The Contract: My Hidden Billionaire Husband

Chapter 8

Afternoon with Albert

As Candy had promised, she shared the video of Lexi and Rick arriving at the hotel, with the date displayed on the screen, with family and friends, clarifying that it was the day of their honeymoon. Her parents didn't stop calling her once all the relatives knew about Lexi's audacity. They owed Candy an apology, but that wasn't her focus; it was the rift between Lexi and Rick.

The impact of this revelation on both of them was evident, especially when Rick attempted to show up at work to talk to Candy. He caused quite a scene, but he couldn't get past the door.

"He's crazy," Samara said beside her. "Why don't we go somewhere else? That way, you don't have to see him. He'll continue with his scandal. Do you want us to have lunch together? That's when we can talk. We need to catch up on many things."

"No, I'm behind on work and some reports I need to review. You know," Candy replied.

"A rest would be good, to relax your mind. All this is a lot for you, Candy. I'm just trying to take care of you."

"Thank you, because I've been very careless myself. I've been sleeping very little lately, and these days I've been feeling weak. Part of the stress. I hope all this ends as soon as possible."

"Since Albert and Rick's lawyers met. What date is it?" Samara asked.

"Within a week."

"And have they already spoken? Which part of the clause is going to save you, Candy?"

"I don't want to talk about that right now. I met Albert in his office. I have to bring him a proposal that he asked me for."

"I saw him leave before Rick came to cause a scene."

"He left? But we've already met," She looked at her wrist, observing the expensive watch on her other hand. "s**t! I'll call him to see what's going on. Weren't you going to lunch?" She turned around and headed towards Albert's secretary to find out more about him. "Celine, is Albert here?"

"Mr. Smith is out."

"Didn't he tell you if he would be back soon? We were supposed to meet in a few minutes."

"I don't think he'll be back today," Celine replied.

Candy knew Celine wouldn't reveal much more. She rolled her eyes. If she had known he wouldn't see her, she would have rearranged her schedule to avoid the requested afternoon.

On her way to her office, she received a call.

Just in time. It was Albert Smith.

"Candy, are you still in your office?"

"I was just leaving from talking to your secretary. Why didn't you cancel me?"

"Can you believe I forgot? Anyway, I need to see that proposal. What if you come to where I am?"

"And where are you? Having lunch?"

"Getting ready to go for a walk, will you join me?"

"Albert, I have already prepared the proposal."

"Bring it. I'll see it here."

"I can't refuse?" Candy knew that Albert went on very strange walks, like that time he said he had to cool off, and they ended up skiing without Candy having the slightest idea what he was doing, or when he invited her to a small party, and it turned out to be a private wedding in which she only knew him. With Albert, it was better to be alert, or he could end up in one of those situations without realizing it.

She took the documents from her office and left, saying goodbye to Samara, who was still there.

***

A whole month had passed since that crazy time when she slept with a married woman while she was on her honeymoon. The first few days, he felt very guilty, and that feeling only increased after Rick's visit when he found out that the two of them were getting divorced. When he told her brother, David Jackson, his first option was to tell his brother to call her. In short, if she was already divorced, what difference did it make? He had talked to Asher, but he couldn't bring himself to tell him to ask his friend about Candy Weber. He looked on the Internet at the information about her that appeared in the law firm where she worked. San Diego. Even before contacting her or even trying, Alaric was already looking and seeing ways to go. A couple of hours by car, but he had also seen the train lines and the various flights that connected there. He called Asher.

"Busy?"

"Finishing lunch. Do you want me to guess, or are you going to tell me? David told me you were still thinking about Candy Weber."

"But do you know her?"

"I've never seen her. Although we could organize a double date. Samara and me, Candy and you. How about that?"

"Do you have Candy's number?"

"I just told you that I don't know her, Alaric. But I can talk to Samara."

"No, better not. Wasn't it Samara who asked you to tell me to testify against her along with her husband? Samara's idea is not good." Asher thought about what Alaric said. "You know what? Forget it! If I ever want to contact her, I just have to call her office, right?"

"It's as simple as that."

"It is very simple. I have the number on the screen."

"Then call. Are you at home?"

"Yeah."

"Good. I'll make sure you don't back out. Take the home phone and dial it."

Alaric wanted time to repent, but Asher wasn't having that.

"But…"

"It is clear that you have even a minimum of interest in her or curiosity. So, call her!"

He was somewhat curious about Candy Weber, but every time the opportunity to make contact with her presented itself, he backed away. He had doubts. He was afraid that this was just a one-night stand and would only serve to prove that he wasn't cut out for serious relationships and that for Candy it had also been a one-night stand. Maybe what he was afraid of was another rejection.

He ended the call with Asher and closed the tab on the computer where he saw the website where Candy worked. Could not. He didn't feel ready.

***

When she was only ten minutes away from arriving, according to the location Albert sent her, Candy received a call from him.

"Where are you coming from?"

"I'm close, Albert. Are you still there?"

"Yeah. I'll wait for you here." Those were the short dialogues before Candy arrived at the place.

When she got out of her gray Cadillac, Albert went to catch up with her before she left the car. He was carrying a life jacket and a towel in his hand. He was dressed in a swimsuit and flip-flops, his chest exposed, revealing that fine tattooed snake that ran horizontally along the lower part of his marked abdomen. Her eyes moved down there, completely distracting Candy. She swallowed as she saw the way it looked on his boss's body. She blinked several times to force herself to take her eyes off that area, especially because the fabric of the swimsuit was very thin. She imagined it wet.

"Albert." Candy's gaze regained composure as he looked at her funny. "Whatever you're thinking I'll do, I won't do it. That life jacket is not for me, and I don't bring a swimsuit, just these documents of what you asked me for. I'm not into these games anymore; they were fun four years ago, not right now."

"Who says I'm playing? Leave the documents in the car and come, I have a bikini for you. Maybe I'm right, and it's your size." He looked at her completely, pressing his gaze on the size of her breasts. "What size bra do you have?" I already knew that Albert was more direct with her outside of the work area, but I couldn't get used to how laid back he was outside of the company.

"I'm sure you were right." She had no choice. She opened the car door and left the documents there. He looked at her heels and sighed sadly, hoping they wouldn't get damaged because they were her favorite. "Where do I have to go to change?"

"Come." He left the life jacket in her hand, making her follow him. But they only got to her Range Rover. "Inside is your bikini, and you're going to change there."

She dropped the life preserver and crossed her arms.

"For these things, you should pay me extra, Albert."

"These are things between friends, not between boss and employee, Candy."

"Did you plan it?"

"Somehow you have to relax, right?"

"I don't know how I didn't see it coming. You turn around!" He opened the door, and Candy entered the back, which was quite wide. She looked at the bikini, checking that he got the size right. She undressed while she looked at Albert's back. She knew that he was only doing it because his family already knew what Lexi had done with Rick, and she would be receiving a lot of calls; he did not want to distract her from all that. The Webers used to be stuffy. She opened the door, ready. He took the life preserver from the ground and placed it in front of her body to avoid Albert's direct gaze. But he was more cunning and took away her life jacket to help her put it on. Meanwhile, he looked at her.

"Now, we are ready. We will take a walk through the caves nearby."

"Caves scare me."

"Well, we'll see them from afar. We have snacks, water, and beer. Everything is already in the boat." He took Candy's hand, and together they approached the shore. "It's a good day, ideal for this."

"I can't say otherwise. Did you bring sunscreen?"

"Yes, it's also in the boat. When we get up, I'll give you some."

"Do you know how to control that engine?" Candy asked when they reached the shore. The water was a little cold on her feet.

"A little bit." He took Candy by the waist, and she jumped up, propelled by him. "You sit there. Take what you want, but leave some for when we get to the cave."

The beginning of the ride was silent. Both were drinking a can of beer while the soft sound of the engine interrupted that of nature. But it was still nice. When they reached the first cave, Albert turned off the engine. They were going to have lunch at that place. They began to talk about things unrelated to work. She ate two sandwiches, and Albert ate four. They drank another beer, and he applied sunscreen all over her back and arms. Candy herself applied the rest of her body. In the end, Candy helped him too.

When they reached the second cave, there they met more people who were doing the same excursion. In that one, it didn't take them long to leave, but in the fifth, they already took a bath without the life jacket. "It's cold!" she complained.

"Fresh. The water is delicious." She threw water in his face, and they both began to play.

By the time they got on the boat, Candy couldn't take her eyes off his boss's wet swimsuit. "Why do you do these things?" Candy asked as they walked back. She had a can of beer in her hand, looked up at the sky, closed her eyes, and passed the can over her chest to moisten it.

"I have to keep my star employee's mental health intact. Don't you believe it?"

"So, you're only doing it because I'm your star employee?" Candy's blue eyes scanned Albert. She would never corner him like that, but they weren't at work, and she had said that this wasn't boss-to-employee.

Albert had only one answer for that, but he knew it wasn't time to give it. "Do you want to take over?" Albert offered. Candy sat next to him, finishing the ride with her at the helm of the boat.

"Thank you, Albert. It's been a good ride. And the caves were wonderful; I had never been before. A getaway is always good. I will send you everything by mail." He wrapped her in a towel and then escorted her to his vehicle.

"I'm glad I could help you, Candy Weber." He left a kiss on her cheek and then walked to his car.

The lights of her car illuminated Lexi's face as Candy parked in front of her house. What was she doing there? Candy took a deep breath; she was not going to let her sister ruin the peace of mind that the time spent with Albert Smith had given her.

She got out of the car with her things in her hand, wearing only her white shirt and her swimsuit underneath. "What are you doing here, Lexi?" she asked, letting her displeasure show in her voice.

"I came to tell you what a b***h and envious person you are! Damned! You released the video of Rick and me!"

"I? What are you talking about? You weren't supposed to sleep with my husband, were you?"

"I hate you!"

"I don't care about that. Rest assured that I hated you first, especially when you were going to let Rick take all my money. How does it feel to not be the favorite anymore? What do those look and feel like? Tell me, Lexi... How does it feel to have everyone know what a slut you are? And I'm warning you, if you lay even one finger on me, I'll smash your face against the pavement, you and your skeletal body. Get out of my damn house!"

"b***h!"

"Let's see if you can get a job now! I'm sure you won't be able to live on Dad's money. And the children you were going to have with Rick?! You are of no use to him anymore! You'll find out in a week, Lexi." She took the key to her house and opened it, without taking her eyes off her sister.

"Candy... you ruined my reputation."

"You did it by siding with Rick. Maybe you were always a slut." Lexi ran towards her, but Candy slammed the door in her face, leaving her screaming things there in front of her.

She turned on her stereo so as not to hear her sister's screams. Candy took a nice hot shower and then sat in front of her bed, appreciating her pleasant solitude.