Ahmad squinted in the dim light, scrutinizing Callie. It was unclear how much he had heard.
His gaze was like that of a venomous snake.
Callie forced herself to remain calm.
“Why are you wearing a mask?” Ahmad suddenly asked an unrelated question.
Callie’s heart skipped a beat. “I have a cold, didn’t want to spread it.”
Ahmad withdrew his gaze and set down his glass. “If you have a cold, you should leave. No need to come in.”
Callie hesitated, wanting to say more, but then decided it was enough for now. She nodded and left the private room.
Breathing in the fresh air, she finally relaxed. Looking up, she saw Jaquan; he hadn’t left.
“What happened?”
“Ahmad realized it was me.”
Jaquan nodded and took off her mask. “Let’s go back.”
Callie, still sweating, asked as they entered the elevator, “Why didn’t you leave?”
“I was afraid they’d kill you.” He wasn’t joking; those people had been wild in their youth.
Callie recalled Ahmad’s expression. “Maybe they listened to what I said… Jaquan, I’m sorry.”
No matter what, this move hurt him deeply.
Jaquan looked at the woman in the elevator mirror. “It’s not the first time you’ve apologized to me. And why are you so confident they’ll listen?”
“I just believe.”
She didn’t believe in herself but in Nelson’s achievements over the years. They wouldn’t completely disregard him, so those ambiguous words were crucial.
“Your outfit looks nice, a bit of uniform temptation?” Jaquan’s voice was deep and magnetic as he touched her head.
The elevator doors opened.
Callie felt increasingly uncomfortable and pushed him away instinctively. “I’m going to take a shower.”
As her body sank into the warm water, she relaxed and thought about Jaquan’s words. The more she thought, the more flustered she became, even feeling a bit hot.
He could help her unconditionally, maybe…
She slapped her face hard. “Callie, what are you thinking!”
To her surprise, when she walked out wrapped in a towel, Jaquan was still there. He sat on the floor silently playing a game. She instinctively tightened her towel and glanced at him.
“Why are you still here?”
Jaquan sensed her approach but didn’t look up, continuing his game. Callie watched him play; her long hair fell onto his wrist as she leaned closer.
It was slightly wet and tickled.
“Not letting me into my own room?”
Jaquan sighed and finished his game quickly. Without a word, he took the towel from her hand and opened a drawer nearby, pulling out a hairdryer.
He plugged it in and started drying Callie’s hair.
Callie froze, feeling the gentle warm air. “What are you doing, Jaquan…”
“You just had surgery. Catching a cold could be serious. Aren’t you going to thank me?”
Once her hair was dry, Jaquan seemed satisfied.
Callie belatedly realized she couldn’t bring herself to look back at Jaquan.
Jaquan naturally handed his phone to Callie. “If you’re bored here, you can play whatever you want.”
Callie glanced at it; his phone had all kinds of game apps installed.
So now Jaquan watched her play games.
She picked a random champion and played poorly. He laughed at her clumsy moves, easing the tension between them.
Callie felt both angry and embarrassed.
Jaquan looked at his phone, then at her. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke up. “Callie.”
“Yes?”
“I have many game consoles at home. Next time we meet, I can invite you over to play.”
It was a normal sentence, but somehow Callie heard a hint of romantic longing in it.