Chapter 453: Viral
Within an hour of the photos of Callan and Emily appearing online, the internet lost its mind.
The photos were everywhere—on every social media platform, every gossip blog, every entertainment page, every business page.
Videos of Callan standing outside the hospital with flowers had already been viewed millions of times.
The banner had gone viral.
The catering vans had gone viral.
Even the clip of Emily hiding her face against Callan’s shoulder had gone viral.
People couldn’t stop talking about it.
Especially because the man involved was Callan Quinn.
Callan Quinn.
The same Callan Quinn, whose dating history had fuelled gossip columns for years, had just publicly declared his love for a woman online investigators believed was practically his cousin.
“CALLAN QUINN IS IN LOVE?”
“I thought I’d see flying pigs before this happened.”
“The way he looks at her, though.”
“Wait. Isn’t that Damon Williams’ first daughter?”
“So the billionaire playboy finally fell.”
“Forget the relationship. I want the food.”
“Can somebody love me enough to feed an entire hospital?”
“Callan Quinn rented multiple luxury food vans just to announce he has a girlfriend. There are levels to these things.”
“That’s not romance. That’s a public service announcement.”
“She looks pretty ordinary pared to the others.”
“Not him calling her the love of his life.”
“I refuse to believe this man is real.”
One particular video gained even more attention.
It showed Emily covering her face in embarrassment while Callan approached her with the flowers.
The person recording had zoomed in perfectly so that Callan’s expression was impossible to miss.
The look in his eyes. The smile. The way he looked at her.
The internet immediately became convinced he was hopelessly in love.
Not that the giant banner hadn’t already made that obvious.
Meanwhile, the business world was discussing something else entirely.
Because Dr Emily Williams wasn’t just any doctor.
She was Dr Damon Williams’ daughter.
The daughter of not just a renowned OB/GYN but one of the most respected medical executives in the world.
The Medical Director of Royalty International Hospital.
And unlike Callan’s previous scandals, this one wasn’t being viewed as another casual fling.
This looked serious, and everyone noticed.
The media noticed.
Investors noticed.
Business analysts noticed.
Within hours, Quinn Enterprise stock had climbed several times.
Financial reporters started discussing it.
Business blogs wrote articles.
A sign of stability and maturity.
And most importantly, a sign that Callan Quinn might finally be settling down.
Inside Quinn Enterprise headquarters, Callan sat in the middle of a meeting, pletely unaware of how dramatic the internet had bee.
Presentations were underway, and a number flashed across the large screen as they discussed a new product launch.
Callan was halfway through questioning a proposal when his assistant brought him his phone.
He glanced at his screen, then excused himself when he saw that it was his father.
“I need to take this. Go on without me,” he said before stepping out of the conference room.
He answered immediately he shut the door behind him.
“Good morning, Dad.”
Hunter’s laughter greeted him instantly.
Callan paused. “What?”
His father laughed again. “What do you mean, what?”
Callan leaned against the wall. “Dad, I was in the middle of a meeting.”
“The meeting going on in front of the hospital where Emily works, or which?”
Callan groaned.
Of course.
His father sounded entirely too amused.
“That was a while ago. I’m back in my office now,” Callan said, and his father chuckled again.
“The banner was a nice touch,” his father said, and Callan smiled despite himself when he heard his mother’s laughter in the background.
“Thank you.”
“I particularly liked the part where you fed an entire hospital. Very generous of you,” his father continued in a teasing tone.
Callan chuckled now. “They seemed happy.”
His father laughed again, then his tone softened. “I take it you’ve made up your mind to be serious about her now?”
Callan’s smile faded slightly. Not because he disliked the question. But because he knew exactly what his father was asking.
“Yes, sir.”
There was silence. Then his father asked quietly, “Does this mean you’re finally ready to settle down?”
Callan smiled softly as he looked through the glass wall of the conference room.
“We still have a lot to unlearn and learn about each other.”
His father remained quiet.
Callan continued. “And we still have differences we need to work through.” His voice became firmer. “But yes. I intend to settle down with Emily once we’ve sorted all of that out.”
His father was silent for a beat, then he laughed softly. “At the rate you were going, I never thought I’d hear those words.”
Callan rolled his eyes. “Thanks.”
Before his father could respond, his mother took over the phone, “Your time is up. Give me that.”
Callan laughed immediately.
A second later, his mother spoke. “I’m proud of you, darling.”
Callan’s smile softened. “Hello, Mom.”
“You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for you to get your act together.”
Callan laughed. “Years?”
“Years,” his mother agreed, then continued. “And Emily is the best.”
“I know.”
“You better.”
Callan smiled.
His mother’s voice softened. “I’m happy for you.”
Something warm settled inside his chest. “Thank you, Mom. You gave me the much-needed push I needed.”
His father immediately took the phone back. “Now stop disrupting business operations with your love life.”
“His love life spiked your pany’s stock,” Delilah corrected immediately.
Hunter snorted.
Callan laughed. “Is that what happened?”
“Don’t pretend you haven’t heard,” his father said dryly. “Your phone must have exploded by now.”
“I told you I’m in a meeting.”
“Then you’re probably the only person in the world who hasn’t seen what’s happening online. The calls woke me up.”
Callan chuckled.
His father sighed dramatically. “I spent years trying to increase investor confidence through strategic planning when all I needed was for my son to embarrass a doctor with flowers publicly.”
Delilah burst out laughing in the background.
Callan laughed too. “Noted.”
“You should expect a call from Damon soon.”
“I will.”
“Good. Now get back to work.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And Callan?”
His father’s voice softened slightly.
“Yes, Dad?”
“Don’t mess this up.”
Callan’s smile faded. “I’m not planning to.”
“Good.”
The call ended.
Almost immediately, another call came through.
Callan glanced at the screen, then immediately straightened when he saw it was Emily’s Dad.
He answered immediately. “Good morning, sir.”
“Callan.”
Damon’s voice was very calm.
“Sir.”
“I assume you’ve spoken to your parents already.”
Callan smiled. “Actually, I just got off the phone with them.”
“Hm.”
Silence followed. Then Damon spoke again.
“If you’re busy right now, call me back.”
Callan glanced at the conference room. “No. You have my full attention, sir.”
Damon was quiet for a moment, then he sighed.
“Do you know how many people have called me just this morning?”
Callan winced. “I’m guessing a lot.”
“A ridiculous number.”
That immediately made Callan straighten.
Then Damon spoke. “If you hurt my daughter again, I won’t go easy on you.”
Callan’s heart skipped a beat. Then his brows pulled together. “Again?”
Damon’s response came immediately. “Don’t play dumb with me, Callan. I know more than I’ve ever let either of you know.”
Callan stayed silent.
Damon continued calmly. “I know what happened between you both years ago. Emily is my daughter, and I make it my business to know whatever concerns her, even when I choose to turn a blind eye.”
Callan’s chest tightened. “I’m sorry, sir.”
Damon continued as though Callan had not spoken. “I know how much it all affected Emily.”
Callan shut his eyes briefly.
Damon sighed. “The only reason I’m allowing this relationship is that I know how much Emily loves you.”
Callan swallowed.
“And because I know you have what it takes to make her happy. So don’t disappoint me again, Callan.”
The words hit harder than Callan expected.
For several seconds he couldn’t speak.
“Am I clear?” Damon asked.
Callan nodded even though Damon couldn’t see him. “I won’t disappoint you.”
Damon remained silent.
Callan continued quietly. “I love her. And I’ll always be sorry I hurt her.”
Damon sighed. “I don’t want you to always be sorry. Nobody wants you to always be sorry. Just do your best for yourself and for Emily.”
Callan looked through the conference room glass again.
Then thought about Emily and the smile she’d given him as he drove off earlier after the show at the hospital.
He thought of the future he wanted with her. “I’ll do my best. Thank you for letting me be with Emily. I promise not to make you regret this.”
“Like you gave me a choice to disapprove after such a public display. Just make sure you don’t let Emily convince you to secretly get married before ing home.”
Callan chuckled, thinking about his conversation with Emily as that morning.
It was no surprise that Damon knew his daughter quite well.
“I won’t.”
“Good. Enjoy the rest of your day.”
With that, the call ended.
Callan remained standing in the hallway for several moments.
His phone still in his hand.
A slow smile spread across his face.
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