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The Ultimate Return of Carlos 40
'MOMENTS LATER'Abby’s voice cut through the air like a sharp blade, her eyes narrowing as she glanced between Carlos and Toby. “What happened to your faces? Those bruises aren’t from sparring. Don’t even try lying to me.”Carlos shot a quick look at Toby, who shrugged, attempting to keep the air casual, but it was clear that Abby wasn’t buying their flimsy excuse. He sighed and rubbed his temple, trying to muster some calm. “It’s nothing, Abby. We just got into a little... disagreement, that’s all.”Toby nodded, echoing Carlos’ words as he leaned back on the couch, though his body language was stiff, as if bracing for her reaction. “Yeah, just a scuffle. You know how it is— guys being guys.”Abby crossed her arms, staring them both down as though daring them to continue their lie. “Guys being guys?” Her voice was filled with sarcasm, her gaze hard. “You think I’m an idiot? You’re not walking out of here without telling me the truth.”Carlos sighed, running a hand through his hair, fe
The Ultimate Return of Carlos 41
'THE FOLLOWING DAY'Carlos stirred awake early in the morning. The soft glow of dawn crept through the curtains, casting a warm hue across the bedroom. He blinked a few times before stretching his arms, feeling the weight of the day ahead settling on his shoulders. Glancing at the clock on the nightstand, it read 6:05 AM. He groaned softly, rubbing his face, before swinging his legs over the side of the bed. Toby, who shared the room with him, was still deep in sleep, sprawled out on his back, snoring lightly.Carlos stood up, slipping on a pair of sweatpants and an old shirt. He felt the slight sting of the bruises still fresh from the encounter a few days prior, but the soreness had become a dull ache now. He ran a hand over his face, the morning air cool against his skin as he quietly padded toward the guestroom where Abby had stayed overnight.Outside her door, he hesitated for a second, unsure if he should wake her just yet. But they had a busy day ahead, and he knew she wouldn’t
The Ultimate Return of Carlos 42
'THREE MONTHS LATER'The piercing screech of Carlos's alarm shattered the peaceful quiet of his Manhattan apartment. He groaned, his hand fumbling over the nightstand, desperately reaching for his phone. His fingers finally landed on the buzzing device, and with a swift tap, he silenced the intrusive noise. The room fell back into a hushed calm, but the stillness did little to ease the weight that settled over him."Seven months," he muttered to himself, rubbing his eyes with the heel of his hand. "Seven damn months."Carlos swung his legs over the edge of the bed, his bare feet sinking into the plush carpet below. The excitement he should have felt about his first day back at work was dulled by the growing pit of anxiety in his stomach. "What will they say when I walk in?" he scolded himself, shaking his head as he made his way to the bathroom. "You disappear for months, and you think they're just going to welcome you back with open arms?"He stared at his reflection in the bathroom
The Ultimate Return of Carlos 43
'HOURS LATER..... DURING THE EMERGENCY MEETING'Derek’s eyes moved slowly around the glass-walled conference room, his fingers tapping impatiently against the polished mahogany table as the attendees settled into their seats. The sky outside the building had shifted from morning gray to a tense, stagnant afternoon haze. Carlos sat at the far end of the long table, his posture stiff, hands resting tensely in his lap, eyes focused on the scene before him. His heart pounded, each beat louder than the last, as he anticipated the showdown that was about to unfold. To his left, Toby offered a reassuring nod, but Carlos knew the weight of the situation far exceeded their friendship. Across from him sat Alisha, her face a stony mask of determination. She adjusted the sleeve of her blazer, her piercing gaze never leaving Carlos. The rest of the attendees— Tommy and Lilly from HR— sat with an air of bureaucratic formality, prepared to listen, deliberate, and pass judgment.Derek leaned forward
The Ultimate Return of Carlos 44
The following day, Carlos sat at his desk, his eyes fixed on the monitor, trying to block out the noise of the office. The faint hum of the computers and occasional footsteps in the hall felt more intrusive than usual, but he tried his best to concentrate on the spreadsheet open in front of him. The glow of the screen reflected off his face, casting long shadows under his tired eyes.As he scrolled through the data, his thoughts kept drifting back to yesterday's meeting. The tension in the room, the judgmental eyes, Alisha’s cutting words, all replayed in his mind like a broken record. Every click of the mouse felt like a struggle to bring himself back to the present.A soft knock on the door pulled him out of his thoughts. His heart rate quickened as the door creaked open, and Derek stepped inside, pausing just after crossing the threshold. His presence brought with it a mix of comfort and anxiety— comfort, because Derek had been one of the few who stood by him yesterday, and anxiety
The Ultimate Return of Carlos 45
Carlos sat at his desk, the cursor blinking on his monitor, staring back at him like a challenge. His focus was slipping; the constant murmur of the office, the quiet judgment he felt pressing in from all sides, was enough to distract anyone. The soft tap tap of fingers on keyboards, the low hum of printers, and the occasional sharp ring of a phone echoed through the hallways. He ran his hand over his face, feeling the weight of it all, as he rose from his chair.Without hesitation, he grabbed his jacket from the back of the chair, draped it over his arm, and exited his office. The familiar anxiety of walking through the hallways where eyes trailed his every movement crept back in. He could feel the whispers again— like tiny daggers of judgment, though none dared speak up in his presence. His heart pounded faster with each step as he made his way to Toby's office.Carlos reached Toby’s door and knocked lightly before opening it. Toby was seated, typing away, but when he noticed Carlos
The Ultimate Return of Carlos 46
Carlos then glanced at the bartender who stood a few feet away, wiping down the counter and paying them no mind. His attention returned to the ring in his hand, the glimmer of it catching the dim light of the bar. It wasn’t flashy, but it had a timeless elegance, something that symbolized love, endurance, and the passage of time. Something that, hopefully, would mean just as much to Abby as it had to his parents. "Still can’t believe you’re about to do this, man," Toby said, leaning back on his bar stool, swirling his glass and taking a sip of his drink. "I mean, Abby’s amazing, don’t get me wrong. But I just can’t picture you settling down. You? The same guy who swore marriage was a trap?"Carlos let out a low chuckle, slipping the ring back into his pocket. "Yeah, well, life has a funny way of proving you wrong." He looked around the bar, taking in the low hum of conversation, the clinking of glasses, and the soft background music. "I wasn’t planning any of this. But with Abby... i
The Ultimate Return of Carlos 47
Carlos squinted as sunlight crept through the thin curtains of his room, the faint sound of birds chirping in the distance blending with the mechanical hum of his alarm clock. His phone buzzed beside him, vibrating incessantly until it stirred him from the depths of his half-awake state. Groggily, he reached over to silence it, his fingers brushing across the smooth surface of the screen before the buzzing stopped. His body sank back into the mattress, the familiar warmth of the sheets urging him to close his eyes for just a little longer.But then his phone buzzed again—a WhatsApp notification this time. His brows furrowed slightly as he brought the phone closer to his face, squinting at the bright screen. It was a message from Toby, reminding him about the evening’s job.“Don’t forget tonight. Might leave town for a bit. Not sure where yet. Will update you once I know.”Carlos stared at the message, the reality of what was to come slowly settling into his consciousness. He let out a
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