All Chapters of Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

357 Chapters

Chapter 71

[Cordelia]When Clark arrives later that afternoon, he comes with a beautiful orchid as a “housewarming present” and a teddy bear for the baby and me as an “apology” for being so upset the day before. I give him a big hug and wonder if what Atlas was suggesting could be true. Did Clark keep Atlas away from me? It doesn’t seem to be in his nature to be jealous. “I’m sorry too,” I apologize as I release him. “I should have been more honest with you about it from the beginning.”He accepts my apology with one of his signature smiles, although it doesn’t go all the way up to his eyes like it usually does. He is thinking about something else, something that is adding a bit of a shadow over everything. Today.Tilly takes the plant from Clark, and as their fingertips touch briefly, I see a flush of color rush to her cheeks. I know my friend well enough to know what that means. Tilly DOES have a crush on Clark,My first thought is that it is a shame we are fake engaged because they would ma
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Chapter 72

[Cordelia]Clark didn't stop by to visit the next morning. Nor did he come by the morning after that. It seems that he was so upset by the way things happened between us that he needed more time and space than a single evening to work things out. While I'm fine giving him space, I'm also worried about him. I've tried texting, but he hasn't returned any of my messages. This isn't like Clark. He's usually so attentive and responsive. I sent a message to Atlas, asking him to look in on his little brother. He wrote me back later that evening letting me know that Clark had gone on a little trip to "clear his head." I guess my words hurt him more deeply than I intended. Wanting to make sure he still feels loved and appreciated, I left a card taped to his door. I included the ultrasound he had forgotten and a note of apology letting him know that I still want him in this baby's life and my life as well.I might not be in love with him, but I will always love him. Tilly has more than fill
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Chapter 73

[Cordelia]I called 15 banks and emailed at least a dozen more. By the end of the morning, I was exhausted.At the end of three days, I had heard back from only one of them, an older bank with a solid reputation. In their message, they said the loan was as good as mine, all I needed to do was come down and sign for it.I called back and set up an appointment to meet the very next day. They suggested I bring along any necessary documentation and proof of intention for this loan, to save me the trouble later.This is why I am standing outside the loan manager's office wearing my only suit with an elastic waistband holding my portfolio and rocking back and forth on my heels. "Mrs. Steele," the pretty blonde receptionist waves me into the main office. "Mr. Jones will be ready to meet with you in a few minutes."I thank her as she leads me into a small but elegant office. Taking a seat in a small leather armchair across from his desk, I nod as the receptionist asks if I'd like something to
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Chapter 74

[Atlas]When Cordelia called to tell me she was coming over, I panicked. I wasn’t expecting to hear her voice. I didn’t think to tell her not to come. I also didn't have the chance to tell her that her mother is here throwing her sister a bridal shower.A bridal shower she had not been invited to. Intentionally. Angelica and her friends are taking up most of the living room, magazines spread out all over the floor, as they work together to plan the perfect wedding. Meghan Greyson, Angelica and Cordelia’s mother is in my kitchen helping April make scones for their impromptu wedding party. Things have been getting weirder between Angelica and me the longer we live together. Most of the things she does are fairly harmless, like throwing last-minute parties or surprising me with cupcakes for a birthday that happened three months ago. Other times her behavior is more erratic.For example, Angelica has snuck into my bedroom several times now, and when I ask her about it the next day she c
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Chapter 75

[Cordelia]By the time I reached the Steele family home, I was exhausted in both body and soul. Knowing that I need my ex-husband’s help to get a loan infuriates me, but I can also see why a bank might not want to give me a loan. As a woman with no job experience other than being the wife of Atlas Steele, it doesn’t matter to them how much time I’ve spent working on this new enterprise. They just see numbers and statistics, probability and chance. Cordelia Louise Designs is too much of a gamble. I know Atlas will have no problem co-signing the loan. Not because he loves me as the bank officer implied–he’s never told me that he loves me, not once during our whole 5 years of marriage, and I’d be a fool to expect more than like, or maybe a bit of lust at this stage of our new relationship. We were just starting to make progress as a couple before I was taken away to that blasted island. If I hadn’t been kidnapped, maybe Atlas and I would have started a real relationship, one where I co
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Chapter 76

[Cordelia] "Clark," I turn around into his embrace, gaining strength from his arms wrapped around me. "I missed you." He holds me like this until I stop crying and then helps me back up to my apartment. Tilly is gone for the day. She's been gone a lot lately. She's been promoting a new line in Malibu and it has taken up a lot of her time recently. "What happened, Cordy?" his newly tanned face is drawn with worry. Wherever he spent the last week must have been sunny. Fall is starting to settle around us here, the hot days finally giving way to chilly afternoons but he looks like he's fresh from the beach. "I failed," I fight to not start crying again. "The fire, my business, I can't even get a loan." I sob. After I spend the next 15 minutes explaining my situation, he wipes my face, puts a hand on each shoulder, and says, "Let's go. I'll drive." "Where?" I ask as he pulls me up by the hand. "The bank of course," he tucks my hand into his arm, pulling me towards the door, givi
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Chapter 77

[Angelica]The Steele Family has always insisted on having an old-fashioned landline even after cell phones became popular. The one they keep in the hallway near my bedroom was even made to look like an old, rotary phone in shades of white and gold. When it rings, it sounds like tingling bells. Usually, nobody calls this number except for confused telemarketers and the occasional wrong number.But tonight, I heard it.Our signal. I never told Jude about HIM. The night Jude and I met was no coincidence, no rich girl falling into the arms of a poor boy only to fall into bed. I was sent there.By HIM.I wasn't expecting him to find me so soon after I returned.When the phone rang again I was ready, my hand already above the receiver as I stood outside my door waiting, my hummingbird heart beating in rhythm to my rapid breath. "Hello," I answer the phone quietly, looking around cautiously. "Angelica." His voice sends wave after wave of pleasure down my spine. It is the voice of my sa
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Chapter 78

[Cordelia]In our five years of marriage, I have only stepped foot in this building 6 times. During each of those occasions, it had been for official reasons--The celebration of our union, and the annual employee mixer at the end of the fiscal year. Today is different. Today I'm not here as Mrs. Atlas Steele. I'm just another vendor, Cordelia Louise Greyson, looking to hire the production services of Steele Industries.Services I cannot afford."You've got this, Cordy," Clark smiles at me encouragingly as he leaves me at the front door to the building. He had planned to come in with me, but a call from work pulled him away unexpectedly. "I'll see you tonight for a celebratory dinner.""Celebratory," I give him a sideways glance as I pull on the strap of my portfolio. "Aren't you getting a bit ahead of yourself? Atlas might say no.""He won't," He says calmly and with absolute certainty. "I know my brother. I'm not sure if you've noticed, but he cares for you." He closes his eyes. "No
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Chapter 79

[Cordelia]I hold my breath as my heart catches at the sight of him. He looks splendid, freshly shaved and polished in his crisp grey suit and blue tie the same color as his eyes. I find myself turning towards him like a flower towards the sun. I hate how much he affects me, how much he has always affected me, but I cannot deny how drawn I am to him. "Atlas,' I swallow, my throat suddenly dry. "I just...I needed to see you and..." I sound like a needy teenage girl. Blushing, I look down to hide my embarrassment, only to find myself staring at his perfectly formed...Dear gods, pregnancy hormones are the worst. "Anthony," he addresses his employee by name. "Is there a reason she was delayed?""She wasn't on the list, sir." His voice is shaking as he addresses his boss, understanding the mistake he had made by not taking me more seriously earlier. "I assure you she is on the list. Permanently," he picks up the clipboard and scrawls my name on the list himself in big, bold letters. "Co
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Chapter 80

[Cordelia] Atlas leans back, his face clouded with anger. Cursing he shouts, "I'm busy! Tell whoever it is to come back in an hour." He eyes my lips with a devilish grin. "Now where were we? Oh yes, negotiating." He leans forward. Reaching up, I place a hand on his chest to stop him. "Wait, shouldn't you see what that person wants?" I struggle to catch my breath, his proximity making me tingle in embarrassing places, "What if it's important?" "What can be more important than this," he kisses me again gently. "I almost lost you, Cordelia. I thought you were gone forever. And do you know what I realized?" His eyes scan my face nervously. " I realize that I lov..." We are interrupted again by loud knocking at the door. "I'm sorry sir, but she insisted." "Who?" "Your wife." “Not possible,” Atlas grumbles at his secretary through the door, “Call security. Have them escorted off the property.” "Atlas, what if it..." "No," he insists, leaning forward again. "Cordelia Greyson Steel
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