CHAPTER 100: IT’S YOUR HEART HE’S AFTER.

Lola swore she wasn’t stalling, but she still couldn’t choose a movie. It had been half an hour since she started browsing, watching each trailer before moving on to the next.

"At this point, I might be able to say I’ve watched more movies tonight than I have in my entire life," she sighed, glancing at Atlas, who was still busy with his tablet.

Curious, she stretched her neck and scooted over just a little. "Are you working?"

"No." He turned to her, unbothered by her sneaking to his side. "I’m watching them."

Atlas raised the tablet, showing her a CCTV camera feed. On the screen were the twins, sleeping peacefully in their beds.

"Oh." Her mouth formed an ’o’ shape, her eyes growing round. "And you’re just watching them throughout the entire film?"

"No." He retrieved the tablet, pressed the left arrow to change the angle, and then zoomed in. "My kids sleep on time, but I’m checking Allen’s bedroom."

"Isn’t that your assistant?"

"He is."

Lola blinked rapidly as she gazed at him. "Why?"

"Curiosity." He shrugged, giving her a knowing look. "I might find something I can use to my advantage."

Lola blinked innocently again, and Atlas arched a brow at her.

"Do you want to try it?"

"Can I?" She happily jumped to his side as he handed her the tablet. She stretched her fingers, entwining her hands. "What do you want to find?" she grinned. "I’m really good at spying, just in case you didn’t know."

"Anything," he said.

"Anything to blackmail him—got it!" she nodded, and as if her life depended on it, she began intensively zooming in and out, searching for anything that could be used against his poor assistant.

"Wow," she commented after some time. "His room is very clean and organized."

"He is an organized man."

She paused, thinking of Allen. "Well, he looks like an organized man."

They continued with Lola, who appeared to be doing more of God’s work than the devil’s. Atlas, on the other hand, would occasionally point at things for her to check.

"Oh, oh, what’s this book?" she perked up excitedly after minutes of searching every grid of the room. Zooming in, they both tilted their heads in the same direction to read the title on the spine of the book.

"’Ways to find... inner peace,’" she read out loud, her face twisting as she slowly looked up at Atlas accusingly. "Are you a horrible boss?"

"I am a good person."

"And a horrible employer?"

"I pay well."

"Still a horrible boss?"

"...No."

Lola leaned back a little, the right side of her face contorted in dismay. Seeing her judgmental reaction, he cocked his head to the side.

"Are you a good boss?" he countered.

"Of course!" she raised her chin proudly. "You don’t know this, but everyone working for me really loves me. They can hug me..."

"To death?" he finished, earning a quick, defensive "NO!" from her.

"Goodness. I don’t spy on my employees," she clicked her tongue. "I haven’t reached that level of shamelessness. I’m not that intrusive."

"Should I ask someone to install secret cameras in your assistant’s room? His name is Silo, correct?"

Lola looked back at him, her eyes twinkling. "You will?"

"You are intrusive; you just didn’t have a chance."

Hearing that, the smile on her face stiffened. Damn it!

"There’s nothing to see in this room," Lola clicked her tongue and moved the camera angle to the sleeping children. "Be grateful your assistant seems to be a pure man." Her brief irritation disappeared instantly as she caught sight of Chacha sleeping with her mouth open.

"So cute," she giggled, trying to see Second’s sleeping face. "Hehe. I want to pinch them."

Lola zoomed in and out on the camera to see them more closely. Her smile broadened the longer she looked. A part of her felt a slight longing, and she just wanted to go there and join them in bed.

"Smelling a bit of wine is fine around kids, right?" she asked herself aloud, then turned her head. "Should we—"

The rest of her words died in her throat the moment she caught his gaze, already fixed on her. Atlas was just staring at her without a word. Yet, his gaze was enough to send all sorts of emotions through her, enough for her to hear her own heart beating in her ears.

"Wha—what?" she stuttered, clearing her throat and forcing a livelier tone. "Is there something on my face or what? Why are you looking at me like I have a booger...?"

Her words trailed off as she suddenly felt a warm weight on top of her head. Surprised, she looked up at him again, only to see him lean forward. He stopped only when his face was almost a palm’s length away from hers.

"Do you feel better now?" he asked, staring at her up close.

With his face so near and curiosity flickering in his eyes, she was reminded of the twins’ curious gazes.

Lola’s mouth parted, but no sound came out.

"What kind of question is that?" she let out a shallow laugh. "It’s not like I was in a horrible mood and needed cheering."

But he didn’t answer as he retrieved his hand. The usual look in his eyes, which often gave off the idea that he knew everything and could see right through people, was there. Yet, it wasn’t the same coldness or sharpness she had seen before.

It was... a quiet warmth, perfectly hidden in his perfect confidence.

"Well, maybe... I was a little upset," she whispered. "But not because I wasn’t recognized by my own father, but because I want nothing to do with them, yet I still deal with them, anyway. Pretty messed up, like I said."

Atlas nodded as he leaned back against the couch. "Dealing with people is upsetting in itself," he remarked calmly. "Just don’t deny it next time."

Lola pursed her lips, watching him pick up the tablet from her lap and continue spying on his assistant’s room. Her eyes softened, and she bit her inner bottom lip.

Damn it, Lola, she told herself. You didn’t protect your mind, and now... it’s your heart he’s after.