Chapter 1040: My sister didn’t mention a thing about you

"Sir Atlas!" Allen perked up as soon as Atlas stood in front of him. His eyes stung, becoming teary at the sight of him. He wanted to complain and say all the things he had been suppressing to his boss. However, that didn’t matter anymore.

Allen was not as vengeful as his boss, after all. He just knew that since Atlas was here, Allen wouldn’t be humiliated.

"I told you to just say your name," Atlas remarked, though his delivery wasn’t very kind. "Let’s go."

"Let’s go...?"

"Have you grown fond of the lobby?"

"No—no, sir. It’s just that..." Allen trailed off as hesitation flickered in his eyes, reminded of the security guards’ demands. But after a second, he nodded and said, "I guess it’s fine now...?"

Atlas raised an eyebrow, but didn’t comment as he turned to leave. Before he could fully do so, the same security guard who had stopped Allen approached.

"Wait, good sirs!"

Atlas stopped and looked back at the security guard. The latter offered them a polite smile because William Pierson was still in the area.

’Did they think that just because we’re busy, they can sneak in?’ The security guard mentally scoffed, darting his malicious eyes between Atlas and Allen. "Sir, your friend here told us that you’d pick him up. That’s why we let him stay. However, we need to identify you first and then check your access cards."

"Ah..." Unlike earlier, Allen stood taller and smiled with confidence. But when his eyes shifted to Atlas, his confidence shattered.

’Why does he look like he doesn’t know what the security guard is talking about?!’

Allen cleared his throat and moved closer to Atlas. "Sir, he’s talking about the access card for that." To make it clearer, he pointed at the gate line that separated this area from the other side of the lobby.

Atlas glanced at the turnstile and then cast the security guard a look. "I don’t need an access card."

"Ha ha... sir, everyone needs an access card here. Otherwise, how would you get inside the building without it?"

"You walk in through the door."

The security guard’s face twitched while Allen winced slightly. The former wasn’t sure if Atlas was just trying to get smart with him or if he was being serious. Either way, that wasn’t going to work.

Noticing that William Pierson was still nearby and watching, the security guard cleared his throat, straightened his back, and forced a polite smile, now showing patience he hadn’t displayed toward Allen.

"Sir, if you don’t have an access card, perhaps you received a code from the company."

"Which one?"

"The one you received confirming your job interview."

Instead of clarification, Atlas furrowed his brows. However, his confusion didn’t last long as he frowned.

"I don’t need any of that," he said, his tone sharp. "Is this why he couldn’t meet me on the upper floor?"

He glanced at Allen, who lowered his head. A shallow breath slipped from Atlas’s nostrils, but when his gaze returned to the security guard, a glint flickered in his eyes.

"Allen, did you tell them your name?" Atlas asked, keeping his eyes fixed on the security guard.

"Ye—yes, sir," Allen nodded. "I even tried to give them my ID, but they wouldn’t even look at it. They said they needed the access card or a code from the email for the job interview. Sir, do you have it?"

"No." Atlas’ answer, which might have raised the security guard’s suspicion, was quick and confident. "He and I don’t need what you’re looking for. Do your job and check your data. The name is—"

"Atlas Bennet!"

Atlas couldn’t finish his sentence before William’s voice rang out from behind him. A shallow huff escaped Atlas as he kept his eyes on the security guard.

"That name," he continued, "Once you confirm, Allen might let you off, but I won’t."

The security guard gulped nervously, his eyes darting back and forth between Atlas’s back and William Pierson’s. He wondered if Atlas was someone negotiating with the higher-ups.

’Is he one of the company guests?!’The security guard panicked, watching William Pierson approach. ’Oh no. What did I do? I’ll lose my job if they turn out to be new business partners or investors!’

For a while, the security guard was frozen in place, reluctant to check the name because he knew that doing so could end in his dismissal.

’If they’re new business partners, how come that other guy came here and said he’s here for a job interview?!’ The security guard lamented. ’Are they just looking for trouble? Or was this an inspection to check the security?’

The latter thought gave him some relief. If that were the case, he could prove he was doing his job well. But then again, why did Atlas speak to him as if firing him was something he could—and would—do?

While the security guard was mentally spiraling, William and his group stopped a few steps away from Atlas and Allen. He sized up Atlas with a smug smirk plastered on his face.

"What a surprise, Atlas Bennet!" William mused. "I didn’t expect to meet the great Atlas Bennet right here, at the Pierson Corporation."

He then took a step forward and extended his hand. "You might’ve heard about me from your sister. My name’s William Pierson."

Atlas glanced at the extended hand before lifting his eyes to meet William’s. "My sister didn’t mention a thing about you, but nice to meet you."

William’s smug grin faltered while those with him frowned deeply. The security guard behind him gasped in distress, now even more terrified of his "mistake." After all, if Atlas wasn’t a big shot, he wouldn’t be addressing William like that.

As for Allen, he just stared at his boss with great dread. ’Sir, what are you talking about?! Miss Penny mentioned him to you — she even warned you about him! Why are you suddenly being so offensive to someone who could possibly be your future boss?!’