Chapter 5 The tilt in everything

The call came just before noon.

Carl was in his office reviewing a proposal he already knew he would reject when his phone buzzed against the glass desk. He almost ignored it unknown number but something compelled him to answer.

"Hello?"

There was breathing on the other end. Uneven. Shallow.

"Carl?" Marilyn's voice came through, thin and strained.

His posture straightened instantly. "Marilyn? What's wrong?"

"I-I didn't know who else to call," she said, the words rushing over each other. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have..."

"Where are you?" Carl interrupted, already standing.

"At home," she replied, then hesitated. "I think... I think someone broke in last night."

The world narrowed.

"I'm coming," Carl said. Not asked. Stated. "Stay on the line."

He was in his car within minutes, ignoring his assistant's protests, ignoring the meeting notifications piling up on his phone. His hands were steady on the steering wheel, but something cold and focused had settled in his chest.

Not control.

Fear.

Marilyn's apartment door was ajar when he arrived.

Carl didn't think he moved. He pushed the door open slowly, scanning the room with sharp, practiced eyes. The small living space was in disarray. A chair overturned. Drawers pulled out. Papers scattered across the floor like fallen leaves.

"Marilyn," he called softly.

She sat on the edge of the couch, knees drawn to her chest, arms wrapped tightly around herself. Her face was pale, eyes rimmed red, hair loose and unbrushed. She looked small in a way that twisted something deep inside him.

He crossed the room and knelt in front of her, careful not to crowd her.

"Are you hurt?"

She shook her head. "No. I came home late. I think they left before I got here."

"Did you call the police?"

She nodded. "They came. Said there wasn't much they could do."

Carl's jaw tightened.

He looked around again, cataloging the damage. Nothing of obvious value was missing-no TV, no laptop. Just drawers rifled through, papers disturbed.

"Did they take anything?" he asked.

"I don't think so," Marilyn said quietly. "It just feels... wrong. Like someone went through my life."

Carl understood that feeling all too well.

"Do you want to leave?" he asked. "Just for today."

She hesitated. "I don't want to impose."

"You're not," he said immediately.

She studied his face, searching for something-pity, condescension, control. She found none. Just concern.

"Okay," she whispered.

Carl helped her gather a few things. He moved carefully, deliberately not fixing, not commanding. Just present.

At his penthouse, Marilyn stood awkwardly by the door, suddenly very aware of the difference between their worlds. The space was vast, polished, quiet in a way that felt expensive. She wrapped her arms around herself again.

"You don't have to stay here," she said. "I can go to Lena's."

"You're staying," Carl said gently. "If that's okay with you."

She nodded.

He made tea badly but she didn't comment. They sat on opposite ends of the couch at first, silence stretching between them. Marilyn's hands trembled slightly as she lifted the cup.

"You're allowed to be upset," Carl said quietly.

She let out a shaky breath. "I keep telling myself it could've been worse."

"That doesn't mean this wasn't bad."

Her eyes filled suddenly. "I try so hard to keep everything together."

Carl didn't respond with solutions. He didn't say I'll handle it or I'll make it right. He just listened.

And then she broke.

Marilyn's shoulders shook as tears spilled over, the kind she'd been holding back for too long. Carl shifted closer not touching, just near enough that she could feel him there.

After a moment, she leaned into him.

Carl froze for half a second, instinct flaring then he relaxed and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Carefully. Respectfully. She clutched the front of his shirt, crying silently.

No one had leaned on him like this before.

And strangely, he didn't feel weak.

He felt... useful. In a way money had never bought.

News travels fast when you're powerful.

That evening, Darius Woode sat in his study, a glass of untouched whiskey on the desk as his security chief spoke quietly across from him.

"She's staying at Carl's place," the man said. "Temporary."

Darius's expression darkened. "A café worker."

"Yes, sir."

Darius waved him off. "That will be all."

When the door closed, Darius leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled. He had seen this before. Distractions disguised as compassion. Weak points formed through emotion.

Carl had inherited many things from him intelligence, drive, discipline.

But this?

This was dangerous.

By morning, Marilyn insisted on going to work.

"I can't just disappear," she said, tying her hair back in Carl's kitchen. "They need me."

"I'll drive you," Carl said.

She gave him a look. "I can take the bus."

"I know," he replied. "Let me."

She studied him for a moment, then nodded.

At the café, Marilyn tried to act normal. She smiled at customers. Took orders. Steamed milk. But the edges of her focus blurred. Her hands shook once, spilling coffee onto the counter and scalding her hand. "You okay?" Lena whispered.

"Yeah," Marilyn lied.

That morning Carl sat at his usual table, watching quietly. He didn't intervene when customers complained. Didn't step in when lines grew long. He trusted her.

That trust felt like something sacred.

Later that afternoon, a man in an expensive suit entered the café. He didn't order. He didn't sit. He looked directly at Marilyn.

"Marilyn Porter," he said smoothly. "I'd like a word."

Her stomach dropped.

Carl stood instantly.

"Who are you?" he demanded.

The man smiled thinly. "A friend of the family."

Carl went still.

Darius.

The man turned back to Marilyn. "You seem to be... causing concern."

Marilyn's chest tightened. She looked from the stranger to Carl, confusion and fear mixing in her eyes.

"I don't understand," she said.

Carl stepped between them. "You leave. Now."

The man raised his hands. "No need to be dramatic. I simply wanted to introduce myself."

Carl's voice was ice. "You do not involve her."

Marilyn stared at Carl, heart pounding.

Concern?

Family?

As the man left, unease settled deep in her gut.

And for the first time, a terrible thought took root.

What if getting close to Carl Woode was the most dangerous thing she'd ever done?