A Cup Away

d thirty-five, but the one thing he had never

ass window of his office, hands clasped behind his back, tailored suit pressed to perfection. The world below moved at a pace he dictated contracts s

e other han

d that lesson

g to his parents argue in hushed but venomous tones. His father, Darius Woode, had sounded furious and wounded. His mother had sounded tir

ver ca

d themselves before walking away. His mother hadn't been poor, abused, or desperate. She had sim

hardened

. Women admired him ,his wealth, his power, his sharp jawline and cold gray eyes but he never le

like

ed meeting, an incompetent junior executive, and a bitter cup of coffee from the ca

hated when things

to the sterile luxury of Woode Enterprises. Carl rarely went there himself; his assistant

ve the door

lled the air. Soft music played in the background. Carl

ning," a

m. Polite.

ck coffee. No sugar. No c

was a

plied evenly, "but you'll

ened. He finally

ly behind her head. She wore a simple apron dusted with flour, and there was somethi

l said flatly. "I'm

row. "That sounds

ers nearby g

ef flickering across his fa

You're the man standing i

d not quite a smile, but close

is chest. No one spoke t

ding," he snapped. "You should

fee," she replied evenly. "That does

moment, thei

n mixed with something else he couldn't quite name. Sh

y stood h

Carl d

he said. "Ma

said coldly, "you've just

nuine, and entirely unim

auda

is temper simmering dangerously beneath the surface. Yet, as he stepped back into the

top thinking

ssed the café. He told himself it was irritation, unresolved anger. Yet every morn

r part, remembe

ire with the sharp to

something beneath his anger, something lonely and tightly controlled. Marilyn ha

coffee. "What took you so long" he exclaimed. Marilyn smiled politely then said " Enjoy" before turning to walk away. Marilyn watched with excitement from the counter as Carl's face froze when he took a sip of the coffee. Still struck from the taste of the coffee, he looked up only to see Marilyn grinning ear to ear. His blood began to boil with anger. She had done it on purpose. One would have expected him to put the coffee away and walk out but pride won't let him be. He began to gulp down the coffee despite the taste. Marilyn could see his evident strug

d bickering, something slow

to Marilyn laugh with customers. Marilyn noticed how his sharp

thread between them one that would challenge Carl's beliefs, test Ma

led life, Carl Woode was standing at the edge o

ing da

hing