Karl Gordon Is Back

Chapter 14 : The Noisey Teen

Karl barely remembered the drive.

The road from Emmy Golf Course to the nearest private hospital blurred into traffic lights and impatient horns, his hands locked so tightly around the steering wheel that his knuckles ached. T

The air conditioner hummed softly, doing nothing to ease the heat crawling beneath his skin.

Anna sat in the passenger seat, her body angled against the door, both hands gripping the edge of the seat as though it were the only thing keeping her upright.

Every small movement made her inhale sharply.

Karl watched her from the corner of his eye at every red light.

Her face had lost most of its colour. A thin layer of sweat gathered along her hairline, and her jaw stayed clenched as if she were afraid that opening her mouth would let something escape…pain, maybe, or a sound she was struggling to keep down.

He slowed just before a speed bump and guided the car over it carefully.

She still flinched.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered again, almost automatically.

Karl’s fingers tightened around the wheel. “Stop apologising.”

She nodded, even though he hadn’t looked at her when he said it.

The hospital sign appeared ahead and he swung into the parking area without bothering to look for a proper space, stopping near the emergency entrance. The engine barely finished cutting before he was out of the car.

“I can walk,” Anna said quickly when he opened her door.

Her foot touched the ground and she sucked in a breath, her hand flying to his arm before she could stop herself.

He felt the tremor in her fingers immediately. Wh0 the hell is she trying to fool when it hurts that much?

Karl stepped closer, sliding one arm behind her back and the other under her knees.

“What are you doing?” she panicked. “I'm fine. I can..”

“You really think I'm going to let you walk with that bruise?” He glances at her as he makes his way towards the entrance. “Not a chance.”

She froze for half a second, then relaxed into his hold, her forehead brushing lightly against his shoulder as he lifted her.

He adjusted his grip so her injured ankle stayed elevated. The glass doors slid open automatically, releasing the sharp scent of disinfectant into the air.

The emergency lobby was busy.

A woman argued quietly with a nurse at the counter. A child cried somewhere behind a set of swinging doors. Two orderlies pushed a trolley past them at a quick pace.

Karl moved through it all to a nurse who didn't look like she was about to bolt for the door.

“Excuse me,” he said as the nurse behind the reception desk looked up.

“She twisted her ankle badly,” Karl said, already approaching. “She needs attention. Now.”

The nurse’s eyes flicked to Anna’s face, then to the swelling already visible around her ankle.

“Room three,” she said immediately. “We’ll get someone.”

Karl followed the directions without waiting for further instruction.

Inside the small examination room, he lowered Anna carefully onto the bed. She gasped softly as her body shifted, then pressed her lips together again, forcing the sound back.

He straightened slowly, his hands lingering for a fraction of a second at her shoulders, as if to steady her even after he had let go.

“I’ll be right here,” he said.

She nodded again.

A young nurse arrived moments later, speaking gently as she adjusted Anna’s leg and asked routine questions.

Karl stood by the wall, silent, watching every movement of the nurse’s hands.

When the nurse finally left to fetch the doctor, the room settled into a brief, uncomfortable quiet.

Anna turned her head slightly toward him.

“You don’t have to stay,” she said softly.

Karl looked at her, his eyes catching how her brows pinched together.

“I’m staying.”

His phone vibrated in his pocket but he ignored it. The phone vibrated again and he reluctantly stepped outside the room, keeping the door open enough to still see her.

The caller ID made his jaw tighten. Why the hell is he calling him first?! He declined the call.

He slipped the phone back into his pocket and exhaled slowly. When the doctor arrived, Karl listened as the woman explained that Anna would need an X-ray to rule out a fracture. The swelling suggested a severe sprain, possibly ligament damage.

Karl nodded.

“Can I walk her there?” he asked.

“We’ll take her on a wheelchair,” the doctor replied gently.

He stepped aside as the nurse returned with one. Anna’s fingers brushed his wrist as they moved her.

“Thank you,” she murmured.

Karl inclined his head. “I’ll be right outside.”

He watched as they rolled her down the corridor, the back of her head disappearing around the corner.

He stepped into the waiting area and stopped in his tracks.

Across the wide glass entrance, just outside the sliding doors, a familiar figure stood beneath the shaded overhang.

Ruchie Emold.

She leaned casually against the low stone barrier, one ankle crossed over the other, her phone loosely held in one hand. Her hair was pulled into a low bun, her golf visor still resting on her head as if she hadn’t bothered removing it after leaving the course.

Her gaze was not on him. It was fixed on something behind him. Karl followed the direction of her eyes.

Through the glass wall on the opposite side of the lobby, he could see the emergency drop-off zone.

Caden stood there, one arm wrapped tightly around Melody’s shoulders. She leaned heavily into him, her face turned into his chest as he carried her face, muttering something to her.

Caden’s hand moved up and down her back slowly and dipped below her waist for some reason. Karl chuckled, sure. Grabbing her ass would definitely help soothe her pain.

Unbelievable.

Ruchie pushed herself upright and began walking toward the doors as they slid open. Her heels clicked softly against the tiled floor as she entered.

She stopped beside him as she followed his gaze back toward the glass.

She gave a slow clap. Once. Twice.

The sound echoed lightly in the open space.

Karl’s attention returned to her.

A small, crooked smile touched her mouth. “Well done,” she said quietly.

Hell, this was the woman he's been trying so hard to find! Karl remained calm, he knew jumping right at her would make her leave instantly.

She's probably used to the direct approach, he might as well try something different.

He lifted a brow slightly. “Excuse me?”

“For not losing your composure,” she added. Her tone was light, but her eyes were not.

Karl exhaled slowly through his nose. “I'm sorry, what do you mean?”

“I've been watching the four of you. At the golf course. That girl..” she pointed at Melody, “..is your girlfriend but she was busy giving that guy..” She pointed to Caden , “A little something with her mouth in his car before the match started.”

Karl's eyes flickered in surprise, Emold Ruchie was a freaking teenager! Now that he was up close, he could see she was no more than an eighteen year old, maybe nineteen.

He cleared his throat and looked away. Ruchie leaned over to see his face.

“I think you know what they've been up to.”

Karl cleared his throat again, “I don't think sharing my story with an absolute stranger is ideal!"

Ruchie whines, “Come on! I followed you guys all the way from the golf course just to see how this drama unfolds!” She sighed, “My life isn't exactly interesting you know.”

Karl leaned back to stare at her properly, "Did you just admit hoh were stalking me?”

Ruchie giggles nervously, “Oops.”

Karl shook his head. This was the person the entire Gordon industry couldn't schedule a meeting with?

Ruchie’s gaze flicked briefly toward the corridor Anna had disappeared into. “She seems important.”

Karl did not answer. Not when he's trying to make sense of this ridiculous situation. A teenager?!

She turned her head again toward the glass wall. “And yet…” she murmured.

Her eyes lingered on Caden and Melody, still wrapped around each other. “Old habits die loudly, don’t they?”

Karl finally tore his gaze away. “I wasn’t watching them.”

Her lips curved faintly. “No. You were making sure you felt nothing.”

His eyes finally flickered to Ruchie. Okay, for a kid, she sure knows what she's talking about.

“Remind me again, who are you?” He asked.

She waves him off. “Duaghter of some random guy in the city. Tell me, I'm curious to know.” Ruchie gestured at the duo, “You know, didn't you?”

He stares at her for a long time, “That curious uh?”

“If you grew up like I did l, handling family business instead of being a proper teenager,”She glanced at him, “Anyone's drama would interest you. It's my only slice of normalcy. “

Uhm, she's not some random teenager either. He'll have to be smart about this.

“Do you play chess?”

A flicker of surprise crossed her face. Of all the things she might have expected, that had clearly not been one of them. Her smile returned slowly.

“Of course.”

He nodded.

“There’s a private chess lounge on the east side of the city. I’d like to play a game with you.”

Ruchie’s fingers tapped once against the arm of the chair. “And why would I agree to that?”

Karl did not rush his answer.

“If I lose, I'll tell you everything and if you lose, you'll do me a favour.”

A soft breath of laughter escaped her before she could stop it. “You’re trying to set me up.” Her eyes narrowed on him, “What favour?”

Karl shrugs, “I can't tell you unless you agree.”

Her eyes searched his face now. Even if he was trying to take her inheritance, word of mouth was not enough for him to claim that.

“Just a game?” she asked.

“Yes.”

Ruchie studied him as though he were a puzzle she had not yet decided whether she enjoyed solving.

He said nothing. She tilted her head again. “One request?”

“Yes.”

“And you won’t tell me what it is.”

“No.”

A slow smile spread across her face.

“I like dangerous games.”

He did not smile back. Her eyes dropped briefly to his hands. She nodded.

“All right. Tomorrow evening. My assistant will send you the address.”

She handed him a card and turned to leave. She paused and glanced over her shoulder.

“And for the record…”

She glanced back toward the glass wall where Caden and Melody still stood locked together.

“You chose correctly.”

Her gaze returned to him. “The other lady. She's prettier.”

She walked toward the exit without waiting for a response. Karl remained standing for several seconds after she left before his knees almost gave out.

Holy shit! He landed a meeting with Ruchie Emold!