Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele

Chapter 95 Chapter 96 [Atlas]

It isn't every day that you receive a call from your banker asking about whether or not you authorized $500,000 in expenses at a bridal boutique In addition to $25,000 at a sex shop.

Even with the financial struggles that Steele Industries has had, I am still a billionaire, but not all of those assets are liquid. I have enough money to cover it, but that doesn't mean I'm pleased with how much Angelica is spending. Even if this sham wedding were to happen, we'd still need to pay for a hall and decorations and food.

We are going to need to speak about the budget before this gets more out of hand than it already is.

I keep looking for signs that she remembers anything but she seems to be regaining her memories at a frustratingly slow rate. She now understands that it has been 5 years since she disappeared, but even that concession took weeks of convincing.

What is she going to do when I tell her the truth? How will she react when she learns that when she disappeared I so casually replaced her with her little sister? How will she break when she learns that I fell in love with that little sister and now she, Angelica, is the other woman?

Considering how she is already jealous and suspicious I do not think it will go well at all. She may even end

up back in the hospital, only this time it will be because I broke her heart.

But I cannot live without Cordelia anymore. It isn't enough seeing her from afar and not being able to touch her. Now that I know how it feels to be without her, I never want to let her go again. I want to go to bed next to her every night and wake up next to her every morning. I want to take joy in watching her body. change as our child grows inside of her. I want to hold her hand when the time comes, to watch my son come into the world.

I want to be her husband again.

"You are such a fool, Atlas Steele," I mumble to myself as I drive towards the bridal boutique. "She was right there the entire time and you were too blind to see."

I will convince her. Somehow I will help her realize that our relationship is the one that needs to be cared for and protected, not the false relationship with Angelica.

I refuse to lose her again.

But first, I need to take care of the finances before it gets out of hand..

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I was supposed to meet the ladies at the restaurant in about an hour, but I decided to come by a little early to see what all this money was going towards, and to ask the shopkeeper about their return policy. possibly even stop some of the customizations. We could always alter them at Steele Industries if needed, and I don't want to pay the custom tailoring charges on dresses that will never be worn.

The trick will be in doing this discretely with Angelica in the same room. Thankfully it is a very large shop, from what I remember, and as long as I am quiet, I should be able to enter and exit without her leaving, or at least talk with the shopkeeper before Angelica notices I'm there.

I could do this over the phone, but it would be better to discuss this in person. Or at least that is what i am telling myself. In truth, I just want to see Cordelia and hopefully find a moment alone with her so that i

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Chapter 06

can make her understand how much she means to me,

I'm afraid that if I keep her at arm's length, I'm going to lose her, only this time it will be forever. And the only person I'll have to blame is myself, for not treasuring her when I had the chance.

Entering the boutique quietly, I look around for Deborah, the owner. She is impossible to find at first, but then I hear her ushering Angelica and her gaggle of bridesmaids into a separate lounge to enjoy champagne cocktails and snacks while they wait for the last member of their party to be ready and browse wedding catalogs for accessories.

I didn't get here a moment too soon. If I had arrived any later, they'd have run up another $50,000 in shoes and jewelry.

I wait for her to make her way back through, but just as I am about to flag her down I see something that makes my heart stand still.

In the main viewing hall is the most beautiful bride I have ever seen. Her auburn brown hair has been swept up off her neck and held in place with a crystal tiara and lace veil. Her gently rounding figure is draped elegantly in ivory satin.

I have never seen her so carefree, spinning and smiling as she looks at herself in the mirror.

Drawn to her light and the warmth of her joy, I approach cautiously not wanting to disrupt her moment happiness.

When I'm close enough to touch her, I place my hand on her shoulder. "You look stunning."

As she turns to face me, I find myself tumbling headfirst into the deep green pools of her eyes.

Swallowing hard, I step onto the platform.

VictoryAnne Vice