Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele
Heart 81

Chapter 81 [Cordelia]

Atlas and I both jumped at the sound of shattering glass. Our faces are close but not touching but it doesn't take much for anyone with eyes to see that we are close enough to kiss.

As she stood there, her pantyhose covered in apple juice, she didn't scream or cry. She just stood there,

her

eyes and mouth open with shock. She kept blinking, opening, and closing her eyes, as if her brain were stuck in a loop of confusion, unable to interpret and understand what was happening in front of her

After several awkward minutes, Atlas coughs. "Angelica, I was just showing Cordelia around the factory," Atlas smoothly transitions into normal conversation, as if there were nothing amiss by the scene she had stumbled into-the two of us in a tender embrace, our lips bruised from kissing. By the cold, efficient sound of his voice, you'd never guess that just a moment ago he was using his lips to convince me to stay. "She's decided to take the designer job."

"Temporarily," I laugh, trying to make light of our situation while wallowing under the heavy weight of guilt. I am such a hypocrite. For all these years I assumed Atlas had been cheating on me, he never did once. And now, while letting Angelica believe they are engaged for the sake of her sanity, he is trying to cheat

on her-with me.

I never thought I'd be an adulterer by pursuing my ex-husband. Or more accurately, not discouraging him from pursuing me.

I take a big step back from Atlas as I look around for a wastebasket. Eventually, I replace one, and kneeling! begin picking up large shards of glass. "Oh Angelica, I'm so sorry. This looks like it would have been a lovely treat."

"Here, Cordelia, let me take care of this," Atlas bends down to take the wastebasket from my hands. Our fingertips brush and I feel the warmth radiate from his hands through my body. I feel shameless thinking about what it would be like to have these hands all over my body.

"I'm..." Angelica finally speaks. "I'm sorry I interrupted. I just."

Turning away, she trips on a piece of glass. I watch in slow motion as she begins to fall forward. I jump to my feet but Atlas is quicker, grabbing her by the waste before she hits bottom.

"Oh dear, I'm such a klutz!" she laughs nervously as she falls dramatically into Atlas' arms. "I'm so glad I have such a dashing, handsome fiance to keep me safe from my messes." "Angelica, you could have left the drink at the front desk," he smiles tightly as he helps her right herself." I'm very busy right now. I told you'd see you tonight. Why did you...

7"

"I thought it would be nice if we could eat together," she bats her eyes at him. I watch as her natural charm begins to work on Atlas and his expression softens. She's always had a way with men, especially Atlas. He's been wrapped around her finger since the first night they met.

I return to picking up the glass and don't quite notice when a shard slides along my open palm. It takes a

blood. moment for me to recognize that the swirling brownish red mixing with the juice is my

Growing faint, I look at Atlas, who only has eyes for my sister as she bemoans the state of her new dress and shoes, now stained by the spill.

Chapter 61

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"Atlas," I hold up my hand, the blood now flowing down my arm as I use my other hand to stop the flow. When he doesn't respond, I repeat his name, this time a bit more urgently.

As if waking from a dream, he blinks, looks over at me and blushes, shame in his voice for having forgotten I was there. "Oh, Cordelia, let's get someone else to pick that up L..." His face goes pale as he looks at my arm. "Cordelia, your arm..."

My world starts to spin as I stand slowly. Looking down at my arm, I see that the bleeding hasn't stopped, if anything it has gotten worse.

"It's nothing." I feel so dizzy. Taking a step forward I murmur, "I just got a small scratch I'll..."

The world falls away as my eyes close and my body starts to sway.

I feel juice on my cheek as my body hits the ground.

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