Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele

Chapter 40 Chapter 40

[Cordelia]

Twirling in a full-length emerald velvet gown with matching opera-length gloves I stop, facing Tilly and ask, "You don't think this looks a bit...dramatic, do you?

Her own dress is bright red and looks amazing against her sun-kissed skin and black hair. "For your premiere fashion show, absolutely not. The whole point is to get everyone's attention."

Moving over to our shared dresser, I use the hanging mirror to help me position the antique emerald comb. After the incident, Clark placed it in the room for me and I'm grateful. I would have been sad to have lost such a precious family heirloom. Why did he give this to me? What is Atlas thinking?

Taking my arm in hers, Tilly led me out of the room and down to the main hall where we found Clark repairing a few of his drones while he prepared to film the entire evening.

As soon as he saw us, he directed one of his drones to start recording as it swept over our appearance, recording our entry into the fashion show for our upcoming publicity reel.

"Mathilda Madison and Cordelia Louise Greyson, you both look stunning. Any words for your followers about your upcoming show?"

"We hope you like what you see," Tilly speaks up for the both of us. "I am so excited that my best friend will be right next to me tonight."

"Ms. Greyson, how does it feel having your first collection in the End of Expo Fashion Show? I hear there are already rumors that you might be tonight's recipient of the Best Newcomer Award as well as Best of Show for one of your signature pieces. How does that feel?" "Unbelievable!" I exclaim, truly stunned. This is the first I am hearing of this news. Could I possibly be in the running for Best of Show? "I'm honestly just excited to be included."

Tilly and I give a final wave as we enter the main hall.

Everything has been transformed. A stage has been erected. Tilly and I head backstage to check on our models and make sure everything is exactly as we have planned.

I take the last designer seat bordering the stage. As I turn my head to watch the first line cross the stage I look up to see someone watching me from across the way. It is

impossible to see anything clearly in the dark room, especially with the stage lights brightly illuminating the models on stage, but I know it is Atlas. I would never mistake that intense gaze for anyone else.

Hlook away, blushing. As much as I try to forget him, to distract myself with work and new friendships, he has always made my heart race. It's not just that he is unbelievably handsome, it is that

he is also so intensely purposeful in everything he does. Even when angry, when he gives you his attention, it is complete, without distraction. Even now, I can feel his eyes still watching me. He's been doing that a lot lately.

There is a masculine shout across the room. The music is so loud I'm not sure if anyone else heard it. Looking up again, I see Atlas struggling with two men, one of them is holding a gun to his head. Everyone 1/3

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is so focused on the show that they don't notice him being dragged backward except for Sydney, who has begun to pull on the gun arm of the attacker.

Is she crazy? She's going to get him killed!

Just as I think this, her hand slips, and a shot rings out, echoing throughout the room as a bullet ricochets off the ceiling, hitting an overhead light.

"SECURITY!!" I scream as I jump to my feet, pick up a nearby decoration, and throw it across the stage. As the crystal ornament hits the first attacker in

the head, pull up the hem of my skirt so that I can climb on stage. "Turn up the lights!" I demand as I pull myself up, startling the models. "Someone is attacking Atlas Steele!"

Everything stops as the lights flicker to life. The two attackers, seeing themselves surrounded, release Atlas and begin pushing through the crowd towards the exit. Sydney, who had been pulling on the attacker's arm not a moment before, has somehow disappeared. It's as if she wasn't there at all. (1)

Emboldened by my actions, others in the crowd begin pushing against the attackers, slowing their retreat making it possible for Security to intercept them before they reach the doors.

It feels like the entire room takes a deep breath.

"Holy Cow! Did anyone catch that on film?" The room is loud with gossip. "First his ex-wife, and now Atlas Steele himself! Who wants to hurt the Steele family this badly?"\

A hand touches my shoulder and I remember that I am standing in the center of the stage. Excusing myself, I begin to climb down, reaching out for the first set of stable hands that can help me maneuver around my floor-length gown. "Cordelia," Atlas pulls me into him and I realize that his hands were the ones that helped me descend.

Camera flashes surround us and questions are shouted at us from all directions.

"Is it true, Atlas? Did your ex-wife really save you from attackers?"

"Will you and Mrs. Steele be having a reconciliation?"

"What about Sydney Bryant? Where is she tonight?"

I stop listening to their words. How can I answer these questions? Atlas and I are through. I don't need to entertain such foolish ideas coming from the media.

Pulling away, 1 leave Atlas to face them alone. His expression drops but I ignore it, my heart twisted in knots.

"No comment," My voice shakes as I push past the cameramen as I make my way toward Tilly and Clark. Excuse me."

I let Tilly and Clark guide me out of the room so I could collect myself. It takes the police about an hour to check the grounds for additional threats, but they do not find anything. The two attackers were working alone as far as they can tell, although it is still a mystery how th got inside in the first place.

The stage crew clean up the broken glass, but the fashion show is officially over. None of the models feel safe enough to go back on stage. The afterparty, however, is still underway. All of us feel the need to forget reality for a while.

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As I leave the main hall to return to my room before the event, a few reporters ask me why I did what! did, putting myself at risk to help my ex-husband.

"I don't know," was all I could say as I marched past them. "I just...I just did."

But the truth was I couldn't imagine my world without Atlas Steele in it..

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