Callie saw the man’s face gradually darken, but soon he regained his composure.
“I know.”
This surprised Callie. “You know?”
Tobias lazily rested his scalpel-wielding hand on the steering wheel, as if he had lost all strength. “There is probably no one in this world who understands you better than I do, Callie. He does too. I’ve witnessed your joys and sorrows for three years; you are not good at hiding your emotions.”
In front of someone who knew her so well, Callie found it futile to switch to any other form. She could only expose her most primitive self.
“When did you find out?”
Tobias gave a bitter smile and looked at the distant sunset. “In every glance you gave him.”
So, she thought she had hidden it well, but her love had already spilled out, obvious to anyone who looked.
After a moment of silence, Callie lowered her head and said, “I’m sorry. Actually, I knew earlier that you might have different feelings for me.”
Tobias smiled faintly. “How did you find out?”
She didn’t say because it was Nelson who had reminded her.
“Why apologize? It’s just that you don’t like me, no need to apologize.” Tobias didn’t look at her; his hand on the steering wheel trembled slightly. “Is he good to you?”
“Good?” Callie murmured. “When he’s good, he’s really good. He could get me whatever I want. But when he’s not…”
“He must have many ways to deal with someone in his position,” Tobias said with a mix of pity and helplessness.
Callie agreed silently. Nelson had many ways to punish someone. He hadn’t done anything to her directly; just breaking her spirit was enough to leave her devastated.
“Callie, take care of yourself. Leave your father to me, okay?” Tobias gently patted Callie’s shoulder, coaxing her. “Whenever you need me, you can call me.”
Callie stepped back. “Tobias, I’m sorry. This isn’t fair to you. I shouldn’t do this. From now on, except in the hospital, we shouldn’t meet elsewhere.”
Tobias was left empty-handed, his eyes even more desolate.
“I’ve always seen you as a brother. You deserve an excellent woman by your side, not me.”
She opened the car door and strode away.
The way to make someone give up is to cut off contact.
Callie knew this was too cruel, but she couldn’t use Tobias’s kindness after knowing his feelings.
It wasn’t ethical.
Four days passed, and Jaquan still hadn’t contacted her. She couldn’t hold back any longer and returned to Oconnor Group.
The employees in the design department were used to her coming in late and leaving early. As a boss, she had the freedom to do so, but everyone privately discussed how Callie seemed increasingly unrestrained, as if she feared no one.
During a routine meeting, Callie was reviewing a project when her phone rang halfway through. She glanced at it but didn’t answer. The caller persisted, so she nodded apologetically to everyone and stepped out to take the call.
“Gold Award?” Callie exclaimed.
Litzy, unable to contain herself, leaned in to eavesdrop. “The Golden Bund Award’s Gold Award?”
With those words, the meeting room erupted. “No way?”
“This year’s Gold Award is Callie?”
But the Gold Award winner showed no reaction; instead, her face turned grim.