Calix sat down next to Scarlett, his eyes locked on hers. "I know you have a lot of questions," he said. "But before I answer them, I need to tell you something. Something that might change everything."
Scarlett's heart skipped a beat. What could Calix possibly say that would change everything?
"I've been watching you for a while now," Calix said, his voice low and husky. "I've seen the way you've been hurt, the way you've been struggling to heal. And I want you to know that I'm here for you. I want to help you heal."
Scarlett felt a lump form in her throat. No one had ever offered to help her heal before. No one had ever shown her such kindness and compassion.
"Why?" Scarlett asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why do you want to help me?"
Calix's eyes softened. "Because I care about you, Scarlett. I care about what happens to you. And I want to help you find happiness again."
Scarlett felt a warmth spread through her chest. She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt this way. It was like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
"Thank you," Scarlett said, her voice filled with emotion. "Thank you for caring about me."
Calix smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "You're welcome," he said. "Now, let's start the healing process. Together."
And with that, Calix took Scarlett's hand, his touch sending a spark of electricity through her body. Scarlett felt a sense of hope that she hadn't felt in a long time. Maybe, just maybe, she was ready to start healing.
Scarlett's eyes locked onto Calix's, her mind racing with questions. But one question in particular stood out.
"Calix, who was that man at the coffee shop?" Scarlett asked, her voice firm. "The one with the husky voice and the menacing attitude. What's his connection to you?"
Calix's expression changed, his eyes clouding over. "His name is Victor," Calix said, his voice low. "And he's...complicated."
Scarlett raised an eyebrow. "Complicated?" she repeated. "What do you mean?"
Calix hesitated, his eyes darting around the room. "Victor and I have a...history," Calix said finally. "We used to work together, but things didn't end well between us."
Scarlett's eyes narrowed. "What kind of work?" she asked.
Calix's expression turned grim. "I'd rather not say," he said. "Let's just say that Victor and I were involved in some...unsavory activities."
Scarlett's mind was racing with questions, but before she could ask any of them, Calix spoke up.
"Scarlett, I want you to know that I'm not proud of my past," Calix said, his eyes locked onto hers. "But I'm trying to make amends. I'm trying to start over."
Scarlett's heart went out to Calix. She could see the sincerity in his eyes, the genuine remorse.
"I appreciate your honesty," Scarlett said, her voice soft. "But I have to ask...what does Victor want from you?"
Calix's expression turned grim again. "Victor wants me to go back to my old life," Calix said. "He wants me to join him in his...business ventures."
Scarlett's eyes widened in alarm. "And what do you want?" she asked.
Calix's eyes locked onto hers, his gaze burning with intensity. "I want to be with you," Calix said, his voice low. "I want to help you heal, and I want to be there for you."
Scarlett's heart skipped a beat. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Calix wanted to be with her?
Scarlett's eyes searched Calix's face, looking for any sign of insincerity. But all she saw was genuine emotion, a deep longing in his eyes.
"Calix, I..." Scarlett started, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know what to say."
Calix's face softened, his eyes filled with understanding. "You don't have to say anything," he said. "Just know that I'm here for you, Scarlett. I'll do whatever it takes to help you heal."
Scarlett felt a lump form in her throat. No one had ever spoken to her like that before, with such kindness and compassion.
"Thank you, Calix," Scarlett said, her voice filled with emotion. "That means a lot to me."
Calix smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I mean it, Scarlett," he said. "I'm here for you, no matter what."
As they sat there, the tension between them was palpable. Scarlett could feel the attraction between them, the spark that had been growing since they first met.
But as much as she wanted to give in to her feelings, Scarlett knew she had to be careful. She couldn't let her emotions cloud her judgment, not when there was still so much she didn't know about Calix.
"Calix, can I ask you something?" Scarlett said, her voice hesitant.
Calix nodded, his eyes locked onto hers. "Anything," he said.
Scarlett took a deep breath. "What exactly did you and Victor do together?" she asked.
Calix's expression changed, his eyes clouding over. "I'd rather not say," he said, his voice low.
Scarlett's eyes narrowed. "You can't just tell me that you have a complicated past with Victor and then not explain what that means," she said.
Calix sighed, rubbing his temples. "Fine," he said. "I'll tell you. But you have to promise not to judge me."
Scarlett's heart skipped a beat. What had Calix done?
Scarlett hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say. But something about Calix's expression, the way he looked at her with a mixture of fear and vulnerability, made her nod.
"I promise," Scarlett said, her voice firm. "I won't judge you."
Calix took a deep breath, his eyes locked onto hers. "Victor and I used to work for a...security firm," Calix said, his voice low. "We did jobs for high-paying clients, jobs that required a certain level of...discretion."
Scarlett's eyes narrowed. "What kind of jobs?" she asked.
Calix hesitated, his eyes darting around the room. "We did things like...retrieval," Calix said finally. "We'd retrieve items or people for our clients. And sometimes, we'd have to...take care of problems."
Scarlett's heart skipped a beat. "Take care of problems?" she repeated.
Calix nodded, his eyes locked onto hers. "Yes. We'd have to eliminate threats to our clients' interests. And sometimes, that meant...harming people."
Scarlett felt a chill run down her spine. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Calix, the man she was starting to develop feelings for, was a former hitman?
"Calix, how could you?" Scarlett asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Calix's expression was grim. "I know it's not excuses, but I was young and stupid," Calix said. "I didn't know any better. And Victor...he was like a mentor to me. He taught me everything I knew."
Scarlett's eyes narrowed. "And what about now?" she asked. "Are you still involved with Victor and his...security firm?"
Calix shook his head. "No," he said. "I got out of the business a few years ago. I wanted to start over, to leave my past behind me."
Scarlett studied Calix's face, looking for any sign of deception. But all she saw was sincerity, a genuine desire to start over.
Scarlett's eyes sparkled with curiosity, her mind racing with possibilities. "You know, Calix, I've been thinking," she said, her voice soft and measured. "Maybe there's more to your story than you're letting on."
Calix raised an eyebrow, his expression cautious. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice neutral.
Scarlett leaned in, her eyes locked onto his. "I mean, couldn't it be that you were working for Victor's security firm, but you were actually doing it to protect me?" she asked, her voice filled with a mix of hope and trepidation.
Calix's expression changed, his eyes widening in surprise. He looked like he'd been caught off guard, like he hadn't expected Scarlett to piece together the truth.
"How did you...?" Calix started, before trailing off. He looked like he was searching for words, like he didn't know how to respond.
Scarlett's heart skipped a beat. She knew she was onto something. She could see the guilt written all over Calix's face, the guilt and the worry.
"Tell me, Calix," Scarlett said, her voice firm but gentle. "Was it all a ruse? Were you working to protect me all along?"
Calix took a deep breath, his eyes locked onto hers. For a moment, Scarlett thought she saw a glimmer of tears in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a look of determination.
"I'll tell you everything," Calix said, his voice filled with emotion. "But you have to promise me one thing."
"What's that?" Scarlett asked, her heart pounding in her chest.
Calix's eyes locked onto hers, his gaze burning with intensity. "You have to promise me you'll listen with an open heart," he said. "You have to promise me you'll try to understand."