CHAPTER 7

Atlas got into her car, fastened his seatbelt and sat in silence, tired from all he’d been through today.

He still didn't believe that the woman was going to send him twenty thousand dollars but it didn't matter either way. If she was some kind of kidnapper or con artist, she would be very sorry once she realized he didn't have a single dollar to his name.

The strange lady parked her car properly then turned to face Atlas squarely.

“So, tell me your account details” she said looking at a slightly annoyed Atlas

“look if this is a joke, just end it right here and tell me what you really want, I’ve had quite the day already.” He let out tiredly

“Account details?” she repeated not acknowledging everything he’d just said.

"Fine," Atlas gritted out and called out his details. He watched as the lady pressed a few buttons on her phone, a look of skepticism in his eyes.

Few seconds later, his phone buzzed, he took a look at the message he'd just received and he froze.

Staring at him was a message from his bank that he’d been credited twenty thousand dollars.

“now, let's head to my apartment…..oh where are my manners, my name is Esmeralda Kings' ' she smiled at him and roused her engine to life before driving off.

Atlas sat there quietly, different thoughts flooding through his mind.

He was both confused and joyful, scared but at the same time happy. He was sure what emotion to feel but one thing was for sure, he was overwhelmed with emotions.

He knew he should be happy but all he could think about was how odd of a circumstance this was.

He glanced at his phone again and sure as shit, twenty thousand dollars stared back at him. It was only a matter of time before his bank called him because he'd never had such a huge amount of money in his bank before.

The realization that he  could finally pay for his mum’s hospital bill hit him like a ton of bricks,  his mum wouldn’t die and he’d be able to take care of her a little better with the extra ten thousand dollars.

“you’re awfully quiet, you’re much like your dad” Esmeralda stated with a smile on her lips.

Atlas glanced at her, his Expression passive, a huge contradiction from his inner turmoil.

“I’m just wondering what’s so important that you’d pay me twenty thousand dollars just to follow you” he stated with brows raised.

“Well you’re about to find out soon enough,” she said as she stopped the car in front of a big apartment building.

Atlas had always been stunned by the size of these buildings but the fact that he was going to be entering one today both scared and excited him. Was he really about to meet his end? And if he was about to, could he at least rush to pay his mother's bill first?

Esmeralda led the way, they both  got into an elevator which took them to the 9th floor, and  walked down the hall a little bit till they reached a big door.

Esmeralda brought out a key card from her purse and swiped into a small hole in the door.

The door opened with a click, she pushed it open and they made their way inside, Atlas was stunned, first off it’s way bigger on the inside, the corridor was lined with different art works on the wall, as he followed her through her apartment, he was led to the living room which opened up to a huge space with  high ceilings and  a heated fireplace that  made the place feel a little cozy.

Light from the huge chandelier sparked all around her marble tiles, it was so beautiful, the furniture that was scattered around the house looked like they could buy his house five times.

“Please have a seat, I’ll go get the documents and some snacks” she rushed off leaving Atlas behind still in awe of his surroundings.

He took a seat on one of the white sofas and just like  he thought it was soft and plush.  He chuckled to himself, he couldn’t believe he was in one of those apartments he’d seen on Tv.

His thoughts were drawn back to Esmeralda, why had she stopped him, how did she know his father, and what did she want to tell him that was so important?

“I only have chocolate chip cookies, I hope that’ll suffice. '' Esmeralda came into the room, interrupting his thoughts. She  placed a plate of cookies in front of him with a chilled glass of water.

“thank you” he said as he took a bite out of the cookie.

Esmeralda nodded and took a seat across from Atlas.

“I’ll get straight to the point, I was your fathers seceterary, your father was a really ambitious man, he left preston with a goal of bringing his family…you and tir mother out of the slums” she paused, Atlas brows dipped in annoyance, from his point of view, his father abandoned his mother and himself and forgot all about them.

“He was sick of seeing his family struggle, although I agree that his decision was unfair to your mum, it all worked out better than he expected” Esmeralda continued hoping he’d see things from a different perspective.

Atlas stared at Esmeralda, a look of disbelief in his eyes but didn't say anything. He wanted to hear all she had to say.

“I’m sorry to also tell you this sad news but your father died a few months ago, I’m sorry for your loss. He left you a will which I’m supposed to give you” she handed him an envelope

Atlas was a bit stunned, learning about his father and now his death, today was quite the rollercoaster. He opened the envelope and took his time to read its contents, he couldn’t believe his eyes. According to the will, his father purchased all of the Big firms in Preston and all the firm heads answered to his father and now all of that was being willed to him, all the hard work, the money, power, everything was his now.

He looked up at Esmeralda,

"Is this real?"

Esmeralda nodded…

"It is, I'm sorry it took me this long to find you."

“this…is a lot,” Atlas said, feeling overwhelmed by everything in front of him.

She let out a small laugh

“it is, and it’s all yours now”

Atlas scoffed at her words.

“Hard to believe my deadbeat dad who left me and my mother many years ago  to suffer  left me a  fortune from nowhere” he scoffed

“I know it's hard to believe but it's true. This is your chance to start afresh, sadly without your father, but at least now most of your worries can be alleviated “ she said softly, hoping her words would reach him.

She brought out a pen “just sign here and it’s all yours officially and I can start introducing you to the firm heads and board of directors”

Atlas agreed with her on one thing, with this a lot of his burdens will be erased, at least now he could take care of his mum and himself properly and could live a little easier. He reached out to collect the pen when his phone rang.

It was the doctor calling, his heart rate picked up, he needed to pay for his mum’s treatment and fast.

“Hello Doctor”

“you need to hurry, your mother passed out and need emergency surgery, you need to come quick”

Atlas hands trembled at the news

“please go on with the surgery, please doctor, please don’t let her die” his voice choked

“everything ok?” Esmeralda asked with a worried look on her face

“I’ve got to go, it’s an emergency” he quickly gathered his things and rushed out her apartment in a frenzy, she ran after him and caught up with him at the elevator

“I’m not sure what’s going on, and I hope you’ll be ok but here’s my card, call if you need help or when things have died down, I’ll keep the documents safe” she handed him her card, he thanked her and left hurriedly.