ATLASBack to PresentSixteen years later, I’m certainly not the sorry-ass of a boy I was back then.I didn’t just fight without aiming. I laid out perfect strategies that would get me closer to my goal without having to do too much.To run the Grants completely dry.And to do all that, I needed Rhoda.But Elena wouldn’t understand it. All this together is the reason I can’t commit to Elena. I needed her, yeah. Wanted her. But I also didn’t want her involved in all this mess.This whole thing was just…complicated.My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I reached inside and pulled it out.Keelan’s name glowed across the screen, and I squinted my brows, a premonition settling in the pit of my stomach before my thumb swiped the screen.“Keelan.”“Where are you?” Keelan breathed into the speaker, an edge in his voice.“What’s the matter?”“You have to get to the office. Now.”The line beeped dead in my ear, and gripping the phone in my palms, I whirled on my heels and walked back to my car.I
ATLASI stomped my foot on the interlocked floor, frustration and rage coursing through my veins and tightening my muscles.Why couldn’t I just…say it?Why couldn’t I fucking tell her that yeah, we weren’t in a relationship but she was driving me insane?Every look, every touch, every defiance.It drives me fucking insane, and I like her for just that.I like that she can get a reaction out of me. I like that she challenges me. I like her…But I can’t even tell her that, can I?The thing was, I was head-over-heels crazy for Elena, but I struggle so hard to repress the feelings I very much itch to express.And I do this for her sake. To protect her from the Grants before they swallowed her up too.Like they did my mother.So no, I’m not bold enough to tell Elena how I really feel about her. Just yet, anyway. I’d risk ruining every plan I’d put in place since I was a boy. A teenager, precisely.Those days I’d watched my mom suffer for my sake.They were images and voice I saw and heard
ELENAI tore my lips away, conscious of the fact that we were out in the open and CCTV cameras were everywhere.I pushed at his chest, staggering away from the car and lifting a warning finger to him. “Stay away.”But he followed on my heels, dragging me by the arm. “Elena—““No!” I whirled around, flailing my arm. “Let me—“He caught the words from my mouth, yet again, pulling me to his chest.I couldn’t even resist him warm, demanding lips this time, his tongue burning me as it delved into my mouth and engaged in a fierce battle for dominance.He pressed me tight against him, our breaths hot and ragged with the force and heavy desire we used to devour each other up.We staggered all the way to his car, and he pinned me against it, ravaging my neck and body with his hands and kisses, his bulging erection pressing into my soaked front.I moaned into his mouth, driving my fingers into his hair and pulling feverishly.I had the hots for this man that seemed to anger me so much, and it s
I whirled around, staring wide-eyed at Atlas as he approached.Now why in hell did he follow us out here? What is wrong with him?Following me everywhere now, huh? Like a bodyguard or something?Or was that his fucking guilt?“What the fuck are you doing here?” I queried in a hard voice.“So,” he shoved his hands in his pockets, his eyes a pair of fiery funnels, “this is the mental health break you’re taking?”I scoffed, my fingers curling into fists at my sides. “You don’t get to dictate to me how I take my break, Atlas,” I spat, my tone venomous. “You don’t own me.”Jeremy’s gaze burned into my face all the while.“It’s not about owning you, Elena. This is about your safety.”“Says the stalker.” Jeremey stepped in here, standing a little in front of me to block me off from Atlas’s biting gaze.Atlas glared at him, his jaw ticking. “Who do you think you are?”“I saw you a while back, you know. Much before you spotted me. I saw you watching her. Like a creep. Doesn’t that make you a s
ATLASLuke knowing about Elena working with me, didn’t really come as a surprise to me.After all, I’d planned this whole thing out.I was someone that liked to be ahead of others, strategically and otherwise, as I didn’t like being caught aware.So, as usual, I’d gone steps ahead of everyone else this time too.A few days ago…“Do you really have to go this far, Atlas?”Keelan’s voice was low-strung and strained, his jaw twitching as he faced me.“What do you mean?” I asked, shoving my fingers in my pockets and walking over to the floor-to-ceiling window in his office. “I’m just trying to test the waters here, Keelan.”“By using Elena as bait?” He shook his head, coming up behind me but making sure to keep his distance a few feet away. “Come on, Atlas.”I sighed, dropping my head. “What? Look, sooner or later, they’d find out that Elena works with me now, anyway. So why not speed it up a little bit? Try to find out what they’d do if they knew, a little faster?”I lifted my hand and a
ELENAI was shocked to see Mrs. Grant standing at my door, in full flesh and blood.First of all, how did she find out where I lived?Second of all, why was she here?Even if I tried, I’d never forget what this woman did to me.She’d deceived me also, acting so nice and empathetic when I’d married her son, Luke.But she’d turned out to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing…a monster through and through.How used and broken I’d felt when I found out she was the real orchestrator behind her evil son.She’d sweet-talked me into marrying her son, made me comfortable enough to trust them, only to steal from me.I could never forget their betrayal.I wouldn’t really blame myself, anyway.She could deceive almost anyone with those looks.A brunette with striking blue eyes and the most innocent demeanor ever. Who’d ever believe someone that looked like her could be capable of tremendous evil?“What are you doing here?” I demanded, glaring at her.“Aw,” she pouted, angling her head to the side, “look