Chapter 151: Borrow Your Name
Lola hadn’t even stepped out of the car earlier to check on the workers in the garden renovation. She couldn’t, not after just learning that Melissa might have had something to do with her pregnancy.
Heading straight to Summit Partners, Lola’s mind was clearer than it had ever been. Strangely, she wasn’t even angry. Not as angry as she expected. Instead, she felt calm — like lava that slowly crawls out of a volcano, burning everything in its path.
Soon, she pulled up in front of Summit Partners.
Much to her surprise, the moment she stepped out of the car, Allen and a few people were lined up outside.
"Huh?" Lola glanced around, making sure she wasn’t blocking an important guest. But there was no one else but her.
"Miss Young." Allen suddenly approached her. "I’ll ask somebody else to move your car."
Snapping out of her brief distraction, she faced him. "Thank you," she said, handing him her keys.
"No problem." He motioned toward the entrance. "Shall we? The chairman is waiting for you in his office."
Lola pressed her lips together, forcing a small smile before nodding. Walking side by side with Allen, she noticed him passing her keys to someone jogging to his side. As they entered the building, the people lined up outside followed them in.
"Uh..." Lola cleared her throat, leaning closer to whisper, "Mr. King, are you expecting an important guest?"
Allen’s brows rose. "Yes."
"Oh." She laughed lightly, glancing over her shoulder. "But they’re still following us."
"..." Allen blinked, then smiled. "That’s because she already arrived."
Lola froze mid-step, brows arching. She looked at the people behind them, then back at him.
"Did Atlas ask you to do this?" she asked quietly.
"Of course not," he chuckled, shaking his head. "I just thought you deserved a grand welcome."
"Ahh..." An awkward laugh escaped her. She cleared her throat, determination flickering in her eyes. "Thank you for the courtesy, Mr. King. But you didn’t have to."
Allen smiled, tipping his head for them to continue. As they reached the private executive lift, he spoke again.
"I know I didn’t have to, but it was necessary," he said. "Protocol."
"Protocol for a guest?"
"No, protocol for someone he thinks highly of."
They stopped before the lift as Allen pressed the button. He offered her a kind smile, though it faltered when she didn’t react as strongly as he expected. Instead, Lola just stared at him, deep in thought.
"I’m just jo—"
"Mr. King, can we take the lift together?" she asked. "I want to talk to you privately before I meet him."
Deep lines deepened on Allen’s forehead. He was caught off guard by the request, but after a moment, he smiled and nodded. Glancing at the others, he said firmly, "Take the other lift." Then, to her: "Of course, Miss Young."
DING!
The elevator doors slid open, and Allen motioned for her to step inside. "Shall we?"
They held each other’s gaze for a moment before she nodded, stepping in. He followed behind, and no one else entered. As the doors closed, she stared at the people standing outside.
So grand... huh?
As the lift ascended, Allen gave her a side glance. He waited for whatever she wanted to tell him. However, Lola stayed silent, eyes lowered as though weighing her words.
"What is it you want to discuss, Miss Young?" he asked.
Slowly, she raised her head and met his eyes. "Mr. King, Atlas mentioned you’ve been working for him for as long as he could remember."
"Yes." Allen smiled. "I’ve been with him since he took over the family business in Anteca. It’s been more than a decade."
"That means you really know him, don’t you?"
"Of course."
Lola rocked her head, swallowing the tension in her throat. Seeing her seriousness, Allen tilted his head.
"Why are you asking, Miss Young?" he asked, genuine curiosity in his voice.
She hummed, shrugging faintly. "Because I’m going to ask him for something crazy, and I want to know how low my chances are."
"Haha." He laughed, making her frown. "I’m sorry, Miss Young. I didn’t mean to laugh at you."
Clearing his throat, he added with a small smile, "Your chances are high."
"You haven’t even heard what my request is."
"It doesn’t matter," Allen said simply. "They’re high. And as someone who’s been with him for over a decade, I’m certain."
Lola studied him. She had expected realistic advice from him or at least a warning. After all, what she was planning to ask was crazy. Personally, she didn’t think it was insane — but she knew many others would.
Before she could dismiss his answer, Allen added,
"Miss Young, whatever your request is, he’ll grant it. The real question is—can you afford him?"
He didn’t mean money. Both of them knew that. Atlas had no need for it.
"At this point?" Lola ran her tongue along her inner cheek and let out a mocking chuckle. When she lifted her gaze again, her lips curled in a wry smile. "It’s either Atlas or the devil I’m shaking hands with."
DING!
The elevator chimed at the same time she finished speaking. Lola’s brows arched as the doors slid open. Allen smiled and escorted her out. But just as they stepped outside, he faced her squarely.
"The office is at the end of the hall," he said. "Just knock. He’s expecting you."
"Thank you," she murmured, lowering her head slightly before walking off.
Allen watched her go, tilting his head.
"It’s either him or the devil," he mused. "But aren’t they the same person?"
****
Knock, knock.
Lola stood in front of the corner office and knocked on the door. She drew a deep breath, waiting for his answer, which, surprisingly, came quickly.
"Come in."
His voice was faint, but that familiar tone carried loud and clear to her ears. Lola nodded to herself, pushing the door open after another steadying breath.
When the door swung open, she saw him.
Standing near the glass wall was Atlas, dressed only in his inner shirt beneath his vest. His back was facing her direction, hands shoved casually into his pockets. His shadow stretched long across the floor, almost reaching her feet.
Lola pressed her lips together, her heart steady, her mind clear. Closing the door softly behind her, she stepped forward. As she did, her foot landed on the edge of his shadow until she found herself standing completely within it.
"Atlas," she called, her hand balling into a tight fist. "I’m not going to beat around the bush."
She paused, her body calm and composed, before adding, "Let me borrow your name."