Callie was infuriated, her face turning red. “I.. I certainly can’t compare to Mr. Oconnor’s vast experience!”
“Who told you I have vast experience?” Nelson retorted.
She was about to argue back, but then she hesitated, a bit surprised. Could it be that Nelson was actually so self-restrained?
But then, thinking about it, it made sense. She had been with Oconnor Group for three years and had never heard any rumors about him with any woman. The most she had heard were some baseless gossip about him and Cora. Since marrying him, she had never seen him flirt with anyone.
As Callie was lost in thought, Nelson lowered his head to gaze at her. They were very close.
She looked up, surprised by this sudden intimacy. Before she could speak, he was already touching her face.
“You’ve got some nerve. You nearly cost me a deal.”
“I…,” Callie stammered, unable to ignore the heat of his touch. “I didn’t know you were at Club Paradise.”
That indeed was not in his plan. Yesterday, Nelson had planned to leave Oconnor Group when he received a call from Cora, saying that several Vankey executives had scheduled a meeting at Club Paradise. He had to change his plans, unexpectedly running into Callie.
“Do you know what would have happened if I hadn’t gone?”
Under his touch, Callie trembled. “I would have died?”
“There are things a hundred times worse than death in this world.” Nelson’s voice was harsh, the image of her bloodied face from the previous night still vivid in his mind.
Callie truly valued her life. She stayed there stiffly for a long time, the horror of last night still fresh. For the first time, she understood the thin line between life and death. She realized that nothing mattered more than staying alive.
With that in mind, she willingly leaned into Nelson’s warm hand. “I’m your wife in name now. You’ll protect me, no matter what, right?”
Her eyes were watery and moving. The simplest way to manipulate a man was to make him want to spoil a woman. Callie had a natural talent for acting.
Nelson looked at her for a moment before withdrawing his hand. “You don’t have to go to the Oconnor Group before your wound is healed.”
Callie blinked, mischievously. “Are you giving me a leave of absence?”
“Yes.”
“In what capacity?”
“What do you think?” Nelson wasn’t falling for her tricks. He picked up his phone and walked out.
Callie slumped to the floor, darkness enveloping her. She touched the bandage on her face, solidifying a thought in her mind. No matter what, Nelson was valuable. She needed to rely on him whenever necessary.
Perhaps from the moment they got married, she had no choice but to be involved. His world was too complex. He easily dealt with a local thug, a loan shark. Without him, the storms she faced would have killed her ten times over.
Nelson called the HR department and told Caden that Callie would need a half-month leave.
Caden was a bit surprised. “You’re Callie’s husband?”
Nelson cleared his throat, changing his tone. “Yes, she’s ill and just had surgery.”
“What kind of surgery?”
“… Appendectomy.”
The person on the other end chuckled. “Alright, I understand.”
What’s so funny about an appendectomy?
Callie found a bottle of water from somewhere, opened the cap, and cautiously handed it to him from behind. “Are you thirsty?”
He didn’t take it, his gaze falling on her bare feet. “Don’t we have any shoes at our home?”
Callie was used to walking around the house barefoot. Hearing him say “our home,” she felt something subtle. But she smiled provocatively. “How about Mr. Oconnor carries me to get some?”
“With that act, you might seduce Trevon Wilcox, but you can’t seduce me.”