returning to the café had not

able, and his schedule had been relentless all week. There was no deeper meaning behind the way his feet car

at

aw Marilyn standing behind the counter, sleeves rolled up, su

ticed

ion mixed with mild annoyance. She didn't smile. She didn't frown. She simp

reason, that

wn reputation pressing against his restraint. People whispered when he entered rooms; doors opened before he k

Marily

epped f

said, then added

ng across her face for just a second. The

t, then paused. "That's it

d. "That's usuall

rd. As she handed him the cup, their fingers

felt it

hadn't expected. She scolded herself silently. He was arrogant. Rude. Completely

oticed

ould have. He walked away with the cup clenched in hi

as rid

nd an undeniable pull neither of them acknowledged aloud. Carl criticized the coffee; Marilyn criticized his

articularly late, tension r

Marilyn asked dryly a

rstand," he replie

im a sharp lo

s, people who can't do their jobs proper

ded harder th

I don't sit in glass offices making decisions that affect n

mouth to retor

dignity that unsettled him. He wasn't used to being challe

ed listening instead of assuming, y

retched be

on creeping up his spine. Guilt

oo much," h

too little,"

him all the way b

rilyn's voice echoing in his mind. 'You feel too little.' The phr

own up valuing simplicity hard work, kindness, honesty. Carl Woode represent

ye

as watching, or how his eyes darkened with something like sadness when conversatio

fore closing, Carl e

wned. "We'r

id. "I just nee

then sighed.

m. Marilyn worked silently, the clink of porcelain echoing softly. Carl leaned

me so much?" he

fr

after a moment. "I just don

. "People treat me

you get to punish

struck him

nything about me,

" she replied

pening a door he had kept locked for decades.

straightening.

just long enough this time to be intentional. "You do

ulnerable flickering behind

alone,"

s voice falter

o, her heart aching with an emoti

e wasn't

a wound

Porter had begun to crack the wall

n would deepen. But beneath the surface,

Darius Woode's estate. The walls were lined with portraits of powerful m

ted," Darius said, c

usy," Carl r

t make careles

ned. "Which

nting," Darius said coolly. "

rrowed. "You h

iment clouds judgment, Carl. Don't tell

k down carefully

d. "It's neve

uptly. "I won'

u're my son. Everything you

ice low. "Then trust me

nt, neithe

dismissive hand. "Just

t withou

the city, Marilyn Porter'

e to carry ev

ered what it would mean to st

cared him more tha