"Are you angry?"
Lola’s steps stopped, and she looked back at Atlas. "Angry? Who? Me?" she laughed. "Why would I get angry?"
"I don’t know," Atlas shrugged, still leaning against the wall. "Are you?"
"No, I’m not." A reassuring smile quickly appeared on her face. "There’s nothing I should be angry about. If anything, it’s just a little... awkward."
Atlas tilted his head, waiting for an explanation. Lola smacked her lips, not really in the mood to explain herself. But since he was asking, she might as well.
"I mean, don’t get me wrong," she said, turning around to face him squarely. "It’s just that I didn’t mean to eavesdrop or to get wind of your phone call with your baby."
Deep lines appeared between his brows while she laughed it off. Lola waved dismissively.
"All I’m saying is, our setup is very strange... if you think about it," she rolled her eyes. "Unless I position myself as a nanny in my own home, then it’s not. But I’m not a nanny, and I don’t want to cause trouble between you and your girlfriend. I mean... I don’t want another problem, Atlas. As you already know, I have a lot on my plate."
"The last thing I wanted was to have someone fighting me over a man I have no feelings for," she added, her voice clear and without hesitation. "I like the twins, but I think... you should open up more opportunities for them and your lover so they can bond."
"Just my two cents," she shrugged. "But I’m not angry, that’s for sure."
Lola flashed him a smile, raising her brows. "Goodnight!"
After saying her piece, she turned on her heel and hurried away. She said what she said, and all of it came from the heart.
Meanwhile, Atlas blinked slowly, his gaze following her retreating figure.
He pondered what she said, then glanced in the direction she had disappeared. He rocked his head in understanding.
"Is that... what others call jealousy?"
****
Was Lola jealous? Of course not!
"Why would I get jealous?" she muttered to herself, puffing her cheeks as she ironed the twins’ uniform. "Also, why would he even ask if I’m angry? Clearly, in this house that I pay for, I am the nanny in his eyes."
Her face twisted in dismay, and she clicked her tongue as she ironed more intensely. She succeeded in stopping overthinking things until she had to hang the twins’ uniforms. Another deep sigh escaped her as she put the uniforms on the hangers.
"Fine," she rolled her eyes. "Maybe I’m a bit... jealous. Or annoyed."
After all, this entire setup was misleading. She—no, it was Atlas—who was living with her. Not just that, but the twins too, and his brother!
"It’s not like I’m complaining or expecting something, but... I just think it’s sort of unfair for the other lady," she whispered to herself, sighing for the umpteenth time. She frowned. "Now that I think about it, maybe he does see me as a nanny."
And she couldn’t fully blame Atlas because Lola was guilty of enabling him. Looking at the uniforms she was hanging in the walk-in closet, she forced a smile and shrugged.
"I should’ve just looked at the twins... and not the entire package," she muttered, frozen in place. "Besides, it’s even weirder if he didn’t have any love interest at this age."
Deny it or not, Slater was right.
Atlas was handsome, and in her eyes, he was even dreamy. He’s smart, successful, and a total package. He didn’t have to pursue anyone because ladies—smart, successful, and beautiful ones—would line up for him. Just like how his admirers in high school would line up just to confess their feelings for him.
He had a lot of options.
"And... I don’t want to be just one of the options he has," she whispered, shaking her head as she caught herself feeling a little dejected. "For crying out loud, Lola. You already have a lot on your plate, and this isn’t one of the things you came back to Novera for."
Slapping herself lightly, she shook her head once more to get herself together. Lola made sure that the uniforms were easily seen, so the twins could easily spot them and wear them tomorrow.
Still, her night didn’t end that terribly... or so she said. At least with this, she had more reason not to think of silly things with him.
****
The next day, in the living area of the penthouse, "Wow..." Slater clapped while the twins spun in front of him.
The twins giggled happily as they showed their first-day-of-school look to both Slater and Atlas. Lola, on the other hand, smiled from the side. She had helped the twins earlier this morning and even tied Chacha’s hair.
"Father Sir, do you like it!?" Chacha faced her father. "Our mommy made it for us!"
Atlas nodded while Lola corrected, "I didn’t make them; I just altered them."
"Sis, are you an angel?" Slater was in awe, looking at Lola with twinkling eyes. "You’re just... perfect! Just like how I imagined my first brother’s wife!"
Lola’s smile twitched, looking at the guy whom she wasn’t even sure if he had just arrived or had come home very late. She didn’t let that matter, though.
"Uncle Best, of course, our mommy is perfect~!" Second clung to Lola’s leg. "Mommy, are you going to drop us off on our first day?"
Hearing that, Chacha’s eyes lit up as she ran to Lola and clung to her legs. "Are you going to drop us off?!"
"Uh..." Lola pursed her lips, casting Atlas a look for help. But the man just stared at her as if waiting for her to make a decision.
Didn’t he hear what I told him last night?
"I’ll be dropping them off," said Atlas casually. "I’ll drop you off too. You are going to check your office, are you?"
"But—"
"Sis, don’t worry, I’m coming too!" Slater chimed in before she could refuse.
"Mommy, please?" the twins begged, finally activating their ultimate move: puppy eyes. "I want Mommy and Father Sir to take us to school."
"We won’t get bullied if you do," Chacha hummed. "Kids always make fun of us because they never see our mommy around."
The corners of their eyes reddened a little, on the verge of tears. Lola stared at them. How could she refuse this?
"Fine," she relented, squatting down in front of them. "But if you’re getting bullied, let us know, okay?"
Like a switch, the twins beamed happily and hugged her cheerfully. Lola, on the other hand, sighed shallowly and couldn’t help but glare at Atlas.
I swear... he’ll hear from me today.