Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele

Taking Atlas' hand, I let him guide me out of my apartment. He has a car waiting, a rare luxury as Atlas usually prefers to drive himself. It is one of the company cars, so he must have had someone from security bring him over. Looking at how his hands are shaking, it was probably the best idea to have someone else do the driving.

I don't bring up his hands, or the way he looks so tired and drawn, like he has just finished a marathon in loafers and a tie. I know how much he prides himself on looking like he is in control. We may have had our ups and downs together, but I would never try to hurt him when he so clearly seems to be struggling.

"I kicked Angelica out of my house today," he announces, breaking the silence. "She's with your parents. We can work on her memory issues from there."

"Oh." I'm not quite sure what to say about that.

"And I called off the wedding," he continues. "Not officially, yet, but she is aware that I have no intention of marrying her."Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

I notice that he doesn't mention anything about telling her about us and our relationship. Is he still waiting to see what happens next? "Are you sure that is what you want?"

"I'm positive," he turns his head towards me and sighs. "I'm so sorry, Cordelia. I should not have let her move in with me in the first place. I was so shocked at seeing her again when we found her on that island that I just...I guess I just went along with what everyone suggested."

"I see," he seems to be in a confessional mood, so I ask what has been on my mind. "And this morning? When I found you two together? It looked a lot like, well, like your relationship got a lot closer after we had..."

His eyes widen in understanding. "You thought that because I was upset I went home and slept with Angelica?" He reaches forward, taking my hand in his. "Even if I was a little disappointed that you didn't want the dress, I wasn't so upset that I'd betray you like that. I haven't given up hope that someday, maybe if I am very lucky, you might reconsider."

"Reconsider?" I'm confused. "Reconsider what?"

"Our divorce," he swallows. "It was a mistake. I know that now."

"But Atlas," I gasp, "I'm not sure I can."

"I know," his eyes are sad. "I still hope I can convince you." He continues to hold my hand as he stares forward. "Even if it takes the rest of my life."

I can feel my heartbeat flutter. Was that a proposal?*

"Please just consider it," he kisses my hand. "Or at least, let me have a chance to woo you. We never had an opportunity to date or just be together like a normal couple. We never had the opportunity to be friends and get to know one another before getting married. Maybe if we had, I'd have never doubted you."

"Atlas..." I shake my head. "We can't just forget about the last 5 years. You treated me so poorly. I was never good enough for you. No matter what I did, you and everyone else treated me as some kind of cold-hearted gold digger for marrying you in my sister's place. You all blamed me for her disappearance as if I had anything to do with Jude taking her."

"Cordella, I didn't mean to say that..." Atlas tries to speak, but I'm so upset, that I don't pause, I hardly breathe as I continue to explain myself.

"It didn't seem to matter to you or to anyone else that the accident and her disappearance hurt me too. I was feeling her loss so much that the only thing I could think to do to honor her was to go ahead and fulfill our family's promise to join our two families." "Yes, I've loved you since the first time I saw you, I won't deny it," I wrapped my arms around me, trying to hold everything in, but the emotions kept spilling out. "But I wasn't quiet and distant because I was so cold and unfeeling. I was feeling everything, Atlas. Every sting and cut and angry glare. I was feeling it so deeply I didn't feel safe to show it... I."

My lip starts to quiver. I can't keep it in.

There is a click, and a few seconds later Atlas has unbuckled both of our seatbelts. He pulls me into his arms and holds me to his chest.

"Shh, Cordelia," he smooths out my hair. "I'm so sorry. I didn't realize how much I hurt you."

Pulling my chin up to face him. He kisses my eyes. and then my nose, and finally my lips. It is a soft kiss, the barest touch of lips.

As he looks down at me with the wet shine of tears in his eyes, he has never looked more beautiful. "Atlas," I reach up, to place my hand in his hair. My heart is still hurting, but I have never stopped loving this man, no matter how much has come between us. If he is willing to fight for us to be together, so am I.

"Cordelia, please..." he begs. "I just want the chance to earn your forgiveness and to show you the love you deserve. Will you let me?" VictoryAnne Vice

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If you were Cordelia, what would you say?