Chapter 901 – Beginning with a Daring Encounter

“You look so beautiful when you blush,” Philip said, and Candace shook her head.

“I can’t believe I have to be subjected to an evening on the same table with you all. You’re all annoying,” Candace hissed, making Aurora and Philip look at her slightly taken aback by her outburst but one look at Jade and Sonia who were laughing out loud, they realized she was kidding and relaxed.

Next Jeff arrived, saying Mia wouldn’t be joining them because she wasn’t feeling too well and her drugs made her drowsy.

They all chatted and discussed like old time friends, and soon Candace felt herself relaxing. She was even more surprised to realize that she was enjoying herself and the company of everyone around the table.

Soon an announcement was made asking everyone to settle down as the event was about to kickoff, and Benne, Celsie, and Harry returned to the table to join them.

“I love the sitting arrangement. Whose idea was it?” Jade asked after they were all seated.

“We all agreed on it. Benne, Celsie and I,” Harry said and then glanced at the empty seats.

“Is Mia not joining us?” Harry asked when he noticed that Jeff was present but Mia wasn’t.

Jeff explained to Harry that Mia was ill, but Harry gave him a nod but said nothing even though he doubted that was the reason she was upset.

He had a feeling she was avoiding him. He had noticed that she had made up an excuse not to be at every meeting he had with Jeff since the day he said she looked familiar. Perhaps it was time for him to look into her and find out what she was hiding.

“I guess Matt is really not coming,” Sonia said to no one in particular.

“Matt is supposed to be here too?” Jade asked curiously, wondering if that was the reason Candace had been excited all evening.

“I invited him since he’s a part of OmniGlobal. I don’t know if he’s coming or not,” Harry explained for the benefit of everyone.

“Why would I miss such a fun gathering?” Matt asked as an usher showed him to his seat.

Candace felt her heart lurch and her spirit plummet when she saw the model from the cafe standing beside Matt.

Her gaze shifted to the model, as she wondered why Matt had not told her he was also attending the party and why he brought her along with him when he knew fully well that she would be there.

They had an agreement, didn’t they? They agreed he was not going to see anyone else for as long as they were together, so why was he with another lady just hours after having sex with her? Why was he with this particular lady who she knew without a doubt was the lady he had told her he had sex with the other day?

“Are you alright?” Harry whispered as he looked at her, when he noticed she was too busy eyeing the model to pay attention to the introductions being made.

“Yeah. Sure. I’m alright. I’m just wondering why you didn’t deem it fit to tell me you were inviting him?” Candace asked in a whisper.

“Was I supposed to? If I remember correctly you have no business with him. Or do you? Should I give you a list of everyone I sent an invite to?” Harry asked sweetly, and she scowled but quickly replaced it with a stiff smile when her gaze met with Matt’s who was now seated beside Matt, while Gemima occupied Mia’s seat beside him.

“Hi! You look lovely,” Matt said with a polite smile as he had said to every other lady around the table.

Lovely? Candace mused as her blood boiled over, but she managed to control her emotions as she smiled at him, “Thanks. You look good yourself,” she said as her gaze shifted from him to Gemima and then back again, demanding an explanation with her eyes.

Celsie, Sonia, and Jade all glanced at Candace and exchanged an understanding look, each thinking about how uncomfortable she must be to be on the same table with Matt and his model.

They all directed their attention to the podium when Harry was called upon to give the opening speech, and as they all rose to give him a clapping ovation, Gemima leaned closer to Matt.

“She is the one, isn’t she?” She whispered, and Matt smiled.

“Yeah,” Matt said as his gaze met with Candace’s, who had caught Gemima’s movememt from the corners of her eyes and was now watching them.

Matt’s gaze traveled over the length of her body which he could see but his eyes remained blank as it met with hers again.

To her surprise his expression was ordinary. He didn’t look as stunned as the others had been to see her dressed that way. He just looked at her with casual interest as though they had not spent the afternoon making out on his kitchen Island or fucking their brains out on his dinning table and couch in the living room.

As they all sat down once again, Candace couldn’t help but notice that Gemima’s hand was resting on Matt’s thighs, and as she looked up she caught Matt’s amused gaze before he looked away from her.

He was amused? He thought any of this was amusing? He was sitting there beside another woman and smiling at whatever nonsense she was whispering in his ears and he had the nerves to be amused? No! She was not going to tolerate any of that.

Grateful that everyone else seemed engrossed by whatever it was Harry was saying, she took out her phone from her handbag and texted Matt.

[We had an agreement, and seeing as you can’t honor it, I take it our arrangement won’t work.]

Matt glanced at his phone when it vibrated, and he waited a minute before checking the text.

He considered whether or not he should respond to it, and decided not to. They could talk about it later.

“That was from her, wasn’t it?” Gemima asked and Matt turned to her.

“Yeah,” Matt said, and Gemima giggled softly.

“She looks really pissed. You might not have to do too much to win her heart after all,” Gemima said making Matt grin, while Candace seethed as she watched them.

She couldn’t believe that Matt had put his phone away without responding to her text. He did not even spare her a glance. He was ignoring her.

Seeing how Candace kept sending a glare in Matt’s direction, Jade leaned into Harry’s empty seat so she could whisper to Candace, “You’re being too obvious,” Jade said, and Candace turned to glare at her.

“I shouldn’t have come here,” Candace muttered under her breath.

“Are you alright?” Celsie asked Candace softly, and she turned to her.

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