Scandalous Affair: Atlas Mate

20

O L I V I A   V A L E Z

I thought this day would be good for me. The weather was perfect. The clouds looked puffy as ever, with no sign of voluminous and slightly dark thunder cloud. And in addition, I was spending my time with Atlas Mate. It was supposed to be a beautiful day. However, it crumbled down like how darkness covered light in nighttime. 

My brows kept twitching, and my smile looked like a grimace as this harlot named Lottie Marie seemed to have unsettling hands. She kept touching that old man's arms, jokingly smacking his chest, checking his hands because they do excellent work—I'm not sure if she was talking about his artistic skills or sexually, but I think it was the latter—and she also kept leaning over and over again when they are talking. This harlot can't keep her hands to herself.

I rolled my eyes for the nth time. I swear, I could feel my eyes were about to get stuck up if this doesn't stop. I sent dagger looks at Atlas's back, ensuring he would feel like it would make holes. At hindi nga ako nagkamali dahil agad siyang napalingon sa aking gawi. Kanina pa ako nakaupo rito sa receiving area sa labas ng conference room. Hindi pa nagsisimula ang short meeting nila for finalization, kaya naman nagkwekwentuhan pa sila sa labas. At heto ako, nanonood at nakikinig lang sa kanila. Sinama niya pa ako kungg anito lang din naman pala ang mangyayari!

I gave him an irritating look when our eyes met. He scratched his nape. Atlas focused roved over my face —his expression unreadable. He held my gaze and then walked towards me without excusing himself to others. I saw how Lottie Marie was cut off from talking and looked at Atlas bewildered. Her eyes slid to me, and the corner of her mouth fell. I wanted to smirk at what I just saw. I never thought a simple thing could satisfy me. 

Atlas stopped his track in front of me. I raised my head a little so that I can meet his eyes. I crossed my arms to my chest as I perfectly sit crossed-legged. 

"Sorry, are you bored?"

"No, but if I'm here to watch you talk to others, then it's worst than feeling bored." 

He was about to say something, but my attention fastened on someone I knew. Napatayo ako sa tuwa at kumaway para mapunta sa akin ang atensyon niya. Nakita ko sa gilid ng aking mata na napakunot ang noo ni Atlas dahil sa aking ginawa. I smiled immediately when his eyes landed on me. Finally, I knew someone here! 

"Saint!" 

His eyes lighted up with recognition, "Olivia, it's good to see you here."

"I'm glad to see you here too." I said politely.

"By the way, what are you doing here?" he asked as he looked around like he was trying to find something—someone rather.

A smirk instantly formed on my lips. I tried my best to masked it with a sweet smile as I said, "I tagged along  with my dad's friend to see how things work here, and I'm not with my friends." 

Gusto kong tumawa nang makitang unti-unting namula ang tainga at pisngi ni Saint. I bit the insides on my cheeks to suppress my laugh. This boy isn't honest at all, but he is naively evident with his feelings. Napatingil ako sa pagtingin sa namumulang Saint nang may biglang tumikhim sa aking gilid.

I met Atlas's gaze. He didn't have a friendly or pleasant expression in his eyes. In fact, there was very little softness in it. I swear I felt the beast lurking behind his heavenly countenance as he looked at me. I genuinely think I saw a glimpse of the wild beast he had imprisoned within him for a second. I instinctively gulped and felt my palms dampened.

"How pleasant to meet your friend here." his tone didn't hold any clue to his emotions. And that made my knee almost buckled from it.

"Y-Yeah... Uh, Saint, this is Architech Atlas Mate—" I wasn't able to finish my sentence when Atlas interrupted me.