Page 10 of Atlas
I scoff. “Right. Send the lovesick dumbass to babysit.”
“You said it, not me.”
I stand, pocket the photo, and start for the door.
“Oh, and Atlas?” I pause. “This girl’s been through shit. Handle her carefully.”
I nod once, jaw tight. “Always do.”
Then I leave, the image of the girl still burning behind my eyes, and something turning low in my gut.
I sit with my feet apart and my elbows resting on my knees. I glance up to find Tessa still watching me through curious eyes. “What?” I demand.
She shrugs, a small smile playing on her lips. “I used to be scared of you.”
Since she got with Pit, she’s gotten brave, and working for Nita probably helped with her confidence because she has to handle shitheads like me on a daily basis. “Oh yeah?”
“But the way you look after Nita . . .” She sighs with a wistful look on her face.
“If Pit saw you looking at me like that,” I say with a smirk, and she laughs.
“I’m serious, Atlas. You have the patience of a saint, and I know that one day, she’s gonna realise just how sweet you are.”
I scoff. “Sweet? I ain’t been called that before.”
Anita’s office door swings open, and a man storms out, not bothering to look in my direction as I stand. He slams the front door as he leaves, shaking the office windows. Tessa winces. “Always a pleasure,” she mutters under her breath sarcastically.
“Who was that?” I ask, glancing back to see the man getting into a BMW.
Tessa shrugs. “He drops in every now and again. Always in that mood.” I step closer to the desk, looking down at the sign-in book. “Oh, he doesn’t bother filling that in either,” she whispers. “No appointment and no record of his name.”
I give a nod and head into the office to find Nita with her head down on the desk. “You all good?” I ask, and her head whips up.
“I told Tessa to tell you I was busy,” she snaps.
“I tried,” Tessa calls back in reply. “He said it was important.”
Nita pushes to her feet, passing me and closing her door. “What was so important you couldn’t just message me?” she demands.
“Who was the guy?” I ask.
She rolls her eyes. “Why are you here?”
“Who was the guy, Nita?”
A low, frustrated growl escapes her. “A client.”
“Liar.”
She eyes me. “It’s confidential, Atlas.”
“Must be if he doesn’t sign in or book an appointment. Can anyone just turn up?”
“You need to go. I have another client due any minute, and I don’t have time to nurse your jealous ego right now.”
“Are you fucking him?”
She tips her head back and takes a deep, calming breath. “No.”
