Atlas better tread lightly...
[Atlas]As I watched her walk out the door, my heart sank to the floor and shattered into a thousand pieces. She asked me not to follow her so I didn't. She wants her space. Needs it. This request has finally pushed her too far. I've already asked so much of her. And here I am, asking her again. "You are such an idiot," my brother shakes his head as he places a hand on my shoulder. "I mean, I already knew you were a bit of a fool, but I didn't think you were a complete moron." "Why are you two letting Angelica make such a fuss," Tilly asks, her hands on her hips, angry for the sake of her friend. "I know she's your old sweetheart, but she is a danger to herself and other people. Why hasn't she been placed in an institution better capable of meeting her needs?"She has a point. "It isn't my call to make. I am not her next of kin\," I point out. "I am not her husband." And never will be, if I can help it. Clark begins pacing, twisting his hands with nerves. "You know, before you came
[Cordelia]It felt so good to slam the door and walk away from all of that nonsense. Standing in the same room while Atlas continued to make excuses for Angelica was the last straw. I had told them what had happened, what I had suspected, fears I was afraid of voicing because I was worried about how Atlas would receive it only to discover it didn't matter anyway. Atlas doesn't believe me. Or he doesn't believe that I know what I see and hear with my own eyes and ears.I'm not sure what would be worse--him thinking I'm a liar or him thinking I'm foolish. And Atlas--so much for not caring if others see us, or about the world and what it might think of us and our relationship. As soon as things got difficult, he hid behind his usual "just business" mindset and used it as an excuse to not follow through. I'm not sure why I thought things would be different between us. One beautiful night together isn't enough to change a lifetime of bad habits. I should have told my mother off and hu
[Cordelia]Even though I don't know this man at all, I find it surprisingly easy to open up to Magnus. As we sat in the diner, the storm outside got stronger, and my feelings poured out of me like the torrent of rain on the street. Maybe it is because I probably won't ever see him again, but I told him everything about Atlas, my sister, and my work. He didn't have a single negative thing to say, he simply held my hand while I ate large amounts of carbs and wept about potential futures gone sour. "It'll be okay Miss Cordy," he pats my hand as my words finally slow and I finish off another waffle. "You are young. You have so much life ahead of you. Even if things do not work out between you and your young mister, there is still so much more out there for you to discover."I guess so," I sniffle, blowing my nose on a napkin and then looking around for somewhere discreet to hide it, feeling gross and a bit rude. "Sorry." He snaps his fingers and gets the attention of one of the waitstaf
[Atlas]Fueled by the need to find her, to tell her how wrong I was, I race out of the building and onto the street. I don't have anything on me but the clothes on my back and my phone tucked away in a pocket.With my rumpled jacket and hair, I could be anyone on the street. Nobody would mistake me for being myself. I wasn't billionaire Atlas Steele, I was just an ordinary guy desperately looking for his pregnant wife on the streets of LA."Damn it, Cordelia," I curse as I feel the wind pick up and remember that she left the house without a coat. "Where the hell did you go?""Hola senor," A sweet woman pulling in her laundry calls from her balcony. "You lost?""Un poquito," I hold up my fingers to express that I am a little bit turned around. "I am looking for my wife. I think she came this way. Very pretty, very pregnant."I make a round gesture over my belly and she laughs playfully, amused by my poor attempts at pantomime. "La bonita prenada mujer," she nods. "I see her, senor." S
[Cordelia]Atlas sets me off like nobody else. I don't know what it is about him that irritates me more: his constant need to be right or his knight-in-shining-armor hero complex, but I can't stand to look at him right now. Maybe Magnus is right. Maybe I need to take myself and this baby far. far away from Atlas Steele and his terrible, toxic family. Maybe I won't be able to heal myself until I have some space away from all of them. "Cordelia, please wait," Atlas calls after me in a gentle, broken voice.I turn around and he is standing where I left him, looking and lost. His clothing is wet and disheveled, his hair askew, the mark of my hand red upon his cheek.He isn't angry or worked like am. Atlas is sad."I'm sorry Cordelia," he holds out his hand. "I came out here looking for you not to take you home or tell you what you should do. I came out here to apologize."The rain is coming down in straight sheets of water, soaking us both, but neither of us seeks shelter. We both st
[Cordelia]When we stumble into the lobby of the Steele Imperial Hotel and Spa, I was expecting Atlas to go straight to the manager and demand the Presidential Suite. I was expecting the concierge to bow when Atlas walked in and offer us the room on a silver platter. Atlas is, after all, the owner and even if he weren't, Atlas Steele tends to get that kind of treatment wherever he goes. He just has to give people his winning smile and flash his unlimited platinum card.What I wasn't expecting was to be shunned. Not again. Not like before. But when I saw the snarl on the face of the concierge as he finally notices us waiting at the front desk, and he marches up to us like a man on a mission, I know that's exactly what is going to happen.This man intends to kick us out. As he gets closer I see he is the same guy who stopped me all those months before, thinking I was a homeless woman instead of the wife of Atlas Steele."Excuse me, sir," he looks me up and down, "Miss. We think you mi
[Cordelia]We finally come up for air when the elevator doors open again. Because we are staying in one of the master suites, the elevator opens up to a very small hallway with no other doors. Without warning, Atlas scoops me off of my feet, holding me bridal style in his arms. "What are you doing," I laugh, kicking my feet. "Put me down, Atlas.""Not until we cross the threshold properly," he smirks, bending down to give me a little kiss. "We never did this right the first time and I feel like it is long overdue." "But we aren't even married anymore," I laugh again. "Shouldn't we do this after we get married?""So you want to marry me again," he raises his eyebrow."I didn't say," I swallow hard. Did I want to marry him again?His gray eyes smolder with heat as he watches my expressions change. "Because I want to marry you again," he kisses me lightly."Why?" I say between kisses, "Didn't we make each other miserable?"'This time will be different," he promises my feet dip lower, h
[Cordelia]He is standing in front of me, water beading down his chest, outlining each muscle as it makes its path down his body, trailing all the way down to where my hands rest on the waistband of his pants. I have never taken this kind of initiative with him, taking over, demanding what I want. Our sexual relationship is still far too new. I still have so much to learn. "Are you going to take what you want," he challenges me, raising one eyebrow in provocation.I unbuckle his belt. "Only if you are good." I tease. "Maybe I'll make you suffer first."My hand rubs the hardness of his dick outlined sharply on the wet slacks as they cling to his body. He closes his eyes in pleasure, his mouth opening as I stroke him slowly, giving the tip of him extra attention. He moans, placing his hands on the wall above me to steady himself as I continue to pleasure him through the slick layer of cloth. He begins to rock his hips against my hand, increasing the rate and depth of each stroke, usin