Candice's uneasiness grew. "Then I'll go to the economy class. I'm just an ordinary employee. It's not appropriate for me to be in first class." She was about to get up when Elio's voice, lazy yet commanding, stopped her. "Sit down. I paid for your ticket privately. It's not on the company's dime." Candice quickly pulled out her phone. "Then I'll pay you back. How much is it?" With a sharp sound, Elio snapped his book shut. He removed his glasses, folded them neatly, and placed them on the table beside him before closing his eyes as if to rest. Holding her phone, Candice was stunned for a moment but received no response from Elio. She then slowly put it away. Elio was truly unpredictable. During the flight, neither of them spoke. Elio alternated between reading and resting his eyes, while Candice spent the time sketching designs. After they landed, Candice followed Sadie and another renowned ND designer, Emerson Hartford, to check in at a five-star hotel. Sitting on the l
After checking in, Candice took the room key from Sadie and followed the bellhop upstairs. When she opened the door to her room, she stood in stunned disbelief. Quickly, she turned back and asked Sadie, "Ms. Lloyd, did I get the wrong room key?" Sadie smiled softly and responded, "Nope. That is your room." With that, Sadie entered her room and shut the door, leaving Candice at a loss. Candice walked back into her room, which turned out to be the most luxurious suite in the five-star hotel. The opulent decor, complete with a living room, kitchen, and a spacious balcony garden, was overwhelming. More notably, the suite had three bedrooms. As she explored, the bellhop politely asked, "Miss, which room would you like?" Feeling that it was all too extravagant and a waste for just one person, Candice replied, "Any will do." The bellhop placed her luggage in the master bedroom and then left. Candice entered the master bedroom. As she gazed at the spacious and luxurious surroun
After suppressing his feelings for so many years, Elio found himself lacking the courage to touch Candice's face. He mocked himself inwardly. What a coward he was. But he couldn't wait any longer. He had no more time to waste. Standing up, he entered the bedroom and retrieved a plush blanket, gently draping it over Candice before retreating to his own room. By the nightstand, he removed his watch and loosened his tie. At that instant, his phone rang. Glancing at the caller ID, he saw it was Michaela calling. Due to the time difference, it was midnight here but noon back in Norvania. He shed his tie and blazer before answering the call. His voice was low and hoarse. "Mom, what's going on?" From the other end, Michaela's furious voice erupted. "Elio, have you lost your mind? Why did you take Candice out of the country? What are you trying to do? You rascal, you promised me you'd manage the overseas company for ten years before coming back!" Elio remained silent. Michaela
During middle school, Elio spent countless hours poring over foreign language articles in his study. His world echoed with the presence of teachers, test papers, and homework. That year, Zach passed away, marking the most painful and helpless period of his life. One day, outside the study's balcony, Candice tugged at Elio's glass door with a kite in her hand. When he opened the door, Candice handed him the string. "Uncle Elio, my cousin said you seem pitiful and you're always studying. Take a break. Let's look at the sky, and fly a kite." It was then, during his middle school years, that he first flew a kite. For the first time, he lifted his head to see the color of the sky and watch the kite soar. He felt utterly inferior even to a mere kite. Afterward, Candice often snuck behind the balcony, secretly handing him items as entertainment like game consoles, chess sets, comics, dartboards, and even water guns. She laughed a lot as if her life had never known sorrow or worr
The golden sunlight streamed into the balcony garden, where flowers bloomed and greenery thrived. Candice awoke naturally, groggily reaching for her phone. One glance at the time made her bolt upright in bed. She hurriedly threw off the covers and rushed into the bathroom. After freshening up and getting dressed, she grabbed her bag and left her room. Passing through the living room, she saw Elio sitting at the dining table with two plates of breakfast and two glasses of milk in front of him. "Good morning," Candice said nervously as she approached. "I didn't hear the alarm. I'm sorry. Is there any work planned for today?" Elio, with his usual calm demeanor, gestured to the plate opposite him. "I made an extra portion. Join me for breakfast." He made this? Candice looked at the breakfast in surprise. There was a peeled and sliced egg, some blanched broccoli, a pancake, and some fruits. It looked both exquisite and healthy but was presented quite plainly, certainly not the wor
In the morning, they visited the event site. The team was busy setting up and decorating, and the basic framework of the venue was almost complete. After working there for a while, they had to head to the branch office for a meeting. The meeting started at 11:00 am and went on until 1:00 pm. Candice sat in the corner, her stomach growling and she yawned frequently. She rubbed her tired neck, swaying gently in her seat. When her gaze inadvertently met Elio's, she immediately straightened up, adopting a posture of utmost attention, even holding her breath. Anxious waves crashed over her. Candice worried that Elio might have noticed her small fidgeting actions and found it absurd. She mentally scolded herself for being so careless. As the meeting carried on, Sean appeared suddenly and whispered in Candice's ear. "Ms. Candice, please come with me." Swiftly gathering her notebook, Candice inquired cautiously, "Is something wrong?" With a gesture, Sean beckoned her to follow.
Candice couldn't shake the memory of the breakfast Elio had prepared personally, a gentle warmth still lingering within her. Mervyn scoffed, "Not only is he utterly useless, but he also wears that deadpan expression, like the world is against him or something. His face, all cold and sour!" Grumbling, Candice interjected, "Merv, can you stop criticizing him?" "Are you bothered?" Mervyn inquired. "No," Candice replied, her insincerity peeking through. With a faint smile, Mervyn stated, "I can tell you're bothered. Give me your address, I'll come pick you up. I'll treat you to some delicious food and bring you around." "But I'm not done with work yet.""What kind of nonsense job is this? Forget about it, I'll take care of you." Candice smiled wryly and responded, "I can handle myself, thanks for the offer." Before she could finish, the office door swung open, and Elio emerged, his expression sour. Feeling flustered, Candice assumed Elio was upset because she'd left th
Candice studied Elio with a furrowed brow, perplexed by the bitterness in his tone.Had she misinterpreted something?Visibly disheartened, Elio met her gaze for a tense moment before abruptly exiting the car."Sean, please take her," he instructed icily before slamming the door and striding away.Candice was utterly bewildered.Following Elio's directive, Sean swiftly started the engine and executed a sharp U-turn.As the car continued along the road, Sean spoke up, "Ms. Candice, do you have an address in mind? I'll take you wherever you need to go."Candice hesitated, puzzled by Sean's question.Wasn't he supposed to take her back to the hotel to rest?Just as Candice was about to respond, her phone rang. Glancing at the caller ID, she saw it was Mervyn calling.Upon picking up Mervyn's call, Candice was met with his inquiry about her work progress and dinner plans, followed by a request to meet up.After a brief exchange with Mervyn, Candice turned to Sean and politely re