Chapter 232: Atlas

Twelve years later...

[GLOBAL PRIME LOGISTICS HEADQUARTERS]

Everyone stopped and glanced at the group of high executives entering the building. They slightly lowered their heads upon catching the dashing man in the middle of the group.

"Sir, CEO Miller sent another request for a meeting..." a man in his early thirties reported to his boss, his steps matching his boss’ pace despite keeping his eyes on the notes in his hand. "Then, there’s a board meeting about the merging of..."

The CEO of the biggest logistic company, Atlas Bennet, 29, glanced at his assistant. "Move that meeting to tomorrow."

"Yes, sir," the assistant didn’t ask as he quickly jotted down the note. "About your third brother, Slater. He left a message in your office."

Atlas stopped in front of the private lift only for executives to use. "I’ll get it," he said while waiting for the lift to open. "Anything else?"

"Uh..." the assistant cleared his throat. "Your Second Brother also left a message this morning."

This time, Atlas looked at him. "Is he dead?"

"Sir, Ha ha. No, he isn’t." the assistant sighed, still not used to his boss’s relationship with his siblings. Atlas never talked about his personal relationship with anyone — even to the closest person who worked for him. "Your Second Brother said he will come home."

"I see." Atlas slowly peeled his eyes from his assistant and stepped into the elevator when it opened.

The people behind him stood outside and lowered their heads. They didn’t dare share the elevator with him. Hence, they all automatically waited for the next one.

The only person who came with Atlas was his assistant. Standing behind his boss, the assistant cleared his throat again.

"What else?" asked Atlas while staring at the numbers over the door.

"Sir... uhm, someone also left a message in the office," the assistant said.

Atlas waited for him to say it, but the assistant didn’t speak for a moment. Thus, he turned his head and looked at him.

"What is it, Allen?" he asked. "What’s with the long pause?"

Allen, his assistant, tipped his eyeglasses and looked at Atlas with conflict. "Sir, do you have... do you have a child?"

"Huh?"

"I mean, did you have an affair and had a child out of wedlock?"

The corner of Atlas’s lips curved down. "Allen, what nonsense are you up to this time? Did Slater tell you something again?"

"No, no! I mean, the last message is from a woman."

"Who?"

"She said that she’s the mother of your children and that she’s coming home to get financial aid."

"Sue her," Atlas said plainly, setting his eyes on the door. "And watch out for any article about this. This is probably another shakedown."

"I’m already on it, sir."

DING!

Shortly, the elevator reached the top floor of the building where the CEO’s department was located. On their way to Atlas’s office, his steps suddenly slowed down.

Allen furrowed his brows and looked at his boss incredulously. "Sir? What is it?"

"Allen, that woman... did she say what her name was?" Atlas slowly cast his assistant a stern look.

"Uhm. I think she said her name is..." Allen scratched his temple and said, "Funny? Ah, no. It’s Funky... or Freaky."

"Penny?"

"Yes! Penny!"

Atlas looked at his assistant as if he was having second thoughts about Allen’s capabilities. "How can you not recall the name? Have you been slacking?"

"Sir, of course not! It’s just that her reception is so bad that I had a hard time deciphering her message," Allen explained before he furrowed his brows. "Sir, do you know her?"

Did Atlas really have a one-night stand and have a child out of wedlock?

"When did she say she’s coming?" Atlas asked, not keen on quelling Allen’s curiosity.

"Uhm. Ahem. I think she said three days."

"And Hugo?"

"He called this morning and said he’s already boarding. So, he’ll probably arrive tomorrow morning."

"I see."

Having said that, Atlas resumed his steps to his office.

"Sir!" Allen quickly followed, looking at Atlas with horror as the latter’s lips curled up subtly. "Are we still suing her?"

"No."

"But —"

Atlas stopped in front of his office and turned to Allen. "Forget what I said. Also, move all my schedules for the next two days, then cancel all my schedules on the date Penny is coming. I’m taking a day off on that day."

After saying his piece, Atlas went in and closed the door behind him. His face brightened up as a shallow chuckle escaped him before he walked over to his desk.

"She didn’t even mention she was coming earlier," he muttered as he sat down behind the desk. "I hope she’s coming home for good."

In the past five years, his contact with Penny had been scarce. It was understandable since at that time, Atlas took over his father’s position. He had been busy as the new head of the company and the Roswald and Bennet Family.

Although he would call Penny every once in a while, they were always short. It was unlike when they were still young, where they would spend hours on the phone with her. Not that they had a problem with each other. It was just that all of them had been busy, and adulting was not as easy as how they imagined when they were children.

But at the end of the day, what was important was that his siblings seemed to be coming home. And in a few days, they would be complete for a meal again.

Atlas’s smile brightened, scaring Allen when the latter came into the office.

Allen flinched when he saw his boss smiling. "Si — Sir?"

Atlas snapped his eyes up and tilted his head. "What is it?"

"Your third brother’s message," he said. "And his live interview is also being broadcast."

"I see." Atlas reached out for the remote, turning on the television in his office. He moved his chair a little to face the television.

The moment he did, the first person they saw was the stunning Slater Bennet. Even though Allen had seen Slater in person, he couldn’t help but be in awe.

’He’s already good-looking on the television, but he’s much more beautiful in person,’ Allen thought, sneaking up a look at his boss. ’I can’t believe Slater is actually his little brother.’

Unaware of Allen’s thoughts, Atlas watched the interview solemnly before he said, "The request Theo Miller sent... tell him I’ll look into it in two years."

"Sir?"

"Or maybe ten years," Atlas snapped his eyes at Allen. This time, they looked sharp. "As long as Keith Miller is part of their family, I want nothing to do with them. Throw away the proposal."

"But sir, the proposal is —"

"It’s personal," Atlas stopped him with two words. "Throw it away."

It was late when Atlas found out about Slater’s bullying. He found out about it when Slater released his 2nd album and a track about bullying. Slater, after all, became a voice and an ambassador for anti-bullying.

However, even though it happened a long time ago and Slater moved on from it, Atlas would never welcome or do business with someone who once hurt his family. Never.