CHAPTER 2

In the corner, they sit because of the number of customers inside the bar. Everyone was having fun shouting, others were busy jumping on the dance floor. And others are busy flirting and kissing. This is the dirty place for Candice, seeing those guys holding each other's bodies is ridiculous. He could not understand why there were business-minded people who built this kind of business. But there is no personal only business. Candice sat down while her companions ordered a drink.

Genevieve and the rest are too busy clapping and dancing in their seats. Candice is just smiling.

"Will your ears explode with the loudness of their music, Harlow?" Genevieve asked.

"Yes, maybe when I get out of here I'll be deaf," she replied with a laugh.

“You also get used to it when you go here every day,” she told her.

"No way! I'm not going back to this place," she replied.

Genevieve laughed.

"Yeah. I know it's very obvious in your facial expression but since you're here in this place, just have fun first," said Genevieve.

"Do I still have a choice?"

A few minutes later her colleagues started drinking. And Letitia gave it to her too.

"That's for you, Harlow. You won't get drunk on that." Letitia said and gave her a lady's drink.

"I'm sorry but I don't drink. Just water if there is any."

she replied.

"They probably don't have water here."

“Maybe there’s juice,” he said.

"Okay. I'll get some juice for you." Letitia said.

"Thank you."

After Letitia left, Genevieve sat next to her.

"Are you okay, Harlow? Just tell me if you're no longer comfortable," said Genevieve.

"It's too noisy and the music is painful to the ears but it's okay I'll get used to it later," Candice replied.

"I'm sorry if I brought you here. It's too childish but I want you to be my friend. You don't talk much in the office. You're too focused on our work."

"It's okay. It's better that I wind up at least once. My parents thought I wasn't normal anymore."

"Your parents aren't numb either, you're the only one who doesn't feel well," Genevieve replied while laughing.

"Yeah. The bad way they treat me. What's wrong with being focused at work?"

"There's nothing but your body needs rest. And you also need to breathe fresh air," said Genevieve.

Candice laughed.

"Is there still fresh air to breathe in this place? People are so close together that I don't think there's any air to get in. They're already smelling their stench and sweat." she says.

Genevieve laughed out loud.

"True, but they're so happy that they don't care about each other's smell anymore," Genevieve replied.

Then Letitia came back with a glass of juice and gave it to her.

"Thank you, Letitia."

"Aren't we going to dance yet?" Letitia asked.

"What about you guys? It's late at night. Aren't you going to find something to eat tonight?" Genevieve's jokes.

And the men laughed.

"We're not going to dance, Gene. We're going to find a date for tonight."

Then they winked at them.

"What about you, Harlow? Aren't you going to dance?"

"I'll just wait here. Just enjoy yourself," she replied.

"Okay."

Then they ran to the dance floor.

Genevieve and Letitia were busy dancing as she looked at the dance floor while she was sitting quietly with a man with curly hair. He also just sat quietly while drinking. But the man didn't seem to have the plan to talk to her and she didn't want to swallow her saliva so she talked to him.

"Why don't you go with them? Dance and have fun or maybe find a date tonight," she said.

"What if I asked you the same, Miss Whitlock?" the man asked her.

Candice fell silent and she swallowed her tongue. Only now can she call this man a snob. And what caught her attention was that he mentioned her last name.

"So I presume we both don't like this place? Why don't you just go home?" he asked.

The man laughed.

"Just like you feel, I also don't want to refuse my office mate's invitation. I'm already here so why should I go home? Tonight will also end." he replied.

Candice nodded and drank the little juice that was left.

"I'm sorry if I approach you too snobbish. I'm just kidding you."

"It's OK," he replied.

"Good. I was just surprised that a successful woman like you is better prepared to drink juice than alcohol."

"I don't drink. Maybe when I do drink I'll get drunk right away and go crazy. It's scarier." Candace replied laughing.

"Yeah. I'm Nico Monroe by the way." introduce it to itself.

"Nice to meet you. Maybe I don't have to introduce my name because you already know me," said Candice.

"Yes, I know you. Son of a business tycoon and billionaire."

"Stop that. I'm not comfortable when that's the address to me. It's too scary. I'm just close to disaster." she replied while smiling.

"Okay. Let's talk other stuff than your wealth it's like you not comfortable with it," he said.

"That's better," she said.

Candice is like not looking at a man's features. She is not a judgemental type of woman. But by the looks of this man right beside her was like she like to look at him always until midnight. He was so cute and Candice knows that he was so smelled so sweet. Even if it's late at night but she still looks fresh. She accepts that she was so curious about this man but shame eats her system so remains silent.

"Do you mind if I ask you a question?"

"It's okay. Go ahead," she replied.

"Do you have a bad experience in a place like this?" Nico asked.

"Nope. It's kinda I'm not comfortable seeing those people doing nasty things rather than drinking," she answered.

Nico laughed.

"Your something, Miss Whitlock. Most women love this place. Partying until midnight is their hobby. Dancing without tomorrow. Look at them they are laughing freely." Nico said.

"My work is more important than this kind of stuff, Nico," she said.

"Yeah. I see it. Seeing your unpleasant face right now answers it all." Nico said.

Candice frowning.

"By the way, how long have you and Genevieve been friends?" she asked.

"Genevieve and I are not friends. I just know her now like you. Letitia and the guys were my office mate. They force me to come with them. So I didn't say no." Nico replied.

"Really?"

"Yeah. Earlier I noticed your uneasiness when you enter the car and saw men inside. I know that you didn't experience having men near you." Nico said.

Candice felt ashamed. She didn't expect this from him. She look at him earlier it was like he didn't care but right now he told her everything that he saw in her.

"I'm ashamed to say but I'm single. Is it a bad idea to be single?" she asked.

"No. It's a choice. Having a boyfriend or committing to a relationship is not a race. There's always a right time for everything." Nico said.

"Exactly."

"Aren't you sleepy or bored?" Nico asked.

"I'm used to sleeping late. So I'm fine. I'm enjoying talking to you." she replied.

Candice was telling the truth. She was happy and enjoyed talking to Nico. She wasn't felt bored. When she looked at Nico he fell silent and looked away. Has she said something bad to him?

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"Yeah. I leave you first. I'll go with the guys and tell them that I want to go home since it's late at night. I wanted to sleep." Nico replied.

"Okay. Go ahead."

Nicolai wasn't drunk but he felt dizzy. He wanted to go home since he knows that his wife and daughter wait for him. He loves to say no to this kind of stuff but this is the first time that he enters the bar with his office mate. It's a good thing that Tabitha was very understanding and she never felt jealous of his women's office mate. He was proud to say that his wife is his lucky charm. He was very lucky to have her in his life. She is very content with the life that they have. He can say that they got a simple life but not the poorest one. He has a nice house for his wife and daughter so they to become comfortable living a life with him. So he can't ask for more. So, for now, he can't stay any longer here because he is not single. He has a family that waited for him at home. He was walking now into Levi and Logan who is busy chitchatting with women.

"Brod. I want to go home. If you can stay any longer. I can go home alone." he said.

"No. We are the ones who invite you here so we're the ones who send you home." Logan said.

"Okay. Thank you. What about the girls?" he asked.

"I felt like they want to live here," Levi said laughing.

When he looks Candice Whitlock's way. He didn't see her maybe she was mingling in the dance with Genevieve. Now they are walking side by side and going out to the bar. Logan was the one driving, he and Levi were at the back sitting. After a while. The car was running on the highway.

"What do you think of Candice Whitlock?" Levi asked.

"Why you asked?" he asked.

"Nothing. I was just curious about what the two of you talking about. This is the first time that I saw you talking to a woman instead of mingling with us." Logan answered.

"She is intimidating. I would rather talk to her rather than be with you guys. I know that I felt safe with her." he replied.

Levi and Logan laughed.

"True. Because Candice Whitlock was not swooning with your good looks. Did she know that you are married?" Levi asked.

"Nope. It's like she's not interested." Nico replied.

"Yeah. We saw that. She respects us as a person but does do does not see us as a man." Logan replied.

"Your right. As Genevieve told us she was kind but she is not friendly. It's a miracle that she said yes to her invitation. Look at her earlier. She drinks juice rather than liquor. If I'm the man who tried to court her. Maybe I felt afraid since she was like a treasure that need to be taken care of." Logan said.

"Your dreaming so much, Logan. She is like a star hard to achieve." Levi said.

Nicolai shook her head. They are right. Candice Whitlock is unreachable but seeing her earlier like she didn't care about her wealth at all was impressive.

After a long journey. They reach his house. When Nico looked outside his brows rise when he saw Talitha standing outside their mini gate.

"Your wife is standing outside, Bro," Levi said.

"Yeah."

He goes out and closes the car door afterward. Tabitha's facelift when she saw him. She kisses him and he kisses back.

"Your lips taste the liquor, Babe," Thabitha said.

"Yeah. We go to the bar so what do you speak me to do there?" he asked jokingly.

"Of course. I know that. I'm just teasing you." she replied.

"Yeah. All I thought was that you are angry because I go home late." Nico said.

"That's not gonna happen. As long as you texted me telling me where you go." Tabitha replied.