Wicked Liar (Dark Syndicate 3)

Chapter Eleven

Candace

“I can't believe he took you to that restaurant,” Helen beams bringing her hands together.

I’m in her office, summoned to our morning catch up meeting.Before I could get through the doors to the building, I already had messages from her.

Even with the mountain load of documents on her desk, Helen still wanted to hear about my date.I've just finished filling her in.

“He did, and the food was fantastic.”

"And what about the man?" She flicks her long dark curls over her shoulders and gives me a saucy look.

“He was great."

"What else did you do?"

"That's it."

“What?" She wrinkles her nose."Really? Nothing else? You go on a date with a man like Jacques Belmont and just talk about France and food?"

"And his family home."

“You're seriously telling me he didn’t try to invite you back to his place for hot sex?” Mischief dances over her face.

I bite the inside of my lip. “Of course he did.”

She grabs on to the edge of her desk and gasps.“And?”

“And nothing. I turned him down.He has to wait.”

Her mouth drops open. “Oh my God.”

I laugh. “You should see your face.”

“I think the shock on my face is reasonable.Candace Ricci, what the actual hell?You didn't want to sleep with him?"

"No. Last night wasn't about sex.I ate and went home. We're going on a lunch date tomorrow."

Her brows raise. "Lunch?"

I nod.

My phone buzzes in my lap as a text comes through.A quick glance at the screen tells me it's Isabella.One more message to join the twenty she sent me yesterday and the million calls I've received from Emelia.

Both have been trying to contact me since Dominic came home.While Emelia and Isabella are the best people to talk to about him, I'm trying to avoid any discussion.

Especially with them. I love them both and I know they went through a lot, but the two of them remind me of Disney princesses who were rescued by their princes.

I’m still waiting to be saved by someone, anybody who can slay my dragons.Doesn’t even have to be a prince.

I sound like a jealous bitch, but I'm really not.It's just that they aren't like me.I'm different, with different life experiences they wouldn't understand.

For a start, I’m older. Older than Emelia by six years and older than Isabella by four.

They're married with children, two things I really wanted to have at this stage of my life.On top of that, they have their careers.Emelia is an artist and Isabella is a therapist.I, on the other hand, did a literature degree because I enjoy reading post-romantic poetry and the classics.The only thing I can claim is that I'm able to use the transferable skills here in ways that I want.I help Massimo and I work with both the PR and Marketing teams.Great as it is and fulfilling, it feels like everyone else thinks it was given to me because of my connections.

“You're seriously not going to sleep with the man until the auction?” Helen asks drawing my attention back to her.She looks baffled.