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Chapter 127 Mutually Beneficial
It was Ryan Phillips, my senior at university. Coincidentally, we grew up in the same town. I heard he had ventured abroad. Besides that, I hadn’t received any news from him for many years.I instructed Carol Adams, my assistant, to call him for an interview. Carol was a veteran employee at Tanum Corporation. Although she didn’t have a higher education, she possessed impressive business skills and memory.She chose to stay with the company because of a conflict with Melanie. Hence, I promoted Carol to be my assistant.When I met Ryan, I could tell he knew I owned Tanum Corporation. While delighted by the reunion, I didn’t beat around the bush, “You know it’s me, right?”He responded with a faint smile, saying, "I do."“My company is modest in scale and might not align with your qualifications and experience,” I stated, “I must also clarify our salary may not meet the standards you’ve grown accustomed to in larger corporations.”He replied straightforwardly, “Let’s make a deal. Yo
Chapter 128 Utterly Exhausted
On my way to Solaris, I looked out the plane window at the clouds. Suddenly, I thought of an unexpected person. I hadn’t seen or heard from Atlas since the divorce proceedings concluded. Although he hadn’t called, I somehow felt disappointed.Still, I kept my distance, not wanting to get too close to him. Despite my efforts, I couldn’t help but wonder why he hadn’t called or even texted me. Strangely, I saw a missed call from him after turning my phone on when the plane landed.My mind raced, but I returned the call after some hesitation. Atlas asked, “Where are you?”"I just landed in Solaris," I replied."Alone?""Yeah.""All right, stay safe." His tone was distant, and he didn't seem interested in continuing the conversation. "I'll hang up now."I was frustrated. Atlas called me, yet he didn’t intend to say much. I was about to ask why he called, but he had already hung up. I sighed and pocketed my phone, feeling conflicted.When I met Fred this time, he seemed much better.
Chapter 129 Late Night Visit
I thought I was dreaming, so I palmed my forehead before laying back down. However, the knocking continued, and I tensed up, asking, “Who is it?!”A voice from outside replied, "It's me!"I couldn’t believe it. My drowsiness disappeared as the person repeated, “Open the door, Chloe. It’s me.”I jumped out of bed and stumbled to the door. My heart raced as I mumbled, “That voice sounds like… How’s that possible?”I peeked through the peephole and saw a tall figure standing in the dimly lit corridor. My heart skipped a beat, and I trembled before opening the door. I saw a weary-looking Atlas standing before me with a faint smile.I stared at him in disbelief, fearing he would disappear if I blinked. I asked shakily, “H-How’d you get here?”I wanted to throw myself into his arms but dared not. He looked at me and pursed his lips, looking somewhat tired. “I knew you were here, so I had to come. Aren’t you glad to see me?”Then, he put his arm around my shoulder and said, "Let me in.
Chapter 130 The Graceful Silhouette
We woke up close to noon the following day, and I felt Atlas’s arms wrapped around me. I doubted he would let go if Fred didn’t call me.I told Atlas I still had work to do and had to return to Foswood in the evening. He released me and got up, offering to have lunch with me.My relationship with Atlas made me feel conflicted. I wondered what we were to each other. It felt like the puzzle pieces just fit. He hadn’t made commitments, and there were no declarations of love.Whenever I saw him, I didn’t know how to refuse him. For some reason, I felt comfortable being with him. He didn't ask for my consent again and simply took action. So, I dared not ask him about the nature of our relationship.It was already late at night when I reached Foswood. I was so exhausted that I could barely speak. My mom looked at me with a heavy heart and shook her head, saying, “Chlo, why are you pushing yourself so hard?“Do you want to come home with your dad and me? Life is short, so isn’t comfort a
Chapter 131 A Den of Vice
I saw them standing up out of the corner of my eye. The woman spoke to Atlas while she casually put her arm around his. When they turned, she looked arrogantly at the diners. Although not striking, her delicate face was charming.Atlas met my eyes with a blank face. She followed his line of sight and turned to face me. Her entire body froze, and there was a peculiar expression on her face.Atlas calmly led the woman away. Just before they disappeared from view, she shot me another glance.Ivanna noticed how Atlas's presence affected me and said, “Let’s grab some drinks. Loosen up a bit!”I raised both hands in agreement, hoping a few drinks would help me clear my head.However, Ivanna drove us to the Newturn Bar, which I was apprehensive about. She ordered two cocktails for us, and I gulped one down without knowing what it was. Then I signaled the bartender for another.“Hey, take it easy. Do you want to get wasted?” Ivanna raised her voice as she leaned on the bar. “Savor the taste.
Chapter 132 Coming to the Rescue
I felt a rush of wind, startling me. I covered my head and screamed, but the expected pain never came. Instead, I heard a loud cracking sound.It shocked me halfway sober. Frightened, I turned to see the man crashing onto a table. Atlas was standing by our side, guarding us.The man struggled to his feet and lunged at Atlas. I screamed, and Atlas immediately punched the man. He howled in pain.Despite the many stares, Atlas acted promptly. He grabbed my arm without a word and strode toward the exit. Ivanna picked up our bags and followed us outside.“You’ve got some nerve coming to a place like this and drinking,” Atlas said with a growl.I trembled from my close call, but Atlas’s menacing face sent shivers down my spine. He had been all smiles in the restaurant. Why did his face change when he looked at me?“Chlo, are you okay?” Ivanna checked on me, then looked at Atlas. “Sorry about this. It was my idea to come here.”I managed a faint smile, thinking there was no point dwe
Chapter 133 What Are We?
The words were tantalizing, but who did he spend time with today? The thought made me chuckle bitterly.What right did I have to interfere with his choice of company? How often had I been oblivious to that? How could I possibly know?“Why are you laughing?” His patience was wearing thin.“Enough, Mr. Atlas. I wouldn’t dare ask you to keep me company.” I pouted. “A mere commoner like myself wouldn’t dare!”Truly, I wouldn’t dare. He wasn’t mine to claim, and I had to give myself a reality check. I was recently divorced and involved in legal disputes.What right did I have to compete with anyone? Thinking about our relationship left me even more perplexed. Who was I to him? Still, seeing him with another woman caused me unexpected pain.Did my feelings grow too fast? Had I rushed from one chapter of my life into the next? I felt heartless.Atlas asked, “Why the sudden silence?” “What would be appropriate for us to talk about?” I asked softly, looking at him.“Ask whatever you
Chapter 134 A Curveball
I thought the situation with his cousin had been resolved, but I soon found myself face-to-face with her.On Monday, Ryan officially joined the team. His presence gave me a boost of energy, as if he had lifted half of the weight off my shoulders.As a show of trust, I gave Ryan a detailed account of Tanum Corporation’s entire development process, including how it had been hollowed out.He even playfully referred to it as my second venture.On Tuesday, I went to ATL Empire for a meeting. Atlas’s cousin was there instead of him. She looked stunning in a pantsuit and came to our project meeting.Throughout the meeting, her gaze remained locked on me, making me uneasy.It was not until the meeting was over and Carol and I were walking out that she called, “Ms. Chloe!”I turned around and saw her approaching with a cheerful smile. “You’re Ms. Chloe, right?”“Yes, I’m Chloe Hartz!” I nodded, extending my hand in a friendly gesture. After all, this was ATL Empire, and I needed to main
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