Callie was upset by Marilyn’s outburst and lost interest in the hot springs. She sent a message to Eliza and Jade, telling them to take her car and leave. After that, she called a waiter to deliver the car keys to the entrance of the Sky Pavilion.
Having done this, she left the room and wandered around, waiting for Nelson to finish his meeting.
She walked along the corridor, counting her steps out of boredom. When she reached the hundredth step, she found herself outside a private room with a hollowed-out door through which she could hear faint conversations.
Peeking through the gap, she saw Nelson and Jaquan inside.
The two men maintained a certain distance from each other; Nelson sat upright and composed, while Jaquan appeared relaxed and nonchalant, their temperaments starkly different.
A pair of slender white hands poured tea in front of Nelson, but Callie couldn’t see more clearly.
Not thinking much of it, she moved away and waited for him at the exit. Inside, Nelson still hadn’t given in.
Mr. Gallagher was on the verge of losing his temper. “Mr. Oconnor, are you not planning to save yourself?”
Jaquan sipped his tea calmly, but then he noticed a fleeting figure outside. He decided to excuse himself. “You two are discussing business secrets; I’ll step out.”
Callie had just walked a few steps when she saw a familiar figure in a suit, looking particularly charming under the colorful lights. She closed her eyes and turned to leave.
“Callie,” he called out, “why are you running?”
Callie hesitated but continued walking quickly until a force grabbed her collar. She turned around to see Jaquan’s mischievous smile.
“What are you doing here?” he asked.
Callie forced a smile, “Just for business.”
“Then why are you running?” Jaquan looked her up and down, amused.
She didn’t know why, but after everything that had happened, she felt unsure how to face Jaquan. They had never crossed any lines or shared any flirtatious moments, yet it felt strange.
“Fine, I’m waiting for him,” Callie admitted, hands behind her back, feeling a bit shy in the cool breeze.
Watching her shy face, he stepped aside. “What, have you fallen for him despite everything?”
His bluntness left Callie at a loss for words. She looked into his eyes and said seriously, “Jaquan, I’m willing to give it a try.”
The night was clear with few stars. Standing in the courtyard just a few steps apart, Jaquan felt an insurmountable distance between them. He nodded and sat on the steps, not caring about the dirt. “What if it doesn’t work out?”
“If it doesn’t…” Callie realized she hadn’t thought about the consequences. She sat beside Jaquan. “Then I’ll start anew. I can make a living myself and find another place to live.”
Her round, full profile and the lingering innocence in her eyes captivated Jaquan’s gaze.
He sighed with sadness in his eyes. “You’re bold.”
“Jaquan,” Callie turned to face him, “we’re still young, aren’t we? If there’s something you want to do with all your heart, go for it.”
Jaquan looked at her and then chuckled. “If you decide to stand by Nelson’s side, you’ll be against me. If you get hurt in the future, don’t blame me.”
“Of course not.” Callie smiled too, looking up at the moon. “I remember when we first met; you wanted me to be your spy, but I refused. See? My stance has always been firm.”