Chapter 70

“Hey Archie, how’s everything back home?” Calliope asked.

“Yeah, it’s all good,” Archie replied, trying not to give too much away.

“But enough about that, let’s grab a drink! I’ve got some stuff going on, might be heading overseas for a few days.”

“You’re always the busy one,” Portia teased with a grin. “Just don’t forget to bring us back some souvenirs!”

“No problem.”

After some light-hearted chatter, Calliope excused herself to the restroom. As she stepped out, she felt a tap on her shoulder.

Turning around, she was met by Gideon, who was clearly a bit tipsy.

“Calliope, I knew it was you!”

Gideon’s breath reeked of alcohol. He cornered Calliope against the wall, gripping her chin with unexpected force.

“Bitch, you think you can just play me like that? You took my money, my shares, everything from me! Calliope, you’ve changed. I hardly recognize you anymore. Why are you doing this?”

Gideon leaned in close, his bleary eyes trying to pierce through Calliope’s calm demeanor. But in his drunken state, everything was a blur. The more he stared, the angrier he got, his confusion fueling his rage.

“How could you possibly choose my uncle over me? You’re mine, Calliope, you’re supposed to be mine! Calliope, don’t lie to me, and don’t even think about fooling around with him!”

Gideon’s face was inches from Calliope’s. Staying composed, Calliope calmly pushed back against his forehead with two fingers, keeping him at bay.

Her voice was steady as she spoke, “Gideon, you’re drunk.”

“No, I’m not! How dare you say I’m drunk!”

Gideon refused to admit it, tightening his grip on her chin, leaning in as if to kiss her.

Calliope’s expression hardened, and with a swift move, she slapped Gideon across the face.

The slap rang through his head, and he stumbled back, eyes wide with disbelief.

“You hit me! When did you start standing up to me like this, Calliope? It’s you who’s been clinging to me. Why would you give it up?”

Calliope rubbed her chin disdainfully and looked at Gideon. “I must have been blind before. Now that I can see, you’re nothing but a pile of trash.”

“Callie, I feel pain. You still love me, do you?”

Gideon’s anger faded, replaced by a pitiful look. He clutched his chest and claimed, “It hurts here, Callie… Are you really going to leave me?”

Calliope sighed, her patience wearing thin. This drunk fool was beyond reasoning.

As Gideon lunged forward to embrace her, she sidestepped neatly. Her eyes caught sight of a mop in the corner. Without hesitation, she grabbed the janitor’s mop and thrust it into Gideon’s arms.

Gideon, in his drunken stupor, clung to the mop as if it were Calliope herself.

“Callie, I’m sorry, I really am… Callie-”

Gideon mumbled as he pressed his lips against the mop.

Calliope’s face was a mix of disbelief and amusement. With a quick glance back, she turned and walked away, her expression impassive.

As she turned the corner, she spotted Silas standing in the hallway, one hand casually tucked into his pocket, leaning against the doorframe with a roguish charm. He looked like he had been there for a while.