Chapter 1037: Thank you, but no thank you.

Many said that when a person was standing at death’s door, their life would flash before them. It was true... but perhaps not for everyone. While some would freeze at the sight of an oncoming car or see their life flash before their eyes, Atlas wasn’t even fazed.

Turning his head to the light beaming at him as the car sped closer, he casually looked away and focused back on his phone. What did he do? He sent his message to Allen.

SCREECH!

The tire left its tracks on the pavement as it screeched to a halt, stopping just inches from Atlas’s leg. Atlas arched a brow and glanced at the bumper before casually sending another short message to Allen. His first message had been cut short, after all.

"Atlas!" Suddenly, Jonathan’s voice echoed in the parking lot.

Atlas didn’t respond immediately. He finished his message before lifting his eyes to see Jonathan approaching him from the side.

"I’m sorry about that," Jonathan apologized as their eyes met. "I was distracted, so I didn’t see you."

Atlas wordlessly studied the man from head to toe before nodding. "Forgiven," but not forgotten.

"Goodness. I’m really sorry. I wasn’t expecting to see you." Jonathan sighed heavily, raising his brows as he also examined Atlas’s business attire. "Are you heading inside? Let’s go in together!"

"No, thanks." With that, Atlas coldly looked away and started walking.

"Atlas, come on!" Jonathan took a large step to follow him. "It’s been a while since we saw each other, and to be honest, I wasn’t expecting to see you here!"

Atlas cast him a sidelong glance but said nothing. He continued walking, while Jonathan stopped, watching Atlas’s back.

"Please? I think we did have a good chemistry while playing basketball," Jonathan quipped, shrugging. "You’re at the Pierson Corporation, and I heard about what happened. I’m not trying to judge, but I can put in a good word for you if what you’re here for is what I think."

This time, Atlas stopped in his tracks. Seeing that Atlas finally halted, Jonathan smiled in satisfaction.

"I’ll park my car. It’ll be quick!"

With that, Jonathan jogged back to his car, as if sure Atlas would wait for him. And Atlas did, turning around to follow the car that almost killed him with his gaze. Jonathan stayed true to his word.

In under three minutes, Jonathan was jogging back to where Atlas stood. As soon as he arrived, a wide grin dominated his face.

"See? I was fast!" Jonathan bragged, but Atlas remained silent as he resumed walking. "Atlas, are you always this cold?"

"..."

Jonathan smacked his lips, eyes on Atlas as they headed to the lift. "Are you here because my brother offered you a job here... after you were kicked out of Global Prime Logistics?"

"No."

"He didn’t?" Jonathan’s brows rose in surprise, studying Atlas from top to bottom again. "Then what are you doing here?"

Atlas thought for a moment, recalling what Allen had been rambling about. "Job hunt."

"A job... hunt? You’re looking for a job... in here?"

"That’s what I said."

Jonathan’s mouth fell open in genuine surprise. "Then how come you have access to the executive parking space?" he asked, only to receive a sidelong glance from Atlas, which made him realize the reason.

Regardless of Atlas’s situation, he was still the Pierson Family’s matriarch’s brother.

"That’s a stupid question," Jonathan laughed to himself, jogging a few steps ahead to press the button before stopping beside Atlas as they waited for the lift. "Of course. Even if you don’t have a position here, I’m sure you’d still get special treatment because you’re... our in-law."

DING!

Atlas paused as he received a message from Allen. After reading it, he reached out and pressed the button.

Seeing that Atlas was heading down, Jonathan smiled at him. Jonathan wasn’t stupid; he just understood Atlas’s personality. If Atlas came here looking for a job, there was zero chance he would tell Zoren about it.

Atlas had too much pride. He wouldn’t ask anyone for help, especially not his younger brother-in-law. Most importantly, Atlas cared a lot about his reputation as Charles Bennet’s firstborn and his siblings’ first brother. He wouldn’t ask his younger brother-in-law to put in a good word for him even if it killed him.

"About work..." Jonathan brought it up. "Why not come with me, Atlas?"

Atlas finally cast Jonathan a look, since he had a few minutes while waiting for the elevator. "Are you interested in me?"

"I am."

"I don’t like men."

"Haha! Not that kind of interest, I’m sorry."

"You don’t have to."

Jonathan chuckled, shaking his head, taking it as Atlas’s way of humoring him. Little did he know, Atlas was dead serious. Atlas was starting to get concerned, and it was better to make things clear to everyone before anything else.

It was Atlas’s way of drawing the line.

"You said you’re looking for work. Since you didn’t ask Zoren Pierson for help, why not come with me?" Jonathan proposed. "I can give you a decent position in the company. You won’t have to go through the hassle of long lines and the exhausting interview process. I heard the Pierson Corporation’s interview is more like an interrogation than a job interview."

Atlas blinked and stared at Jonathan. ’Penny told me one thing about this guy,’he thought, recalling how Penny had whispered something to him out of the blue at the reunion. ’She said... he’s an idiot. He knows I didn’t ask Zoren for help. What made him think I’d ask him when I didn’t ask someone in a higher position than him?’

In Jonathan’s defense, he proposed it because he knew Atlas wouldn’t accept. Besides, Zoren and Jonathan were different. Some people would rather ask strangers for help than someone they know. Therefore, Jonathan simply tried.

"Thank you, but no thank you," Atlas nodded, hearing the elevator’s chime as the doors opened. He stepped aside to let Jonathan in.

Jonathan beamed, stepping into the lift. When he faced Atlas again, his mouth stretched into a wide grin. "If you change your mind, you can always look for me. I’ll put in a good word."

"Thank you, but no thank you," Atlas repeated in his classic flat tone, just as the doors closed between them. "See you around, though."

DING!