The last time I felt like this…
By Mallory Quinn
Chapter 9
"I was a nurse…"
It was a beautiful day, and Candy decided to go for a walk in Central Park, which was right in front of her building. There were a lot of women with their prams and little babies. Others had bigger babies on strollers. There were other children with their nannies playing on swings, slides etc. Candy was sitting on a bench and looking at the children playing. She had a magazine with her to read. In that magazine, there was an article on the French-Spanish designer Paco Rabanne who believed reincarnation. Reincarnation…did she really live in the beginning of the 20th century in an orphanage like she told in her story she thought she had invented? One thing was sure, she was having flashes about a past she didn't recall and she didn't remember living, but it was déjà vu…Whatever it was, if that was the case, then she was going to let a second chance, the universe was giving her soul. But she wanted to know what happened exactly, maybe so she won't take what will be given to her with Terrence. To know why she didn't end up with Terrence in her former life, was going to make her calm and the flashes were going to stop. Well, she had her cell phone and she decided to call Annabelle to see where her research was.
- Hello Annabelle?
- Candy! Hi! Are you ok?
- Yes, I'm bored in Central Park, can drop by to see you?
- Yes, you can come to see what I've found and maybe you'll have more flashes…
- I'm coming to spend the day with you, Annabelle
- See you in a bit then…
Candy took a cab and she went to her friend's apartment. She wasn't leaving to far, on Park Avenue.
- Come in Candy, said Annabelle
Candy came in and she found Vincent, Annabelle's boyfriend, lying on the couch, shirtless in the living room.
- Hello Vincent…, she said
- Hi, CB, said Vincent
He was tall and had long dirty blond hair.
- Come and see what I have, Candy, said Annabelle
She took her to another room she had transformed into an office for her work. Annabelle was a reporter and she wrote article from her home and would send them by email to her editor. Her computer had special softwares, to access information for her investigations.
- I love your computer, said Candy, with all the programs you have…
- Yes, it's necessary for a reporter, I have to make sure that everything I write is true, so I won't have to print a and see everything I found… a list of children registered at the Pony Home in the beginning of the century…
Candy looked at the list, and she was able to read Candice White, among all the names.
- "Candice White", said Candy, like in my story and there's also an Annie…found the same day…My God…
- Strange, isn't it?
- So that's why the Pony Home seemed so familiar to me? Oh…
- I'm continuing my research on Candice White…
- Annabelle, this is to weird, to upsetting…
- It's fascinating! Said Annabelle smiling, you're going to let me write a book on that….
- I bet you already started to take notes…
- I'm a reporter; it's my second nature…
- Let's see how all this is going to finish…
- Well, the beginning of my investigation on Candice White, tells me she was working as a nurse at St. Joan's hospital in Chicago…
- St. Joan, said Candy, we visited that hospital a few days ago, I felt like I knew the place already…oh…
- What about you're handsome boss?
- I don't know, I don't keep an eye on her all the time, you know!
She had a flash she was wearing a nurse's uniform from the beginning of the century and she found a note in her room, she ran to the train station and she saw herself running in the field after the train:
- Terry!!! Terry!!! It's me, Candy!!! She yelled
- Candy!!! I'm happy you came!!! Now I know where you are. I'm going to write you!!!!
The flash stopped. Candy had to sit down; her head was spinning a little. Annabelle was looking at her.
- Candice-Blanche… you just had one didn't you? Another flash?
- I was running wearing a nurse's uniform, after a train…
- Running after a train?
- Yes, I had to see Terry…Terrence…oh my God!!!
- It's going to be ok, Candy. You just confirmed that Candice White was indeed a nurse at St. Joan's hospital.
- It's becoming fascinating indeed, it's freaky…
Her cell phone rang and she answered.
- Candice-Blanche?
- Terrence, hi…
- Are you ok? You have a weird voice
- Oh no, I'm fine…how are you?
- I'm fine. I'm still in bed being lazy…I just woke up
- Did you have a weird dream by any chance?
- I don't know if it was weird, but I was on a train and I was looking a nurse running in a field…
Candy didn't know what to say. Was he telling her the truth? For a weird reason, Terry didn't want to give out every details of his dream; he was afraid she's going to think he's crazy or insane. To tell her that he dreamt about her every night was a crazy thing he would do only if need be.
- Oh, finally said Candy, that must have been fun…
- She very pretty to look at, I felt good when I woke up…
- It's good to have nice dreams; it's good for your health…
- Yes, indeed… I wanted to know how you woke up… I'm going to leave you then…
- Goodbye Terrence, thank you for calling…
- Goodbye Candice-Blanche. Don't hesitate to call me if you need me…
- Ok…
Candy hung up her cell phone and Annabelle was looking at her.
- Your boss?
- Yes…
- What did he want?
- To know how I was…
- What a caring man…
- And tell me he had a dream where he was on a train and he was looking at a nurse running in the field, after the train…
- What??? He didn't give you more details?
- No…
- Why didn't you ask him?
- Because it seemed too weird…
- I think he's living the same thing as you and he doesn't want to tell you, because he's afraid you're going to think he's crazy…
- Annabelle, I can't wait for this story to be over, so I could finally tell him the truth…
She spent most of the day at Annabelle and went back to her place in the evening. She called her mother to tell her what was happening. This last one encouraged her to continue her research to get to the end of that story.
- Have you heard from your sister Veronica? Asked her mother
- No, not at all. She still in Belgium right? The last I heard of her she was…
- It's like she's avoiding us. Can you try to see what's happening with her and tell me?
- Of course, mom… I will tell you what I find out…
- Thank you honey… I'm going to leave you. Good luck. You've got the man of your dreams and if what you're telling me is true, it means that you let him go in a former life…
- Maybe, he let me go…
- Promise me you're going to try and make things work, whatever the results…
- But mum…
- I've never heard you so happy and passionate for a man. You're in love with this man
- Yes, mum, I know I love him, but…
- Promise-me you're going to try…
- I promise you mum… thank you. Bye mum
- Bye honey…
Candy hung up the phone and she called her sister in Belgium. She got a guy on the other line, who passed the phone to her sister.
- Ronnie?
- Candy?
- Who's the mister?
- Well hello to you too, sis!
- The mister, Ronnie…
- The "mister". Only you can be so polite…
- Ronnie!
- Well, he's my boyfriend…
- It's late in Brussels, when does he go back home?
- Candy, you're not my mother and you don't have to control me…
- Veronica, what are you up to? He's going to spend the night?
- It's not a crime… everybody does it…except for you, of course! You're the perfect daughter! No, let me rectify that, you do it platonically! Only you can sleep in the arms of a rich and handsome man and do nothing!
- Ronnie!
- You've got a luxurious apartment on 5th Avenue, in New York, and you live like a nun!
- It's not because I don't have a boyfriend that I'm a nun… and we were talking about you, not me! You're defensive; you're living in sin with your boyfriend, aren't you?
- "Living in sin" Do you hear yourself when you talk? Who talks like that?
- You're avoiding the question… it's yes, isn't it?
- You know you're really annoying when you guess everything?
- Oh my God! Veronica!
- I know, the British Ambassador's daughter is living in sin with the son of the Congolese Ambassador…
- The Congolese Ambassador's son? Veronica… what went through your mind?
- Is it because he's African you say that?
- Stop saying nonsense, you know that's not important to me… can you put him on the other phone? I have to speak to both of you…
- Uh oh… a lesson from the perfect daughter…Emmanuel? Can you take the other phone; Candy is going to lecture us…
A few second later, Emmanuel took the other phone and was on line with the two sisters.
- Emmanuel? Said Candy, how are you?
- I'm fine, what about you, Candy?
- I've been better… I'm going to cut to the chase. What are you two doing living in sin?
- It's the 21st century, a lot of people live together, said Veronica
- Ronnie, you and Emmanuel got the same kind of education… what possess you to do that…? Asked Candy
There was a silence.
- Don't tell me you've got a bun in the oven…! Said Candy
- Well…if you don't want us to tell you, said Veronica
- Oh my God! Don't you use protection? Said Candy
- It doesn't always work and you know it… what am I saying? Of course you don't know, you're still a virgin! Said Veronica
- My virginity has nothing to do with your problem, said Candy
- I love Emmanuel, and we want to get married…
- I have no problems with that, but you should've done things in order, which is; school, engagement, marriage, baby… not baby, school, marriage…
- It happen; we can't change anything, said Emmanuel
- I'm not here to judge you… Emmanuel, where are your parents?
- In Thailand too…
- Perfect, said Candy, well I'm giving you a few weeks to tell them or I'll do it…
- Candy, said Veronica
- I'm sorry, Veronica, mum is bothering me, you have the choice between announcing the news to the two families of I'll do it. Pregnant, Ronnie! Well that's life. But try to minimise the disaster with the parents…
- It proves that no one can be perfect like you…
- I'm not perfect Veronica… it could happen to anybody. Tell the parents the truth to avoid stress. Your baby doesn't need that … I can't wait to see him, a mixed baby; he's going to be adorable! Congratulations! A baby is a wonderful thing!
- Thanks Candy… talk to you later…, said Veronica
- Bye, said Emmanuel
- Bye and congratulations! Said Candy
Candy hung up and she had a sigh. Well, her parents are going to be disappointed, that's for sure, they're going to be in front of a fait accompli. Well… she started to look at her mail and she saw an invitation. The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra was coming to New York in a few days and there was going to be a big ball, with waltzes all night. Super. She started to think with whom she was going to dance; she will probably have a lot of partners, but… The Embassy had sent her a lot of invitations for her friends too. The dress code was tuxedo for men and white dress for the ladies. She was going to give invitations to her friends and they were going to have fun like crazy dancing all night.
After the days off, it was the routine again for Candy, who was glad to go back to work and especially to see Terry. The rumours at the office continued, about Candy and the boss. Candy and the boss, travelled together and they were off on the same days. She was his mistress; there was no doubt about it. Dawn the receptionist, continued to spread the rumours. The chemistry they had could only mean something sexual. How did she leave the basement to go to the 22nd floor so fast? Especially since on the first day, she wasn't dressed properly. How did she manage to get hired by the boss so fast? The couch promotion, no doubt…
Candy didn't often eat at the office cafeteria. She would have lunch either out with her friends or with Terry for business. She went to the cafeteria for lunch and she saw people whispering when they saw her. She went to sit at a table where Dawn, the receptionist with other assistants from other departments, were sitting. One of them named Rachel, was pretty blunt.
- Hello Candice-Blanche! We never see you here anymore…, said Rachel
- I usually eat out with my friends or with the boss, said Candy innocently
- With the big boss? Said Rachel, that must be fun…
- It's usually business, said Candy, we just eat too, that's all…
- What about the diners in the evening, that's for business too?
- Of course, said Candy, what are you guys thinking?
- That you're having a lot of fun while you work…, said Dawn
Candy was starting to feel the sarcasm. They still thought she was Terry's mistress!
- I was transferred against my will on the 22nd floor with the big boss, started Candy
- Against your will? Said Rachel, everybody wants to work for the big boss…
- Well I was happy in my basement with my old Mr. Pitt… said Candy, the department was suppressed and the boss needed an expert in languages…
- Expert in talking languages? Said Dawn ironically, I guess it's handy to have a multiple tongue….
Candy looked at Dawn and she understood she was jealous. Everybody was looking at her…
- Dawn, said Candy very calmly, and loud enough for everybody to hear her, I speak a lot of languages because my father is a diplomat and I changed countries practically every year… I could've stayed at the embassy with my father and work for him. But I wanted to earn my living alone, without anybody's help. If you wanted the assistant's job and I got it, know that I'm qualified for the job and I repeat, speak a lot of languages. You don't like you receptionist job? Take a course to expand your capacities… stop spreading rumours about me…
- But I…started Dawn
- I know that you're the one telling everybody that I'm the boss' mistress. You're going to make sure that those rumours stop before they get to Mr. Grandchester's ears… now ladies, excuse me, I'm going to finish my meal at my desk
Candy stood up, took her food and went back to her desk, on the 22nd floor, a little angry. She met Terry and Karina Blake who were coming out of the office.
- Candice-Blanche? You finish having lunch already? He asked
- No, I have to work on the Thurman files…
- There's no rush, finish your lunch calmly, I'm going out. Take my messages and call me if there's an emergency, said Terry
- Thank you Terrence. Very well Terrence she said
They looked at each other; he could feel that something was bothering her.
- Karina, he said, can you wait for me downstairs, in the lobby?
- Why? She asked
- I just remember I have an important phone call to make…
- It can't wait? She asked annoyed, looking at Candy
- No, unfortunately, with the different time zones…
- All right, said Karina looking at Candy with mean eyes
She walked to the elevator. Terry took Candy to his office
- Candice-Blanche…
- Terrence, everything is fine…
- I can feel that something is bothering you
- I just came from the cafeteria and I exchanged words with Dawn…
- The receptionist?
- Yes… she's the one spreading the rumour, that we're lovers…
- Really? She must be jealous because I rejected her advances and her offer to be my assistant… I'll take care of her…
- I told her to make the rumours stop or she was going to deal with her…
- Well said. All right, let's see how things will go from here…
- It's nice of you to have delayed your lunch date for me…
- I want my staff to be happy…
He didn't want to run the risk her feeling bad and quitting; he like seeing her every day.
- You're following the perfect employee guide to the letter; you're behaving like family man with your staff…
Terry smiled and left they got out of the office laughing. Dawn was looking at them and looked down. Terry walked to the elevator. Candy sat down and finished her meal. Candy was thinking about the dance invitation. But she didn't want to invite him, it wouldn't be professional, and she would dance with him for the whole evening... He probably had an invitation and he will certainly invite one of his girlfriends…
Terrence came back from lunch and few minutes later, Liza Reed arrived, Daniel's sister. She and Candy didn't get along, since the time Candy was working for her father.
- Candy, said Liza coldly, you're here now? Daniel told me you were working here… you'd rather have a younger boss?
- Lisa, it's always a pleasure to see you, said Candy ironically
- My brother would've ended up inheriting my father's company, you know?
- If I wanted a rich husband only, I have a lot of propositions much more interesting than your brother's
- Yes, the heir of Andrew Enterprises? William? You're still leading him on?
- My private life is none of your business, Liza…
- I'm always wondering what my brother sees in you, he's crazy in love with you and he's not hearing a thing
The office door opened and Terrence saw Liza. He looked annoyed.
- Liza he said, trying to smile
- Terry! Said Liza running to him to kiss him, I came to ask you for a favour…
- Really? What?
- You want to come with me the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra ball? Please say yes! You owe me that… I helped you with the Simonis deal, didn't I?
Candy didn't say anything; she was looking at her keyboard. She should've asked Terrence, but… Liza got in to Terry's office. Then a long time later, according to Candy, the door opened and Liza Reed was in seventh heaven.
- Come and pick me up at 7h30 Friday night, she said
- I'll be there, aid Terry smiling
Candy felt a little upset; she was regretting she didn't ask her boss to go with her.
- This woman didn't want to let me go, until I agree to go with her. I owed her, said Terrence
Candy didn't say anything, she just small smiled.
Terry got Eliza out of the water and she was clinging to him like her life depended on it.
- I had to jump in the water to save her, since none of you knew how to swim… said Terry
- You think that we can't swim? Asked Alistair
- Eliza knows how to swim too, said Archie
Terry turned to Eliza.
- You can swim??
- No, I almost drown! Said Eliza sticking herself to Terry more, you idiots! I almost died! She said to her cousins. Thank you Terry for saving my life! She said with a little voice, let's go get dry at your place…
- Yes, Terry, you can catch a cold, said Candy, here Eliza, you can wipe yourself…
She gave her a handkerchief, Eliza threw it on the ground looking at her with disdain and sticking to Terry more…
- Let's go to your place, it's closer, said Eliza to Terry
- Unfortunately, I don't have any maids here and there's no one to take care of you, said Terry, see you later…
Terry left. Eliza was angry. The flash stopped.
Candy and Terry looked at each other intensely. What was that? Did he see the same thing as her at the same time? But since they didn't want to talk about it yet…Anyway the atmosphere was looser after that little blast from the past. Terry smiled and Candy too.
- The Thurman file is ready, she said without dropping his eyes
- Thank you. I need you for a conference call…
- I'm right behind you…
She got into her boss' office to work, something she loved above all, working with Terrence Grandchester and he didn't seem to want to get rid of her either…
