Semua Bab The Billion Dollar Revenge For Lucia Hale: Bab 31 - Bab 40

Atlas sat at the long dining table, one leg crossed casually over the other, a glass of red wine in his hand. The chandelier light cast soft shadows across the polished wood and the array of dishes the staff had prepared. But he had little interest in dinner at the moment. He had seen the look that passed over Elara's face when he had gotten that call. It was from one of his old time flings (was it Penny or Peggy? He couldn't remember), one of the ones who couldn't take a damn hint. He had made it plain and clear to every lady that he was involved in: he didn't want relationships or attachment or commitment. But of course this one had to call, right when he was having a moment with Elara. She claimed she had seen some gossip blog nonsense about him and a “new girlfriend.” He’d cut the call short, but was starting to contemplate tracking all their numbers down, and blocking them. The sound of footsteps made him look up. Elara walked in, graceful as ever, but he noticed she woul

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO The alarm pulled Elara from a restless sleep at exactly seven o’clock. She lay still for a long moment, staring at the ornate ceiling. Atlas hadn’t returned last night. And his single text had done little to ease her mind. But he could stay away as long as he likes, she thought, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. ‘I have bigger things to worry about.’ The bathroom welcomed her with clouds of steam and the soothing rush of hot water. She lingered under the shower, letting it ease the tension from her shoulders. Picking her clothes was easier this time, now that she knew what aesthetic to go for. She selected a crisp white blouse and tailored black trousers that hugged her slender frame, finishing with a sharp blazer. Simple gold earrings and a sleek ponytail completed the look. She straightened her shoulders and met her own gaze in the mirror. She was loving this new woman, Elara Harrington. The woman who had once let herself be erased was gone. H

Afternoon came, and Elara was still stuck with piles of documents that blurred into an endless sea of numbers and legal terms. She groaned, pressing her fingers to her temples. “I can’t take this anymore. These are impossible to understand.”Langford, who as sitting in the lounge chair across from her, flipped through his own stack and nodded in agreement. Atlas had sent them over an hour ago, with a note reminding her that, as CEO, she need to know everything going on in her companies.Her mind wandered to him, somewhere in the building right now. Was he buried in records, or was he flashing that easy smile at some secretary? Or was he out of there already, with one of his so-called flings…She pushed the thought away quickly. Atlas can't be all that occupies your mind, she warned herself. She returned her attention to the papers in front of her, but they blurred out of her focus very quickly. Eventually, she slapped her hands on the desk, jolting Langford and got to her feet.

On the other side of the city, Elara Harrington was finally ready to collapse on her bed. All she wanted now was sleep: deep, dreamless rest that would let her forget the weight of the Harrington name for a few hours. She took a long shower after dinner, then changed into a light nightgown that felt warm to the touch. Maybe tomorrow she would book a massage, she thought. Or a full day at a spa. Once upon a time, luxuries like those were in her imagination alone.And now, she actually had the money to indulge herself.The time on her beside clock was ten minutes past ten when she slipped under the covers.But then the soft click of the door opening made her sit up sharply.Atlas entered the room, shut the door and leaned against it, watching her with that unreadable expression of his.“Still intending to make good on your bet?” he asked quietly. “The one where I sleep on the floor?”Elara scoffed. Now it was her turn to smirk. “Wouldn't that be a sight,” she said. “The great Lord S

“You can go ahead,” Atlas told Amelia. “Elara will be down in a bit.”If looks could hurt, Amelia would have given Atlas a horrible wound. For a second, it looked like she might say something harsh in reply. But she simply turned back to Elara and said, “I’ll let you know if anything comes up.” Then she shot him another look before she slipped out of the room without another word. “Did she really propose to you or is there something else going on between you two?” Elara asked promptly. He shrugged. “I told you all that you needed to know.” Then he nodded at where Amelia stood seconds ago and added, “Letting her handle the charity ball was a smart move.”She raised a brow. “Was it?”“She’s been organizing it for years. Besides, it keeps her occupied…and out of our way.” He snorted. “It’s one of the few things I think she actually enjoys. That, and ruining your company.”“You can’t prove that ruined anything.” “I can’t prove it YET.” Elara folded her arms. “What would she benefit