"Who are you?" Candice asked. The man replied respectfully, "I'm Sean Lowe, the CEO's assistant." Candice nodded in greeting. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Lowe." "Ms. Candice, please come in," Sean said, opening the door for her. Candice hesitated for a few seconds, wondering why they had questioned the waiter who had accidentally dirtied her evening gown. It was such a minor incident, and even if it was intentional, it didn't really bother her. She stepped into the office. It was spacious, bright, and elegantly decorated. In front of the window walls stood a clean, impressive desk. The handsome man behind it, dressed in a sleek black suit, exuded charm as he worked intently. As soon as she saw him, Candice felt inexplicably nervous, her heart pounding erratically. Taking a deep breath, she pondered how to address him. Calling him "uncle" was out of the question. "Mr. Hoffis, you wanted to see me?" Candice approached politely. Elio was momentarily stunned. He barely glanced

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 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

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

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