Heartbreak Me by T.L. Smith Page 0,19
running this week.”
I wipe a stray piece of hair from my face as he watches me. “I’ve been busy. You’ve kept me busy.”
“That I have,” he agrees.
“Now, if you would kindly tell me why you are here, that would be great.”
Atlas pushes off the car and steps to me, looks up at my door, and then back to me. “You should run more,” he says, as if he knows everything, then he turns back to his car.
“What do you need me to do?” I ask.
“Relax. I won’t need you until next weekend, Theadora.”
Scrunching my eyebrows, I shake my head. “So why did you come?”
Opening the car door, he looks me up and down. “Have a good day, Theadora.”
“Fuck you, Atlas,” I say with a smirk. And those words make his lips twitch.
He nods, then gets into his car and drives off.
I stand on the side of the road watching his car head off in the distance, wondering what on earth he wanted. For what reason did he come here?
Atlas is a mystery, and one I’m not sure I want to figure out.
Chapter Ten
Theadora
Flowers still come every day when I’m at work. All from ‘A.’
I don’t see him that weekend, and when the next weekend comes and goes, I am beginning to get angsty. He was a no show again, and I don’t understand how he went from so many times in one week to no contact at all in two weeks.
The following Friday rolls around three weeks after I last saw him, and when I get home that afternoon, he’s leaning against his car, looking at his diamond watch when I walk up to him.
“You’re late.”
“Didn’t know I was meeting you,” I answer.
He looks up at me from his watch, and his eyes scan me.
“How is my sister?”
“She’s fine. Mouthy as usual.”
I go to smile at his response, then quickly shake my head and remember we are not friends. This man had me kidnapped and is using me to his own advantage.
“Will I get to see her again soon?”
His eyes narrow. “I have work for you tonight. You’ll be my date.” Turning, Atlas reaches into the car and walks over to hand me a dress.
“I already have two good dresses. I don’t need another.”
“Take the dress, it’s cocktail.”
“Am I allowed to speak tonight?”
He holds out the dress, and I take it from his hands. Atlas shoves his hands in his pockets and looks at me. “When asked to.” He turns, walks to his car and looks back at me.
“I know. Be ready by six. Right?” I turn, not waiting for his answer as I walk up the stairs to my door. When I turn back around, he’s gone, and in my hand is another expensive dress.
After stepping inside, I take my time opening this one. I have a few hours to kill before he’ll be back to collect me, to take me to God only knows where.
Atlas is slowly removing my power, and I don’t like it.
Pulling out the designer Chanel dress, I almost weep at the sight of it. It has an all-black skirt. The top is made in a flesh-colored mesh with black velvet flowers covering the right parts to give it the look of a top when, in reality, it’s basically skin with strategically placed decorations.
It’s beautiful.
And my absolute favorite so far.
Getting dressed is easy, and it fits like it was made for my body. My nipples are covered by the black velvet flowers, and a few are scattered over my belly, with a few on the back too. But mostly, I am bare from the waist up. A dress like this deserves a great hairstyle, so I have put my hair up with loose curls and a black flower to the side. I paired the ensemble with black heels.
Once I am completely dressed, I pour myself a wine, because if previous events are anything to go by, I will not be drinking. And I really need a damn drink. Wine in hand, a knock comes on the door, so I drink it fast until it’s empty, before I open it, knowing it is going to be Atlas.
As soon as I see him dressed again in a black suit, I have to remember to not stare. Atlas’s eyes flick to my wine glass, then back to my face, assessing me.
“How many?”
“One,” I say, telling him the truth.
He nods, then walks to his car. I place my wine glass down on the nearby table and follow him out,