Checking off another task on her to-do list for the day, Candice began to realize that it might take the whole week to finish it off. Who knew that it would be so difficult to help people? She had the entire marketing plan ready and they just didn't want to hear it. At all. Those were hours of her life she'd never get back.

Candice hoisted her overweight shoulder bag higher and strolled down the street, determined to take advantage of her lunch break, and find somewhere nice and cute to relax. She was exhausted and it was only halfway through Tuesday.

The urge to escape for the rest of the day was strong. Candice had to remind herself that this wasn't college and she needed this job since her money was now dependent on her work and not a trust fund. If this how most people feel about their job then Candice really needed to rethink the whole meaning of adult life.

"Candice," a soft voice called her name and she froze. She must be hallucinating this time. Of course, she saw Eric this weekend and her mind is tired.Then she heard her name again. This time by someone who sounded a lot less gentle. Someone grabbed her by her arm and swung her around roughly, nails digging into her flesh."Ow!" Candice yelped, wringing free of the claw holding her. She heard about mugging but never in board daylight. But when she turned to face her attackers, it was Eric and Eva. She wasn't hallucinating.

Her heart was beating so fast that Candice was sure that everyone could hear it thumps. She couldn't bring herself to look at Eric, so she looks over to Eva instead. Eva glared at Candice, full of anger and venom. Candice was taken aback; shouldn't she be the one who hates her?That reminded her that she was the one who should be angry and vengeful to the two. But she didn't really feel that way. There was no urge to yell at them or to get even. She simply didn't want to face them because... because she was disappointed. And hurt.

A breakthrough! Candice finally felt like her psych class had found some use. Then Eva Goodman - or Eva White - had to snap her fingers in front of her face. Talk about being rude. Perhaps Richard and Lynette should have enrolled her in a crash course for learning real manners in addition.

"What?" Candice said, swatting Eva's rude hand out of the way. Irritated, she crossed her arm and glared at the girl who all but kicked her out of her childhood home. "You know given how we part ways, you're lucky that I don't hit you with my bag or a brick."

Eva opened her mouth but Eric pulled her back and stepped forward between the two girls. Candice looked at him out of instinct and almost shivered; how did she still have feelings for Eric Goodman after the way he lied to her?

"Sorry," Eric said. His right arm twitched up before he lowered it back down, probably to run his hand through his hair which was his nervous habit. "We just want to talk."

Talk? What was there to talk about. Candice's mind flashed back to the jewelry that she gave away for her Mexico tour and the few pieces that were left and tucked away in her apartment. They weren't going to take those back, surely? It's worth a few pennies but it's minuscule for an heiress. It'd be cruel to track her down just to shake her down. Huh, that rhymes.

"We know you hide the money. Now give it all back and maybe I won't be pressing any charges," Eva accused, pushing Eric aside so she can lean forward and practically spit on Candice. Candice frowned; what drug was Eva on? What money? The allowance/salary she got from Viviene and Howard?

"Stop playing dumb. We know you stole all the money from my parent's company. Those belong to me and you better tell us exactly where to find them," Eva shouted. Candice was momentarily too stunned and didn't dodge when Eva poked her finger into her shoulder.Eric pulled his sister back before she tried again. Candice rubbed the spot on her collarbone. Eva definitely didn't hold back. For a second, Candice had the urge to cry but she took a deep breath instead.

"I think you should get some help," she said pointedly. The way Eva's eyes flashed reminded her of a girl in her sorority, Rachel. They were friends through their family but she'd often act out. She dropped out shortly after Freshmen year and Candice eventually found out that she was diagnosed with paranoia and narcissism, which led her to a short year of psych major. And her suspicion that Eva White suffered from the same thing.

Eric stepped between the two before Eva acted. "Candice, I'm sorry for what happened. Can we at least just talk?"

Candice was about to say no when a figure stepped out of a nearby parked car and approached. It was David. She looked at the three, jealousy bubbling up. She was part of the team before and now she became the one under scrutiny. Life is indeed ironic.

"Fine, but I'll only talk to you," Candice said, looking Eric in the eyes. Unlike Eva, there was nothing malicious in his eyes. But she saw something worse. Spending time with him was a bad idea, but Candice was curious as to why they would even think that she had stolen the money.

"That's a deal," Eric said after exchanging a look with David. The latter nodded at her in lieu of a greeting before taking hold of Eva and steering her back to the car. Eva was reluctant but Eric whispered something to her. She didn't forget to throw a glare at Candice before she got in the car and again, Candice wondered why she was the one who seemed to hate her. She is the real victim.

Candice sighed and turned her attention to Eric. "C'mon, I was just about to get lunch."

——

Eric followed Candice as they walked down the street. There was so much he wanted to ask and say to Candice but he kept coming up short. Her look of surprise at seeing them and shock at the accusation was clear. Eva had been a monster to this poor girl. If the roles were reversed, he might have told them to get lost. But here they were, did that mean that Candice could—

"Do you think I stole the money?" Candice asked, punctuating the silence. Eric stole a glance and quickly scanned her outfit. He didn't know fashion, but whatever Candice was wearing did seem expensive. But unless Candice White was a stellar actress, there was no way she stole the White family fortune.

"Did you?" he answered with a question instead, tucking his hands in his pockets. As soon as the words left his mouth, he knew it was the wrong thing to say. Candice whipped her head towards him, her eyes full of disappointment, and Eric's heart sank. There he goes again, hurting this girl who already had her world turned upside down.

Candice stopped in the middle of the street and pointed at a pastel yellow building across from them. "Let's go there," she said curtly and led the way. Eric swallowed the lump forming in his mouth and followed; he got to stop putting his foot in his mouth.

The word Oliva hung above the entrance and Eric stepped in to see a well-lit interior with black and white tiles. Candice spoke quietly to the hostess in better Spanish than him and Eva combined and they were led to a table by the window.

Candice sat down and said something to the hostess in Spanish, who nodded and left. Eric's hands were sweating and the silence between them was unnerving him. He needed to say something.

"I'm sorry," he blurted, feeling marginally relieved. He felt bad for so many things; how he kept the truth from her, the way that Eva behaved, and her adoptive parents being dirtbags. "I never should have lied to you."

"Were you ever going to tell me the truth?" Candice asked. Their eyes locked and it hit Eric with such force that his mind went blank. It became very clear, at that moment, that he had inevitably fell for Candice White. Ironically, he had messed it all up because he wanted more than what he was given in life. Things that now feel a lot less important compare to how he felt about the girl sat across from him. If only he knew what to say.

The silence stretched between them. Candice sighed and leaned back on the chair. "If you are looking for money, I don't have any. You were with me the night I got the news about my par— Lynette and Richard. Then with those kidnappers. You of all people should know that I had nothing to do with any of this craziness."

Candice was right. Eric knew. He knew the whole time. He had just been going through the motion to pacify his sister. If he was completely honest with himself, he had been coming to Mexico with Eva in hopes of finding Candice. To see if she was okay. Everything else was just an excuse.

"Look, I know how things seem," Eric started, not entirely sure where he was going with this himself. "I know you have every reason to hate us, to hate me, and I apologize for Eva's behavior. Things have just been rough. We found out that there's essentially no money left in the White family's savings. The company had been drained as well so Eva's going through some tough time."

At the mention of Eva's name, Candice raised her eyebrows and crossed her arms in front of her chest. Eric raised his hands, "my sister just can't reconcile the reality with her dream—"

"I think this conversation is done," Candice said, slamming a hand on the table. Eric clamped his mouth shut. She was probably right. He pulled out a bag from his messenger bag and scribbled his phone number on the napkin.

"In case you need to find me," he said. Then he wanted to kick himself for sounding stupid. He didn't want to leave but at this point, it was the only logical step. "Goodbye."

As he walked away, he could have sworn he heard her says, "I still have your number, silly."

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What is going on? Huh? Only 4 more chapters to go!