Chapter 5

I sat across from Maya, staring into my coffee while the bathroom scene replayed in my head.

I had skipped breakfast once again so I wouldn’t face him or worse, Elena.

I wasn’t ready to pretend that he hadn’t claimed me against a tile wall just a few hours ago.

Maya was already watching me like she knew something was off.

"He called me his," I whispered, leaning over the table so no one else could hear.

Maya’s eyes went wide, her sandwich halfway to her mouth. "Wait, what? He actually used the word mine?"

I nodded, my cheeks flushing red.

Maya sat back slowly, processing that.

“And you’re just sitting here like that means nothing?”

I shook my head quickly. “I didn’t say it meant nothing. I just… I don’t know what it means.”

Because I didn’t and that was the problem.

“I mean…yeah…I want him,” I admitted, lowering my voice slightly. “I’m not even going to lie about that. But I don’t know what this is. I don’t know what we’re doing.”

Maya tilted her head. “You’re fucking a man who looks like he owns half the world and you don’t know what you’re doing?”

I shot her a look. “I didn’t say I was—”

She raised a brow.

I sighed. "This morning, before I left, he was back to being his usual cold, dominant self.He didn't say a word, but the way his eyes roamed over my body while I was trying to leave... his expression was completely unreadable. It’s like last night didn't even happen, but his gaze told a different story."

“And Elena?” she asked.

That name alone made my mood shift.

I exhaled sharply. “I literally skipped breakfast this morning just so I wouldn’t have to sit there and look at both of them.”

Maya winced. “That bad?”

“You have no idea,” I muttered.

Maya leaned forward again. “Trust me. If a man like that is looking at you like that… you affect him.”

I didn’t respond because I wanted that to be true, I just didn’t know if it was.

“And Marcus?” she asked after a moment.

“Did he text again?"

I bit my lip, "Atlas found out. He saw the texts last night. He knows everything."

"Oh, shit," Maya blinked. "What do you think he’s going to do? Marcus is the Dean’s son. He’s untouchable here."

"I don't know," I said, a pit of anxiety forming in my stomach. "I told him I had it handled, but he didn't look like he believed me."

Maya suddenly remembered something, reaching into her bag and pulling out a magazine.

She thudded it onto the table between us. It was Forbes.

"Speaking of your mystery man," she said, tapping the cover.

I froze. There he was. Atlas was on the cover, looking sharp, powerful, and terrifyingly handsome in a dark suit. The headline read: FORBES UNDER FORTY: A BILLION-DOLLAR MILESTONE.

"I did some digging," Maya said, her eyes scanning the page. "His full name is Atlas Johnson Reeves. He’s only 36 years old and his net worth is estimated at over 50 billion dollars. He’s not just rich, Les. He’s one of the most powerful men in the country."

She let out a low whistle, looking at his photo and then back at me.

"Oh my gosh, he is so fucking hot," Maya joked, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Can we share?"

I couldn't even laugh. I just stared at the man on the cover.

I barely made it through the café before heading to class.

My mind wasn’t even on school. It kept going back to last night. The way he touched me, the way he said I was his, the way he looked at me like he meant every word.

And then this morning he acted like none of it happened.

Cold. Calm. Like I didn’t affect him at all.

It didn’t make any sense.

By the time I got to the hallway outside my first class, people were already talking.

It wasn't the usual gossip about parties or exams. Everything felt tight and frantic.

I sat down in my seat and immediately heard the girls behind me whispering.

“Did you hear? The dean just got fired. Like literally this morning.”

“No way. That fast?”

“I’m serious. They escorted him out. Him and his son.”

I lean further into my chair.

Another girl spoke up.

“I heard someone important was here. Like really important.”

“Who?”

“Atlas Reeves.”

My heart started thumping against my ribs. He actually did it.

“What? The Atlas Reeves?” one of them gasped. “The billionaire?”

“Yes. Someone said they saw him in the admin building this morning.”

“Oh my God, he’s so fine.”

“Focus,” another one said. “You don’t think he had something to do with it?”

There was a small pause.

Then one of them said, “Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised.”

The other girl started fangirling about how hot he was but I couldn't even listen anymore. I didn't have this class with Maya so I just grabbed my bag and slipped out the door. I had to see it for myself.

I walked through the hallways and tried to stay out of sight. I kept close to the lockers and moved toward the administrative block. I just wanted to know if Marcus was really gone.

I rounded the corner and stopped dead in my tracks.

The council room doors were wide open and a group of board members were standing there. Atlas was right in the middle of them.

He looked exactly like he did this morning.

He was in a suit and his face was like stone.

I froze right there, completely still, like my body forgot how to move.

For a second, everything else faded, the voices, the movement, everything.

It was just him looking at me.

He didn't smile or even nod but the way he looked at me made my skin flush. My breath caught, and I just stood there, stuck between walking in and turning around like I had never come.

Just as expected, him and the others walked right past me. I pushed myself further against the wall to stay out of the way, but his gaze never left mine. It was heavy and intense, and it made my stomach flip.

I finally let out the breath I didn't know I was holding once they disappeared. Even though I was happy Atlas dealt with Marcus, it still didn’t make me feel any better. Honestly, it just made me feel more anxious because of how Atlas had been acting toward me since this morning. He was so distant and professional, like the shower never happened.

I started wondering if this was just what I got for being so desperate for a man’s attention. I went back to class and the day just dragged on forever. Every minute felt like an hour. When it eventually came to an end, I decided to go straight home instead of Maya’s place.

I just wanted to rest and stop the stress of overthinking what Atlas felt after last night. He hadn't said anything romantic or even soft. The only thing he left me with in the shower was a cold goodnight before he walked out.

I walked through the front door and dropped my bag, but my heart sank immediately. The last person I wanted to see was sitting right on the couch.

Elena.