[SUMMIT PARTNERS: CONFERENCE ROOM]
"That... that percentage is very low." One of the executives was in disbelief, looking at the charts flashing on the screen. "How is that possible?"
The other elders in the room shook their heads in disappointment. "How could it be this horrible?"
"I can’t believe it." A younger woman in the room turned to the head seats at the far end. There, seated on perfectly cushioned high chairs, were Chacha and Second. "Young Master, Young Miss, with all due respect, but these numbers don’t seem right."
"They are accurate." Second, unlike his usual cheerfulness, showed clear concern on his face. "I understand that it’s concerning, but this is the reality we’re facing."
Chacha nodded, sharing her brother’s seriousness. She clasped her hands together, leaning forward and resting her arms on the small table of her high chair.
"As you can see in the presentation, the numbers look good on the surface. However, the largest number of all is the failure percentage," she added, motioning with her little hand to signal someone to move to the next slide. "This is a serious matter. Otherwise, our business will fall."
Everyone’s faces dimmed with worry. They knew that if this continued, the crisis that would befall their company would hurt them. They looked at each other and then turned their attention back to the big screen.
There, the graph of the chairman, Atlas, and his chances of failing to win the twins’ "mother" was displayed. The failure percentage was so high it was unbelievable, considering the detailed wealth and traits that could have attracted thousands of women.
However, the reason that barely affected his success rate lay on the other slide, which highlighted everything he had said to Lola.
Harvey shook his head, leaning against the corner of the conference room. He watched the twins call this very meeting just to gossip about their father. And now, they were getting advice from all these people on what they could do to help him.
"I’m not here," he told himself, shaking his head. "Didn’t see anything, didn’t hear anything."
"Ah ha!" Suddenly, Second’s voice echoed in the conference room. It instantly silenced everyone, their eyes on him. "I think I have an idea!"
Chacha blinked, looking up at him. When Second gazed down at her, his mouth stretched from ear to ear.
Harvey, on the other hand, narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "I don’t feel good about this."
****
Hours later, in the penthouse...
Atlas was reminded of Slater the other day. The latter, after all, had complained to him about being tired after tagging along with Lola. Today, he could safely say...
What a drama queen.
They’d been out the whole day because, for some reason, Lola took him to more places than her original schedule. All he knew about was her meeting with the Youngs, Cedrick, and a short site visit to the office she was setting up just outside King’s City.
But they did more than that. Even so, it didn’t tire him out—it was easy.
As Atlas nodded to himself, he glanced at the end of the couch. There, Lola was melting into the corner.
Damn it... Why am I the tired one?
Lola closed her eyes, not caring about the guy with her as she slumped comfortably on the end of the couch. She wasn’t this tired when with Slater, but then again, she did a lot more today to tire that guy out. Even so, he was the one driving compared to when Slater tagged along with her.
I should’ve known. Slater got tired easily because he hadn’t had a proper rest that day. But this guy... She paused her mental voice and glared at a calm Atlas. He’s a workaholic!
"Goodness," she breathed out, letting herself lie there like a dead starfish. "Note to self, this is not how I tire him out."
"I can hear you."
"You’re meant to hear it, anyway."
He chuckled to himself, a little smug about it. She had no idea he was earning his vacation leave this way.
"You owed me a movie tonight," he said calmly, taking his phone out as it started vibrating against his chest.
Lola glanced at him, clearly not pleased. Before she could say anything, he spoke again without taking his eyes off his phone.
"You’re not planning on going back on your word, are you?"
"No." She huffed, pushing herself up. "I’ll come down in a bit."
As she went, Atlas followed her figure with his gaze. She was barely dragging herself, making him wonder if it was the trip that actually tired her or their nonstop back and forth all day.
Atlas shrugged and set his attention back to his phone, reading an email presentation sent by his children. The subject line read:
[Step-by-step guide to a romantic movie night.
A presentation by Summit Partners’ partners]
He read the guide despite thinking his kids had everyone in the palm of their hands.
*
*
*
All Lola did was wash up quickly, remove her makeup, and throw on a thick, comfortable pair of pants and a hoodie. It had been a while since she watched a movie, and she wanted to be comfortable in what she was wearing, at least. After all, the chances of being in constant discomfort were high.
When she came down, to her surprise, Atlas was already in his casual indoor clothes. But before she could even think of anything, she shivered a little.
"Why is this place getting colder every single night?" She wondered, looking around her place.
"You’re here?" Atlas shot her a look, standing near the coffee table, putting down some snacks and wine. "Help me."
Lola puffed her cheek before she dragged herself to him. "What help do you need?"
"Nothing, I’m done."
"..." She smiled, and the corners of her mouth twitched. "Hey, are you looking for a fight?"
"No, just take a seat," he casually said as he placed the tray on the corner of the table, taking a seat on the long couch. "And play the movie for me."
Lola watched him settle before she jumped on the same couch, keeping a huge gap from him for his own safety and her own sanity. She picked up the remote and was about to play the movie when she noticed the clock.
"Hmm?" she slowly gazed at the time and furrowed her brows. "It’s getting late, but the twins aren’t home yet."
"They won’t be home."
She turned to him. "Huh?"
"They’ll be staying over at Allen’s place tonight," he said. "Business problems."
Lola blinked, and then blinked some more. "Staying over at Allen’s place? Like overnight?"
"That’s what I said." He nodded. "It’s just you and me... tonight."