RISE OF EROS

Candice's words made Barcas swallow his thoughts somewhat displeased. Just as Oliver had sensed, Barcas is an ambitious man. At first, he was a loyal and grateful man, so Candice accepted him into her group, but over time everything changed.

As Candice's businesses grew, Barcas also got a taste of the power of money and luxuries. He quickly became intoxicated by them and before long, wanted to reach greater heights.

Barcas knew that his best option was to marry or eliminate Candice, but the first option was difficult since she was reluctant to look for a partner, much less do so with a middle-aged man like him.

The second option was a little more problematic because although intoxicated by the power of money, Barcas never forgot that she had saved him and had given him the life he had, so there was still a little gratitude and he did not dare to plan her assassination.

Between the two options, Barcas decided to follow the first, since he had a son similar in age to Candice, so he put all his effort into getting them to match, but Candice always rejected that proposal.

However, this was a few years ago, when Candice and her group were on the rise, but now that they were in a stable position, Barcas had already abandoned all feelings of gratitude.

With so many Candice's refusals towards her son's match, he had already decided to eliminate her, but he still doubted a little, however, that doubt had just disappeared.

His sullen expression let everyone present in the office see that he was not happy. Honestly, Candice and her other subordinates didn't care how Barcas felt, but Duruma was different.

As the son of Barcas, he knew his father's plans. Unlike Barcas, Duruma did not receive Candice's saving grace firsthand, so he did not feel gratitude for her, even though everything he had was given by Candice to her father and consequently to him.

The point was that Duruma knew that his father had already planned to eliminate Candice, but he was still hesitant, seeing his father's expression, he knew that that doubt had disappeared and that was why he was excited, since he believed that they would be the owners of the empire that Candice had created.

Candice wasn't stupid. She had obviously noticed Barcas' changes over the years, so she knew he was up to something. She had systematically rejected all mating attempts with Duruma and she knew that bringing the news that she had now found a husband would make Barcas make some move.

She prepared for the worst and had taken measures for it. Barcas managed Candice's fighting force, but she wouldn't be so foolish as to leave everything to him and hand over her fighting force to someone who might betray her.

For this reason, she had implanted several of her men in Barcas's forces and little by little she convinced more of them to join her ranks, so currently, Barcas only commands the battle forces in name, since They are all loyal to Candice.

At least that's what she believes. Unfortunately, Barcas and his son have over time gathered a large hidden fighting force, which Candice has been unable to locate, in fact, she doesn't even know it exists.

Everyone was thinking about her next moves, while Candice continued to mention the topic of her future husband. Out of caution, she did not reveal who this man was, but she did shower him with praise, making Barcas and Duruma very upset.

After a few additional words, Candice ended the meeting by saying that she would introduce her husband soon and everyone left. To be more exact, everyone pretended to leave since the only ones who left were Canna, Barcas, and Duruma.

Canna was relatively new to this group of confidants, so Candice didn't want her involved too much in these topics yet. On the other hand, Barcas and Duruma were enemies and Candice knew it well.

After these three had left, Gastón, accompanied by Vala and Erick, re-entered the office. "Well, Miss Candice, I think it's time you told us everything," Gaston said seriously.

Candice laughed a little and responded, "Well, I'll be honest. Gastón you know, you just want to confirm. Just as you think, the man I chose as my husband is Andrew", Gastón let out a sigh as he confirmed his suspicions.

On the other hand, Vala and Erick were surprised. Certainly, they had thought that it could be him, but when they heard the confirmation they couldn't help but be surprised.

"Well, that's not so relevant, we can talk about it later. The problem now is Barcas and Duruma, I don't know what they can do," Candice said seriously and upon seeing her touch on a delicate topic, Gastón and the others also adopted a serious attitude.

"We have known for a long time that Barcas has bad intentions. "I think it's a good time to get rid of him," Vala said in a cold tone. Being Candice's intelligence chief, it was Vara who discovered Barcas' plans and initiated countermeasures.

She had initially proposed to Candice that they eliminate Barcas, but at that time it was not convenient, since they were just beginning their path and if they eliminated him it would be difficult for them to get to where they were now.

In other words, Barcas was a necessary evil. However, at this time, that condition no longer existed and that is why Vara proposed it again. Candice and the others evaluated the proposal, but there was really nothing to evaluate, it was something that had to be done.

A short time later Candice nodded in agreement with Vala's proposal, and then they began to discuss the details, however, at that moment a knock was heard on the door.

Candice and the others were puzzled, as they had instructed everyone not to interrupt them while they were in the meeting, but remembering that they had ordered that, they understood that if they still did it, it meant that it was an important topic.

Candice allowed entry and one of the guards, bowing, quickly reported, "Miss, Mr. Oliver is visiting." This surprised everyone because they had no idea why Oliver would visit them, but Candice still allowed him to enter.

A few minutes later Oliver entered the office where Candice, Gastón, and Erick were waiting for him. Vala had hidden in the shadows because as an information agent, she preferred to act this way in the presence of strangers.

Although Oliver is one of Andrew's trusted men whom Candice recognized as her husband, this woman would not let herself be swayed by that. She was one of those who evaluated with her own eyes.

"Good morning, Mr. Oliver. "To what do we owe your visit?" Candice asked with her characteristic business smile. Oliver also smiled and said, "My young master sent me after hearing some information."

Oliver's mysterious words intrigued everyone, but before they could ask anything Oliver spoke again, "First the lady hidden in the shadows should come out."

Everyone was surprised again because although they knew that Oliver was powerful, they did not expect him to be at the level of finding Vala hidden in the shadows, because everyone knew Vara's ability to hide.

"You don't need to be surprised, believe me. Now that everyone is present, let me explain the situation to you." Oliver said and began to explain to them. It turns out that since the two meetings, both this one and the one at the Heavenly Palace were taking place at the same time, one of Shadow's agents witnessed the entry of Barcas and Duruma, so he sent the message to Oliver.

When this message arrived at the Heavenly Palace, Andrew immediately canceled his plan to send Oliver in the afternoon to visit Candice and preferred to send it immediately, which was why Oliver had arrived so quickly and without warning.

Obviously, he didn't tell them that, because he couldn't admit that they were being watched, even though Candice and her group were also watching them. Even if they did that, they would never admit it, which is why Oliver left out this part of the events.

Instead, he began to tell them the information they had gathered about Barcas and Duruma. Unlike Vala and his team, Shadow's agents had found Barcas' secret army, and that surprised Candice and the others.

"I knew that bastard was cunning, but I never expected him to be so cunning," Candice murmured when she found out, and even his expression was not good. She believed that she had been steps ahead of Barcas and now she finds out that it was the opposite.

Seeing the dark expressions of Candice and the others, Oliver chuckled and asked, "Do you want us to help you eliminate them?" The question was abrupt and full of power, causing them to be surprised for the umpteenth time.

"Can you do it?" Candice asked a little doubtfully and Oliver responded with a relaxed smile, "It's a simple thing." At the ease with which Oliver responded, Candice was happy, but then Gaston's words interrupted her joy, "What do you want in return?"

Everyone turned to look at Oliver who never left his smile and replied, "Nothing, it's only natural to help the young master's wife. Technically as a young lady now I can't let her suffer."

Oliver's blatant statement made Candice blush to the extreme. It looked like a red apple and Oliver, upon seeing it, understood that there was no need to worry.

Before Andrew had said that she hadn't given a definitive answer, but now her behavior had. Candice really had a crush on Andrew, so Oliver didn't hold back and started asking what they wanted him to do.