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20 - Negotiation
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2024-10-29 19:42:56It didn’t take long for Jia to swear off riding in a car ever again, at least when it came to riding shotgun. Idling in the backseat where she couldn’t see most of the road was fine, but sitting in the front and feeling the dangerous proximity of every single other two-ton machine on the road made her feel sick to her stomach.
She closed her eyes every time the car in front of them suddenly pressed their brakes, and wondered if her fate was to die of an unfortunate rear-ending after everything she had been through in her life. And every time Atlas changed lanes, she held her breath, waiting for the inevitable fatal collision with some other unwitting driver.
But the worst were the massive tractor trailers that occasionally trundled along beside them like deceptively docile T-rexes. Jia stared out the darkened window at a white sheet of studded steel just above the gigantic tires that could crush Atlas’s sleek Lamborghini into scrap metal. She wonder
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In the Shadow of the CEO 21 - Reservations
Jia had never been to the airport before, but if asked, she would have adamantly insisted that there was no such thing as a special terminal for VIP passengers only. Surely they had to come through the same dog door just as everyone else did, even if they happened to also have a celebrity’s welcome waiting for them once they disembarked.She was, of course, completely wrong.The Lamborghini coasted down a road that forked just ahead, with one lane leading into the airport pick-up area and the other going off in some other mysterious, winding direction marked only with a bland, forgettable sign: “616 DESIGNATED PICKUP.” It was cryptic and vague; on a dark night, she wouldn’t have ever chosen to wander that way.But of course, that was the lane that Atlas chose to take, because why not. At least it was broad daylight right now - if some modern day highway bandits were lying in wait for some unsuspecting driver to come alo
In the Shadow of the CEO 22 - Dolores Munson
How much did private jets cost, anyway?Jia didn’t think she wanted to know, frankly. Rich people with their luxuries that cost more than all the food it would take to feed the poverty-stricken in the city - she had to stop herself from physically shaking her head in disapproval. She marveled at her promised salary of a hundred thousand a year, and if not for the immense medical debt that still needed paying, she knew she would have money left over after the essentials. So how much did people who owned private jets make, and how could they possibly spend all of their income with so little remaining to share with others?She glanced sideways at Atlas, who was staring straight ahead and far too focused on the now-silent aircraft to notice her. She wondered briefly how much he made and whether he owned one as well. That would figure, she snorted inwardly. He seemed just the type to own several actually, even if he didn’t use them. Clearly
In the Shadow of the CEO 23 - Wretched
The men standing in front of the air stairs politely refused Jia entry until, faced with no other immediate options, she began to loudly call for Mark’s attention from the ground. The jet’s clamshell door was still open, and she could clearly hear the string of loud complaints and a cacophony of clinking glass bottles from inside.“Mark, I’m coming up!” she announced, making sure that her voice would carry up the stairs and into the cabin. Though she didn’t often flaunt it, she knew how to project her voice after years of working in busy food service establishments, and Mark must have heard her even past the racket he was currently enduring. “Tell them to let me in!”“Everything - stop that, please let go - everything’s fine here, Jia! We’ve got it all under control - ow!”“I don’t think that’s true, Mark, so if you could just let me help -”“Leave me alone, I own everything in her
In the Shadow of the CEO 24 - Sober
“Thanks, Mark. We’ll take care of her from here. And, um, good work.” Jia carefully patted the man on the single dry patch of his suit jacket. He reeked of rich wine even now despite having spent the last ten minutes airing himself out while Jia wrestled the half-comatose Dolly into the cramped backseat of Atlas’s car.Why had he brought a sports car knowing he would be carrying three passengers? It had just enough room to seat two; the backseat shouldn’t even qualify as anything other than maybe an oversized cup holder. There were talents roaming around Pandora’s lobby right now carrying purses that were bigger.“I…”“It’s fine, Mark,” she assured him before he could finish his stumbling sentence. “Mr. Grayson and I are on a bit of a schedule, so we’ll go ahead and leave, okay?”He made a vaguely assenting but also reluctant sound that Jia suspected she shouldn’t unpack. She wanted to get out of here.
In the Shadow of the CEO 25 - Normal
It was like walking into something straight out of a Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous magazine foldout.Jia tried hard not to stare at the luxurious furnishings that filled the room. On the side of the penthouse she had just entered, there were plush sofas and couches angled around a massive television that was wider than she was tall. Another few paces revealed a sleek electric fireplace on the floor below the screen as well. The digitally simulated flames were already going, and she remembered that Atlas had instructed Lydia to set up a team to clean the place before their arrival.She wondered briefly how the other woman was doing, but decided to hold that thought for later when Dolly made a suspicious retching sound in the back of her throat. Oh, no, she wouldn’t, Jia thought with gritted teeth. With the intoxicated woman’s arm hooked over her shoulder, she dragged the stumbling woman toward the narrow hallway off to the side. There had to be a bedroom
In the Shadow of the CEO 26 - Iconic
“In one hundred feet. Turn. Left.”There was something about the sultry woman’s voice slithering from the car’s speakers that made Jia highly uncomfortable. Crammed into the backseat like this (the semi-sober Dolly was riding shotgun now), Jia could feel the reverberations of the GPS directions fluttering around her ears. Thankfully, they were in a slightly less packed (and less popular) part of the city, and she could see an empty spot by the curb where they could park on the street. Soon, she’d be rid of the artificial female voice for at least a little while -“What is this place, Ms. Moon.”Atlas’s voice cut through the vehicle’s tiny interior like a frozen scythe, and she turned her head slightly to look at him instead of the street ahead through the windshield. While she wasn’t an expert on the man’s habits yet, she was certain that that definitely wasn’t an impressed inflection to his words she was hearing. He only had about three typic
In the Shadow of the CEO 27 - Missing
Jia studiously avoided paying any attention to Atlas, who sat on the other side of the booth with a visibly unsettled aura about him. Dolly, on the other hand, was sitting next to her and poring intently over an oversized, laminated tri-fold menu in her hands. Her knee bounced under the table.“I think they’re all good,” Jia said, opting for a safe, neutral answer to the question the woman had just asked. “Lamb burger, maybe?”Dolly flipped the page. “East Coast French Chicken Burger,” she read aloud, ignoring Jia’s suggestion. “What exactly about this entree is French? I don’t know half of these ingredients - I’ve never even heard of this sauce.”Jia leaned over to look at the description. “Blueberry chipotle barbecue sauce,” she read. “Oh, that’s a local favorite. You’d love it. I’ve heard it tastes great with the uncured bacon and avocado relish.”“That’s not French at all,” Dolly repeated, but she pulled the menu closer and squinted at the en
In the Shadow of the CEO 28 - Secrets
“What do you mean, she’s gone? I thought you two have the same sixth period class? Didn’t you see her?”Jia was huddled in the corridor that led to the restrooms, taking refuge in the dimly lit corner and speaking at a volume only slightly louder than a hushed whisper. Why was the music here so loud, she thought in rising irritation. She plugged her other ear with her index finger, struggling to hear her brother on the other end of the line.“Yeah. She was there.”His words sounded clipped. Was he nervous, or was he just rushing the conversation to get off the phone?“How did you find out she skipped seventh?”“It wasn’t like that. I was heading for the Mathletes meeting after dismissal, and someone told me she hoped Jini feels better soon.”Jia gripped the cell phone so tightly she thought she could hear it creaking in her hand. “She’s not sick,” she said firmly. “She was fine this morning when you two left to get o
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In the Shadow of the CEO Author's Note
The ending has been modified due to feedback from several readers that were unsatisfied with the ending. While I can't really say I'm proud of the cut version because it doesn't properly envison what I had in mind for the story's conclusion, I'm happy to let readers leave off the story on a thoroughly final note.As a result, I have withdrawn plans to write a sequel and will leave the story as is. But thank you all anyway for coming with me on this journey! :DFind me on facebook @ManaSolStories so that you can keep up with my other stories here on GoodNovel instead.
In the Shadow of the CEO Epilogue
Jia pushed Atlas away from herself with a furtive look around the dim rear hallway they found themselves in. "Stop that! Someone will see."But he didn't listen. With a low, rumbling chuckle in his chest, he pressed her up against the wall and nuzzled her neck, breathing her in as if he couldn't get enough of her scent. She did her best to keep from melting in his arms as they snaked around her, one around her waist and the other coming up to cup the back of her neck, but a small gasp left her lips when she felt him grind his hips against hers."The things you do to me," he whispered in her ear, and she had to bite down hard on her tongue so that she didn't let out a breathy moan and tremble against him.No, they were absolutely not doing this. They were in a restaurant. In public! At a party! The last time they had done this, they had almost gotten caught by a waiter and only barely managed to hide themselves in a tangled mess in the utility closet."Atlas -""Fine, fine," he said, an
In the Shadow of the CEO 95 - Offerings
When Atlas finally came to bed, it was already past two in the morning. Jia had let the twins know she wouldn't be coming home - and although they probably thought she was up to mischief, the reality was that she knew she couldn't leave Atlas alone tonight. Even now, he sat on the side of the bed, slouched over with his elbows on his knees.She sat up and rested her fingertips on his bare, muscular shoulder. He felt so strong, and yet..."Sleep," she told him. "You'll know what to do tomorrow."He reached back and grasped her hand in his before turning around and sliding under the covers beside her. She was ready when he pulled her close and began kissing her neck and working his way down her chest, pulling on her clothes with growing insistence. But instead of yielding, she reached up to cradle his face in her hands and urged him with slight pulls to lift his head and look at her."Atlas," she murmured as she stared up at him. "I'm glad you told me."He stilled, so she kept on."If yo
In the Shadow of the CEO 94 - Choices
Clearly, they weren't going to be heading back into the building anytime soon. Jia took a deep breath before turning to look at Ava, making sure her face betrayed nothing but steady composure."You care about Atlas," she said shortly, "and so do I. It's your right to doubt my intentions, but our relationship is ours and no one else's. Meaning that it's his choice to stay in one with me, just like it's my choice to do the same with him.""So, in other words, you don't care. About letting the company crash because you can't give him up?""...I'll consider everything you said to me today. You can interpret my intentions however you want. I care about Atlas. He is important to me. So is Pandora Lights. I am not 'giving' either of them up like I'm swapping trading cards.""That's a nice, self-righteous way of saying you'd rather screw the whole company over rather than let go of his money. Before you say it's not about that, I'll just remind you that it's funn
In the Shadow of the CEO 93 - Adjustments
"How is our new schedule working for you?"Jia pressed her knees together and looped her hands around them as she thought about how to answer. She liked this place more than she had thought she would the first time she came, and the second. It was strange how liberating it felt to be in the one place she felt the most vulnerable."I think it's good," she said. "I didn't think I'd want to be here more than I had to, but you were right. I felt a lot better this week. And I think I was more stable. Well, stronger, I guess.""That's good," Dr. Brody - or Lisa, she preferred - remarked. She smiled at Jia and settled back in her armchair. "Do you want to tell me about it?"She made herself more comfortable on the sofa as well. Their very first meeting a month and a half ago, Lisa had told her that she was free to lie down if she preferred, that the kind of therapy she conducted encouraged her to be as comfortable as she could be physically so that she could be
In the Shadow of the CEO 92 - Games
"Mr. Burhock!""Jia, so good to see you again. How are you! You look ten times more lovely than before, how is that possible? Maybe if I spin around once, it'll happen again."Mr. Burhock was his sweet, jovial self as usual as he pulled her into a hug and pounded her back a little too hard with his plump fist. He babbled on about his new grandchild and about the rigors of childproofing his house now that there would be yet another small baby running about wild. No, he wasn't his usual jovial self - he was exceedingly so, more than normal.They were meeting in the hotel lobby of the Ritz-Carlton hotel. Ava would be here in a second as well once she adjusted her makeup in the bathroom. And then they would be off to a eat a celebratory dinner, a reservation at Burhock's favorite Greek restaurant. Jia was looking forward to it for more than one reason. For one, it was the one time Atlas would be eating with them instead of working himself to death in his offic
In the Shadow of the CEO 91 - Trees and Forests
"You should come help me."Jia had allowed Ava into the outer office when the woman came knocking, not bothering to ask how she had managed to come exactly at a time when Atlas and Lydia were in one of the conference rooms on the lower floor for a meeting. Then again, those two were getting busier and busier, and nearly a third of their day was simply attending video conferences; perhaps it was a coincidence after all.She had to stop suspecting Ava just because she was jealous. And she knew that was the reason, too. She had promised herself a week ago after the conversation in Atlas's car that she would remain self-aware, that she would handle herself with integrity when it came to the other woman. This was business. This was professional....It was still hard."What can I help you with?"Her response was the right one. She knew it already, but there was a pleased glint in Ava's eye as if she were impressed that Jia hadn't come running up with her
In the Shadow of the CEO 90 - Idyllic
Itwas nearly ten. Jia had begun to wonder if perhaps he would show up at all an hour ago, a stray thought that she could feel ballooning into another episode now that she knew what to look for. Knowing the enemy made it easier to fight, so she had spent a little time reorganizing the kitchen to take her mind off of Atlas and Ava and whatever they were talking about for the past five hours.When he did show up, she didn't even answer his call. She simply toed on her sneakers and shuffled out in a hurry with the shoes only half on her feet.He was standing outside his car and leaning against the passenger door. When he saw her appear, a faint smile turned up the corners of his mouth, and he opened it so that it could slide upward to let her in. She was already in a long, worn out white T-shirt and a pair of loose training pants, both of which had seen better days and absolutely did not suit the glamor of the car or the man who owned it -Stop, she told herse
In the Shadow of the CEO 89 - Concealed
Jia blinked and stared, not entirely certain that she had heard Atlas correctly. She couldn't have. It was only because she had been thinking hard about how to approach the topic of Ava tonight that she thought she'd just heard him say the name, that was all. She tried to step around Atlas and move closer to Erica to give her a proper greet since they hadn't seen each other since this morning for a cup of coffee (and water), but when she peeked around his shoulder, she found the woman staring straight at Atlas's face instead.It hadn't occurred to her how tall Erica was until now, as she watched them square off in an apparent staring contest. Or was it because she was standing up straight and squaring her shoulders, revealing her true height instead of carrying a moderate slouch when last they had met?In fact, everything about Erica was different now. Her appearance was the same, but her eyes were sharper and colder, and the way she tilted her head slightly at A
