Chapter 150: Brain Rot
When the call ended, Atlas casually shoved the phone back into his suit. As he did so, he paused, noticing everyone staring at him.
"What?" he asked dryly. "Go on. No need to stop. I can multitask."
Meaning, Scarlet didn’t need to stop just because someone had called him. He could handle both at the same time.
"Atlas, your schedule is packed today," she reminded in a knowing tone. "Have you forgotten your important meeting with the president of Novera?"
"Forget?" he repeated flatly. "No, I didn’t forget my meeting. I just never thought it was important."
He blinked and then jerked his chin at the man across from Scarlet. "Continue. I need you to finish this in... five minutes."
"Sir, I don’t think Miss Young will be here in five minutes," Allen whispered, leaning to his side. All he got was a nonchalant shrug from his boss.
"Get to the point," Atlas said. "Because right now, I don’t know where this discussion is headed, nor why it’s a problem of mine."
Atlas cocked his head slightly, looking bored. "Someone wants me dead. And?"
Everyone stared at him, then exchanged glances. For a man who had been receiving more death threats than usual, Atlas truly didn’t seem to care. He wasn’t even pretending to be tough. He simply didn’t care.
"Sir, that is beside the point," one of the men spoke solemnly, pushing the meeting forward within the time they had left.
*****
Minutes later...
Everyone had already left Atlas’ office, stretching their five-minute limit into fifteen. Still, the extra time saved Atlas more trouble, since they had only been circling the same subject.
Now, all had gone, including Allen, who walked out with the men except Scarlet.
"You’re still here. Why?" Atlas asked while scrolling on his phone, exchanging messages with his children.
Scarlet’s sharp eyes studied him, clearly displeased. "You’re cancelling today’s affair... because of a woman?" she pressed. Still, he didn’t look up.
"Atlas, do you really like Lola Young? You?"
He didn’t answer. She wasn’t even sure if he was even listening.
"I know you haven’t been happy with me," she huffed. "You think I’m saying this because I’ve forgotten my place. I thought about it and realized — it isn’t me who’s forgotten my place. It’s you who’ve forgotten mine."
Her brow arched. "It’s my job to make sure your best interest is the family and the Order," she stressed. "And anything or anyone who distracts you from that should be dealt with."
Atlas still didn’t answer.
"I’m just saying — you need to go to your meeting," she added, finally rising to her feet. "And I’m telling you this out of the goodness of my heart. Once Lola Young finds out about the Order or even the Secret Society, someone will have to deal with her. You and I both know she cannot walk around with that knowledge."
Having said her piece, Scarlet turned on her heel to leave. But just as her hand touched the knob, Atlas finally spoke.
"Unless she’s the matriarch of the family," he said, his attention still on his phone. "Then she can walk anywhere in this world freely."
Scarlet froze, eyes widening.
"What did you say?" She blurted, spinning back to him. "Atlas, are you planning on—"
"It’s my plan, but the decision is up to her," he continued, giving her a casual glance. "It’s your job to keep the family’s best interests. If she becomes part of my family... you’ll have to look after her, Scarlet."
"I can depend on you for that, can’t I?" he added.
Scarlet’s expression stiffened as she tried to control her emotions. Still, her fists clenched in secret.
"Of course," she nodded tightly. "That is, if she can be a part of this family."
A trace of mockery laced her voice as she didn’t linger, quickly turning her back and walking out with a heavy heart. As she stepped out of the office, Allen was just walking back in.
"Oh, by the way, Scarlet. About the meeting..." Allen trailed off as she brushed past him. His mouth curved downward as he watched her figure disappear.
"Not again," he muttered, shaking his head. "What did he say to her this time?"
Sighing, Allen dragged his feet into Atlas’s office. When he did, Atlas was already standing near his desk.
"Sir, did you fight with Scarlet again?" Allen asked in frustration. "I know you two always clash, but aren’t you provoking her too much lately?"
"Provoking her?" Atlas glanced over his shoulder. "I’m not doing anything excessive. She’s just reacting strangely lately."
Allen paused, looking up as he thought about it. "Now that you mention it..." he thought of their relationship.
The two always bantered, clashing over their very different approaches. But it was a good contrast. Atlas needed someone who opposed him — just as he wanted Allen to oppose him when necessary. It gave him space to think, to reconsider things.
After all, Atlas held power no one could imagine, and he didn’t want to misuse it — or let it get into his head. That was why he needed people unafraid to voice their opinions. Scarlet was one of them.
In other words, Atlas hadn’t changed. But something in Scarlet’s tension felt different.
"Ahh..." Allen rocked his head, snapping his eyes to Atlas. I guess she’s jealous of Miss Lola.
But he kept that thought to himself, watching Atlas clear his desk.
"Huh?" Allen blinked. "Sir, are you... cleaning?"
Atlas paused, then looked back. "Yes. I have a visitor." He held up a folder. "Shred this. She might think I waste my time reading brain-rotting business proposals."
"Hah... hah..." Allen nodded, taking it with a twitch in his expression. As he headed to the connecting office, he peeked at the folder and his face twisted. "Brain rot... this is a legal document with Derek Lancaster."
He shook his head, glancing at the transparent wall between the offices. Atlas was still tidying his desk like it was an inspection.
"I guess he’s interested in her," Allen murmured. "No, I’m certain he is. But why is he clearing his desk?"
Little did he know, Atlas wasn’t staring at his desk because he thought it was messy. He was staring because of the what-ifs.
What if she sits on his desk? Or lie there? How could she fit?