He turned his head slightly, the ember at his fingertips flickering.
“Won’t you stay home and wait for me?” His tone carried a hint of anger.
Callie weighed her words carefully, knowing he was already aware of most of it. She didn’t dare look up. “I know you’re worried about the Vankey acquisition. I didn’t want to cause any trouble, so I impulsively ran out.”
Nelson extinguished his cigarette, leaned down, and blew the last puff of smoke into her face. As she coughed and tried to avoid it, he grabbed her neck, his voice low. “Tell me, what exactly do you know?”
Callie’s face turned red. Being so close, she could see the small mole under his eye. She held her breath and explained everything. “Did I cause you trouble again?”
No, she had stayed here all night and done nothing.
Nelson tightened his grip, his expression becoming complex. “You’re smart, but too clever for your own good.”
She didn’t know that Mrs. Blair’s actions were already under his control. She also didn’t know that if she exposed her identity by mistake, it would cause him trouble. Nor did she know what would happen to her if she fell into the Blair family’s hands.
Nelson cared about the former but surprisingly cared more about the latter.
If something happened to Callie, just the thought made his breathing quicken.
Callie remained in his grasp, feeling apologetic and wronged. “I’m sorry. I’ll be more careful next time.”
The woman’s tenderness entangled Nelson’s gaze, making it hard for him to pull away.
He lowered his eyes. “Why did you risk coming here to find me?”
Callie didn’t know how to answer. She felt weak and shivered slightly. “I’m afraid something will happen to you.”
At that moment, Nelson’s heart pounded, though he suppressed it. “Couldn’t you call me?”
At this point, Callie became anxious and even reached for his phone.
“I did call you, three times. You didn’t answer and even hung up on me. The more you didn’t answer, the more worried I got…”
In her urgency, her eyes glistened with tears.
Nelson frowned slightly; he hadn’t seen any missed calls from her.
He grabbed her restless hand and maintained this position, suddenly asking, “Callie, are you trying to seduce me now?”
Callie opened her mouth and swore, “Not this time.”
Her honesty was disarming.
Nelson chuckled softly, raised an eyebrow, and released her neck, switching to holding the back of her head.
The smell of smoke on him was strong but not unpleasant. Callie almost greedily inhaled it, hearing her own heartbeat.
They were too close, way too close.
“Well… Nelson…”
“Actually, you’ve succeeded in seducing me twice.” His warm hand gently caressed her moist red lips, his voice hoarse and weakening her resolve.
Callie remained still and looked at him. “When?”
“The first time was when you knelt beside Mr. Wilcox and looked at me pitifully.”
At that moment, Nelson lost all reason at first sight, filled with madness, wanting to kill that filthy man and strip him of his skin and blood!
Callie was surprised. She hadn’t intended to seduce Nelson then; she was so miserable yet succeeded?
“And the second time?” she asked cautiously.
“Now.”