All Chapters of Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

357 Chapters

Chapter 81

[Cordelia]Atlas and I both jumped at the sound of shattering glass. Our faces are close but not touching but it doesn't take much for anyone with eyes to see that we are close enough to kiss. As she stood there, her pantyhose covered in apple juice, she didn't scream or cry. She just stood there, her eyes and mouth open with shock. She kept blinking, opening, and closing her eyes, as if her brain were stuck in a loop of confusion, unable to interpret and understand what was happening in front of her. After several awkward minutes, Atlas coughs. "Angelica, I was just showing Cordelia around the factory," Atlas smoothly transitions into normal conversation, as if there were nothing amiss by the scene she had stumbled into--the two of us in a tender embrace, our lips bruised from kissing. By the cold, efficient sound of his voice, you'd never guess that just a moment ago he was using his lips to convince me to stay. "She's decided to take the designer job.""Temporarily," I laugh, t
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Chapter 82

[Cordelia]When I open my eyes I am lying down on a couch in an empty office lounge. The room has no windows so with the blinds drawn and the lights off it is dark and cool. While I was conscious, placed me in a nice bed of pillows while covering me with a warm blanket, most likely for the occasional employee who has to stay late. Holding it to my nose, I realize it smells like him. Closing my eyes again, I breathe in the clean woodsy smell of Atlas' soap. "Here, drink this," the room is dark so I can't see the gentle hands that hold me and help me drink a large glass of orange juice but I can see the bright white bandage that some used to carefully wrap my arm. "The glass hit a large vein, which is why you were bleeding so badly," she explains, sounding almost like a professional nurse, or someone who spends a lot of time around them. "You are lucky you aren't anemic. Pregnancy can do that to you sometimes."I startle, finally recognizing her voice. "Angelica," I struggle to sit up
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Chapter 83

[Cordelia]I don’t want to think about Angelica, but my mind cannot help but wander to the scene from just a moment ago. She was both loving and terrifying in equal measure and I can’t be sure which face to believe–the one who cares or the one who hurts.As Clark drove me home that afternoon, I found I couldn't stop thinking of our last interaction. She was equal parts caring and frightening. With the emotions of the day, including Atlas wanting to start our relationship despite Angelica's needs, I am torn about how to proceed.Do I let myself love Atlas, even though it could break my sister's mind? Or does none of it matter because her mind is already broken beyond what anyone could fix?Angelica and I have never had the easiest of relationships, but it has never been so openly competitive or antagonistic. We aren't very close in age, so we were never interested in the same things at the same time. Angelica is 6 years older than I am. By the time I was old enough to understand how t
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Chapter 84

[Cordelia]My hands are shaking. I have never felt this nervous, not even on my wedding day. So many more rides on this moment in time, on every decision I make in the next few hours.Today is my first day as lead designer at Steele Industries.I need to do well. If I can't turn things around now, I never will and Cordelia Louise Designs will become another sad dream left to die.I won't let that happen. I can't. Taking a deep breath, I feel a little flutter of a kick and smile at my belly, thinking of my son swimming around in there growing stronger and bigger every minute."We've got this," I murmur to my little passenger, "We can do this!"Taking one last final breath, I open the door to the building and step inside.While I was away, the guards changed. And a new, friendlier face greets me this morning. She hands me my new clearance badge and gives me a little wave as I pass through. "Congratulations on your new position!""Thank you," I wave back confidently as I head to the eleva
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Chapter 85

“I SAID STOP!” The room grows silent. Pin drop silent. Setting the stuff down gently, I turn to the small group gathered around me. “Hi,” I give them a friendly open smile. I am professional after all. "My name is Cordelia. Some of you may have heard I'll be starting today. I just wanted to thank you all for your warm welcome." Keeping my smile firmly in step over the mess I just made of patterns and paperwork. "If Theo could meet me in my office, that would be greatly appreciated. In the meantime," I look down at the papers strewn on the floor, "I'd appreciate it if someone could make sure that all of these materials make it to their expected departments." With my head held high, I walk to the office that Atlas had led me to during the last visit. As soon as I shut the door behind me with a gentle click, I leaned against it for a minute or two, taking long, deep breaths. I can't believe I just did that. I'm usually not so bold. But it felt good. So good. There is a gentl
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Chapter 86

[Atlas]Today is Cordelia's first day as an employee here at Steele Industries. When I showered and dressed today I took extra care with my appearance. I put on my best gray suit but decided to forgo the tie. I want her to be comfortable around me, to see me as approachable and touchable.I want to be flawless for her. I imagine how she must look today, her first day in a new job, and realize that I've never seen her in a professional mode. She was my wife, so I didn't expect her to work. She needed to be pretty for social functions but little else. She did her best to fill the role of socialite, but it never seemed natural for her.When I saw her at the fashion expo, how she shined under the pressure of building and promoting a line of her creation, she glowed brighter than a diamond. She was in her element. She was meant to be a designer. By forcing her into the role of billionaire bride, I had taken away an essential part of who she was meant to be. It is 9:03 AM. By now, Cordeli
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Chapter 87

[Cordelia]"Knock Knock," two familiar faces pop their faces into my office, their bodies hidden by the wall. I squeal at the sight of my two best friends in the world right now as they enter my new office and we collapse into a group hug."Nice, a corner office," Tilly remarks, looking around and playing with a random paperweight that must have belonged to the last lead designer. "This view is way nicer than mine." She whistles as she walks to the windows and peers out. "I won't lie to you, Cordy. I'm a little bit jealous.""But you own your own building," I point out. "I'm only renting this office and the employees working for me. This is temporary.""It doesn't have to be," Clark points out, saying what I've been thinking all morning. "You could just ask Atlas if you can stay. He wouldn't even charge you for the facilities. You're family.""Not anymore," I disagree. "Having this baby doesn't change my situation. I'm still Atlas' ex-wife.""None of that matters," Clark insists. "You'
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Chapter 88

[Cordelia]Tilly and Clark provided an excellent distraction as I got over the hard feelings of my first day at work Watching their sweet interactions at the ice cream parlor as I indulged in more frozen dessert than is probably healthy, their playful banter warmed my heart and eased my mind.After a restful evening, I arrived at work the next day feeling refreshed and optimistic.Today, I am determined to make a good impression on all of them. Kill them with kindness. I will make them like me, goddamn it, even if I have to force them to. Thinking about how it felt to get a nice treat from my friends, I thought it might be nice to show my staff similar consideration. Taking Tilly's advice and showing them all I can be a good friend. Maybe if they can see I'm a kind boss, and maybe learn a bit about why I'm there, they might warm their hearts to me a little bit. So as I drove into work this morning I stopped by a famous donut shop and grabbed two dozen donuts and a large carafe of p
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Chapter 89

[Atlas]Angelica arrived a the office shortly after 8. I was surprised to see her here. I thought I had made it clear to her that the office wasn't a place she should just casually visit based on whims. "This is a place of business," I reminded her. She had cried for an hour after I told her that, but in the end, I thought we had come to an understanding. What I didn't realize was how different her understanding was from mine.I thought I had made it very clear that the office was off-limits except for those on official business.She thought it was off-limits unless she wanted to come be a part of the business. "Angelica, what are you doing here?" I demand when she waltzes into my office, grinning largely like a satisfied cat. "I thought we had discussed this.""We did," she nods enthusiastically. "You said not to come here unless I have official business, and I do!" she claps her hands, her eyes bright with delight as she explains that she just personally delivered brand new espres
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Chapter 90

[Cordelia]I didn't go straight back to the office. I couldn't. I needed time to think. So I rode the elevator to the bottom, stepped off, and took a walk around town. It doesn't seem to matter what I do, Angelica wins. Maybe I should just stop fighting. I have more important things to worry about right now than a romance between myself and the man who was supposed to be my brother-in-law.It is time that I build a life separate from Atlas Steele. Maybe we will come together when it is all over. Or maybe we will both have moved on. Either way, I need to create some distance between us. Not just for Angelica's recovery but for my own sake as well. My heart cannot take all this back and forth of emotions. If I let myself feel too much, it will continue to break my heart. I think of calling Tilly, or even Clark, but I already know what they are going to say and I don't want their opinions to cloud my decision. I need to remain strong, and if I am always looking to Atlas for validatio
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