Semua Bab The Billion Dollar Revenge For Lucia Hale: Bab 51 - Bab 60

Two days had passed since Atlas had confronted Elara in the foyer, and since then, she hadn't seen him. At first, she hadn't thought much about it. He was a Lord, he could do what he wanted. Then the first night, she climbed into bed and found herself tossing and turning on the bed. She contemplated texting him the next day, but she could afford to look weak. Besides, he was the one who was at fault, not her. Pulling and pushing and possessing… It wasn't like they were married anyway, she told herself. She preferred it this way. Fewer complications, fewer tempting moments. She had a company to run and a plan of her own to protect. She did not need the distraction he was presenting. So, she buried herself in work, going to the office early in the day and returning late at night. Amelia was back as chief operations officer, and it was her who handled most of the business. She seemed more grumpy; Atlas had shaken up the company so much, and she was picking up the pieces. The boar

Atlas guided Elara out of the office and into the elevator. It was silent and comfortable next to her in the lift…but the illusion was broken when they got to the lobby on the ground floor. The people who seemed to be going about their business started to turn as they walked past.Conversations dropped, then resumed in lower tones.Elara kept her chin level and her expression neutral like he taught her, but he could tell that she couldn't get off that creepy feeling of being watched. He settled his hands on her back, firm and gentle, as he steered her towards the exit. She seemed to relax. Until they got outside, and it seemed worse.He could spot camera lenses here and there; some of them were hidden, others were out as their owners called them to pose for photos. “Curt, Bauer,” he called to two of his guards. They moved like shadows, stepping in closer to them, acting as covers.“Get these guys off the street,” he ordered a third guard who joined them from the building. “And m

Except for her pouting, Elara didn’t argue when Atlas guided her toward the exit. She let him lead her through the crowd, and she waved at Dean as they walked past the bar. Then it was back through the red door and into the quieter front section of the building. She was humming to herself. Atlas gave her an amused look as Curt led the way to the car. She leaned more of her weight into Atlas, as if she felt his gaze. He adjusted his hold, one arm steady around her. He couldn't decide if he should get her drunk again, or if she should just enjoy this side of her while it lasts. Curt opened the rear door of the black car they arrived in. Atlas helped her inside, chuckling as she started snapping her fingers to the beat of her humming… And that was when he saw the motorcycle. Years of growing in the underworld and the elite world had taught him how to spot strange stuff a mile away, had given him sharp instincts that most would kill to have. And these instincts pointed out

“What is it you want to show me?” Elara asked. He snorted. “If I told you now, it wouldn’t be a surprise anymore.” “First getting me drunk, now you're getting me surprises?” “Oh no, don't pin that on me,” he said. “You took me to the club-” “I told you we were going out.” “You said it was a surprise.” “And it WAS a surprise.” She scowled at him, and he chuckled at her expression. She only then noticed how close they were to each other. She cleared her throat and lowered her gaze to her breakfast. Most of it had gone cold, but she didn't hold back on taking another slice of bacon. “Where did you learn to cook like this?” she asked. “My mother.” Elara looked up at him. He pulled back slightly, clasping his hands on his thighs. “She ran a restaurant for years, a proper one on the east coast. My father was trapped there one rainy night and that's where they met.” “Sounds like a romance story,” she teased. “He never really talked past that part.”

“It seems that way, Darren,” Atlas replied with a short nod. Something about the way he said it made Elara give him a look. But he only looked bored, his hands carefully laced in front of him. “To future partnerships, then,” Darren said, lifting his glass. “Cheers.” Jean and Elara lifted their cups to the toast as well, but Atlas kept his fingers interlaced. She frowned again in his direction. There was a stiffness to his shoulders and this awkward quiet she had only seen in the charity ball and last night with Cillian. Was he always like this with influential people? It was making her uneasy. And then there was the quiet order he gave to Curt just before they got to the table: stay at alert. Something was definitely off with him today, more than usual. “This was a pleasure,” Jean Carver said, suddenly rising to his feet. He reached out a hand to Atlas, half-bowing in admiration. For a second, it seemed like Atlas wouldn’t take it. But a small, encouraging sm