Karl Gordon Is Back

Chapter 6: The Start

The elevator doors slid open soundlessly, revealing a space that felt nothing like the apartment Karl had just left behind.

He stepped forward slowly, the wheels of his suitcase rolling across polished marble floors that reflected the lighting overhead.

The penthouse was quiet, there was nobody watching the television at a ridiculously high volume, no one yelling at him and asking what's for dinner, nor did he have this eerie feeling at the back of his mind that he might not be wanted or needed at all.

Instead of addressing it, he had turned the feeling into fuel for his drive to please Melody even more.

Karl walked deeper into the penthouse. Floor-to-ceiling windows stretched across the far wall, offering an uninterrupted view of the city below, its lights beginning to glow as evening settled in. The height made everything feel distant, as though the chaos of the streets had been intentionally placed far out of reach.

Karl stopped a few steps away from the wall of glass and exhaled deeply. Only then did he realize how tightly he had been holding his breath.

The penthouse was expansive without feeling excessive. Clean lines, neutral tones, and carefully chosen furniture. He didnt need to be told whose idea ot was.

The living area flowed seamlessly into a modern kitchen, its surfaces pristine and untouched, clearly unused for some time. Beyond that, a hallway led to multiple rooms; an office, a guest bedroom, and finally, the master suite.

This was the sort of place he grew up in and he'd left it all for her. Karl shook his head again, he was a big fool.

This was his house. There were no scattered belongings, everuthing was neat and tidy. Just the way he liked it.

Her absence was jarring in a way he hadn’t anticipated. For years, his life had revolved around another her moods, expectations, and demands. Decisions had been made with Melody in mind, schedules adjusted to suit her.

Standing alone in this penthouse, Karl felt the weight of that realization settle uncomfortably in his chest.

He set his suitcase down near the couch and walked toward the windows, resting his hand against the cool glass. From this height, the city looked almost peaceful. People moved below unaware that hed just died and returned back from the dead.

This was his now.

The thought felt unfamiliar but grounding.

Karl straightened, rolling his shoulders as if physically shedding something heavy. His reflection in the glass looked different, he was so different from what he recalled. He had overgrown facial hair, tired eyes, no wonder Maxwell threw a jab or two at him when he visited.

Hell he’d been too busy trying to please Melody that he didn’t bother to look after himself. Heck, Anna had said yes to him. To…this..

The thought surprisingly made him smile, she was different. He knew that for certain now. Or she was crazy. What sort of girl says yes to a man who looked like he lived in the woods?

The sound of his phone vibrating pulled him out of his thoughts. He frowned slightly, glancing at the screen. Anna’s name flashed across it.

He slid on the receiver faster than he intended.

“Anna?”

Her voice broke through the line, uneven and strained. “Mr. Karl… I…I didn’t know who else to call.”

He straightened immediately, brows creased in concern. “What happened? Is everything okay?”

There was a pause, filled with shaky breathing, and then the words came tumbling out. “She fired me. Melody. When I returned back to the office she was furious. She accused me of embarrassing her, of plotting against her. She didn’t even let me explain. She just..she told security to escort me out.”

Karl closed his eyes briefly, his jaw tightening. Shit. He didn't think this through.

He knew Anna had a sick brother, that was the only person she had left as family and she'd been working hard to pay for his heart replacement surgery.

He might have ignored the fact that she cared about him more than Melody did but he could still remember bits and pieces of information he'd overheard during staff gossip.

“I’m sorry,” Anna continued, her voice cracking. “I know this is my fault. Melody is never going to let this slide. I am so sorry I ruined your relationship. I never should’ve…”

“No,” Karl interrupted gently but firmly. “This is not your fault.”

She sniffed, clearly struggling to keep herself together. “I don’t know what to do. I don’t have another job lined up, and she..she said she’d make sure no one hires me in this city.”

Anger flared in Karl’s chest, goodness Melody was such a witch! How could she do this to the poor girl? He should have seen this coming from a hundred yards away. He knew Melody too well, he should have predicted this but he'd been so rattled about returning back from the dead that he hadn't thought much of anything.

Anna broke down in tears, “And my brother needs surgery. I know this is none of your business but you were the only person I could call to tell this to. I..I'm sorry. I'm bothering you with matters that have…”

“Listen to me,” he said, lowering his voice. “You’re not alone. I won’t let her do that to you okay?”

There was a quiet intake of breath on the other end of the line. “No. I don't want you to get into any more trouble with Ms Melody. You don’t have to…”

“I want to,” he replied. “And I will.”

Silence followed.

Anna finally spoke again, her voice quieter now. “Thank you. Thank you for listening, Karl. I mean it..”

He went silent, that was the first time in years he'd been forced to listen to everyone rant but nobody ever thanked him for listening.

“It's nothing, Anna. Listen, I know a few people in the city that can hire you on the spot. I'll reach out to a couple of them and get back to you okay?”

“Okay.” Anna sniffled. “I..I need to go now. I hope you're alright.”

“I'm fine. Anna.”

“Good. You looked a bit confused earlier. Like you weren't sure what you were doing. I'm glad you're okay…”

Before he could offer a reply she fits in. “I have to go. Take care, Karl. And thank you. Even though you didn't mean your proposal, it made me feel…special..”

The call ended. Karl glanced at his phone insolence and chuckled.

“I meant that proposal, Anna.” He muttered.

His grip on the phone tightened as he lowered it. The penthouse felt colder suddenly, the calm interrupted by the reminder of Melody. Firing Anna had not been a business decision; it had been punishment.

Karl’s resolve hardened.

He turned off his phone without hesitation, the screen going dark in his hand. He didn’t need to see the missed calls that would inevitably come, didn’t need to hear Melody’s voice demanding explanations or attempting to manipulate the situation. Whatever she had to say no longer mattered.

What mattered was what came next.

The charity gala and it was in three months.

The event Melody had been obsessing over for nearly a year, the one she had planned to use as a platform to tease the publicization of her company and draw her image among the city’s elite. It would be attended by investors, philanthropists, and influential figures, people who had the money to transform her company overnight.

The good thing is, they all answer to the Gordon Family.

Karl had three months to transform his life. Three months to prepare for this event and three months to ensure that when that night arrived, Melody would finally understand the cost of her choices.

He turned his phone back on briefly and dialed a number he hadn’t used before but Maxwell had told him he could. It rang once before being answered.

“Reed speaking.”

“This is Karl Gordan,” Karl said calmly.

There was a pause, followed by a subtle shift in tone. “Yes, sir. How may I assist you?”

“I need you to handle something immediately,” Karl continued. “Find Anna Malcom. She was recently terminated from her position at K and M company.”

“I’m aware of the situation,” Reed replied. “I anticipated you might call, sir.”

Karl nodded slightly. “I want you to arrange accommodations for her if necessary, ensure she has access to funds, and clear the payments for her brother's surgery. If she asks who, tell her in due time.”

“Yes sor.”

“And make sure to send her formal dresses from Klint. Tell him Gordan asks for a limited edition dress.”

“For the charity gala,” Reed said, understanding immediately.

“Yes.”

“Understood. I’ll handle it discreetly.”

“One more thing,” Karl added. “ I don't want any media finding out I'm back before the charity gala.”

“Noted sir.” Reed assured him.

The call ended, and Karl stood still for a moment, just breathing.

He moved toward the kitchen, poured himself a glass of water, and drank slowly, grounding himself. He would take one day at a time, one cutting step towards revenge after the other.

Karl retrieved his phone again and typed out a message, his finger hovered for a money before he decided to go on and type regardless.

ANNA: Anna, I know today was overwhelming. You don’t need to worry about anything right now. I will make those calls like I promised. Take this time to rest. We’ll talk when you’re ready.

He hesitated briefly before adding the final line.

ANNA: I meant what I said about being my date. I mean every word.

After sending the message, Karl set the phone down on the counter and walked back toward the windows. The city lights shimmered below.

For the first time in a long while, his future did not feel like something he was chasing blindly.

Three months.

That was all he needed.