The Wrong Woman

Candice texted a reply. "I'm busy at the moment."
Yet, Elio continued to message her.
"Can we talk in person?"
"Candice, you didn't turn me down initially. So, why the sudden change in your behavior? What do you mean by this?"
"I'm waiting for you. Are you coming down, or should I come up?"
Candice stared at Elio's messages on her phone, unsure how to respond. As her anxiety mounted, she turned and glanced at
Vanessa.
With her extensive experience in matters of the heart, Vanessa was often regarded as somewhat of a love guru. Candice
scooted her chair closer to Vanessa and whispered, "Vanessa, can I ask you something?"
Vanessa, who had been dozing off with her head resting on the desk, murmured sleepily, "Go ahead."
"My friend has had a crush on a guy she's known since they were kids. However, he's always kept his distance and even avoids
her. He doesn't seem to like her much.
"But lately, as they've both gotten older, he's been reaching out to her and they've slept together twice without any strings
attached. What do you think his intentions are?"
Vanessa sat up abruptly, her hand flying to cover her mouth in shock, her eyes wide as she looked at Candice.
Confused, Candice asked, "What's the matter?"
With a concerned expression, Vanessa frowned and said, "Candice, it's clear that someone is taking advantage of you."
"It's not me. I'm talking about my friend," Candice replied meekly.
"Oh, right, your friend." Vanessa quickly corrected herself, her expression softening into a sympathetic pout. "Babe, your friend
has definitely been taken advantage of. That's terrible. Who's this jerk?" Candice swallowed nervously, her breathing uneven.
"What do you mean?"

Considering Candice's words carefully, Vanessa explained, "It's obvious your friend has blossomed into a stunning beauty. So,
now this guy is suddenly drawn to her looks.
"Even if he never cared for her before, that doesn't stop him from wanting to sleep with her now! You know how men can be, they
often let their desires guide their actions."
Candice's face turned a shade paler, and she was so distraught that she couldn't speak.
Vanessa grasped Candice's cold hand and comforted her. "Candice, it sounds like your friend doesn't understand much about
relationships. She's inexperience and too naive, which is why she was deceived by that guy."
"H-He's not like that," Candice murmured in a weak defense.
"Did he ever say he wanted to be in a relationship with your friend?" Vanessa asked.
Bitterness flooded Candice's heart. Her fingers trembled, and tears welled up in her eyes. Elio had expressed such desires, nor
had he hinted at wanting a relationship.
Feeling overwhelmed, Candice stood up. "Vanessa, I don't feel well. I'm going to take the rest of the day off and go home."
Vanessa could sense Candice's distress and empathized with her.
She gave these a gentle pat on the back. "Go home and get some rest. And tell your friend to really think things through and
steer clear of jerks like him.
"No matter how long she's been crushing on him, she doesn't deserve this treatment, alright? He's just toying with her emotions."
Candice grabbed her bag and left the office, looking despondent as if she had lost a piece of herself. Her mind was a whirlwind
of thoughts as she stood before the elevator.
The elevator chimed, and the doors slid open. She walked in with her head hung low, looking utterly listless.
At the same time, the doors of another elevator opened, and Elio emerged, walking briskly toward the design department with an
air of anxiety.
As he passed, employees greeted him respectfully, their faces showing surprise. They were puzzled by his rare visit to the
design department.

"Mr. Hoffis." The design department employees stood up, their eyes following him with apprehension.
Elio glanced around the department but couldn't spot Candice. He approached the nearest employee, the question ready on his
lips.