Callie felt relieved when she realized Nelson wasn’t difficult to talk to.
He peeled a segment and put it in his mouth. She quickly asked, “Is it sweet?”
The juice burst in his mouth, but it wasn’t as sweet as the smile on her face. Nelson nodded slightly, “It’s okay.”
Callie noticed they were too close and quickly moved back. “I’ll peel another one for you.”
Nelson reached out and held her wrist to stop her. “No need.”
Callie’s movements halted, her gaze lingering on their clasped hands. She quickly pulled back and, after a moment of silence, said, “Nelson, I didn’t mean to see Jaquan that day. He cornered me. I’ll try not to see him again…”
She felt it necessary to explain.
Nelson put the last segment of the orange into his mouth without directly responding. “Do you like him?”
His question was light, and Callie was startled. “Why would you ask that?”
The busy servants downstairs had disappeared at some point, leaving only the two of them in the space, their voices echoing slightly.
“Jaquan is a well-known playboy in all of Ylosea. He’s polite, well-mannered, and quite capable. Any woman he pursues ends up falling for him. You’ve been alone with him several times and never felt anything?”
Callie laughed and opened her hand, showing a few intertwined lines on her palm. “It sounds like I should have fallen for him.”
Nelson remained noncommittal.
“No, not once.” She answered firmly. “Jaquan has many good qualities, but I always feel he’s wearing a gentle mask. Underneath, there’s a lot of ambition. He approached me to use me. I’m afraid of him; there’s no way I could love him.”
Nelson was satisfied with this answer after a moment of contemplation.
“Go upstairs and sleep.”
Callie stiffened again. The last time they shared a bed, she had been asleep. This time she was fully awake…
“Nelson,” Callie followed him, calling out loudly, “Have you known Jaquan for many years? Can you tell me more about him?”
Nelson stopped abruptly and gave her a warning look. She timidly looked around and changed her tone, “Nelson…”
He frowned slightly and placed a hand on her shoulder, guiding her gently. “Upstairs first.”
Once in the master bedroom, Callie finally breathed a sigh of relief. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it.”
Nelson took off his coat and went straight to the bathroom to shower. Hearing the water running inside, she nervously paced in circles.
When she finally calmed down, Nelson emerged in a bathrobe, his chest slightly exposed, revealing his collarbones and firm muscles with water droplets trickling down, making him look captivating.
Callie sat at the edge of the bed, holding her laptop and struggling to draw with one hand.
Nelson raised an eyebrow. “Want to hear about Jaquan?”
She immediately put down the laptop and sat up straight, nodding vigorously. It was hard not to be curious about someone like him, and she wanted to know why Nelson didn’t get along with him.
“He once loved someone.”
Callie’s eyes lit up. Was there a love story behind the business rivalry?
“Jaquan and that woman were childhood sweethearts from families of equal standing. Everyone in Ylosea thought they would end up together.” Nelson sat on the other side of the bed, his profile sharp.
“And then? No way, did that woman fall in love with you?” Callie guessed, her voice breaking.