Maybe it was the familiarity of Atlas’s presence that made Lola feel more comfortable around him. Not long ago, she couldn’t even look the guy in the eye. Now, not only was she talking freely with him, but she had even dragged him along to drink.
Though technically, she drank alone, and he was there as a chaperone.
"I still think you should’ve brought some wine with you," she quipped, eyeing him in the other corner of the bench. "At least then, you could do something other than look around this park like a tyrant king from ancient times, sizing up new lands to conquer."
Atlas cast her a sidelong glance but said nothing. Lola smacked her lips, lounging in her spot with the last can of beer. These drinks were light, meant only to calm the excitement still pumping through her chest.
"By the way, Atlas... you promised not to misunderstand me, right?" She asked, noticing him stare as if waiting for the next words. "I’m just really curious—what have you been doing the past five years since stepping down as COO of the Pierson Corporation?"
Lola had her assumptions and guesses. After all, she knew he hadn’t completely left the business world, considering he had bought Summit Partners.
Even so, it intrigued her.
A man like him had countless opportunities. Even if he didn’t create one for himself, opportunities would still open up. Yet, he chose not to manage their family business or hold a position most would dream of. It tickled her curiosity.
Just how does this guy’s mind work?
Atlas raised a brow at her question. His reaction made her bite her tongue.
"Just curious," she said quickly. "You don’t have to answer—"
"I was restoring the Zorken family and the Order on top of reclaiming what it had lost."
Lola narrowed her eyes at the mention of the Zorken name. Chacha and Second had used it as their family name, and she now remembered their father was currently using Zorken as his family name, not Bennet.
"Zorken... that’s your mother’s family name?" she asked. "But didn’t you say you got along with the Bennets?"
"The Zorken family is part of a secret society, beyond the reach of ordinary laws," he explained flatly, without hesitation. "I was busy restoring its lost prestige, reclaiming lands it had lost—including the country of Novera."
"Ah..." Lola tilted her head, deeper confusion written across her face. "A secret society, huh? Like those conspiracy theories about secret rulers controlling governments?"
"Yes."
She chuckled. "I didn’t know you were into conspiracy theories."
Atlas remained silent, watching her shrug it off as a joke. He wasn’t joking, though. He was serious, but he didn’t force her to believe him.
"It’s a dangerous world," he mused, eyes still on her.
"It must be," Lola said with a shrug. "Fine, let’s say there really is a secret society holding true power. Aren’t you scared? People like that must be crazy dangerous—maybe even worse than the underground world."
"Why? Have you been in the underground before?"
She froze, then flashed a smile. "Nope. Just watched a lot of movies. Hehe. Also... I’m the one asking."
"I’m not scared. Why would I be?"
"Because... your life is in constant danger?"
"... or theirs."
Lola furrowed her brows, studying his expression. It barely changed, making it hard to tell if he was joking. Then again, who would really believe such things existed?
She touched the nape of her neck out of habit and let out an awkward laugh. "You’re not serious, right?" But he didn’t answer, averting his gaze.
Atlas quietly stared at the empty park. His fingertips tapped the armrest silently, deep in thought. Lola shrank back on the bench, shaking her head.
As far as I remember, I’m only drinking light beer, she told herself, checking the label. I couldn’t be that drunk to mistake his jokes.
Her thoughts froze at his voice.
"Lola Young," he called, holding her gaze. "Do you want to see my world?"
Deep creases formed on her forehead as she studied him. "Huh?"
His eyelashes fluttered subtly while the corners of his mouth curled.
"But I have to warn you. Once you’re in, there’s no getting out," he added. "Think carefully... because secret societies are real. Also, you are wrong. You should be scared of me, because I’m not at all nice."
****
[Think carefully... You should be scared of me because I’m not at all nice.]
Lola replayed his words until she could almost see them spinning above her. If this was Atlas’s way of hinting he wanted to go home, it was... unusual but an effective way to do so.
"Secret society, huh?" she whispered to herself, lying flat below the twins’ feet. "Ah, goodness."
She laughed at the thought, closing her eyes and shaking her head. She didn’t know what was funnier: Atlas’s strange way of ending their "bonding" time, or that she was thinking about it at all.
Still, it bothered her.
Opening her eyes, a thought crossed her mind.
Does that mean the bounty on his head... nah, I’m not even sure if that’s him. No way something like that disappears from the underground black market in a blink.
Also, if secret societies are real... she trailed off, waving her hands. Erase, erase. Don’t think about it, Lola. That guy’s just being weird.
But even as she convinced herself, one thing was clear: Atlas had endless ways of staying in her head.
*
*
*
The next day...
Lola eventually fell asleep and woke up less groggy than expected. Still, Atlas’s words from last night lingered at the back of her head. Even at breakfast, she found herself thinking about them.
"By the way," she hummed, playing with her food, "what you said last night about the secret society..."
Her sentence cut off abruptly as Slater coughed violently. Her brows knit as she noticed the twins freeze mid-bite, staring at her with wide eyes. Even Baby, who for some reason was eating with them, paused, looking at her as if she’d stepped straight out of a horror film.
"Wha—what?"