week, Carl Woode h

ted that s

table near the window. He never stayed long. Fifteen minutes, sometimes twenty. He read emails, occasionally

n told herself i

th day, she

ning as Carl settled into his usual sea

k. "He's not a fan. He

d you just happen to tense

do

bsolut

admit that Carl's presence unsettled her-not in a frightening way, but in the way

n't tru

like her café without a reason. And whateve

told himself the c

uate. The environment was quieter than most pla

g to do with

sn't true, and

ow her patience shifted subtly depending on who stood in front of her, how she carried exhaustion wi

have made hi

it made h

e, delaying supplies. By noon, the place was chaotic. Orders

ed his hand down. "I've be

. "I understand, sir. We

not my p

ng not at the man, but at the inefficiency o

ne," Carl said coolly. "I

snapped towar

ame sharp, warning sto

e said quietly, her eye

epped aside. Marilyn exhaled

ut respect?" she as

d. "I was try

trying t

ve pro

by force," Marilyn said. "Som

ms, pride flaring.

us. "You really can't

spoken to like that especially not in public. But he also di

t of it," he

eplied. "Because

ween them grew c

with professional detachment. Whatever fragile understanding they ha

er, the frac

the dim evening, only to find her bike missing from w

e whispered, sca

r only transportation. She c

obl

e came from

harply. "My

hen at her face. She tried to hid

e of it," he s

replied. "You

insisted, already pu

in front of

rowned

this by throwing money at it,"

snapped. "You need it. I

k. "You feel better? Powerful? Li

ung more tha

not what

said quietly. "You take over

r, jaw tight. "Yo

ght now, it feels like you don

e stre

y. "I don't know how to do t

y surprise

ftened just a little. "

dded

It was awkward at first, heavy with

ve to fix eve

. "If I don't, t

. "Sometimes people hold th

e bus, then stood there l

e, he felt the li

pride his greatest strength might als