Chapter Four

                      *****Atlas POV*****

I gazed at my reflection in the mirror and felt a dull throb in my chest.

It's been fifteen years since my parents passed and it hurts growing up without them, and now about to celebrate a party in their absence.

It didn't feel right to me, but uncle Lex said that if I wanted to take over the company, I have to socialize with top business associates. That's the reason I hosted this fancy party, but it still didn't feel right.

I heard my room door open, so I gazed away from the mirror and stared at my butler, Victor.

He served my parents and demanded to serve me even though I have tried to retire him several times.

“What is it, Vic?” I mumbled, taking my tie from my drawer.

“The guests are arriving,” Victor said.

I watched from the mirror as he shut the door and approached me.

“Let me help you to do it, Sir.” Victor intoned, taking my tie from my hands.

“I can do it myself.” I mumbled, feeling a sense of shame.

“We both know that's a lie.”

“You won't always be here to do these things for me.”

“Oh really? Who told you that I'm leaving?”

I chuckled at his remark and bent a little to make it easier for him to tie it right.

“Your uncles are here too,” Victor said, and for a second, I noticed the fear in his eyes.

“All twenty of them?” I mumbled, feeling a bit nervous since I didn't feel comfortable among crowds.

“Yes. All twenty of them and their wife's along with your cousins.”

“Wow, that's a lot of people.” 

A long sigh escaped Victor's lips as he let go of my tie and brushed my shoulders. Then he smiled brightly and mumbled, “All done. Your parents would be proud of the man you have become.” 

“Really?” I asked, feeling a bit uncertain about his comment.

Ten years was a brief time to spend with my parents and I don't remember much about them, but I wanted Victor's words to be true because all I desire is to make them proud of me even if they are not here.

“Of course. When your mother gave birth to you, Mr. Sharpe shouted ‘it's a boy!’ with a bright smile on his face while running up and down in the hallway of the hospital like a mad man.” Victor said, beaming at me.

“Was he that excited?” I asked, feeling my heart rapidly beat.

“Yes. He was a proud father even before you were born.” 

“That's why I want to take over the company, so I can prove that I'm a good son.”

A look of sadness crossed Victor's face, and it bothered me because he always appeared to be sad every time I talked about taking over the companies.

“What's the matter?” I asked, focusing on his wrinkly face.

“Nothing. Go down and have fun. But don't forget to be careful.” Victor said with a straight face.

“Careful of what?” 

“Ummm… Fox is dead and even though this house is under heavy protection, you still don't have a personal bodyguard. So just be careful.”

I knew there was more to what he was saying, yet I smiled and left the room.

When I entered the ballroom, it was already crowded with people and I wanted to get out immediately.

When my parents passed, Victor got full custody of me, and he had kept me in this mansion for so long that I have gotten used to it just being the two of us. 

Also, every time I stepped out of this place someone ends up dead, and usually, it's my personal bodyguard.

Fox was the twelve-person that have died in an accident because they all used their bodies as a shield to protect me in the car crash every single time. So I prefer staying home if it means someone's life gets safe.

I was about to leave the hall when my gaze met uncle Lex’s eyes.

“Aha! There's my favorite nephew! What are you doing standing over there by yourself! Come sit with Uncle Lex!” He shouted, waving his hand at me.

I hesitated at first, seeing that he was sitting with some older guys. But he kept smiling at me, so I walked over to their table and sat down.

“Hello everyone,” I mumbled, feeling a bit awkward because of the way they were all smiling at me.

“Atlas, meet my business partners. These guys a the top in the corporate world.” Lex said, beaming at me.

Then he and his buddies took turns shaking hands with me, and even though the attention they were giving me felt overwhelming, I kept calm.

A few minutes later, they started discussing business and I couldn't help butting in.

From the time I was ten till now, Victor had made me take so many online business classes with different teachers from several countries around the world that there was nothing about the business world that I didn't know.

The further we went in the discussion, the atmosphere felt hostile, and I noticed that no one was smiling, so I stopped and stared at them.

We sat in silence for a while. Then uncle Lex burst into laughter and said, “My nephew is so intelligent. He's a business genius like his late parents!” 

It took a second for his partners to join him and they all chuckled loud. 

“I should probably go and interact with the other guests,” I mumbled, feeling awkward.

“Don't leave just yet, nephew.  We haven't made a toss to you entering the working world.” Lex said, opening the bottle of wine.

Then he poured wine into a glass and handed it to me, but before I could take it, a hand grabbed the glass out of his hand.

I took my focus off my uncle and placed it on the gorgeous lady, holding onto my glass of wine. 

The moment her eyes met mine, I felt so many emotions that I couldn't explain, and it felt like the mere sight of her caused my heart to pound rapidly.

“Atlas Sharpe, what a liar you are. I thought you told me that you don't drink.” She said, frowning at me.

“Do you know her?” Lex asked with his eyes on me.

I felt pressure from both of them stare and lying to my uncle felt wrong, yet gazing into her dazzling eyes made me want to lie a thousand times.

“Yeah. We met in the hallway, and she asked me to drink with her, but I don't consume alcohol, so I turned her down.” I said, clearing my throat.

“Well, one glass wouldn't kill you.” Lex mumbled with a hint of annoyance in his tone.

I was about to agree to my uncle's remark, when she sat down beside me and said, “I will drink on your behalf.”

I gazed at her and moved my lips to speak, but when she smiled, all my words deserted me, leaving me blankly staring at her.

“Hey, I am Aria. I didn't get to tell you my name when we met in the hall.” She said, drinking the wine in one go.

I was about to tell her my name when I realized that she already knew it, and the only question that crossed my mind was, ‘Who are you?’