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We haven't received any new instructions or tasks from Charlotte regarding the assignment. We've been keeping a low profile to avoid any repercussions from the 'Tyler' incident. We're still uncertain about who discovered us at the warehouse. Since then, we have been looking for a new location to use for future tasks.
Alexis has been looking further into Michael August. Unlike Roman Atwater, he was significantly easier to find. Unfortunately, he is in Paris, and we can’t touch him until he returns to the US. Our agreement with the client prohibits us from following anyone internationally. While we have performed jobs abroad many times before, the client has provided specific instructions for this particular job. However, once Michael lands back home, we can detain him immediately and finally get our answers as to where Roman has been hiding all this time.
Alexis confirmed his position and closeness to Roman. If anyone knows where he is currently hiding, it will be Michael. So, with the assignment at a standstill, I have had to get a new job to pass the free time away.
Alexis and Madison both have full-time jobs, Alexis with her web development and Madison as a registered nurse, which allows them to jump in and out of our work with Charlotte easily.
When they both started picking up more work and shifts to fill in their spare time, I started getting bored. Knowing that I needed something else to do with my spare time, I started a new job at one of the bars we frequented. I knew the owner and lead bartender—Austin, well, and he was more than happy to have me start working for him.
Working for Austin has been going great so far. I haven’t worked at a bar since I left Nevada, but there was something oddly comforting in it.
Austin didn’t take shit from anyone in his bar. He was a good-looking man, about six-foot-one, and absolutely ripped like a god. He had bleached blonde hair long enough to tie in a bun at the nape of his neck. His arms and back were covered in tattoos, and he always wore a loose-fitting tank top when he worked—he said it showed off his body without being completely topless. I rolled my eyes at him when he told me that.
Austin looked like a hot surfer from California who had been transplanted into the Midwest, and while he was attractive in all manners, Austin was never my type—and I wasn’t his, which was another reason why we worked well together. Neither of us bothered flirting with one another unless it was to purposely annoy whatever bar patron was trying to hit on us. We had each other’s back when necessary. I could easily see myself working for him long-term.
After my late afternoon pilates class, I went straight to Madison’s. I needed to talk to her about my ridiculous ‘Atlas’ situation, and I knew in doing so that I’d be admitting to her that I was thinking about him more than I should have been—and that he was getting to me. She’d probably rub more salt in the wound by telling me that I was being stupid and to call him right this second.
Even though I had a solid idea of where the conversation would go with her and what she would tell me to do—after reveling in her victory that I was falling for a man I barely knew, of course. I still needed to hear it from her. Sometimes, hearing things from people other than yourself makes them seem more realistic. I needed that kick to my stubborn senses.
Arriving at her townhouse, I noticed a beautiful summer floral wreath adorning the moss-green door. It perfectly reflected her elegant style. I walked up the steps, used the spare key she had given me when she first moved in, and let myself in. It was quiet inside. Madison must not have been home from work yet. I made my way to the kitchen, dropped my bag on the counter, and began raiding her fridge for something to eat.
Working out always made me hungry afterward, and—her fridge had nothing worth eating in it. Great. Well, what the hell, Madison?
Her fridge was usually stocked with leftovers. Did she leave on a trip? That’s the only reason why she wouldn’t have food here. A loud bang came from behind me as I was digging through the fridge, and I startled, placing my hand on my chest.
“What the—” I was breathing heavily like I had just seen a ghost. She scared the ever-living shit out of me.
“If you would have called me before just showing up, I could have told you there was no food for you to steal and that I was going grocery shopping after work.” Madison peered at me over the rim of her sunglasses and began unloading several bags of groceries.
“Oh, Mads, I only steal food from you because you are the only one of us who knows how to actually cook. So, what did you bring me?” I shot her my best saccharine smile, closing the door to the fridge.
“Nothing.” She deadpanned and then threw me a bag of mini peppermint patties. These were like crack to me. So sweet, minty, and addicting—and suddenly, I was thinking about Atlas again. Okay, I clearly have a problem.
“Oh, you shouldn’t have.” I sent her an amused tone as I ripped open the bag and popped one into my mouth, making my way to the couch and plopping down on it.
“So, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company this evening?” She asked, continuing to unpack her groceries. I tried to think of the best answer to give her that wouldn’t make me feel as guilty as I did about the whole situation.
“I’m not staying long. I have to work tonight, but I just came to talk for a little bit.”
“Okay... about?…” She raised a brow, and I hummed, deciding if I really wanted to tell her about Atlas or not. “Chyler…” She demanded, growing impatient with me.
“I just need… some of your ‘I know you better than you know yourself’ advice.” I was taking my sweet-ass time with this, and I could see her growing annoyed with me and my vagueness.
“Involving?” She gestured her hand for me to continue. She put the last box of cereal away and closed the cupboard, resting her hands on the kitchen island and glaring at me.
“Atlas…” I mumbled under my breath.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you. You need advice involving who?” She smacked me with a smug-ass smile. There it was, the start of her revel.
“Atlas! I need advice on Atlas. Goddamnit woman!” I fell back onto the couch as if I could drown myself in the pillows and disappear.
I was never going to hear the end of it now. She won her battle with me, and soon Atlas was going to win his. I was on a losing streak. Call it my path of ruin if you want.
“Let me take a wild guess, he’s not talking to you?”
“Not exactly… Kinda… Sorta.” I ran my hand through my hair and bit my cheek.
“Since when?” She didn’t care to know the exact details. She didn’t need to. The fact that I haven't talked to him in over two weeks said enough.
