On Neal's birthday, Candy came to attend his birthday party. It was held in his parents' residence. She meticulously prepared for her dress, jewelry and more since she knew how much his mother cared about appearance. Since she's in the job to please them, she'd better behave accordingly.
At the party, as expected, Mrs. Legan was properly dressed. Although Candy was a bit allergic to that family, she couldn't help to admire how good she looked. She didn't seem to age at all since the first time she met her. Unlike in the past, she surprisingly treated Candy better too. Time healed wounds, besides Candy had an amiable status now, an Ardlay, Sir William's daughter.
Candy looked around and she had to admit that Mrs. Leagan invited first class girls to come to the party. For sure she's hoping one of them would become her beloved son's bride. Among the crowd, Candy tried to look for Neal which was the purpose of her visit. Finally, she spotted him surrounded by young beauties.
Like mother like son, he also looked stylish. He's grown up, tall and charming just like the rest of the Ardlay boys. It's hard not to admire his good look, even for Candy who used not to like him. He saw her too and was visibly surprised to see her. As soon as he saw Candy, he left everyone and came to her as though attracted by a magnet.
Oh no, here we go again, Candy thought to herself.
With honeyed voice Candy said, "Happy birthday, Neal." She approached to hug him lightly.
In return he hugged her tightly until she almost couldn't breathe. He wanted to kiss her but worried that she'd slap him which would be embarrassing considering he's the center of attention tonight. So he decided to just hug her. She always be a goddess in his heart. As usual, his brown eyes looked straight at her without blinking looked smitten and totally mesmerized by her beauty. In fact, Candy was more than an average beauty. Especially that night where she spent serious effort to look good.
Neal stood so close to her with a look of someone who's ready to kiss her at any time. It made her really want to run away. But she reminded herself the purpose of her visit was to save Albert, so instead with an inviting smile and friendliest tone she gave enchanting greetings and chatted with him. He totally fell under her spell. Politely, she suggested him to go back to be with his other guesses. She promised she'd stay longer after the party to have a private chat with him later.
"Oh no, that's okay, let me accompany you," he insisted totally bewitched by her. He's afraid that she'd go home without giving him the opportunity to talk to her.
But Candy insisted and promised she'd stay longer so they could chat privately better later. He asked her to promise one more time, which she did. So he agreed and left to greet his other guests. As soon as he left, she felt so relieved. She really didn't feel too comfortable to be with him.
What a task, she thought to herself.
While waiting for the party to be over, she paid closed attention on him. He looked to her direction often too to check if she really stayed like what she promised and if she chatted with another man. And if she did, his checking frequency went up to see what she actually did with the man until the man left. Both of their eyes met often and Candy bashfully pretended to look to another direction. The flock of beauties clearly was after him. But, seeing from the far, she couldn't blame them. He's pretty attractive. He had a good family background, wealth and a good career.
After the girls left, Neal came to Candy again. She didn't know that he's been waiting impatiently for those girls to leave so he could be with her. He's so eager to go to her and talk to her. Candy was always the only woman in his heart.
"Candy, thanks so much for coming to my birthday party," he said with smitten eyes that non stopped staring at her.
Candy tried to avoid his eyes and showed him her birthday gift. She gave him a book about cars. He was very happy to receive it and many times told her how thoughtful she was. Again he stared at her looking totally smitten. She's very nervous with the stare of someone who's ready to kiss her at anytime.
He's still the same, she thought.
Candy then invited Neal to come to a bake sale event in her hospital which she organized. He looked visibly moved and happy. They did more chatting before Candy left. She hugged him lightly in return he gave her a long and tight hug.
On the scheduled day, Neal came with Candy to the bake sale event in her hospital. Candy treated him with a high degree of hospitality. She baked some bread too and she especially sliced one of hers and gave it to him with the most inviting smile. After the bake sale, she invited him to such and such event and so on. She kept trying to create activities to be closed to him. He found it weird but since he loved her, he participated actively and took the advantages to be with the woman he always loved.
After a while, Neal couldn't help to be really suspicious and think how strange it was that she was this friendly. In the past she was so aggressive and full of bitterness to him. She never came to his birthday party and suddenly she appeared with the brightest smile. She always tried to avoid him and now suddenly she tried to be glued to him.
What could possibly happen? He wondered. Would it be possible that she's hopelessly looking for a boyfriend?
Neal quickly ruled out that possibility since historically, she never lacked of any dates. She never had any difficulties to attract men. He started to think about other possibilities. Suddenly he realized that her sudden appearance and nice behavior to him came about the same time as when Albert went away on his secret vacation. It could be a coincident, but what if it's not. The thought of what could have happened made him feel very uneasy. Sir William was really famous, rich and important. He always thought it's dangerous that Albert went alone now that his identity was revealed.
Secretly, Neal hired detectives to follow Candy's every move and to investigate Albert's whereabouts. He wondered if he overreacted, but worse came to worse Albert would be angry to have him meddle with his private affair.
After being with Neal doing so many things together, Candy started to get used to be around him and started to enjoy that too. Since she didn't do anything to provoke him, he didn't do anything to provoke her either, so both of them had been in friendly terms. In addition, both had missions in their mind. Candy to save Albert, and Neal to understand her odd behavior in addition to of course being genuinely happy to be with her. With all these things in mind, both were enjoying their times together and visiting many public occasions.
At his presence, she noticed his clear-cut and well-bred look brought shouting impressions to anyone on the first encounter. His job and family status clearly helped too. Topped that with his positive and daring personalities. His proud smile, as though not worried what others thought about him, with a touch of modesty and humbleness really captivated the spectacles. He greeted everyone with a smile and a hearty hand shake which made others feel special and made them feel he really meant it. His presence always brought them in the center of attention.
In all occasions, he always made it clear that he came to accompany Candy and how important person she was to him. Secretly he's hoping his presence helped to get rid of any potential suitor for Candy, of course he didn't tell her that.
Like others, Candy was not immune to his charm and slowly but surely started to be drawn to him.
One late night, after one event they attended together, he invited her to come to his home in Chicago down town. They had been doing it regularly, either he or she came to her or his place. Of course, Candy accepted. Both sat in the sofa and started to chat in friendly terms. Both were genuinely enjoying each other company.
After being with her for weeks, his love to her grew uncontrollably. Although his head warned him about the unknown danger she might possess, he just couldn't contain his desire to kiss her anymore. He wondered if this suspicious Candy would allow him to.
Neal started to move closer and closer to Candy. She knew and had a feeling that he's going to kiss her but unlike in the past when she's ready to slap or push him, this time she just couldn't reject it. She wondered if it's because her mission to seduce him or because she started to develop some feeling for him. Regardless what the real reason was, she felt too powerless to reject.
Candy just let Neal kiss her. She planned to just pretend she enjoyed it, got her goal done and went home in one minute. But once she felt his kiss, the more she started to desire for more. How he could kiss! She started to react and kissed him back which motivated him to do the next move. His hands started to touch her neck and moved lower and lower... How he could caress. His touch was magical. What initially started as a mechanical mission, it become a wave of affection which blew all her senses away.
Candy helplessly enjoyed it all and let him devour her body which she relished and even carved for more. Feeling her response, he carried her to his bed without stopping kissing her. She had the best love making experience, more than she even could think possible. His passion was poignant and clear. Throughout their intimacy he sensuously whispered, "I love you, Candy," repeatedly which stimulated her even more. They made love many times again and again that night with stronger and stronger intensity each time.
The following day, she woke up and found herself on top of him. Feeling her movement, he woke up too and stared at her. They smiled at one another. He started to touch her again affectionately. Surprisingly, even after all night long of love making it still aroused her and both were doing it again. After that she just got so exhausted, felt thoroughly satisfied and fell asleep. She could feel he came to caress her hair, told her he loved her, gave her a kiss and whispered good bye because he had to go to work.
When Candy finally woke up it was already in a late morning. She found that he left her a note:
"Good morning, Candy. Be sure to have your brunch before you leave today. I already asked the servant to prepare one for you. I asked my driver to stand by ready to take you wherever you want. Love, Neal."
It was so sweet, Candy thought.
She remembered the good bye kiss he gave her before going to work and smiled at that. He showered her with love more than anyone had ever done. What started as a mission becoming a serious love connection. Still naked, in his bed, she reflected of what happened that night, how he kept saying he loved her, and all the passion she felt. She started to feel for him the way she hadn't thought about before. She worried what uncle Larry would do to him and wished both him and Albert left unharmed.
With that she got up and started the day. She asked the driver to take her home first before going to the hospital. Little she knew that the servants were talking behind her. Seeing the natural beauty of Sir William's daughter and how late she got up, they couldn't help to talk about the hot night she might have spent with their young master.
