Chapter 237: Does She Outweigh Everything?
[Travis Lancaster’s Villa]
"So? What does he look like?" Caullen leaned forward, his bottom barely on the edge of the couch. "Tell me. Who is it? The man behind the Summit Partners?"
Caullen eagerly waited for a response that didn’t come. He frowned, staring at Travis, who seemed to be zoning out.
"What?" he deadpanned. "Did something happen? Is it bad news?"
Travis drew in a deep breath and slowly slid his eyes to his cousin. His mouth parted, but no words came.
"It’s not like that," he said after a moment, leaning forward to pour more whiskey into his empty glass.
"If it’s not like that, then why are you so quiet? Hang on—are you not planning on telling me who it was? Or what he looks like?"
Travis paused after filling his glass, resting his hands on his knees. His thoughts drifted again before another heavy sigh escaped him.
"Derek is doomed from the get-go."
"Huh?" Caullen furrowed his brows. "We know he’s going to screw it up eventually. That’s why the chairman put you on the project to make sure his beloved grandson has something under his belt."
"Not like that." Travis leaned back, crossing one leg over the other. "He never had a chance to begin with... in the project or anything else."
"What are you talking about?"
Travis’s eyes flicked to Caullen, but all he could manage was a shallow sigh. He shook his head and looked away, recalling his meeting with the chairman of Summit Partners.
*****
[Earlier...]
Shock was an understatement for what Travis felt the second he saw the man behind Summit Partners. His first thought was, He’s younger than I expected. Perhaps just around my age.
But that didn’t matter, because the longer he stared, the more he realized how familiar the man across from him was.
Atlas Bennet.
The man behind Summit Partners was Atlas... Bennet.
And somehow, all the mysteries surrounding Summit Partners were answered just by knowing who its chairman was. Still, Travis kept his composure, staying focused on their discussion until they wrapped up the agenda.
"Thank you, Mr. Bennet," Travis said politely. "I appreciate your input on the plan."
"Are you leaving?"
Travis froze at Atlas’s sudden question.
"Stay seated. We have another matter to discuss," Atlas said, just as a knock came at the door. "This one’s more important."
Travis glanced toward the door as Allen walked in with a tray of tea. Allen greeted him politely and placed the set on the coffee table between them before quietly excusing himself.
Travis’s eyes followed Allen out before returning to Atlas, who was pouring tea into the empty cups.
"Is there anything you want to address about the project, Mr. Bennet?" Travis asked.
Atlas didn’t answer. The silence that followed weighed heavily in the room. Travis’s gaze shifted to the cup being filled, only to notice Atlas’s wristwatch. It wasn’t like the usual watches he’d seen—this one had no branding at all.
It looks familiar. I’ve seen one just like it before...
His thoughts trailed off as a memory surfaced. He recalled their first meeting with a Summit Partners representative, Allen. Before the meeting, a fish-headed "hotel staff" had entered the private suite to clear the table.
Travis remembered it clearly—the way that strange man had taken the teacups. The watch he was wearing had caught his eye then too. Despite the lack of branding, it was unique, and as someone interested in watches, Travis had liked it.
The fish-headed guy... was him?
His breath hitched, eyes widening as the realization struck him. The man serving him tea now was the same one Derek had ordered around that day.
Travis swallowed hard when Atlas met his eyes.
"Lola Young," Atlas said, leaning back with his focus on the teacup in his hand. "What is your relationship to her?"
Every other thought in Travis’s mind vanished at the question. "I’m sorry?"
"Do you like her?" Atlas asked directly, his menacing gaze steady over the rim of his cup.
"Lola..." Travis trailed off, recalling seeing her earlier with a man wearing a fish-head mask. Realization dawned on him, and he quickly shook his head, trying to recompose himself. "I don’t know why Lola is being brought up in a business setting—"
"She’s my business... a business I will not gamble with," Atlas cut in. "So, I want to know who dares call himself my rival."
Travis was momentarily speechless. "If you deem me a rival, will you put an end to this project?"
"No." Atlas took another sip, utterly calm despite what was coming out of his mouth. "It’s the entire Lancaster family I’ll put an end to."
He paused, locking eyes with him. "I already have reason enough to do that—with or without your answer. Derek Lancaster has contributed plenty."
"Then why are you still asking me?"
"In hopes of finding a different reason not to." Atlas languidly set the cup down. "So, do you think she weighs more than the Lancaster family and the NL Group?"
Travis went quiet, staring at the man across from him. Atlas’s face revealed nothing, not a single hint of his true thoughts.
"Lola is a friend. She’s like a sister to me," Travis finally said. "And I think she’s better off without Derek or the Lancasters in her life." He paused, drew a breath. "And no—she doesn’t outweigh the importance of the Lancaster family and the NL Group."
"So you’re not worthy after all," Atlas commented suddenly. "Remember that answer the next time your eyes wander to her, Travis Lancaster."
The words lingered in Travis’s mind the entire day, even after leaving Summit Partners. Not the part about Lola being brought up—though that was startling enough—but the remark Atlas had left him with. But before they completely part ways, Atlas never forgot to tell him one thing,
"You should stop calling her your little sister if you can’t stop your family from dragging her into the mess they’ve made."
*****
[Present Time]
Now, reflecting on it again, Travis finally understood what Atlas meant.
"Not a worthy opponent," Travis whispered, making the already confused Caullen even more perplexed. "I think that’s what he meant."
Does that mean Lola is more important than Summit Partners to him? Does she outweigh everything for him?