Chapter 8

~Atlas~

I turned my neck to the side to ease the cramp.

But the tension in my shoulders stubbornly remained. I dropped my pen and removed my glasses before rubbing my burning eyes.

I was more than tired. I was darned exhausted.

It was evening already and almost everyone had left. For a brief moment, the thought of going home too crossed my mind, like it had done at least a hundred times since I got married to Eliza.

And just like before, I immediately discarded the idea before it could take root. Because I knew that going home would be the most dangerous thing I had ever done.

My house was the last place I could afford to be right now. Not when Eliza was there, in my house, in my bed.

I closed my eyes and heaved a breath as my mind drifted to the day we got married. The memory of her wide, scared eyes was burned into my brain as surely as the way her lips had parted when she said the words, ‘I do.’

Only after the registrar pronounced us as husband and wife did my heart settle into a more calm pace. All through the days from when she agreed to my proposal to that moment, I had been shit scared that she would change her mind.

Even though I knew she was definitely boxed into a corner after Daniel screwed her over, I still couldn’t shake the worry that something could go wrong.

Seeing my ring on her slender finger brought me an immense amount of deep satisfaction. But at the same time, it heightened the rabid hunger that coiled under my skin.

From the moment Eliza had reappeared on Daniel’s arm four years ago, it seemed like my attraction to her had reawakened with a vengeance. And it got worse each time I caught a glimpse of her.

Heck! Who was I kidding? It was always a presence in my blood, even when she was nowhere in sight.

Just a mere thought of her was enough to bring me to painful arousal in seconds, which was plain crazy and utterly stupid.

The woman had snatched my heart out of my chest and walked all over it without a single care, only to latch onto my nephew. And I still couldn’t get her out of my head.

Pathetic! The voice snarled. It was the same one that whispered this plan into my head and kept urging me to go ahead with it, even when it became obvious that Daniel was the absolute worst.

I had learned to ignore the voice most times, but now, it was different.

I had only lasted till the evening of the day Eliza and I got married before my mind was clouded with luscious thoughts of seeing her naked in my sheets.

Her whole body was hidden in the sensible white skirt and suit she had worn for our ceremony, but that had only fired up my longing for her.

When a strand of her hair had drifted across my skin when she turned to look at something, I knew I had to leave. Fast.

So I did. I ran off and left my new bride all alone in my house on the day of her second wedding. And I didn’t care one whit about it, or so I tried to convince myself.

Blowing out a sharp huff, I opened my eyes, returned my glasses to the bridge of my nose, and straightened to get back to work. This was the only sane thing in my life right now. I couldn’t let myself be distracted. Not now, when I was this close to the end.

I shook my head and focused on the glowing laptop screen. But the words jumbled and danced before my eyes, which meant it was time to take a break.

Pushing back from the desk, I got up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window of my office that overlooked the bustling city below without being a part of it. As I watched people rush by, I felt like I was a part of the buzz while being outside it at the same time.

These conflicting parts were just like the turmoil inside my head. On one hand, I wanted to take my full revenge on Eliza and make her feel exactly what she did to me. But on the other hand, I could feel myself wavering.

Maybe the change had even started from the day Daniel proudly announced her as his fiancée. I saw the pride and joy on his face, but on hers, I could only see a dread that she kept carefully hidden.

I was starting to wonder whether that expression was actually what prompted me to do this and not a thirst for vengeance.

My gaze shifted to my reflection in the mirror and I didn’t like what I saw there. Instead of steely resolve in my eyes, I saw something else. It was soft and gentle. And fucking weak!

I scowled and turned away, thrusting my hands into my pockets, my movements jerky and angry. I was doing it again, letting Eliza get into my head, where she definitely didn’t belong.

That was a mistake the first time, but allowing it to happen this time would be utter stupidity on my part.

I felt the wall that had started to crumble in my heart go back up, this time, stronger than before.

I stalked back to my desk to pick up my phone. Unlocking it, I scrolled down to an unsaved number and dialed.

“Hello, boss,” Tony answered immediately.

I turned back to the window and leaned against my chair. “You can start,” I ordered in a hard voice.

“Sir?” Tony asked in a cautious voice that set my teeth on edge. “Right now?”

“You heard me, Tony,” I said and hung up.

I tossed the phone back to the desk and leveled a calm stare back at my image. Tilting my head slightly, I tried to determine if the look in the eyes of the man staring back at me was that of revenge or reproach.

Without waiting for an answer, I got up slowly and returned to my seat with deliberate calm. It didn’t matter whether my heart was urging me in another direction.

I already set things in motion and from now on, whatever happens…well, happened.

Setting my teeth and banishing all hints of warmth from my mind, I loosened my tie and settled in for another long night. Still, I couldn’t stop a stray thought from flashing into my head.

What was Eliza doing now?