous nod from Ava.

Standing behind Charles, Candice caught Ava’s attention, but Ava soon looked away, turning to Nina.

Ava said helplessly, “I have to go to Mane City for a few days. You must not put Alex through too much

hassle.”

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Then she smiled at Alex and said, “This is an emergency, so I’ll have to bother you to look after Nina

for a little longer. As soon as I get back, I’ll let what I think about renewing the contract.”

Alex responded with a slight nod and said quietly, “I’ll be staying in Stugan for a while longer.”

“I’ll talk to Helen when I get back. Nina, try not to be too much of a bother to Alex in the coming days.”

Nina responded agreeably.

Once Ava had departed, she turned to Alex and said flirtily, “My mother

suggested I learn from you. How should I go about that?”

Her suggestive tone caused Candice to look away and step back.

It was then that Nina seemed to notice Candice, examining her from head to toe before asking in a

disapproving manner, “Where’s the coffee you were supposed to get?”

With the coffee shop being far away and her reminiscing about the past, the coffee she had brought

back was now completely cold.

Handing over the paper bag, Candice had long anticipated what Nina might say.

As predicted, Nina frowned upon receiving the coffee, criticizing, “I wanted a hot Americano, but this is

iced?”

Candice answered timidly, “The coffee shop was quite far, and I didn’t know you were here.”

Nina mocked Candice’s justification and reproached her, “Ms. Renault, always with an excuse. When I

asked for coffee, did you really think to buy only one?”

Candice glanced at Alex and hesitantly added, “Mr. Elysian isn’t much of a coffee drinker.”

As she said this, her confidence wavered.

The truth was that Alex had not been a regular coffee drinker, mainly due to the intense demands of his

early career and poor sleep quality. Candice had discouraged him from drinking too much coffee, and

eventually he stopped

Candice’s mind wandered briefly as she thought of this.

Her relationship with Alex could not be defined by their current coldness. Yet, there had been a time

when she genuinely felt his sincere affection.

Nina froze, interpreting this as Candice deliberately trying to embarrass her.

Annoyance flickered across her face before she turned to Alex with a smile, her tone sweet yet

assertive, “Alex, how about I be your secretary for a few days? It would be a great learning

experience.”

Her proposal seemed reasonable.

Alex gave her a cold stare and asked, “My secretary?”

“Can’t I? Didn’t my mother leave me in your care?” Nina asked, almost pleadingly. “You can

do whatever you want with me.” Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

Alex regarded her with a detached coolness, commenting dryly, “It’s unusual to have two secretaries,

isn’t it?”

“In that case, you can fire Ms. Renault,” Nina encouraged, clutching Alex’s sleeve and pleading for his

approval.

Candice, who was the target of Nina’s comments, waited there impassively, waiting for Alex to respond.

His brows twitched subtly, his gaze briefly falling on Candice before turning coldly away.

In that fleeting moment of eye contact, Candice’s mind went blank.

Alex might fire her based on Nina’s request, but if he fired her now, she would be in big trouble.

For a moment, Candice could not breathe. Her mind wandered to Joe and Yvonne, while her hands

grew numb with apprehension.

Alex’s voice, icy and detached, broke the silence, “Enough.”

It was aimed toward Nina.

He paused for a moment before saying, “Ms. Burgess, the internal affairs of Aether Corporation aren’t

for you to decide.”

Nina stood there; her face was a mix of shock and reluctance as she looked at Alex, but she dared not

say anything else.

Although displeased with his rebuke, Nina, mindful of her mother’s advice and aware of Alex’s

firmness, chose to lightly flirt and joke with him instead.

Alex responded to her, but only half–heartedly.

Candice, meanwhile, remained in the background, silent and almost invisible.

As the group readied to depart, Candice lingered by the roadside, uncertain about joining them in the

car.

It was then that she heard a familiar voice calling her name, “Candice?”

She turned to find Hanley approaching with an aloof demeanor. She asked, somewhat surprised, “Why

are you here?”

Yesterday, Hanley claimed that he was in charge of the exhibition.

He revealed his purpose, “I’m here for some inspiration.”

His rolled–up sleeves and the light blue paint on his wrist suggested he had been busy.

Candice was about to ask Hanley if he needed anything because he was not a people person.

She suddenly felt a shadow fall over her, along with the refreshing scent of cedar.

Alex’s voice, both cold and deep, followed, “Candice, if you’re looking to be fired, just say the word.”