The Unlucky Turn by Mark Twain 342

“Ms. Sloan, Callahan has a cold temperament. It can’t be easy putting up with him.” He offered a fake, sympathetic smile. “Relationships always have friction. If Callahan ever makes you unhappy, just come find me. I’ll scold him for you.”

Leilani wasn’t stupid; she knew exactly what Talbot was doing. If she ever actually went to him, she’d just be handing him leverage to use against Callahan.

She smiled innocently, pretending not to catch the underlying malice. “You’re joking, Mr. Langley. Callahan is very gentle with me.”

She glanced up at Callahan adoringly. “Since we’ve been together, he’s never once lost his temper with me. You watched him grow up, so you must know that underneath that tough exterior, he’s actually a softie. Why would he ever make me angry?”

Leilani leaned closer to Callahan, projecting an image of pure sweetness and trust. “Right, Callahan?”

Callahan looked down at her, a flicker of amusement passing through his eyes. He nodded in cooperation. “Mhm.”

Talbot realized neither of them was taking his bait. Leilani and Callahan were like a united front, impenetrable walls of steel that left his schemes nowhere to land.

Talbot’s expression turned completely cold. He didn’t say another word, turning on his heel and striding away.

Once the door clicked shut, Leilani couldn’t help but laugh. “Did you see that? Your uncle’s face turned

black as coal.”

Callahan smiled, loosening his tie. He spoke calmly about the Langley family dynamics. Relations between Talbot’s family and Callahan’s branch had been strained ever since Callahan’s father passed away. Talbot had never given up fighting for control of the Langley Group. But because Callahan was young, brilliant, and had lost his father early, Dante had taken him under his wing personally. Naturally, resources and favor tipped heavily toward him.

“Talbot has never accepted it,” Callahan explained. “He thinks my grandfather is biased.”

Despite the infighting, Callahan wasn’t worried. He was confident. The Langley Group was a massive entity; it was normal for Talbot to have ambition. If he were in Talbot’s shoes, he wouldn’t give up easily either. However, he knew with absolute certainty that Talbot couldn’t beat him.

Dante knew it too. Since stepping back, the Langley Group had flourished under Callahan’s leadership, performing even better than in his era. Dante wasn’t senile; he wouldn’t suddenly back a losing horse like Talbot.

Talbot likely knew this deep down, but power was blinding. Even if he knew he couldn’t win, he wouldn’t stop trying.

Leilani tilted her head, looking at him. She hadn’t experienced this kind of high-stakes family drama, but it resonated with her early days returning to the Sloan family. “So you weren’t afraid to snap back at him just now? Aren’t you worried he’ll cause trouble behind your back and complain to Dante?”

16:04

Chapter

Callahan curled his lip, looking supremely confident. “He wouldn’t dare.”

Leilani raised an eyebrow. “That sure of yourself?”

Callahan suddenly reached out, pulling her into his arms. “Of course,” he murmured. “My grandfather likes you far more than he likes me these days. With you here, how could I not be confident?”

Since they had made their relationship official, Dante’s affection for Leilani had only deepened. If Callahan had brought any other woman to the office, he might have gotten a lecture later. But with Leilani? Dante would probably be celebrating.

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