68 Empathy

Ruth's POV

For one strange moment, the urge to drop down and play dead surged through me. Would he really notice if I slipped away and hid myself in one of the many dark corners around the room?

I was dazzling enough tonight to even pass off as a tree ornament if I could just manage to get near it unnoticed.

The thought tugged at the corners of my lips, which only made Callahan Cross' eyes narrow further.

"Don't ya look a little too happy for someone who's just had a fight with her 'lover'?"

My mouth dropped open and that tiny amusement evaporated from my mind.

"How... How did you even....? Were you eavesdropping?"

Or were we just that loud? Did anyone else hear it? Why did I even care if they did?

The answer was obvious. Years of manners ingrained into me stated that a personal conflict should remain, well, personal.

"Don't flatter yourself, girl. A gentleman never eavesdrop. Besides, there was no need to."

He sniffed and pulled himself up. "See, I know my son. I can read him better than anyone else. I know every one of his expressions, every thought that crosses his mind. I know how he looks when he is happy, or sad or-"

"Betrayed? Oh yes, I'm sure you can recognise that better than anyone else."

I cut in, unable to help myself. His smugness was like a gauntlet that taunted me to pull him down a few notches.

Besides, Caleb's words were still fresh in my mind. The ones that he'd said to hurt me and the ones that had shown his wounds.

My words seemed to have hit their mark, because Callahan Cross gritted his teeth and replied, "You think knowing my son for few months gives you the right to pass a judgement on me?"

"Why not? It was enough for you to sign me off as a gold-digging corporate climber."

Maybe it was from that part of my heart that was wounded by Caleb's accusations, or the one that was tired of Callahan Cross looking down at me like I was a piece of gum stuck on his shoes.

Or maybe it was just plain anger. Anger on him hurting Caleb, and anger on Caleb for hurting me in return.

But whatever the source of my courage was, I had no intention of finding out what it was in case it decided to leave me before I was safely away from this man's intimidating presence.

"Aren't ya? After you so readily accepted Tristan's promotion, do you really think you can deny it?"

"Yes, I can. I've been working for this company for years, doing every job that was assigned to me while making sure that my own work never suffered."

"Why would any of you even think that I need to apologize for accepting a promotion? After working my ass off for this peanuts paying job, isn't it long overdue? How is that a betrayal? Why can't a simple promotion remain exactly that?"

"Because it simply isn't a 'simple promotion' as you put it."

He shrugged smoothly, making blood roar in my ears. I didn't care how my little impassioned speech will be perceived by Callahan, but it seemed that my frustration had finally found an out.

"And why the hell not? Why does everything have to be way more complicated than it truly is with you Cross Neanderthals?"

I heaved a breath and paused. Something close to amusement sparkled in his dark eyes as he looked down at me.

"Cross Neanderthals?"

But like every other light expression, this too vanished from his face in the blink of an eye.

"There's no need to get used to us. Wouldn't be long before my son is free from this company and you so I can take him back to where he rightfully belongs, and you will not stand in my way."

"And where's that? A golden cage by your bedroom window?"

I quipped, and watched light drain from his face. Wait a minute, had I managed to hurt Callahan Cross? Either way, his reply came out clear and steady.

"He is my son. And I have the right to give the world to him, even if he think he doesn't want it. Its okay if he can't see what's right for him. I am gonna make him see it, eventually. And one day he'll understand that this was all for his own good. Not that I expect you to understand..."

As he trailed off, his gaze moved over to where Caleb had disappeared in the crowd and I could see that he meant it. Every word of it.

He really did love his son to bits, and he really thought that whatever he was doing was the best for Caleb. It seemed that I wasn't the only one who had found an out for their emotional build-up.

He glanced around the room, looking in particular and I got a distinct feeling that he was trying not to look at me in the wake of his outburst.

It was an oddly relatable reaction. Right then, he didn't look like the ruthless, stubborn man that I had come to expect. He looked tired, old and in need for someone - his son.

What the hell was happening? I was feeling empathy for Callahan Cross? I must be losing my mind.

"You're wrong, you know?" I started offhandedly - awkwardly - not having a faintest idea where I was going with this. He turned his dark, Caleb-like eyes on me and for once, they didn't hold contempt.

"I'm not the one who's standing in your way. You are the one - the only one - who's standing in your way. Caleb isn't here to be close to me, he is here to be away from you."

My words sounded vindictive even in my own ears, so when I continued, I forced my voice to be gentle. More sensitive.

"You're also wrong about how I don't understand. I might not understand your atrocious ways of bringing your son home."

So much for being sensitive. At my words, he narrowed his eyes again, but I talked on before he could butt in.

"But, I am familiar with parents who believe that only they know what's best for their children, and don't even consider the fact that their children might want a life that is different from what they want them to have."

And then I did the unthinkable. I reached out and placed a hand on Callahan Cross' arm. It must be shock that froze him long enough for me to finish what I wanted to say without him shaking my hand off.

"If I've learnt anything about Caleb, if I know anything about him, it's that he is as stubborn as you are. The more you push, the harder he'll push away. Set him free and trust that he will find his way back to the nest at the end of the day. Instead of forcing your love down his throat, trust in it. Trust in your son."

With that, I turned and walked away from Callahan Cross, shaking to my bone but feeling proud of myself.