Avoiding the sunlight, I rolled over in bed, kicking the bedsheet off me. From the moment Atlas left my room, I had not been able to put my mind at rest or get a night of proper sleep. Shutting my eyelid, I allowed myself to drown in the pain from the hurt that I felt and feel every tiny bit of guilt. Suddenly, there was a loud knock on my room door, and I forced myself to open my eyes. For a while, I lay still, wanting to crawl into a hole and stay there. "Bang!" Feeling a bit annoyed, I sat up, resting my back against the headboard as I turned my head to stare at the door, feeling too drained to utter a word. "Who is it?" I finally gained the strength to say, feeling hesitant to leave the bed. "My boss asked that you come to the dining room," Maria's voice echoed from the other end of the door. "What for?" I called out in a calm tone. Not this morning, I didn't want to see him this early. The last heartache hasn't healed yet, and I didn't want to experience more. After dragg
As Altas and I sat at the table in the conference room, I kept my gaze directly at the wall clock, which shorthand rested at two, and the longhand was at twelve. So far, all I could think of was ways to fix the mess that has been made. I could try to run away and not look back, or I could help save his soul before he became another Mitch. Suddenly the conference door opened, and a guy walked in with a folder. After arriving at the company this morning, I have seen him a couple of times. "Boss, this is the report. I have to redo it like you ask." He said, staring nervously at Atlas. Since this morning, he had been on the edge, and I understood why he was, but his behavior was kind of pissing me off. With a stiff expression, Atlas took the document, scanned through it, and then threw it to the floor before angrily staring at the director of accounting "Do it again!" Atlas coldly stated. Frowning, I stared at those around the table, and all his employees immediately bent their hea
When we finally got home that afternoon and walked into the hallway, my phone kept buzzing, and I was kind of glad that it was on silent even though I felt annoyed. The organization had been ringing my line like crazy, and I felt like my time was running out. But how was I supposed to leave Atlas in such a mess-up state and abandon him? Won't I just be making the situation worse? As we walked down the hallway, there was only silence between us. But then when I was about to head upstairs, Atlas grabbed my arm and asked, "Are you not going to answer the call?" Meeting his eyes, I paused before saying, "The call doesn't concern you. So how about you stay out of it." "I thought you wanted to protect me. Is it wrong for me to do it myself!" Atlas said, his eyes a bit calmer. "Can I head upstairs? I'm tired." "Lilith, I Without waiting for a response from Atlas, I walked past him. But he grabbed my wrist, stopping me in my tracks. Then he rested his palms on my arms and slowly turne
A feeling of annoyance overwhelmed me as I lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling. After everything we had been through, I thought she was going to be the last person to abandon me at my weakest. But she did, just like my parents. What I felt for Lilith was nothing that I have ever felt before and now that she's gone, I felt darkness cloud my mind and my thirst for revenge becoming stronger. Suddenly, my room door opened, and I gazed to the left, staring at Victor, walking into my room. Then he hesitated for a moment as he stopped in his tracks before saying, "You allow her to leave?" Frowning, I pushed the sheet off me and sat up in bed, resting my feet against the cold tiles. “What was I supposed to do? Put a chain around her feet and allow her to not leave." I mumbled. "Lilith doesn't like to be caged. This is my way of setting her free." There was a long silence in the room. Then Victor sighed and said, "Tony is here to see you." "Tell him that I will be down with him i
As the room hung heavy with tension, I could feel the weight of their gazes on me, scrutinizing my every move and word. But beneath their facade of composure, I could sense their unease, their fear flickering like a hidden flame.With calculated calmness, I leaned back on the couch, my eyes locking onto each of my uncles in turn. Their collective presence seemed suffocating, but I remained composed, playing the role of the innocent nephew seeking justice."I know who killed my parents," I declared, letting the words hang in the air, savoring the moment of uncertainty that washed over them.Uncle Robert, always the one to challenge, attempted to dismiss my claim with a laugh, but his eyes betrayed a hint of apprehension. His reaction confirmed what I already suspected—they were not as confident in their deception as they appeared."Atlas, don't be insane. Your parents' death was an accident!" Robert retorted, trying to maintain control of the situation.I met his gaze evenly, allowing
Uncle Wyatt's question cut through the tense atmosphere like a knife, his tone betraying a hint of skepticism. I turned my gaze towards him, maintaining my composed facade as I considered his inquiry."Indeed, I did," I replied evenly, my voice carrying a note of authority. "But knowing who committed the act is only part of the puzzle. Understanding the circumstances leading up to it is crucial to uncovering the truth."Uncle Wyatt nodded slowly, seemingly satisfied with my response, though the skepticism lingered in his eyes.Uncle Robert, ever the opportunist, seized the moment to regain control of the conversation. With a reassuring smile directed at me, he interjected, "Wyatt makes a valid point, Atlas. Perhaps it would be best to focus on the information we already have before delving into further speculation.""I appreciate your concern, Uncle Robert," I replied, masking my true intentions behind a polite smile. "But I believe it's important to explore every avenue if we're to u
Waking up to an empty bed felt like waking up in a world without color. The sheets were cold, a stark contrast to the warmth that Lilith used to bring. I reached out, hoping to feel her soft touch, but my fingers only met the chill of the fabric. It sucked, honestly. I wanted to call out to her, to tell her to come back, but I knew better. Instead, I opted for a cold shower, hoping it would wash away the ache in my chest.The water hit me like a ton of bricks, waking me up fully. With each drop, I tried to push away the memories of her, of us. I needed to be strong, to focus on anything but her. So, I dressed quickly, trying to ignore the space around me, and headed downstairs.Tony was waiting for me, his face a mix of worry and professionalism. I nodded at him, trying to pretend like everything was normal. "Morning, Tony," I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. "Any updates on security?"He launched into a report, but I could hardly focus. Lilith's absence hung
As my uncles settled into their seats, I shifted my focus solely onto Uncle Robert. Despite the tension between us, I had to maintain the facade of familial affection, playing the game he had started."Uncle Robert," I began, my tone warm and inviting, "I've been thinking about the future of our businesses, and I believe it's time for us to consider expanding internationally. With your expertise and guidance, I'm confident we can make this venture a success."His eyes gleamed with interest, a flicker of pride evident in his expression. I could almost see his ego-inflating with the promise of greater power and influence."Expanding into foreign markets is a bold move," he remarked, leaning forward slightly. "But with the right strategy and resources, it's certainly achievable."I nodded, keeping the conversation flowing smoothly. "Exactly. And that's where your role becomes crucial, Uncle Robert. I trust your judgment and experience implicitly, which is why I want you to spearhead this