My Mirror Image

Chapter 285

Candice had just arrived, and her footsteps paused slightly as she turned to look at Sawyer.

Sawyer’s tone was overly welcoming just now. He awkwardly cleared his throat and said, “Mr. Elysian

is afraid of communication issues, so he wanted to wait until everyone was present before. starting the

meeting. Mr. Baldwin and the others are already in the conference room waiting. You can go ahead; I’ll

inform Mr. Elysian.”

Candice nodded and was about to leave. Suddenly, she thought of something and stopped. “After the

meeting, does Mr. Elysian have any other arrangements?”

“He’s free in the morning, but he has to attend a forum conference in the afternoon.”

Sawyer inquired. “Do you have something to discuss with him?”

“Mm.”

Candice responded lightly without elaborating things any further.

She had just reached the conference room and was about to open the door when it swung open from

the inside. Ryan, wearing a displeased expression, walked out.

Seeing her, his brows furrowed. “Why did you come?”

“Sawyer called me: I had no choice but to come.”

She looked up at Hanley inside the conference room. Though Hanley appeared calmer than Ryan,

his expression was still slightly cold.

Candice asked, “Were you guys waiting here since just now?”

“What do you think?” Ryan sneered coldly, “As soon as we arrived, we were made to sit here and wait.

Who do they think they are? Do they think they’re the only ones who own a company?”

Both Ryan and Nadia came from wealthy and influential families. Working with Hanley was more of an

interest for them. Originally, due to the incident, they were somewhat at fault, so it was normal to come

and cooperate for the meeting. However, Alex had left them waiting here for over

an hour.

Since Ryan had started working with Hanley, he had never been treated like this. Therefore, his anger

flared up.

Candice lowered her eyes and spoke softly after a moment, “I should have come with you.”

Ryan wanted to say something else, but he felt Hanley’s gaze. He paused and muttered, “I’m not

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against you, I just find Aether Corporation too much.”

“If you have nothing good to say, don’t say anything.” Hanley’s deep voice sounded. He lowered his

tone, looking at Candice. After a brief pause, he continued, “If Aether Corporation wants to make things

difficult for us, it will be the same whether you come or not.”

“So, Mr. Baldwin means I am intentionally making things difficult for you? As soon as Hanley’s

words fell, the meeting room’s door was pushed open, and Alex’s cold voice came in.

Candice looked up, and Alex stood expressionlessly at the door, casually looking at them with an

indifferent gaze.

Alex’s gaze swept back and forth between Candice and Hanley, then he lightly sneered. “Very well.

It turns out that the corporate culture at Burning Star Studio is to badmouth partners behind their

backs.”

His eyes finally settled on Candice, and the coldness in his eyes deepened. After a moment, he spoke

without much emotion, “Birds of a feather flock together. I see that you learned the worst

from Burning Star Studio, even if you didn’t learn anything else.”

As soon as Alex arrived, he sarcastically criticized them. Candice looked at him, her eyes slightly

moving. “Aether Corporation doesn’t seem to have a rule of leaving the partner unattended in the

conference room.”

Alex paused at her words. His cold and penetrating gaze was focused on Candice as he said

without much emotion, “You’re here to defend your new home.”

After he finished speaking, he sat down in the top position.

However, Hanley suddenly chuckled, lightly tapping his fingers on the table twice. His deep and

magnetic voice sounded, “What are you still standing there for? Sit down; let’s get ready for the

meeting, Candice.”

Candice nodded, about to approach, when Alex’s indifferent voice came again, “Wasting time choosing

seats for a meeting; Mr. Baldwin really doesn’t pay attention to time costs.”

“Since we’ve already wasted so much time, what’s another minute or two?” Hanley dismissed it

casually, looking at Candice. “Come over.”

There was an empty seat in front of her, right next to Sawyer. She hesitated for a moment before sitting

down in her assigned spot. She looked at Hanley with clear eyes, “I’ll sit here. As Mr. Elysian wishes to

save time costs, it’s better to resolve the issue sooner. Aren’t you planning to

visit the building materials market later?”

Hanley’s eyebrows twitched. “Sure.”

Their exchange, though seemingly calm, carried a tension where outsiders couldn’t intervene.

“Are you done?” Alex, impatient, closed the file in his hand. His eyebrows pressed down, and his face

showed indifference. “If you’re done, maybe we can discuss the security issues regarding Burning Star

Studio.”

Hanley said, “Sure.”

Alex looked at Sawyer and succinctly said, “Give me the investigation results.”

Sawyer took out a file, speaking crisply with a hint of regret, “Mr. Elysian had me compile all the

materials about Burning Star Studio’s design and venue construction for all cooperation exhibitions. We

also consulted experts on construction. I’m sorry, Mr. Baldwin; many aspects of Burning Star Studio

may need improvement, and everything needs to be changed.”

After he finished speaking, he handed the documents to Hanley and Ryan.

As Candice listened to Sawyer, her expression turned grim. Aether Corporation’s demands were

Indeed somewhat high-

As expected, after Ryan finished reading, he spoke with a displeased tone. “What do you mean?

According to these standards, there’s no need for Burning Star Studio to plan; Aether Corporation can

do it themselves.”

Hanley’s gaze turned completely cold. “Is Mr. Elysian’s oversight too broad?”

Alex lifted his eyelids, his voice faint, “Isn’t it because Mr. Baldwin doesn’t pay enough attention to

security issues? If the incident from that day were to happen again while the audience is viewing the

exhibition, who should take responsibility? Burning Star Studio or Aether Corporation?”

“That incident was just an accident, and it happened at the construction site.”

Alex sneered, “I am an investor: I cannot afford accidents.”

The atmosphere in the meeting room became tense. The expressions of Hanley and Ryan were.

not good. Candice bit her lip and looked at Alex, “Mr. Elysian, things will rebound when taken to

the extreme. Moreover, Burning Star Studio is all about creativity. If the control is too strict, the

presented results may not be as you desire.”

Alex gave her a faint glance, and Candice met his gaze with a tense expression.

The surroundings seemed to quiet down with only Alex’s dark eyes resembling a deep pool.

She abruptly withdrew her gaze, her lips parted, but she didn’t know what to say.

Alex broke the silence. “These are just modification suggestions from Aether Corporation.

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Whether to adopt them or not is up to you. However, I see that you all are not as willing to cooperate as

you claim,”

He stood up expressionlessly, “Sawyer, see them off.”

This meeting was clearly unpleasant for both sides.

Sawyer looked at Hanley and Ryan, “Please, the two of you.”

He then turned to Candice, and she calmly asked, “He doesn’t have any work arrangements later, Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

right?”