Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele

[Cordelia]

"That's not what happened," Atlas protests, his lips small and tight. "Cordelia and I are..."

"I don't need the details," Angelica covers her eyes with her hands as she folds in half, moaning as she rocks herself from side to side. "Fucked, made love, whatever you call it, Atlas. Does it matter? You still betrayed me."

Stunned, I stand there, not sure what I should do. One moment she was threatening me, and now she's a sobbing mess. If I tell Atlas the truth while she's like this, my actions will look cold and cruel. "Angelica," There is a softness in his voice that wasn't there before as he sits down next to her. He rubs her back, making soothing sounds. "I know this must be hard for you to see us together." Atlas doesn't look up once to see how I am handling all of this. He is only focused on Angelica and her pain.

I can't keep going this way, living my life at the mercy of Angelica's whims.

Atlas seems to have forgotten that none of this is our fault, including her anger and sadness. She brought this all onto herself with all of the terrible things that she did.

"Angelica," my voice a little harsher than I intended, upset as I am about her games. "What were you doing yesterday at Steele Industries?"

"It wasn't me," she insists. "I didn't do anything! Or at least anything I remember Why do you think I'd be so cruel?" Her sobbing increases in intensity. Holding her head she screams. "It hurts, oh god it hurts!"

Atlas looks up at me and shakes his head. "Not now," he mouths as he scoops her up into his arms. "Let's get you settled in. I'll call the doctor."

As Atlas carries her into my old bedroom, I find the idea of him tucking her in, making her feel safe and loved, is boiling my blood with anger. Doesn't he see how she is manipulating him?

I feel a ping of distrust and jealousy that makes me feel guilty and selfish. What if I'm wrong? What if her memory is gone and I'm imagining things? She's not in her right mind. The comments she made about how hard she is trying to save the two of us from some unknown somebody make me think that there might be more going on with Angelica's mental state that goes beyond her lack of memory.

And yet, as I try to give both Atlas and Angelica a bit of grace and forgiveness in this moment, I also cannot set aside my irritation.

Why does he always bend for her? I had to fight my way into his heart. All she has to do is pout and he's worked up to make her comfortable.

Will he ever love me that way?

When Atlas reenters the room, the mood has completely shifted. Any romance or connection from the moments before has dissolved behind the sadness I still hear sniffling on the other side of the wall. He tells me that he has called her doctor, but also our parents to come collect her and take her back home.

He is saying all the right things.

Unfortunately, this scenario has played out too many times before.

"I need to go," I look around for what remains of my clothes from the night before. "That way you can take care of her. She needs you more than I do."

"Thank you for understanding," he says as I pull on my pants. I think about putting my top on from yesterday but realize I'm covered enough to go home and don't want to stay here a moment longer than I need to. 1

He doesn't follow me as I walk out the door to the bedroom. I guess I shouldn't have expected anything else from Atlas Steele. I thought we had finally come to an understanding, but I was wrong. Again. "Cordelia, wait."

My hand is poised over the door leading to outside. I Then remember that Atlas drove me here. I'm stuck.

Placing a hand on my shoulder, he turns me to face him. Without warning, he leans down and kisses me with so much passion that my knees shake. He pulls me into him and I melt into his arms.

"I love you," he stares into my eyes as he says this. "You are the only one I want. Now and always."NôvelDrama.Org © content.

"Atlas," I'm still out of breath from the kiss.

"Please don't walk away like this," he begs. "Please."