Atlas finally grows a backbone!
[Cordelia]It took me 15 minutes to clear everything of mine out of my office at Steele Industries. My heart is heavy. I don't understand how Atlas could do this, how he could do any of this. And Angelica...we used to be so close once. If she knows I once cared for Atlas and suspects I still do, why is she being so cruel?Night has fallen before I make it out of bed again. Tilly has gone for the evening. She left a note on the refrigerator about going back to Malibu for last-minute changes to her line, but that she left me something in the fridge. "Don't wait up! I'll see you in the morning!" This line must be very important, Tilly has been going to Malibu almost every day to tend to it. That's what I should have done with my line. I should have camped out at work. Then none of this would have happened. I'd have seen the changes in time to keep it from being a disaster. Sigh. I really need a friend right now. I wonder what Clark is up to. I send him a quick text as I emerge from my
Taking Atlas' hand, I let him guide me out of my apartment. He has a car waiting, a rare luxury as Atlas usually prefers to drive himself. It is one of the company cars, so he must have had someone from security bring him over. Looking at how his hands are shaking, it was probably the best idea to have someone else do the driving. I don't bring up his hands, or the way he looks so tired and drawn, like he has just finished a marathon in loafers and a tie. I know how much he prides himself on looking like he is in control. We may have had our ups and downs together, but I would never try to hurt him when he so clearly seems to be struggling. "I kicked Angelica out of my house today," he announces, breaking the silence. "She's with your parents. We can work on her memory issues from there.""Oh." I'm not quite sure what to say about that."And I called off the wedding," he continues. "Not officially, yet, but she is aware that I have no intention of marrying her."I notice that he does
[Cordelia]Atlas' eyes are a clear, ice blue when he is frightened. And in this moment, he looks terrified. We sit here, looking at one another, searching each other's eyes for the answers to the questions: Can we make it work?Is this worth saving?Is there enough room in my heart to forgive him? Can I believe in us enough to try and make this work?Neither of us says anything. We just watch each other, both of us afraid to make the first move. "Atlas, I...""We've arrived, Mr. Steele," the driver announces, pulling into a parking spot at Steele Industries. "Come," he opens the door, his eyes lit with childlike inner joy. "I need to show you this."Atlas pulls me along through the empty office building, through security, and into the elevator. When we get off on the production floor I see it is around 9 pm, about 3 hours past when most of our sewing staff would have been sent home for the day.When we enter the floor, several seamstresses are working fervently on their industria
[Cordelia] Even though Atlas wanted to take me home, I insisted on watching to make sure everything happened the way that it needed to happen. I made the mistake of leaving too soon and look where it got me. I was willing to stay here alone, but Atlas stayed by my side the entire night while I watched and made sure that my dresses were fixed. The last of them were packaged and boxed just after midnight. Finally. My whole body relaxes as I watch the last box join the others. "Congratulations," Atlas smiles as he squeezes my hand. "You did it." I know I should be excited but my body is so exhausted I can barely manage a weak grin in response and a half-hearted, "Yay," "Come on," he pulls me into his arms. I lean into him, enjoying his dirty sweaty smell maybe even more than his usual crisp linen and clean soap scent. We both worked hard tonight. Together. The driver he had hired went home hours ago, leaving the two of us to fend for ourselves. Thankfully, Atlas' hands are now ste
As Atlas guides me deeper into the house I begin to wonder if this was a good idea after all. Here we are in his big dark mansion. Alone.Anything could happen.But do I want it to?As I feel the electric touch of his hand on mine I realize I do. I want to know what it feels like to be with Atlas Steele, not as a foggy memory, but as someone he loves and cherishes. As soon as we enter the kitchen, he begins opening cupboards and looking in the pantry and fridge for supplies. "Do you like omelets? I know you probably haven't had dinner, but I feel a bit more like breakfast and eggs are easy and quick to cook."When he sees my approval, he begins chopping and dicing. I try to help but he slaps my hand away. Kissing me gently, he orders me to sit down at the little eat-in kitchen nook while he cooks for the two of us. I'm about to say no, but the look he gives me makes everything in me clench. "No," he insists leaving no room for argument. "I'm treating you."When the omelets are don
[Atlas]I know that I don't deserve her, but she is in my arms and I do not plan to let her go. "You are my family now, " I hold her close to me. My wife. My son. My everything. "Well, he is," she laughs, rubbing her cute little belly. "There is no denying that. But you and I," she looks away.My heart drops into my stomach. "Cordelia," my stomach is nervous. Why does she make me so crazy, this auburn-haired girl with the bright green eyes? I can run a company, but I cannot master my feelings when I am around her. She makes me feel everything. And it's terrifying. Because if I can love her this fiercely, that means I could mourn her just as much. She turns her head towards me and I can see that she is struggling too. I wish I could take her far away from here and keep her to myself without worrying about anyone or anything else. "Don't you get it yet, you silly woman," I bend down and kiss her pouty lips. "I love you, Cordelia," I wipe away her tears with my thumbs. "I think I've
[Cordelia] "Do you think," he kisses my lips, "you can stay awake," he makes his way down my neck as I hold onto his shoulders. "Long enough," his lips find my breast again and I almost come undone in his arms, "for me to kiss every inch of your body?" "I don't know," I answer honestly, out of breath between kissing and moaning. "But I want to try." Chuckling, he reaches under my bottom and runs me up the stairs. Kicking open the door with a bit too much force, the lock breaks, and a piece of the door falls with a clank. "That never worked right anyway," he laughs as he sets me down. "What if someone walks in?" I look back in shock at the door that is no longer able to stay all the way shut. Atlas is alot stronger than I realized. I guess all that time he spent in the gym avoiding me paid off. "I'm serious, Atlas. April could walk in on us," I have a hard time focusing on the problem at hand now that Atlas has my shirt open and it is falling around my waist. "I don't car
"I want you," he whispers against my lips. "I want all of you. Every day. Every night."My heart is so full of want for him, he could ask me for anything and I'd give it to him. I have wanted him to love me for so long that the promise of a future feels too big to be possible. As much as I want this, as much as I want to give him every promise, I also fear he will leave me in the morning, sad and rejected.It wouldn't be the first time."You're only saying that, because you have me in your bedroom," I tease, although part of me is very serious. "You might change your mind tomorrow. "He stops us in the middle of his bedroom, only a few feet away from the edge of his bed. "Cordelia," he holds me close, our bodies aligned as our hearts beat together. "I promise I won't change my mind. I won't wake up in the morning and regret this, or you. I mean it when I say I want you in my life, Cordelia."He pulls away so that I can see the sincerity shining in his eyes. "Someday, if you let me, I