I'm sorry

TONY

The door to my office opened quietly, and Frank walked inside, shutting it behind him with a smirk that told me he’d already heard the news.

“Congratulations on the wedding,” he said, approaching me with that steady stride of his and settling into the chair across from my desk.

I looked up, an amused smile tugging at my lips. “Thanks, Frank,” I replied, leaning back in my chair.

“Though, I think congratulations might be a bit premature. It’s not exactly a traditional ceremony, after all.”

Frank lifted his head, and crossed his arms across his chest. “You know, Tony, I still don’t understand what’s going on here. When I first heard you were getting married, I thought it was a joke. Figured maybe it was part of one of your schemes.”

He shook his head, and I could tell that he was so confused. “But then, before I knew it, the priest was around, ready to join you and Callie… and now here we are.”

He leaned forward, his eyes still locked on mine.“I can’t help but wonder if there’s more to this. Is it because of… you being sick?”

I kept my expression steady, though I could sense his genuine concern.

Frank had been with me long enough to understand my moves, and my sudden marriage wasn’t exactly in line with my usual tactics.

I let a smile tug at the corner of my mouth, leaning back in my chair as I recalled that night. “I’ve known Callie for longer than you think, Frank.”

Frank’s eyebrows lifted, “ I don't understand.”

“Four years ago, there was… an incident. A car accident left me trapped in a burning vehicle, and no one around had the nerve to try and help.” I paused, letting the memory settle over me, the heat, the smoke, the hopelessness that had gripped me.

“Except her. This stranger -Callie…came out of nowhere, risked her life to pull me out. Didn’t even know who I was.”

Frank’s eyes widened, clearly caught off guard by the revelation. “She saved your life?”

I nodded slowly. “Ever since that night, I’ve been looking for her. She disappeared right after the accident, vanished without a trace. But I never forgot her face.” I glanced down, my fingers tapping on the desk thoughtfully.

“Months went by, and then I finally found her. Saw her picture in some magazine… turns out she was the daughter of the famous multi-billionaire.”

Frank tilted his head, piecing together my story. “So, you’ve been keeping an eye on her ever since?”

I gave a short nod. “Waiting for the right moment to cross paths again. I owed her a debt, in a way, but it was more than that.”

My voice softened, the words coming out almost reluctantly. “There’s something about her, Frank. She’s not like anyone else.”

Frank kept listening to me, his expression softening just a bit. “So this marriage… it’s about control, yes. But it’s also about her.”

I took a deep breath, letting the silence hang between us as I considered Frank’s words.

He wasn’t wrong. There was more to this than control, even if I’d tried to tell myself otherwise.

“Maybe I am taking the wrong approach,” I admitted, surprising even myself with the admission.

Frank watched me intently, nodding as he leaned forward. “So, what are you going to do about it? You’re not exactly known for making things right, Tony.”

“I’ll make an exception for her,” I replied quietly. “This marriage might’ve started as a way to secure her in my life, to make sure I never lost track of her again. But I know she deserves more than that.”

Frank’s face softened, and he leaned back, the tension easing a bit. “Well, at least you’re being honest about it now. That’s a start.”

I nodded, a plan forming in my mind. “Callie… she’s earned the truth. I owe her that. I’m not going to pretend I can change overnight, but she should know why I’ve done what I did. And maybe, if she understands… she’ll give me a chance to make things right.”

Frank smiled as he leaned back. “Now that’s the Tony I’ve been waiting to see. Just remember, you don’t have to control everything, Tony. Some things are better when you let them happen.”

I sat back, absorbing his words. Frank was right. For once, I had to let go of the need to manipulate every angle. This was a chance to be someone else, to be someone better….for her.

“Thanks, Frank,” I said. “I’m going to do things differently this time. For her. And maybe, for myself too.”

********

As I left my office, I carried Callie’s small dog in my arms- an overly pampered, fluffy ball of fur with a look that suggested it wasn’t thrilled to be anywhere near me.

The dog gave a low growl, as if sensing my apprehension, but I held it carefully, hoping it might act as a peace offering.

Standing in front of Callie’s door, I took a deep breath. I knew I’d pushed her boundaries with the whole marriage arrangement, dragging her into something she hadn’t agreed to and testing her patience in the process.

This wasn’t the path I’d imagined, but now, here we were.

I tapped my knuckles softly on the door and waited. When she didn’t answer right away, I let myself in, hoping she wouldn’t immediately send me back out.

She was sitting by the window, her back to me, but her posture told me everything I needed to know…..she was still angry.

Her dog leapt out of my arms and ran straight over to Callie.

She turned at the sound. "Hey, you," she murmured to the dog, her voice softening.

I shut the door behind me and moved over to the bed, feeling her gaze follow me.

Her eyes narrowed as I settled on the edge of the bed. "So," she said, one of her eyebrows arched, “you’re here to fuck me, right? This is our wedding night, after all.”

The words stung a bit more than I’d expected. I ran a hand through my hair, letting out a slow breath. "Callie," I started, keeping my voice steady, "I know this isn’t what you wanted. But… I came here to talk. Just talk.”

I watched her face carefully as I chose my next words.

"Callie… I’m sorry."

She blinked, taken aback, her mouth opening slightly in surprise. “What?”