Chapter II: Seat

Atlas arrived at his office three hours late, but no one batted an eye. He comes in and leaves whenever he wants. He entered the elevator, someone was about to enter it too but one looked at him and he changed direction.

He wished he didn’t, he would have so much fun giving him a hard time for it. Everyone knows no one takes the elevator if he’s inside. None of his employees would dare look him in the eye as he strides into his hallway.

His secretary for seven years was just leaving his office, he caught sight of him and left the door open for him.

“You better tell me something interesting today, Brian.” He said, the sky looking better through his glass windows. He spots the coffee and the newspaper on his desk, Brian following his footsteps and closing the door behind them.

“The board members are calling for a meeting,” Brian said, discreetly and mysteriously, as if anyone could hear them. “It’s about Mr. Carson.”

“Yes, have you sent flowers like I asked?”

“Yes but we have another problem,” he said. 

Atlas beamed, a smile tugging on the corner of his lips. “Finally, something interesting.”

Brian shook his head, his secretary knew him long enough to know that he thrives in conflict. “They’re not selling their shares like you agreed upon.”

“And?”

Atlas didn’t see that coming but it excites him enough to look forward to Brian’s next words. “They can’t do that, they already signed the papers.”

“Their lawyers are calling a meeting with us, they're saying you can't buy their shares because you signed with Mrs. Veronica Carson and not Cassandra Carson."

"And who is she? I thought Gregory is next in line? And he's not even at legal age yet?"

"I don't know, sir. But the board members are calling a meeting in five minutes and they need to know what you're going to do."

Shit. When Atlas wanted something interesting, he didn't expect it to be this much. Carson Industries were partners with Spectre Enterprises since before he was born, they owned 25% of the shares. Arthur Carson didn't give a shit about his money as long as he gets his annual profit.

So when he died, Atlas met with Veronica Carson and made sure she'd sign their shares away.

If that's not the case, he needs to figure out what to tell the board members.

Then he sees her, a face he expected to never see again. She walks into his hallway with grace, like she has all the time in the world. The red dress hugs every curve of her body, hair falling gloriously, not a single strand astray.

Two lawyers flock to her side, still she leads the pack and she's walking like she owns the place.

"What the hell is she doing here?"

Brian is still following her with his gaze, he realized Atlas is glaring at him. "I don't know but she's heading towards the meeting room."

Atlas stayed for a moment, even after Brian left his office and went back to his desk. He doesn't care if he arrives late, he needs to think.

There's no way Cassandra came here just to talk about her father's share. If she's the same woman he fucked, she will surely demand a seat on the table.

Atlas smirked to himself, Arthur Carson gave up his seat long ago. He's not a board member because he signed an agreement that the only thing he will leave at Spectre Enterprises is his money.

"Brian," he called out. "Pull out the agreement we had with Arthur Carson. Have our lawyers on standby, if this bitch thinks she can get anything from us, she's delusional."

Brian didn't leave his chair, he just pulled a folder from a drawer and handed it to him. "Already ahead of you sir."

Atlas took it, smoothened his suit and walked towards the meeting room with full confidence.

It's already full of board members, all men and like he once did, they can't take their eyes off her.

Atlas made his way to his chair, making himself comfortable and making it seem like he's not curious as he actually is.

Cassandra on the other hand, seems used to the attention. She swings lightly on her swivel chair, scrolling through her phone comfortably. While her lawyers, both men and impeccably dressed, sit on her side, like guards.

"Atlas, who is she?"

Before Atlas could answer, one of the lawyers spoke. "She's Cassandra Carson, the newest member of this board."

"I understand that she's the heir of Carson Industries but her father signed an agreement with us long ago. The only hold he has with us is his money. And Veronica Carson sold that to us a week ago."

Atlas expected the lawyer to speak more, he knows Cassandra slept with either one of them. Or both. They're clearly her type.

But she dropped her phone on the table, raised her head to meet his gaze. There was a pause, her eyes widening a little as she realized who he was. Then she smiled at him, all friendly and nice. She's stupid if she expects Atlas to believe she doesn't know.

She probably knew he owns this company, that's why she fucked him that night.

"So your name is Atlas," she smiled even wider, making everyone look at him. "I'm not the heir, I just own his shares now."

Atlas scoffed, earning the same reaction with the other board members. "That doesn't automatically make you a part of this company."

"It doesn't." Cassandra nodded, Atlas wants to wipe that smile off her beautiful face. She's starting to get on his nerves, he's well aware that she has something against them. The sooner she revealed it the better.

She stood up, Atlas fought so hard to make his eyes stay in her face. "I came here out of my father's wishes. You see, he left his shares to this company under my name. You made a deal with Veronica, not me."

"That's bullshit. She signed the papers, you can't stop us from kicking you off our building right now."

"Actually," Her lawyer stood up, the younger but equally feisty as the other one. "You haven't transferred the money yet and we have the documents that proves Ms. Carson already owns the shares even before you forced Mrs. Carson to sign anything."

"I didn't force Veronica to sign anything."

"Not on her sworn statement," the lawyer added, not backing down at all. He slid the document towards him.

Atlas opened the folder, his jaw clenching as he read it. "You don't have any supporting evidence and even if you did, she's still not part of this company."

"I'll ask you to check on that," Cassandra smiled, raising her hip to sit on the table halfway. Atlas removed his gaze before it fell on the wrong places. "Last time I checked, not only do I own my father's share, I also have Delta's under my name."

There were murmurs in the room, suddenly realizing that they're missing one more member. Luther Delta is nowhere to be found and if he sold his share to Cassandra, Atlas is in even more trouble than he thought.

"And," Cassandra continued, cutting off the others before they could speak. "If you think you can kick me out, think again. Here's another signed agreement that Mr. Delta is transferring his position to me."

"That's not possible."

The older lawyer stood up, smiling at him like he's been waiting for his reaction. "Yes it is. According to your bylaws, it is possible to acquire a position without a need for a vote if a former board member chose his predecessor. Mr. Carson had no power to do that but Mr. Delta can, and he did."

"So if you want to use your agreement with my father, which will be void in three days, to kick me out. Call Mr. Luther. I own 35% of your company now, Mr. Spectre. And I'm looking forward to working with you." 

"And if you have any questions with my client, you can contact us." The lawyer said. Atlas didn't care because all he could feel was anger. And lust.

Cassandra's gaze lingered at him before she left the door. Atlas stood up, didn't bother talking to the board members and went straight to his office.

His arms are trembling. Eyes darting in all directions to find anything he could project his anger too.

He saw the cup of coffee and didn't hesitate to throw it across the room. He wanted to scream, but as much as he wanted to instill fear in everyone under him, that would just send a message that he's fazed by the woman's presence.

Brian stood by the doorway, he worked here long enough to get used to his wrath.

"Find everything you can about that woman. I want to know every dirt, every record and every man she slept with. I want it done and I want it now."

"Okay," Brian didn't even bat an eye, not at all affected. "Can I know why? Just so I can decide how deep I'll go."

"She fucking owns 35% of the company, Brian."

Brian blinked, it takes a lot to faze the guy because he worked for far too long to be easily surprised. "Oh shit."

"Exactly," Atlas is looking for anything else to throw but he saw one of the board members coming to his office. "Now fuck off."  

Atlas avoided looking at his visitor, he's been here since his father owned the company. And he doesn't want to see the doubt in the old man's eyes.

"Atlas, you know we can't let her have all those shares."

"What makes you think we'll let her?" 

"And what do you plan to do?" He spat, raising his voice. Atlas had enough respect for the man to not try to form a response. "Do you know this woman?"

"No."

"Because from the way she looked at you, I can tell this is more than just business."

"I don't know her." Atlas said, firm and certain, it was a lie of course.

"She could overthrow you," the old man said, saying the source of all his anger. "She owns more than me and if you don't get rid of her you might as well hand her your throne."

"And you think I'd let her do that? She's some puppet Michael placed here to try to get this company back. She doesn't know anything. She's a woman, for god's sake."

The man scoffed, clearly finding his words absurd. "You are your father's son, Atlas. Your father always underestimated women and looked where it brought him."

"I'm not him, Cesar."

"And Cassandra is not a Carson, she's illegitimate. Use that. Because if you let her inside this place once again, you might lose your seat on the table."

Atlas didn't say another word but as soon as Cesar was gone, he lifted his chair and smashed it on the floor.

***

"They're coming after you now," Michael said, sipping his expensive liquor. "Are you sure they don't have anything to use against you?"

Cassandra looked up from her phone, she's been playing this game since she saw it on Gregory. "They have plenty of dirt to use against me."

Her lawyers turned their heads from their table. She still can't decide which one of them is hotter. The associate is about her age, tall with piercing gray eyes. His boss is much older, darker and more charismatic.

"Isn't that why you're paying those two?"

"Well," Harold said, he's not really here to do work. He's been drinking with her uncle since he took this case. "We can't help you if we don't know everything."

Cassandra dropped the phone again, seeing the frown from Michael's face. She needs to stay on his good side as long as she figures out how to outsmart him.

"Do you want me to write you an autobiography or something?"

"How about any misconduct? They might come after your private life first, anything that they could use to prove that you don't belong there." Ken stated, he's been working on legal documents since they left Spectre Enterprises.

Cassandra runs her fingers on her hair, thinking back to her past behaviors. And Atlas. He looks so much hotter when he's angry. Especially when cornered.

"As far as I can remember, I don't have any criminal records."

Harold chuckled playfully, he's about Michael's age and Cassandra made a note of remembering his name. "That doesn't mean you're all clear."

"Basically, I lived a pretty normal life. Got a degree, tried to get a job, didn't work out. So I just attended parties and fooled around like a normal person."

"Fooled around," Ken picked up on that, the other two men avoided the conversation and made sure to let him continue with it. "Any affairs that we might be worried about?"

"Do you think they'd go that far to search every man I slept with?"

"They will use your birth status and we already have something against that. Like we said, they will do everything to stop you."

Cassandra leaned back and let out a short but meaningful laugh. "Then they should add their CEO on the list."

Michael froze on his chair, surprised. "You slept with Atlas Spectre?"

"Well, I didn't know that he was Atlas at that time."

"You slept with a man whose name you didn't know?"

"Of course I know his name, do you think I'd know that this is what you plan me to do and he owns the company when I met him?"

Michael remained silent, his expression can't be painted. Cassandra is unsure what the reason behind his reaction is. He seems protective and also confused.

"That explains your first words with him." Kent said, looking at his papers. "And how he looked at you."

They all stared at him in silence and he shifted uncomfortably in his chair when he realized.

"Knowing Atlas," Michael stood up, she could tell his mind was working on something. "He might try to convince you privately."

Oh I look forward to that.

"You can't," Harold said. "We don't need any more complications with your situation."

Cassandra didn't speak, she doesn't make promises she can't keep.

"Keep you head down and don't do anything stupid." Michael said, setting the glass and starting to leave. "Harold and I need to take care of another business."

Cassandra picked up her phone again, Gregory was more than happy to share the app with her. It turns out he made it himself.

When she attended the burial, the kid was all alone. Michael instructed her not to show her face until he said so. She knew he was her half brother but approached him out of curiosity.

Surprisingly, the kid was nice and was ecstatic for someone to listen to him. He explained everything about his app and Cassandra actually offered to try it.

He expected him to hate her once he found out that he's her older sister. And that she's taking their father's money. Veronica was furious, borderline murderous when she found out.

But Gregory remained silent and smiled at her once no one was looking.

"What is that game?" Kent asked, Cassandra noticed that he has a tendency to say the first thing in his mind. She liked that.

"It has no name yet," she replied. "Gregory made it."

"Gregory, as in your half brother?"

"Yeah," she said, standing up to bring him a glass. "Turns out he's a sheep among the wolves."

"Oh I can't drink," Kent said, glancing at the glass. "I'm working."

Cassandra shrugged. "I only brought that out of courtesy."

"So your uncle really threw you to not just one pack of wolves, but two."

Cassandra looked at him, amused by how he's willing to cross lines. "I don't know which one I prefer actually."

"Atlas is more dangerous."

She just nodded, taking a sip of the liquor and instantly decided she hates it. "You should be careful too."

"In our experience, the opposition comes for the clients first before us." Kent said, flipping through the pages. "What makes you think he might come after me? Were you serious?"

"God, no." Cassandra gave up her glass and leaned on the table, facing him. "I didn't even know he was the Atlas until I met him again today."

"One hell of a coincidence huh?" Kent kept reading through the pages, from this angle, Cassandra had a better view of his features. His eyes were framed by thin eyebrows but it gave off a soft but observant impression on his face. She continued to pretend that she’s reading through his work but her eyes fell on his shoulders.

“Shouldn’t you be resting?” Kent asked, raising an eyebrow at her but his lips parted a little when he caught sight of her breasts.

“Maybe,” she replied, not moving from where she is. “And you? Do they pay you enough to work this late?”

“They do,” Kent responded, breaking eye contact and focusing on his work. “And I need all the information we can use to make sure you stay at Spectre Enterprises.”

“Okay,” Cassandra said, taking the bottle of liquor with her. “I apologize if I was distracting.”

“You weren’t,” Kent said, a little too quicker than he wanted. He shakes his head. “You can stay if you want.”

Cassandra smiled but her phone received a notification. A message from an unknown number.

Meet me tonight. Spectre Royal, Suite 205. Now.

“I can’t, I have other plans.”