After saying goodnight to Old Oconnor, Callie hurried after Nelson, grabbing his hand and whispering urgently, “Mr. Oconnor! Why are we staying?”
Nelson glanced outside, “Do you really want to get struck by lightning?”
“But do you know what staying here means? It means I have to stay in your territory. Don’t you hate it when I enter your room?” With Old Oconnor watching, they couldn’t possibly sleep in separate rooms.
It was true. But seeing her embarrassment, Nelson found it amusing and decided to tease her, “It’s fine. This isn’t Paucaster Villa Complex. I allow it.”
Before Callie could argue further, a servant arrived with bedding. “Please come with me,” she said gently.
“Wait…”
Opening the door, the servant added, “Although Nelson doesn’t stay here often, we clean his room daily. It’s very tidy.”
Callie, feeling nervous, stepped into Nelson’s room. It was a sleek, clean, Nordic design, perfectly Nelson’s style, with a large, inviting bed.
The servant’s casual use of Nelson’s name showed her close relationship with Nelson. He must be easy-going here.
This was Callie’s first time entering her boss’s private space.
She felt anxious and curious.
“Bianca, thank you. I can take it from here,” Nelson said, finally rescuing Callie from her awkwardness.
Bianca nodded, giving the young couple a knowing look before leaving.
Callie was very embarrassed.
Nelson chuckled, patting her head. “I’ll take a shower first.”
Shower? It sounded like something a couple would say before making love!
Callie blinked. “What about me?”
Nelson frowned.
“I mean, after you shower, what about me? I didn’t bring any clothes.” She couldn’t skip the shower after such a long day.
“That’s a problem.”
Almost an hour later, Callie peeked out of the bathroom. “Mr. Oconnor, can you turn off the lights?”
Nelson, now lying in bed in pajamas and reading the news, looked up slowly. “You are not attractive at all. I won’t even look at you.”
Callie glanced down at herself. She was wearing one of Nelson’s shirts, which barely covered her thighs.
She’d expose a lot if she was not careful enough.
“I still have… something to hide…”
Nelson chuckled and then turned off the lights, plunging the room into darkness. Callie sighed in relief and finally stepped out. “Mr. Oconnor, where should I sleep?”
There was only one bed.
“You can sleep on the floor if you want.”
Without hesitation, Callie climbed into bed, wrapped herself in the covers, and curled up in a corner. “Mr. Oconnor, sorry! Let’s just share the bed equally. Whoever crosses the line is a dog!”
Nelson squinted in the dark. After he heard Callie call him “Nelson” all evening, hearing “Mr. Oconnor” felt odd.
“Sleep,” Nelson said and then added, “Don’t worry. I’m not interested in you.”
But Callie couldn’t sleep.
In her twenty-odd years, she had never shared a bed with a man.
And Nelson smelled so good. They used the same body wash, but why did he smell so much better? Callie clutched the blanket, her heart pounding in her ears.
“Mr. Oconnor… Are you asleep?” She whispered.
“Hmm?”