Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele
Heart 80

Chapter 80 [Cordella]

Atlas leans back, his face clouded with anger. Cursing he shouts, "I'm busy! Tell whoever it is to come back in an hour."

He eyes my lips with a devilish grin. "Now where were we? Oh yes, negotiating."

He leans forward. Reaching up. I place a hand on his chest to stop him.

"Wait, shouldn't you see what that person wants?" I struggle to catch my breath, his proximity making me tingle in embarrassing places, "What if it's important?"

"What can be more important than this," he kisses me again gently. "I almost lost you, Cordelia, I thought you were gone forever. And do you know what I realized?" His eyes scan my face nervously. "I realize that I lov..." We are interrupted again by loud knocking at the door. "I'm sorry sir, but she insisted."

"Who?"

"Your wife."

"Not possible," Atlas grumbles at his secretary through the door, "Call security. Have them escorted off the property."

"Atlas, what if it..."

"No," he insists, leaning forward again. "Cordelia Greyson Steele, I..."

This time the banging is softer but more insistent. "Atlas darling, I'm sorry to disturb you but I brought you

lunch!"

I recognize that voice. Angelica. "Go," I mouth, nodding my head in the direction of the door.

He frowns, disappointed with my answer. Shaking his head he turns towards the door. "Just leave it with Drew, Angel," he replies gently although irritated by the intrusion. "I'll see you later for dinner. Now please let me get back to work." "Oh...okay," her voice is small. "I guess I'll see you

I'll see you later then..."

Her footsteps start to retreat and I feel ashamed. I know Angelica was hostile to me and even seemed to want to cause me harm, but she deserves more consideration than this.

"Atlas," I sigh. "You need to go talk to her. She's probably upset and confused."

Nodding, I listen as he chases after her. Peeking around his blinds, I see she smiles up at him, happy that he had the time for her. I know what it feels like to be shunned by Atlas Steele. It cuts deeper than any knife.

I know because that's how I've felt for the last five years.

My hands wander up to my lips in wonder. Atlas just kissed me. Not once, but several times. He wants to date me, even with everything else going on around us.

CLOSET DO

Chapter 80

(Cordelia)

Atlas leans back, his face clouded with anger. Cursing he shouts, "I'm busy! Tell whoever it is to come

back in an hour."

He eyes my lips with a devilish grin. "Now where were we? Oh yes, negotiating

He leans forward. Reaching up, I place a hand on his chest to stop him.

"Wait, shouldn't you see what that person wants?" I struggle to catch my breath, his proximity making me tingle in embarrassing places, "What if it's important?"

"What can be more important than this," he kisses me again gently. "I almost lost you, Cordelia. I thought you were gone forever. And do you know what I realized?" His eyes scan my face nervously that I lov..." We are interrupted again by loud knocking at the door. "I'm sorry sir, but she insisted."

"Who?"

"Your wife."

realize

"Not possible," Atlas grumbles at his secretary through the door, "Call security. Have them escorted off the property."

"Atlas, what if it..."

"No," he insists, leaning forward again. "Cordelia Greyson Steele, I..."

This time the banging is softer but more insistent. "Atlas darling, I'm sorry to disturb you but I brought you

lunch!"

I recognize that voice. Angelica. "Go," I mouth, nodding my head in the direction of the door.

He frowns, disappointed with my answer. Shaking his head he turns towards the door. "Just leave it with Drew, Angel," he replies gently although irritated by the intrusion. "I'll see you later for dinner. Now please let me get back to work." "Oh...okay," her voice is small. "I guess I'll see you later then..."

Her footsteps start to retreat and I feel ashamed. I know Angelica was hostile to me and even seemed to want to cause me harm, but she deserves more consideration than this.

"Atlas," I sigh. "You need to go talk to her. She's probably upset and confused."

Nodding, I listen as he chases after her. Peeking around his blinds, I see she smiles up at him, happy that he had the time for her. I know what it feels like to be shunned by Atlas Steele. It cuts deeper than any knife.

I know because that's how I've felt for the last five years.

My hands wander up to my lips in wonder. Atlas just kissed me. Not once, but several times. He wants to date me, even with everything else going on around us

1/3

But how can I do this to Angelica?

Atlas reenters the room and as soon as he shuts the door again, pulle me into his arms.

"Atlas, wall." I press my fingers to his lips, keeping us apart. This isn't fair

He shakes his head. "Cordelia "

"No, listen," I sigh. "She has no idea what is happening around her. She still thinks you two are engaged She is living in your house. I know what it feels like to be in love with you and not have it returned. I know what it feels like to want you every day when you only have eyes for my sister. Atlas' face is wide with wonder. 'Did you just say that you loved me?"

"Atlas," I avoid answering the question. "You're missing the point. It doesn't matter how I might feel about you, I can't do this to Angelica. No matter what may happen between us, or has happened, I could never make another person feel that low."

He frowns. "But Cordelia, you and I...we deserve our chance at happiness too."

"No, Atlas "I shake my head. "It's not..."

He silences me with his lips. I pull back and he draws me back into him. "No, Cordelia, I refuse your

counteroffer."

His tongue slips between my lips and I feel myself melt against him, my body betraying my better sensibilities. "Atlas," I moan as I come up for air. His kisses are the opposite of his outward demeanor. For a man who appears so clean and cool, his mouth is all passion and heat. I want to pull away, but I feel myself melting into him.

"Please Cordelia," he begs. "While we are here, while we are in this space, please be mine. Even if everywhere else we must be apart, at least for now, let me be with you here."

"Okay, Atlas." I grin against his lips. "I give in to your second condition, but I still haven't decided about the

first."

"Oh you will," he nuzzles me affectionately. "I'm sure of it."

Adjusting our clothing, we head back out into the office. From the side looks we are receiving, I can tell that not everyone is convinced of our "professional relationship.

We ride the elevator down one floor and he shows me the workshop, his sewing facilities, and what he wants to be my office-a ridiculously large room with a view of the ocean.

"This is too much, Atlas," I stand with my hands against the window in disbelief. This is easily a 5 million. dollar view.

Atlas doesn't agree, insisting that I deserve much more than this. "You should, after all, be in charge of your own company."

He continues to show me all the advantages of working in a facility like this and the mote I see, the harder it is for me to refuse him.

Why am I even resisting?

2/3

+25 BONUS

Chaptered

But how can I do this to Angelica?

Atlas reenters the room and as soon as he shuts the door again, pulls me into his arms.

"Atlas, wait, I press my fingers to his lips, keeping us apart. "This isn't fair."

He shakes his head. "Cordella."

"No, listen," I sigh. "She has no idea what is happening around her. She still thinks you two are engaged. She is living in your house. I know what it feels like to be in love with you and not have it returned. I know what it feels like to want you every day when you only have eyes for my sister. I..."

Atlas' face is wide with wonder. "Did you just say that you loved me?"

"Atlas," I avoid answering the question. "You're missing the point. It doesn't matter how I might feel about you, I can't do this to Angelica. No matter what may happen between us, or has happened, I could never make another person feel that low."

He frowns. "But Cordelia, you and I...we deserve our chance at happiness too."

"No, Atlas." I shake my head. "It's not..."

He silences me with his lips. I pull back and he draws me back into him. "No, Cordelia, I refuse your counteroffer."

His tongue slips between my lips and I feel myself melt against him, my body betraying my better sensibilities. "Atlas," I moan as I come up for air. His kisses are the opposite of his outward demeanor. For a man who appears so clean and cool, his mouth is all passion and heat. I want to pull away, but I feel myself melting into him.

*Please Cordelia," he begs. "While

e are here, while we are in this space, please be mine. Even if everywhere else we must be apart, at least for now, let me be with you here."

"Okay, Atlas." I grin against his lips. "I give in to your second condition, but I still haven't decided about the first."

"Oh you will," he nuzzles me affectionately. "I'm sure of it."

Adjusting our clothing, we head back out into the office. From the side looks we are receiving, I can tell that not everyone is convinced of our "professional" relationship..

We ride the elevator down one floor and he shows me the workshop, his sewing facilities, and what he wants to be my office-a ridiculously large room with a view of the ocean,

"This is too much, Atlas," I stand with my hands against the window in disbelief. This is easily a 5 million dollar view.

Atlas doesn't agree, insisting that I deserve much more than this. "You should, after all, be in charge of your own company.

He continues to show me all the advantages of working in a facility like this and the mote I see, the

harder it is for me to refuse him.

Why am I even resisting?

Chapter 80

+25 BONUS

"So," Atlas asks me after my tour is through. "Can I expect you here on Monday?"

I pause, hesitating. "Atlas...can I think about it?"

your mind."

He looks disappointed but nods his head. "Yes, of course. Take the time you need. But I know you have a limited deadline, so I recommend that you get started even before you decide if you are taking the position or not. We can come to terms later after you've made up It makes too much sense for me to say no so I agree to his terms. "I'll be here on Monday but only on a trial basis," I insist. "I might still decide to NOT sign on.

"Understood," he nods his head in approval, respecting my decision.

"As for my second offer," he leans in closely.

"Do you feel it is appropriate for us to date, if you are going to be my boss?"

"Well as the boss, don't I get to make the rules?"

He leans in to kiss me again when the door opens behind us.

"Atlas I forgot to give you....

A glass bottle shatters on the ground.

Angelica is standing in the doorway, her eyes wide with shock.

VictoryAnne Vice Author

So close....

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