Chapter 900 – Beginning with a Daring Encounter

Although she knew it was silly, but she was looking forward to her next visit to him which was going to be the next day.

They had both agreed that they make the best use of this period since they were both available right now and didn’t know how their schedules would turn out after she returned to Sogal and he resumed work.

Getting home and finding the lovely package Harry had sent her to choose from, she had felt like she had walked into a fairytale movie and was a princess. She had enjoyed the admiration of her father, Jamal, Desmond, Evelyn, Andrew, Janet and of course Harry after she dressed up.

They had all taken pictures of her and with her on their phones, and then Aaron had taken out his camera which he brought with him and set it up so they could take a group photo together in that moment.

Then she had told Harry about the text from Andy, and Harry had offered to have his men track the number but they got nothing.

Still, that hadn’t dampened her mood since she was still grateful to have heard from Andy, and was thankful for Jamal and her newfound family, and her friendship with Matt.

And then both her and Harry had driven to Benne’s house, and she had wallowed in the pleasure of having so many lovely people in her life now who she could tell genuinely cared about her.

Sitting in the backseat of the car, she and Jade filled Harry in on the details of their meeting with the Miller sisters, and Jade told them about her discussion with the chief judge.

Once the car stopped and they all got out, and joined Benne and the others, while the valets took their cars away as all seven of them walked down the red carpet to the hall where the event was to be held.

“Is this your girlfriend?” Several of the reporters called out to Harry when they noticed he was holding on to both Candace on his left and Jade on his right.

“Who is she?”

“May I know you ma’am?” Some called out to Candace since she was the only person they knew nothing about amongst the others.

Candace stiffened heads and cameras turned in their direction. She had not imagined that the event would be so grand or that the place would be crawling with journalists and paparazzi.

“You’re beautiful. Relax and smile,” Harry whispered to her as he patted her hand, and she smiled at him in gratitude.

Some of her reporters focused on taking pictures of Benne and Celsie, since it was Benne’s first time of attending the anniversary party openly as CEO, and it was the first time they were seeing him and Celsie together in public this way.

Some others focused on Bryan and Sonia who were more of a celebrity couple because of Bryan was considered a screen god.

Unlike the others, Bryan smiled and waved at the reporters who called out to him, and he pulled Sonia closer so they could pose for a few shots.

“You’re enjoying this aren’t you?” Sonia asked with a giggle as they posed for the camera.

“Such is the life of a star,” Bryan said as he pressed his lips to the tip of her nose making her giggle as they continued moving to give room to others who were coming behind them.

They all continued down the red carpet to where the decorated photo backdrop stood. Once they got there they all stood together so they could be snapped as a group and after that they headed for the event hall.

Immediately they walked into the event hall, they were surrounded by people who came to say hello to Benne and Harry and to congratulate them.

Benne made sure Celsie remained right there beside him the whole time as he said hello to everyone who came to him and introduced her to them.

“Jade!” Aurora who has just walked into the hall screeched happily when she spotted her, and immediately Jade let go of Harry and went to say hello to Aurora who was with Philip.

“Well, this place is packed full. We should find somewhere to sit,” Sonia whispered to Bryan, and then turned to Candace who seemed a bit uncomfortable.

“Want to come with us?” She asked, and Candace let go of Harry and left with Bryan and Sonia to find somewhere to sit while Celsie remained with Benne and Harry as all three of them socialized with the guests.

Immediately the ushers spotted Bryan and Sonia, they led them to one of the tables at the forefront which had been reserved for them.

“How did they do this? Everything is just so organized,” Sonia said when they got to their table of twelve and realized there was a name tag in front of each seat.

Candace looked around, “And the hall is so large,” she observed as she took her seat, and a waiter came with a tray of champagne glasses.

Bryan and Candace picked a glass each, but Bryan instructed the waiter to get something nonalcoholic for Sonia who was busy going around their table to check the name tags so she would see who was joining them on the table.

“I guess Benne and Harry wanted us to all be together,” she said when she observed that most of the names were familiar.

Celsie, Benne, Harry, Jade, Aurora, Philip, Mia, Jeff, and then then there was Matt, “Is Matt coming?” Sonia asked Bryan, causing Candace’s heart to skip a beat.

“I don’t think so,” Bryan said, certain that Matt wouldn’t show up at such an event. Especially if he suspected that Candace might be present.

“Why not? His name is here,” Sonia asked as she took her seat, and Candace tried not to look too obvious as she strained her ear to hear what Bryan was saying to Sonia from where she sat away from them.

Because of the name tags on the seats, she was meant to sit between Harry and Celsie which was about two seats away from Sonia and Bryan.

As the waiter brought Sonia’s nonalcoholic drink, an usher led Jade, Philip and Aurora , who were with their wine glasses already, to the table, and Jade did the introductions as they sat down.

“So, you’re the couple who loves to fish,” Sonia said with a grin, making both Aurora and Philip laugh.

“Hello! We meet again. I’m sorry about getting on your nerves the last time,” Aurora greeted Candace with a wide smile.

Candace smiled, “All is well that ends well. I guess the fishing is going well,” Candace said, nodding towards Aurora’s hand which was joined with Philip’s, and Aurora giggled.

“Phil loves to hold hands,” she told them with a wide smile.

“I love to hold her hands not just any hands. Her hands are so tiny and cute,” Philip told them making Aurora blush.

“Don’t say that! It’s embarrassing,” Aurora said, and Philip chuckled as he raised her hand to his lips to kiss it.

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