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Carlisle gratefully took the fan from Wanda, his hand still trembling slightly from the tension of the confrontation with Mike. “I just ran back to campus,” he said, trying to downplay the situation. “Wasn’t expecting the run to be that long.”
Wanda raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical, but she didn’t press the issue. “You really should take it easy. You’ve been going non-stop lately.”
Carlisle gave her a tight smile, grateful for her concern. “I’m fine. Just a little busy, you know how it is.”
But deep down, he was still fuming over the encounter with Mike. He hated feeling powerless, but he knew he had to stay focused on the bigger picture. If he could make this business work, he wouldn’t have to deal with people like Mike anymore.
He sat down at his desk, trying to refocus on the task ahead. He still had the issue of the gold farming business to deal with, not to mention the pressures of keeping the studio running without losing too much money. But he couldn’t shake off the feeling of being targeted by Mike. There was a reason Mike had singled him out, and he didn’t like it.
As he tried to clear his mind, Wanda’s voice cut through his thoughts. “So, are you going to tell me what’s really going on? You’re acting like something’s bothering you.”
Carlisle hesitated, looking at her for a moment. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to drag Wanda into his problems, especially not with the tensions already building between them. But he also knew she could be trusted.
“I ran into Mike and his friends at the convenience store,” he said slowly, his voice low. “They didn’t like that I was buying water for you.”
Wanda’s eyes narrowed. “That bastard. Why do you put up with him? You should’ve just told him off.”
Carlisle chuckled softly, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “It’s not that simple. He’s not someone you just tell off and walk away from. He’s got his own crowd, and they’re not exactly friendly.”
Wanda bit her lip, clearly frustrated by the situation. “You know, Carlisle, you don’t have to deal with him alone. I can help you.”
Carlisle’s gaze softened, touched by her offer. “I appreciate it, Wanda. But this is something I have to handle myself. It’s… complicated.”
Wanda wasn’t convinced, but she didn’t press the matter further. She simply nodded. “Alright, just know that I’m here if you need anything.”
Carlisle gave her a grateful smile before turning his attention back to the work at hand. But inside, his mind was already working through the next steps—how to get his business off the ground, how to deal with Mike and his threats, and how to keep everything from falling apart.
He had a lot on his plate, but he wasn’t about to back down. Not now. Not ever.
