My Mirror Image

Chapter 66

Although Alex’s voice was calm, Candice could sense the annoyance in it since she knew him well.

Confused about the reason for his irritation, she remained silent, her lips tightly pursed.

This response seemed to intensify Alex’s contempt. He narrowed his eyes, his tone icy as he accused,

“Ms. Renault, it’s working hours. Should you be flirting with men?”

Taken aback, Candice looked up sharply, meeting his gaze and noting the brief flash of disdain. She

attempted to clarify, “I just ran into a friend by chance.”

“You seem to have a lot of friends,” Alex mocked. “Which one is it?”

His interpretation of “friend” was plainly different from Candice’s. She could put up with Alex humiliating

her, but he had gone too far in dragging Hanley into this mess.

She swallowed and cleared her throat, “Can’t your thoughts be less filthy?”

Adding bitterly, her tone twinged with rage, “Can’t I have my own friends?”

Alex’s face hardened as he locked his gaze on Candice.

His already formidable demeanor, now laced with his foul mood, felt even more imposing.

Candice’s hands shook slightly under his scrutiny.

Nina approached with files in her hand, just as she was ready to say something.

She glanced at Alex, asking. “Mr. Elysian, shouldn’t we be heading back to the office for a meeting?

Why are

we still here?”

Candice was taken aback. She raised her eyes to Alex, who had already averted his gaze and was

walking

away.

Nina trailed after him with the files in her arms.

After a few steps, she paused, turning back to Candice with a probing stare. She warned, “If you don’t

want to be around Alex, better keep it that way in the future.”

Candice detected a hidden implication in her words, but before she could reply, Nina had already left.

She felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her only after they were both out of sight.

Realizing Alex might have been waiting for her to join the meeting, she frowned and looked in the

direction he had gone.

Hanley’s voice interrupted her thoughts, asking. “Is that your boss?”

Remembering that Alex had unjustly criticized Hanley, Candice pinched her brow, apologizing. “I’m

sorry you got dragged into this because of me.”

Hanley, however, gave her a thoughtful look, replying apologetically, “It seems my appearance caused

you

+15 BONOS

Candice shook her head. “It’s not your fault.”

She knew Alex would have found a reason to be upset with her regardless of Hanley’s presence.

Not wanting to delve deeper into her issues with Alex, she quickly changed the topic, “Did you need to

see me

for something?”

Hanley motioned towards a nearby warehouse, mentioning. “I’m working on some model tests here

and need an extra pair of eyes.”

“Don’t you have staff?” Candice asked curiously. “Jackson said you have a team.”

Hanley clarified. “They’re currently at the exhibition site from yesterday.”

As they conversed, Candice followed him into the warehouse. Inside, the dim lighting cast shadows

over numerous wooden frames, all different sizes, laid out in an arrangement that seemed chaotic yet

organized.

Candice, looking around, asked, “Are you planning another exhibition with this setup?”

Hanley shared, “The client is looking for something unique and impactful.”

Candice, having seen various exhibitions, recognized that Hanley’s layout was distinct from the norm.

Noticing her puzzled expression, Hanley began sketching in his notebook, explaining. “An exhibition is

more than just displaying art. Factors like positioning, lighting, electronics, and engineering are crucial.” Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

Candice pondered, “Is this a common theme in your work?”

Pausing his sketching. Hanley looked at her and said, “Commercial exhibitions are driven by profit.”

Candice laughed, querying. “Is that how it really is?”

Just as she finished speaking, she heard some noise, resembling something falling.

Startled and bewildered, Candice looked up, only to be met with Hanley’s urgent command, “Move!”

She was a moment too late to react as she noticed a large wooden frame toppling above her.

Suddenly, she felt an arm grab her waist. Hanley pulled her swiftly to safety just before the frame could

fall on

her.

Candice stood there, terrified, watching the wooden frame lying on the ground.

Hanley, after ensuring her safety, released her and checked the fallen frame, apologizing.

“Sorry, I should have warned you these frames aren’t securely attached and could fall.”

Experiments were frequently dynamic during the early stages of setting up an exhibition, and items

were not

permanently mounted to the walls.

Candice, although startled, was unharmed.

She reassured him. “It’s fine.”

+15 BONOS

However, she spotted a cut on Hanley’s forearm, likely from the frame’s edge while protecting her.

Concerned, she rummaged through her bag for a disinfectant wipe, saying, “Hanley, you’re hurt.”

Hanley glanced at the injury, his demeanor unchanged. He acknowledged with a grunt and focused on

repositioning the big frame.

Candice watched as the cut seemed to worsen with Hanley’s movements, but he seemed unfazed,

Once the frame was back in place, he returned to his notebook, continuing his work despite the injury.

After Hanley was done, Candice gently recommended, “You should have that looked at in a hospital,”

There was a clinic not far away. His cut was long but not deep. They left the clinic after cleansing the

wound and applying medication.

Candice mentioned the need for a tetanus shot, but Hanley informed her he was allergic to the vaccine

and had his own treatment.

“Do you often get hurt?” Candice inquired, wondering who kept tetanus medication at home.

Hanley responded, “It happens occasionally when handling things.”

By the time they finished, it was late in the afternoon. Hanley rushed back to his work, while Candice

headed to the hotel.

The

e sky was cloudy, and she got caught in evening traffic, reaching the hotel past dinner time..

She felt alright outside, but when she returned to the hotel, she was completely spent, especially

mentally.

Candice shut the door, grabbed her clothes, and went to the bathroom. When the hot water poured

over her body, it took away some of her tiredness.

Emerging from the bathroom, Candice was surprised to find Alex sitting on her couch. The room door

was open, likely because she had not closed it properly.

Standing frozen for a moment, she then cautiously asked. “Why are you here?”

Alex’s expression was unreadable, his gaze cold as he scrutinized her.

After a pause, he softly said, “You seem eager to shower. Are you worried I’ll discover something?”