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

Chapter 0313

Alex's face bore a deeply serious expression, and his eyes, typically dark and penetrating, now shimmered with an added layer of frost. He hung up after quietly issuing some orders to Sawyer over the phone.

There was a palpable coldness radiating from him.

Candice stood a short distance away. She could not ignore the intense chill spreading from him.

She pondered for a bit before discreetly stepping back.

Alex's cold stare stayed on her for a second before he turned away. As he moved past her, the coldness around him felt like a bone-chilling wind, and it affected her quite a bit.

Candice frowned slightly.

Having spent so much time by Alex's side, she recognized instantly that his irritation was at an unusual peak. It had been a long time since she had seen him so openly distressed, especially since Aether Corporation had found its footing.

Quickly arriving at his car, Alex halted momentarily to look back at Candice, his eyes ablaze with unspoken fury.

She felt a knot in her stomach as she met his gaze.

Before she could say anything, Alex's chilly tone broke the silence and delivered a message, saying, "Shawn expects you to dine with him in a few days."

He added, after a short pause, "I will pick you up."

Alex got into his car before Candice could respond.

The door closed with a loud bang. The door was shut with such force that the vehicle rocked, which indicated the level of his rage.

Following a little pause for reflection, Candice reached inside the document bag for the family portrait. She had received an identical one from Shawn on WhatsApp. She took a cursory look at it before tucking it into her pocket.

Meanwhile, Alex was on his way to head back to Aether Corporation.

At the door to the building entrance, Sawyer was already waiting for him. Upon seeing Alex, he promptly greeted him, "Mr. Elysian."

Alex maintained a stern demeanor and ordered, "Get everyone ready for a meeting."

This was no minor issue. Aether Corporation had spent the better part of six months trying to establish a relationship with Quinton Holding, but Horizon Holding was able to outwit them. It was a clear sign of a leak within.

Understanding the gravity, Sawyer quickly set off to organize the meeting.

The news of an emergency meeting rippled through Aether Corporation, unsettling many.

Kayla slumped back wearily in her chair. She let out a heavy sigh and moaned, "Seems like we're up for yet another late night."

Many people around her agreed except Sonia.

She sat there looking pale, her eyes fixed on her screen, her fingers aimlessly tapping the keyboard.

Kayla's fury flared up when she noticed the jumble of letters on Sonia's screen. She clicked her tongue and snapped, "Come on, snap out of whatever that is."

Sonia was caught off guard, and she leaped from her chair. Her dramatic reaction startled Kayla as well.

"What's gotten into you?" Kayla demanded, frustration in her voice.

Sonia attempted to regain her composure and stammered, "I... I've done nothing wrong."

Kayla rolled her eyes and scoffed, “What's with the nonsense?"

Sonia kept repeating to herself, "I haven't done anything."

She repeatedly murmured that to herself, seemingly finding solace in the repetition. Her phone vibrated with an incoming message. She looked down to see that it was from Xavier on WhatsApp.

Earlier that day, Candice had learned of the emergency meeting through Kayla. Curious, she wondered, "What triggered the meeting?"

Kayla detailed, "It seems the deal with Quinton Holding has gone south. I've heard Horizon Holdings has managed to present a proposal just like ours, and they got there first."

Candice furrowed her brow at the mention of Horizon Holdings. She recalled her multiple run-ins with Xavier and Sonia.

However, she decided against discussing these encounters with Kayla, believing it was not her place to interfere with Aether Corporation's internal matters.

After the conversation ended, Jackson tentatively mentioned, "I think I heard something about Quinton Holding?"

Candice nodded, "It appears the collaboration between Aether Corporation and Quinton Holding is on shaky ground."

Jackson noted, "Quinton Holding is not in a good position for cooperation. They're experiencing significant internal strife. Solomon is the only true family member left, although he is unlikely to last much longer."

Recalling Solomon's remarks at a banquet about her resemblance to someone he knew sparked Candice's curiosity.

She asked Jackson, "What's happening with Quinton Holding?"

Jackson took his time before responding with a heavy sigh, "They've nurtured an ingrate who's close to turning the entire company inside out."

Hearing Jackson critique someone in a negative light was rare for Candice. It prompted her to say, "Even a weakened giant remains strong. Surely, the Quintons has its ways to deal with it."

Jackson mulled over this quietly, reflecting on the true state of a weakened behemoth.

A giant, no matter how frail, remained formidable, yet what if it had been thoroughly dismantled? The individual causing the turmoil was known for being exceptionally ruthless and heartless in nature, far from what one might consider normal.

Candice had only scratched the surface of the Quintons' problems, and her attention was drawn instead by Kayla, the Aether Corporation's gossip mill, who shared how the entire company was drowning in overtime work.

She had expected that the dinner at Shawn's would be canceled.

However, to her surprise, a call from Alex arrived in the evening.

His voice carried a note of weariness as he said, "I'm outside, come out."

Candice acknowledged with a hum and proceeded outside, where she saw Alex's car waiting as promised.

The sight of Alex with a cigarette in hand as he rested an arm on the open car window took her by surprise. NôvelDrama.Org content rights.

Known for his long-term abstinence from smoking and alcohol due to personal reasons, he had tried both in the past. The sight of him casually holding a cigarette, his posture relaxed yet distinct, was not something Candice was accustomed to seeing.

She took a peek at him. It took her a bit to join him in the car.

Alex didn't spare her a glance. His focus remained elsewhere, the half-smoked cigarette still in his grip.

The silence in the car felt oppressive.

After a moment, Candice suggested quietly, "We can leave now."

Alex shifted his gaze away, extinguished the cigarette, and carefully disposed of it in a wipe, which he then placed in a small container. He cleaned his hands with another wipe before emotionlessly starting the car.

Throughout the drive, Alex's phone rang several times, but he dismissed it after a quick glance.

Candice noticed that Sonia and an unknown caller were trying to reach him.

The heavy air in the car was palpable, with Alex's expression hardly changing until they neared Shawn's location.

That was when Candice voiced her concern, saying, "I've heard about the lost deal with Horizon Holdings."

Alex glanced at her sharply, questioning, "Enjoying the spectacle?"

"Why would I find joy in such a situation?" Candice retorted. "Our companies are partners; any mishap on your end adversely affects us as well."

She pressed her lips together and argued, "Given the partnership between our companies, any setback from your side spells trouble for mine too."

Candice would not endanger her firm's financial interests, given Aether Corporation's financial backing.

She then firmly stated, looking directly at Alex, "The fact that Horizon Holdings has identical information to yours suggests there's a leak within your company, likely someone with easy access to your office."

Her conviction was strong, and Alex didn't argue with her.

He just raised his eyes and met her gaze with a cool detachment, reminding her, "It was you who brought that document into my office."