Chapter 232: A lifetime of faith.
[To: Slater
SLATER, LEAVE MANAGER JAMES ALONE. MAKE HIM CRY AGAIN, AND FORGET ABOUT HAVING A LOVING SISTER-IN-LAW.]
Slater’s face slowly turned red as he read Lola’s message, his teeth grinding.
"That — that guy!" he exclaimed, jumping from his seat, making everyone in the reading jolt in surprise. All eyes slowly turned to him, stunned at his sudden outburst.
"First, he makes me look bad in front of my mother... and now, my sister-in-law," he scoffed, glaring at his phone. His brows twitched as he realized everyone was watching him.
Slowly, Slater lifted his eyes from his phone to meet theirs.
"..." He blinked, then, like an angel, flashed a charming smile. "I’m sorry."
And somehow, one smile from him was enough for everyone to forgive him.
*****
[Summit Partners]
Atlas sat in the head seat of the conference room, listening intently to the presentation. But then, Allen approached and lowered his head, whispering into his ear.
"Sir, Miss Young sent a message, saying she’s already in the company."
Atlas’s brows rose slightly, and he glanced at his assistant. "Send her to my office."
"Sir, you still have a meeting with Travis Lancaster after this. Then another one..." Allen reminded him, making it clear these were meetings they couldn’t just cancel.
"Mhm," Atlas hummed lightly. "I didn’t say cancel my appointments. Send her to my office. She might want to nap."
"Yes, sir."
Allen quietly walked away, while Atlas refocused on the presentation.
*
*
*
"Where is she?" Allen muttered, scanning the lobby for Lola, but couldn’t spot her. "She’s usually so easy to spot in a crowd."
His eyes swept across the area until they landed on the couches. He narrowed them, catching someone reading, a magazine blocking her face.
"Is that her?" he wondered, studying the person’s outfit from head to toe. He noticed the boots tapping rhythmically on the floor.
Curious, Allen approached, stopping a few steps away. Just as he opened his mouth, the magazine was pulled down.
"What the hell is this magazine..." Lola trailed off, noticing Allen flinch the second she lowered it. "Oh?"
Allen opened and closed his mouth before offering a small smile. "I’m sorry for startling you." He lowered his head slightly, then turned on his heel.
I thought it was Miss Young...
"Oh, Assistant King?"
Allen froze at the familiar voice. Slowly, he turned around, eyes falling on the person seated on the couch.
"It’s really you!" Lola jumped from her seat. "Did he send you down here?"
Allen blinked once, then again. "Miss... Young?"
"What? You’ve forgotten about me already?"
"..." Allen pressed his lips together, swallowing hard. He had seen some pictures of her in costume, but this... this was on a whole other level. He hadn’t expected her to appear in such makeup.
Still, he pushed aside his thoughts and offered her a polite smile.
"I’m sorry. I thought I approached the wrong person." He bowed his head slightly. "And yes, he saw your message and told me to take you to his office."
"Oh." Lola shook her head. "It’s alright. I’ll just wait here, and I didn’t come here to ruin his schedule."
Allen smiled, pleased. "It’s still better to wait for him in his office. Please, I insist. Otherwise, he might come down here, and that would delay his other meetings for the day."
Lola bit her lip, considering, then nodded.
"I’m sorry," she said.
"Please don’t be," Allen gestured lightly. "Follow me."
"Thank you."
Allen and Lola headed for the lift. As they entered, Lola couldn’t resist glancing at him.
"By the way, Assistant King, I’m not interrupting anything important, am I?" she asked.
"Of course not," Allen let out a shallow chuckle. "My boss simply wants you to wait in his office because people will pass by in the lobby."
She exhaled in relief. "Okay, then. For a second, I thought I was interrupting something important just because I came by earlier than we agreed."
"Trust me, Miss Young. My boss won’t cancel a meeting unless he absolutely has to," Allen reassured her. "And by that, I mean for his children."
"I see." Lola tilted her head, lowering her eyes slightly. "He’s a good dad."
"He is... surprisingly."
"Hmm?"
"My boss told me you went to the same school," Allen said. "So, I believe you know what he’s like."
"Ahh..." Lola laughed awkwardly. Allen gave her a knowing look. "Well... I guess — yeah, it’s surprising."
Because Atlas didn’t look like the type to father a child or even get married. That was why Lola was amazed at his siblings for holding off their weddings until their eldest brother had his. That took faith. A lifetime of faith.
"But he is a good father," Allen huffed, facing the closed door. "And just by watching him with his children, I’m certain he’ll be a good husband too."
Lola’s brows rose. She stared at Allen’s side profile, pursed her lips, then lowered her head. That remark felt like it was directed at her. She didn’t want to think Allen was also part of this "mission" to marry off Atlas.
A moment of silence passed. Then Lola raised her head, studying him. Mustering the courage, she asked one question:
"Mr. King," she called, earning a hum from him. "Are you also part of the Secret Society?"
Allen’s breath hitched as he slowly turned to face her squarely. Before he could respond, a loud ring echoed from the lift.
DING!
The door parted slowly, revealing someone standing outside. Scarlet lifted her eyes, watching the door open, only to see two people inside, staring at each other silently.
"Hmm?" she hummed, her brows knitted as she eyed the shock look on Allen’s face. Then her eyes flicked to the clown standing next to him.
The confusion on her face deepened, tilting her head to the side.
Did the twins hire a creepy clown to make their father smile?
"Mr. King?" Lola called, then paused as she noticed a figure standing just outside the lift. When her gaze landed on Scarlet, she quickly recognized her.
"Uh, sorry." Allen cleared his throat. "I’ll lead you to his office."
"Okay..."
Allen turned and froze for a moment as he saw Scarlet. He gave her a curt smile before walking past her, with Lola following closely behind.
Scarlet watched them go, tilting her head slightly. "Why did he look like he just heard something ridiculous?" Her right brow slowly arched, then narrowed. "And who was that? She sounds... familiar."