Karl Gordon Is Back

Chapter 7 : The Night Before

Three months had a way of revealing what discipline could do to a person.

Karl stood in the bathroom of the penthouse, pulling out the cufflinks of a white shirt, his reflection staring back at him; he was completely different.

His shoulders were broader now, posture straighter, the lean exhaustion that once clung to him replaced with a build of muscle that showed in the way his clothes fit and the way he carried himself.

The workouts had been consistent, his meeting with Maxwell had been too and gradually he was starting to get a hang of things again. Just yesterday, he managed to hit a bullseye with his gun even though he hadn't touched one in six years.

The world of lobbyists has indeed changed.

And he was starting to look like a man who belonged where he stood.

He unbuttoned the shirt, and stepped out of the bedroom just as the elevator chimed softly in the distance. He'd just returned back after another gruesome day of negotiating.

But that was nothing compared to what would be happening tomorrow; the charity gala and he needed to meet Anna.

He heads out of the room, straight for the kitchen. His phone beeps just as he was about to help himself to a bottle of water, it was a call from Maxwell.

Back in the living area, the elevator pulls open.

“Ms Anna, he's right over here..”

Reed led Anna into the penthouse as he gestured for her to step inside. Anna hesitated at the threshold, her fingers tightening briefly around the strap of her bag as her eyes moved across the space.

“ The..the man who paid for my brother's surgery, he…he lives here?” She asked.

The space was huge, beautiful and breathtaking. Her eyes roamed the space again, still in disbelief.

Reed smiled, “Yes. Please do have a seat.”

Anna walked towards the couch but she didn't. She couldn't. She wasn't sure what she was doing here and she was supposed to meet with Karl for the charity ball tomorrow.

“Sir..” she said, straightening up before her bum could even touch the couch. “I appreciate that you've been very welcoming but…I just want to show my gratitude to him and be on my way. I…I have someone waiting for me and I don't want to keep him waiting..”

Reed smiled, she was quite modest too. “Karl will be with you shortly,” Reed said politely. “Please, make yourself comfortable.”

Anna froze, her eyes widening as she glanced at Reed as though he'd just shot her. “Karl? His…his name is Karl?”

Reed nodded, offering a small, polite smile as he excused himself.

Anna took a few steps forward, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor, and that was when she noticed him.

Karl stood near the kitchen counter, shirtless, a glass of water in his hand. He was mid-conversation on his phone, unaware of her presence for a brief moment longer.

Anna froze.

Her breath caught before she could stop it, her gaze fixed in open surprise.

This was not the Karl she remembered.

The man standing before her looked… different. Not just physically, though that alone was enough to leave her momentarily speechless. His build was solid now but there was a confidence in the way he stood that had nothing to do with arrogance and everything to do with certainty.

She felt heat rise to her face and quickly looked away, focusing intently on the window instead.

Karl ended the call and turned, noticing her immediately.

“Anna,” he said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “You’re early.”

She swallowed, nodding. “I…you paid for my brother's surgery?"

Karl smiled.

Anna chuckled in disbelief, he owned this place. She didn't know Karl was well to do, he never gave the impression he did either.

“I am so confused.” She chuckled, “You're different from what I remember.”

He nodded slowly, his hands tucked into his pocket.

“What is going on? Whose house is this?” she asked, lowering her voice as though worried that the real owner of the house might pop out of nowhere.

“This is my house.” He said calmly.

“What?!” Anna muttered, “How?”

“Its a long story but I'll tell you when the time comes.”

Anna went silent, her gaze unknowing traveling down his biceps.

He followed her line of sight and glanced down at himself, registering her reaction. He smirked.

“Sorry about that,” he said mildly. “I didn’t realize you’d be here already.”

“It’s fine,” Anna replied quickly, her voice betraying her nerves. “I mean…it’s your home.”

The awkwardness lingered for a moment until Amma cleared her throat.

“Thank you. For…paying for the surgery.." she said."You didn't have to. The recommendation you made for that company too. Thank you.”

“Would you like something to drink?” Karl asked.

“No, thank you,” she said, then added, “I’m fine.”

Another silence. “Thank you. Once I get my paycheck, I promise to pay you back..”

Karl motioned at the couch. “That won't be necessary.”

They moved toward the seating area, sitting across from each other with a careful distance between them. Anna folded her hands in her lap, her posture stiff, while Karl studied her quietly, noting the tension in her shoulders and the faint shadows under her eyes.

“You look better,” she said suddenly, surprising herself.

Karl blinked, then chuckled softly. “So do you.”

She laughed nervously, shaking her head. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this nervous in my life.”

“You don’t need to be,” he replied. “This was going to happen either way.”

She nodded slowly, exhaling as if grounding herself. “Okay.”

Karl leaned back slightly. “Tomorrow night, we’ll be attending the charity gala together.”

Anna nodded again. “As your date.” she said slowly, “I recall.”

“Yes.”

She hesitated. “I want to be clear about something.”

“Please.”

“I won’t pretend to be someone I’m not,” she said carefully. “And this…it's just one date.”

Karl met her gaze steadily. “ Yes.”

Anna swallows, she stares down at her nails and then back at Karl, she might as well be honest with him.

“I..I have something to tell you.”

Karl stared at her, "I'm listening.”

“I saw…I saw Caden and…and Melody..” she stared at Karl. The look of calmness in his eyes made her look away. Could she be overstepping here? “They were uhm... “

“Making out?”

Her eyes flickered up to meet him, shocked. “How did you..”

“I've always known. That's why I ended things with her.”

“So..” Anna leans towards as though finally piecing things all together. “You're not doing this…You’re not trying to use me to make her jealous.”

“No.” He said simply.

Anna chuckled, “How could you be so calm?” She clenched her fist, “I mean I see Caden everyday and I just want to hit him in the face so hard for lying to me!”

She froze, eyes flickering over to Karl. “I'm sorry I didn't..”

“I know he's been making advances towards you while sleeping with Melody. Why do you think I asked you to be my date?”

A pause, that explains…so much. Goodness, Karl seemed like the calmest guy in the company but he sure knows everything!

“He tried to sleep with me last night.”

Karl's eyes darkened, “He what?”

“I kicked him out before he could do anything but..” Anna chuckled, “He is such an asshole…”

She met Karl's gaze. “Let's do it.”

“Do what?”

“Fake date. He thinks he could just do whatever and get away with it but no.”

Karl leaned back on his couch, his eyes fixed on Anna in interest. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Karl nodded, it was good to know they were on the same page.

“But I'll let you know this right now. I'm not trying to get even with Melody and Caden.” His eyes met her, face cold as ocean. “I am trying to ruin their entire life, do you understand that?”

Anna swallowed, there was something about the way he said that that told him this wasn't going to be a walk in the park.

“Do you still want to do this with me?”

Anna nodded. “Whatever it takes.”