The Wrong Woman

After their intimate time together, Candice, overcome with embarrassment, hastily dressed while Elio was bewildered. She practically sprinted away from the room.

"Candice..." Elio called out. He couldn't go after her as he wasn't fully dressed yet.

She dashed out of the office and into the elevator, gasping for breath. Upon returning to the design department, Vanessa hurried over and leaned forward with her hands on Candice's table. Vanessa's gaze fell upon Candice's flushed face and slightly swollen lips.

"Candice, what happened? Why are you so red? Did you have lunch?"

Candice avoided Vanessa's gaze, looking down sheepishly. "Yes, I did. Just by myself."

"I didn't see you in the cafeteria! And you usually take only half an hour for lunch. Why did it take you over an hour today?"

"I-I didn't eat at the company cafeteria. I went somewhere... far."

Vanessa lightly smacked Candice's hand with a hint of displeasure. "Candice, why didn't you bring me along if you found a great spot?"

wisp of hair behind her ear. "Next

exclaimed, "Don't

looked at her in

hair to inspect the area behind her ear close to her neck. Then, she questioned, "Why's there a red mark on your neck? It looks like a hickey." Candice panicked.

love bite!" Vanessa said, looking

quickly let her hair fall to cover her neck. Then, she feigned annoyance. "Don't talk nonsense. I-I scratched myself.

her experience, Vanessa could easily tell whether it was a mosquito bite or a hickey. Moreover, Candice's bashful expression was unmistakable. Her face was ablaze with redness, and

asked, "Candice, are you sure you don't

trying to set us up," Candice

let Wendell know he should move

smile. "That's something you should have done a

that, she turned on her computer and began

chair and rested her head on the desk, intending to take a

Elio calling. A wave of awkwardness and embarrassment swept over her, and she found herself at a loss for how to handle