Chapter 234: Multi-colored flag?
Chocolates... hehe.
Lola pursed her lips, pretending she wasn’t giggling in her head. Snapping her eyes at the man across from her, she bit her tongue as her face contorted slightly.
"Is that fish mask necessary?" She asked the fish-headed Atlas, who was eating without a problem through the cut-out part of the mask’s mouth area. "If no one knows your face, I think it’s safe, right?"
"But they saw you already."
"Ah..." Lola rocked her head in understanding. "Right. I picked up the twins not long ago. I guess they would recognize me."
She glanced at the Summit Partners’ cafeteria, catching some people looking in their direction. They remembered her for sure. What she didn’t realize was that no one was staring because they knew her, but because she—in that horrendous getup—and the fish-headed guy just stood out too much.
"Eat your food," he said, continuing his meal. "I still have a meeting with the NL Group and some people I can’t cancel."
She smiled. "I know. Mr. King told me, and I’m fine with it. I’d rather you go with them than cancel just because of me."
"Did something happen?"
"Hmm?" Her brows rose as she looked at the fish-head mask. A second later, her eyes gleamed with realization. "Ah... you mean in the reading?"
"Did you get kicked out? That’s why you’re here?"
"Atlas, do you think I’m a pushover who would just get kicked out of my own film?"
"No, but the opposite."
Her face twitched. "I’m not a troublemaker. I left because I wanted to check on something, and... well, I don’t want to travel back. It’s exhausting. This place is nearer."
Atlas just gazed at her through the mesh of his mask. "...okay."
"Hm? Okay?" she blinked. "Okay, what?"
But he didn’t answer, making Lola click her tongue faintly.
"He always just stops responding when he feels like it," she grumbled under her breath, taking a large bite of her food. She glanced at him again, then tilted her head. "I didn’t know you ate in the cafeteria."
"Not usually."
"What does that mean?"
"Today’s the first."
Deep lines appeared between her brows as she stared at him, confused. She wanted to ask more, but he had already finished his food.
"Finish that now," he said. "I’ll take the tray back."
"Ah?" Her confusion grew, but she found herself shoving food down her throat. Once she finished, Atlas unceremoniously took her tray and carried it back to where it belonged.
With a full mouth, she watched him go. She narrowed her eyes as Atlas didn’t return immediately, but instead bought something before coming back to her.
"Here." He handed her a small glass bottle of tea juice, which she knew was good for digestion. "It’s good for digestion."
The confusion in her head eased slightly, and she smiled. Taking it, she jumped from her spot just as he started walking away.
"Goodness," she muttered. "Is it because he’s a dad now that I feel like he’s treating me like his kid?"
Her cheeks heated despite the solid concentration of blush on them. She pursed her lips to stop herself from grinning like a fool. After a huff, she skipped to catch up.
"Wait for me~" she called out sweetly.
Atlas glanced over his shoulder but didn’t stop. He did, however, slow down enough for her to catch up quickly.
As they walked across the lobby, Travis had just arrived in the building for his meeting with Summit Partners. He stopped mid-step, lifting his eyes to the two figures in the distance.
He narrowed his eyes. "Lola?" he muttered under his breath, glancing at the fish-headed man beside her.
Even though Lola’s face was covered by that crazy makeup, the smile on her face and the twinkle in her eyes as she looked at the man were unmistakable. As for the fish-headed guy, Travis couldn’t read him at all. However, it seemed clear that he and Lola knew each other well.
"That fish mask..." he trailed off, the lines on his forehead deepening. "Isn’t that... the same person from Lion Square Hotel?"
*****
When Lola and Atlas reached his office, her face twitched slightly upon seeing the couch.
"We prepared it just in case you want to take a nap while waiting, Miss Young," Allen mused, standing a few paces away. "Hope you like it."
Lola turned to him, seeing that the neat couch had been turned into a mini bed.
"Ha... ha..." came out an awkward laugh. She then turned to Atlas. "Did you... ask him to set it up?"
"Don’t you like it?"
She bit her tongue, momentarily speechless, then smiled. "Thanks."
"The twins will come later," he said. "I’ll go now."
"Uh, okay...?" Lola watched Atlas leave while Allen gave her a short bow before following his boss. Once the door shut, she bit her lip and then smacked them together. "Sometimes, I don’t know if he’s a green flag or a red flag — maybe a multicolored flag?"
She looked back at the couch, and a full smile spread across her face. "A green flag for sure. How did he know I’d feel sleepy?"
Elated, she happily skipped to the couch, which had comfortable pillows and even a soft blanket. With a full stomach, a nap felt like a treat.
*
*
*
Meanwhile, Allen side-eyed his boss as he walked a step behind him. Normally, Atlas would have eaten in his office or just had a few bites, considering his tight schedule. Yet today, instead of the usual rush—eating while reading the agenda for his next meeting — Atlas had actually taken his lunch break seriously. No reading, no interruptions, no rush—just like any normal person should treat mealtime.
"How did you like the food in the cafeteria, sir?"
Atlas didn’t answer immediately, eyes ahead, his mind recalling the look on her face while eating. Lola seemed to have enjoyed it immensely.
A look of satisfaction colored his face as he said, "Good."
"Heh. I’m glad," Allen smiled, then leaned over. "Sir, are you going to wear that fish mask to the meeting, though?"