Chapter 6: The Man I Thought I Knew

The rest of the drive passed in silence.

Carl never tried to start another conversation.

Yet every now and then, I caught him glancing at me before quickly looking back at the road.

It felt as though he wanted to say something.

Something important.

When we arrived outside my apartment, I unfastened my seatbelt.

"Thank you for dinner, Mr. Graham."

"Carl," he corrected gently.

"Outside the office... Carl is fine."

I hesitated before nodding.

"Good night... Carl."

A faint smile finally appeared on his usually indifferent face.

"Good night, Winnie."

After I got upstairs, I couldn't resist peeking through the curtains.

His car was still parked downstairs.

He remained there for several minutes before finally driving away.

The strange warmth in my chest refused to disappear.

The next morning, I arrived at the office earlier than usual.

To my surprise, Carl was already there.

He wasn't an employee of Mike Tech, yet he seemed oddly familiar with the building.

Neil waved at me enthusiastically.

"Morning, Winnie! Carl insisted on coming early to review the revised proposal with you."

"With me?"

"You're the one who understands every detail," Carl answered calmly.

"I'd rather hear it from the person who created it."

Neil burst into laughter.

"See? Even investors know your value now. Should I start worrying you'll get poached?"

"Don't joke like that," I replied helplessly.

Throughout the meeting, Carl listened attentively.

Whenever I explained something complicated, he nodded as if he already understood before I even spoke.

It made working with him surprisingly comfortable.

When the meeting ended, Neil suddenly slapped his forehead.

"Ah! I almost forgot."

"Carl, my sister just texted me. She's waiting downstairs."

Sister?

I looked up abruptly.

Neil grinned.

"The woman you saw yesterday was my younger sister, Nora."

"She dragged me to meet our parents because she wants to marry her boyfriend."

"Honestly, I was just there to support her."

I froze.

His sister?

Not his girlfriend?

Neil continued complaining dramatically.

"Those two have been dating forever. I swear I'll be their best man whether they like it or not."

My mind went completely blank.

If that woman wasn't Neil's girlfriend...

Then who had I broken up with yesterday?

A wave of panic washed over me.

I had blocked Puppy without even letting him explain.

Just then, Carl quietly spoke.

"Mr. Forest... may I borrow Ms. James for a few minutes?"

"Of course!" Neil replied without hesitation.

"Just don't steal my best employee."

Carl led me onto the empty rooftop terrace.

The cool wind brushed against my face.

Neither of us spoke for a while.

Finally, Carl broke the silence.

"You look troubled."

I forced a smile.

"Just... made a terrible mistake."

"Can it still be fixed?"

I looked down.

"I don't know."

"What if the other person never forgives me?"

Carl's voice became unusually soft.

"If that person truly cares about you..."

"He'll wait."

"No matter how long it takes."

Those words sounded oddly familiar.

Exactly like something Puppy had once typed after I disappeared for three days because of work.

I slowly looked into Carl's eyes.

For the first time...

I began wondering if I had been searching for the wrong man all along.