“Don’t be afraid, you’re clearly not safe there. Find somewhere else to stay immediately, your parents’ place or a hotel will do. I’m on my way.”
Callie advised as she briskly walked towards the luxury car, whose window rolled down to reveal a face tired yet sharply contoured. Nelson frowned slightly, “Who were you talking to so intently?”
It was Nelson, back from his trip.
Her eyes lighting up, Callie clung to the car door, “Mr. Oconnor, could you give me a ride?”
Minutes later, inside the car, Nelson finally grasped the gravity of her words. He massaged his temples and said pointedly, “From what you’ve described, Joaquin is a desperate gambler at the end of his rope, broken and likely to act rashly, as evidenced tonight. Even if you help her now, she’ll still face threats later. Perhaps involving the police would be wiser.”
Callie was still texting Ximena, not looking up, “That’s cold-hearted. She’s been assaulted, possibly seriously injured, and you want me to tell her to go to the police instead of helping her? What kind of person would that make me?”
She felt somewhat guilty; if not for her involvement, Ximena might not have been attacked. So, she was determined to help no matter what.
Streetlights filtered through the car window, casting a glow on Callie’s face, her baby fat giving her a serious expression. Nelson looked at her and instructed the driver, “Alright, drive faster.”
Following Callie’s advice, Ximena gathered a few belongings to check into a hotel room. When Callie arrived, it took Ximena a while to dare open the door, peeking through the crack at the man standing beside Callie.
Callie quickly explained, “Oh, he’s a friend of mine, a good one. Don’t be scared.”
Relieved, Ximena let them in.
The hotel room was cramped and shabby, making Nelson’s tall, well-dressed figure seem all the more out of place.
Ximena’s face was bruised and swollen, a patch of scalp visible, a chilling sight to behold.
Callie clenched her fists in anger, “Just wait, I’ll make sure he gets what’s coming to him!”
Nelson threw cold water on her fiery spirit, “You’ve got spirit, but exactly who do you think you can take on.”
Callie rolled her eyes at him, her attempt at lightening the mood not appreciated.
Feeling defeated, Ximena murmured, “He’s right. I don’t want you risking yourself for me, Callie. I’ve really lost all hope in him today. I didn’t expect him to hit me… Maybe I was wrong from the start. I shouldn’t have been with him. Now, I just want to put as much distance between us as possible and cut ties completely!”
“But what can you do? No one knows you better than Joaquin. He’ll find you sooner or later. His actions have confirmed he wants you to marry him and take on his debts.”
“I don’t know what to do. If he keeps harassing me like this, I’ll lose my job.”
Callie paced anxiously in circles, while Nelson leaned against the cabinet, arms crossed over his chest. He looked up, exasperated, “You’re making me dizzy.”
“Mr. Oconnor! Think of something, please. Can you really stand by and watch an innocent woman fall into the hands of a scumbag?” Callie pleaded.
“Leaving Ylosea should do the trick. Your parents know the situation; they won’t blame you,” Mr. Oconnor suggested nonchalantly, observing Ximena’s tearful state. “No matter how capable Joaquin is, he won’t be able to chase you out of town, especially with his debts weighing him down.”