The Unlucky Turn by Mark Twain 341
Callahan didn’t waste another word. He turned and walked toward the Maybach, his back radiating a
cold, detached aura.
The engine roared to life, and the black car slowly pulled away into the rainy backdrop.
After leaving the café, Callahan took Leilani directly to the Langley Group headquarters.
The elevator took them straight to the CEO’s office on the top floor. The moment the doors slid open, they ran right into Talbot Langley, Callahan’s uncle, who had just stepped out of the conference room.
The man was dressed in a impeccably tailored dark grey suit. His face was stern, bearing a striking family resemblance to Callahan, though his features carried the weary shrewdness of age.
His gaze lingered on Leilani for a second before shifting to Callahan, a faint, ambiguous smile playing on his lips.
“Callahan, I recall this being work hours. Why are you bringing an outsider to the company?” Talbot adjusted his cuffs. “I remember you used to be the biggest stickler for rules. Seeing how iron-fisted you were before, I thought you’d never be the type to get distracted by a pretty face.”
He chuckled dryly. “I suppose I don’t have to worry about you ending up alone anymore.”
Talbot’s tone sounded like a concerned uncle teasing a nephew, but the barbs underneath were undeniable. He was using Leilani as an excuse to imply that Callahan was slacking off to chase
women.
It clearly wasn’t the first time Callahan had dealt with Talbot’s passive-aggressive commentary. His expression didn’t shift. “Didn’t you just come out of a meeting? I seem to recall you bringing Aunt Reese and Beatty to the office several times. If you can bring family, why can’t I?”
Talbot’s eyes darkened slightly, though he quickly plastered the benevolent uncle mask back on. “How is that the same? Reese and Beatty are family. There’s no rule against family visiting their own company. If your grandfather knew, he wouldn’t mind. But you…”
He glanced pointedly at Leilani. “Callahan, you know your grandfather hates when people mix private affairs with business. If he finds out you’re dating on company time, he won’t be pleased.”
Leilani stood to the side, raising an eyebrow slightly. She had heard enough to understand the dynamic. This Talbot was a sly fox. On the surface, he acted concerned for Callahan, but in reality, he was trying to drive a wedge between Callahan and his grandfather.
Callahan let out a scoff, wrapping his arm directly around Leilani’s shoulders. “You worry too much, Uncle Talbot. Given how much my grandfather adores Leilani, he’d probably be thrilled to know I brought her here.”
He paused, letting the weight of his next words settle. “It might not be long before Leilani is family,
too.”
His tone was calm, but every word was a calculated strike.
16:03
“After all, he’s been nagging us to get married and give him a few great-grandchildren to spoil.”
The smile on Talbot’s face stiffened, and the temperature in his eyes dropped to zero.
Dante’s favoritism toward Talbot’s older brother’s line-Callahan’s family-was an open secret within the Langley clan. Callahan was Dante’s handpicked successor. Furthermore, everyone had seen clearly how much Dante favored Leilani at his last birthday party. If Leilani and Callahan actually got married, Talbot’s branch of the family would become virtually invisible in Dante’s eyes.
Callahan bringing up Dante’s bias right to his face was a slap in the face. Talbot took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his anger, and managed a strained smile. “Is that so? Well, that would be good news. If you settled down, I’m sure my brother would be happy looking down from heaven.”
Realizing Callahan wasn’t an easy target today, Talbot shifted his sights to Leilani.
16:04
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