Chapter 694: She’s the right choice.

"No, I don’t know you."

That was a lie.

Atlas remembered all his classmates in the Star Section. Unlike the number of classmates he had in the top section, there were only nine people to remember in the Star Section. Moreover, most of them also attended the same top university. Although they were from different departments, he had many chances to see those faces. Even as an adult, some of his classmates from the top section would approach Atlas for favors.

Atlas was in no mood to grant anyone a favor today.

"If that is all, then please leave," he expressed politely but sternly. "I have other important things to do."

The smile on Kiara’s face stiffened a little before she rushed in front of him, blocking his path back to his desk.

"Atlas," she called, only to clear her throat when he frowned slightly. "I mean, CEO Bennet, there must be a mix-up. I have an official schedule with you today."

"I don’t think so."

"But here, look at this!" Kiara hastily grabbed her phone, about to show him the email he had received a few days ago from Atlas’s office. However, Atlas raised a hand, stopping her.

"Miss, even if you received an email from my office, I am certain you know it’s not me who wrote it." His tone was cold, laced with finality, but it wasn’t so rude as to be plain disrespectful. It was more a tone that drew boundaries.

"But, Mr. Allen—"

"That’s the point," he remarked, cutting her off mid-sentence. "Miss...?"

"Kiara. Kiara Moore."

Atlas shook his head, his expression changing as a thin layer of frost coated his eyes. "Miss Moore, I understand that you received an email from my office and are supposed to meet Allen, my assistant. However, he is not here. So, if you may, please leave my office. Otherwise, someone else will remove you from here."

After saying that, Atlas took a step back to create more distance between her and himself. He then walked past her, returning to his desk to finish some tasks before calling it a day. After all, there were still many things Atlas had to address regarding Allen’s situation. He couldn’t just stay in the office all day when he knew the board of directors would soon find another way to be upset with Allen.

The person who did that to Allen and even tried to frame him should be put in jail. As soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Kiara cast her eyes down, her complexion pale. She pressed her lips into a thin line, biting her inner lip. However, after taking a deep breath, she managed to form a smile and turn around.

"I’m sorry for coming in here," she said, lowering her head a little.

Kiara wanted to say more than just an apology, but she had been through enough to be surprised by such reactions from people. She had been treated far worse than this just because she was a startup owner... with a pretty face and no one to protect her.

With that, Kiara turned around and carried her things with her, walking out of the office with the little dignity she had left. As she strode off, Atlas glanced at her back and didn’t bother with her anymore. But when he looked at the few inches stacked of papers on his desk, he raised an eyebrow.

"Happy Cart?" he blurted out, snapping his eyes back to Kiara as she stopped. "Is that yours?"

Kiara’s eyes lit up, and with revived enthusiasm, she faced him again. "Yes!"

"Ah..." Atlas nodded, familiar with the business that Allen should have been working on. After all, Allen had kept talking about it, telling Atlas that a startup company like Happy Cart could be a good replacement for Ito Motors.

Although Global Prime Logistics wasn’t short on business prospects and clients for their services, Allen proposed this for one reason: a long-term business that could help a startup grow and get owed by them. Above all, Atlas had been looking for e-commerce partners, but all the existing ones either ripped him off or the people running them were ones Atlas wanted to avoid.

Ito Motors and the Bennet family were bound by favors, and even though Atlas was not fond of it, it was something normal in the world he moved in.

"Tasks like these are my assistant’s job," said Atlas, making the smile on her face crack a little. After all, one could already guess what would follow that remark.

Kiara maintained an understanding smile. "It’s alright, CEO Bennet. However, if you don’t mind, may I ask when Sir Allen will come back to his office? He told me to meet him today."

"I don’t know."

"Huh?"

Atlas pushed himself up from his seat, picking up the papers that had been retrieved from Allen’s briefcase. "It might take a while before he comes back, but I’ll take a look at it. Give me your best shot."

The dimming lights in Kiara’s eyes slowly shone brightly as the corners of her mouth hooked up into a wide smile. She watched Atlas approach the couch, nodding profusely at this chance given to her. Without wasting a second, she joined Atlas to present the pitch she had practiced and worked hard on for months.

***

The meeting was much longer than Atlas had expected. If only he had focused on his tasks, he would have finished half of them by now. However, he prioritized Allen’s job first and was now seated on the one-seater couch all alone.

Kiara had left minutes ago with a smile on her face.

"In the end, Allen is right," he murmured, glancing at the documents Kiara left for him to review. "She’s the right choice."

Atlas shook his head, snapping his eyes at the exit of the office and then back at the document in his hand. After another minute, he shrugged and pushed himself up. But he only took two steps away when the door opened without a knock. Turning his head to the entrance, a sharp breath slipped past his nostrils the second he saw the person.

Chairman Bennet.