The Taste of Seduction

Merri gave her an apologetic small, "I\'m really sorry. Sofia, I have made you worried."

Sofia shook her head, "No. Don\'t blame yourself. It\'s not your fault."

Sofia\'s gaze fell on Atlas who was leaning against the wall at the corner of the room. His arms crossed across his chest. Atlas met Sofia\'s blaming gaze and then he looked away.

"Sofia, I hope you\'re not blaming Atlas for what had happened?" Meredith asked when she saw the tension between the two of them.

Sofia scoffed, "Of course, I am. It\'s his responsibility to protect you. If a man can\'t protect his woman, then he doesn\'t deserve her!"

Meredith saw Atlas stiffened at Sofia\'s words. "No, it all happened in a blink of an eye, he isn\'t superman to know this would have happened. I\'m sure he would have protected me better if he knew this would have happened." Meredith defended him.

Sofia sighed and shook her head, "Love is really blind. Why would anyone want to shoot you? You\'re hurt because of him." Sofia pointed at Atlas.

Meredith squeezed her brows. She knew Sofia was saying this because she cared about her but she really didn\'t want her to say these things at least not in front of Atlas.

"Sofiadon\'t." Meredith said sternly. Now that she knew about her background, she wasn\'t sure If the shooting was done by Atlas\'s enemy or if the target was really her.

Sofia pouted and hampered. "Whatever."

Meredith gave Atlas an apologetic smile and he forced out one.

"So you will be staying with me after your discharge-"

"No." Atlas interjected.

Sofia raised her brows at him.

"Yes, she is staying with me. I\'m not letting her stay with you. Who knows if the enemy will attack again?"

"And how do you plan on protecting on her if he appears?" Atlas argued.

"Of course, hire competent bodyguard!" Sofia retorted.

"She is safe with me."

"No."

"Yes."

"No"

"Yes." Atlas said glaring at Sofia. His patient was clearly running thin.

"N-"

"Okay both of you just shut up!" Meredith yelled, interrupting them.

"First of all, I\'m not staying with anyone of you. My brother would be all by himself and I\'m sure he is worried sick about me right now."

"Ermm.no he isn\'t. I told him, you went on a one-month business summit and the reception there is very poor that\'s you haven\'t called him. Also, my mom is back, she is taking care of him since he is currently staying with us." Sofia explained.

Meredith felt warmth rushed through her. Her friend was truly the best. She had planned everything for her.

"Ohthank you Sofia."

Sofia waved it off, "it\'s nothing. Fortunately, your face wasn\'t shown in the papers so he wouldn\'t know about the incident."

Meredith nodded. Then it seems she had to stay with Atlas until she was completely healed, or else his brother would be worried.

"Sofia" Meredith trailed off. She knew Sofia didn\'t really like Atlas but she was rooting for her and Atlas and now this had to happened.

"I think it\'s better if I stay with Atlas"

"Meredith you traitor! You just spend 3 days with him and you\'re choosing him over me?"

"Ermm.." Meredith scratched the tip of her nose avoiding Sofia\'s gaze.

"Because of Aaron. I don\'t want him to worry about me plus you have already told him, I have gone to a business summit and I will be back in a month\'s time. It\'s left with two weeks, by then, my wounds would have already healed. Think about that."

Sofia\'s expression slid into a frown, "Okay."

She turned to look at Atlas. "If anything happens to her, I will burn down your company." Sofia threatened.

Atlas rolled his eyes, ignoring her.

"I brought you lot of books to accompany you while you\'re recuperating. These books contain the best men written by female authors. I\'m sure you would fall in love with them." Sofia said excitedly as she removed the dozen book she had brought for Meredith. All the best erotica.

They ignored Atlas\'s intense gaze on them. Meredith picked a book by her favourite author then she screamed.

"Ayyyy!!!"

Atlas panicked, "Angelwhat\'s wrong?"

Meredith covered her mouth with her hand and blushed in embarrassment.

"N-nothing.it just there is an autograph in the book." She traced her fingers across the autograph. The author was the person who had inspired her to be a writer.

"Oh" Atlas nodded.

"Where did you get this?" Meredith beamed at Sofia. Her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"WellI have a lot of connections Merri plus I\'m a social influencer, I have my ways." Sofia winked at Meredith.

Meredith nodded in excitement. "Thank you, Sofia! I really appreciated it. You\'re the best big sis in the whole world wide and my favorite person."

Atlas cleared his throat but Meredith was too excited to mind him

"So.what is going on between the two of you? Are you dating now?" Sofia asked glancing at Atlas and Meredith.

They both stiffened and Meredith blushed looking away.

"Ahwhy are you asking?" Meredith asked knotting her fingers.

"Because I\'m your friend and I need to know so that when I see him with another girl, I can kill both of them." Sofia shrugged.

Meredith chuckled and shook her head. "No, we are not dating. We are..just.erm.friends? or boss and employee relationship. Something like that." Meredith explained. Atlas hadn\'t ask her to be his girlfriend and their sessions were a private affair so this was the best explanation she could come up with.

Sofia snorted, "What boss would cry like a baby because his secretary got shot and stay with her throughout the day without eating or sleeping?"

Meredith let out an awkward chuckle, "Well only my boss. He is the best. He cares about his workers so much."

Sofia rolled her eyes. "Hmmm I see. Best boss indeed.." She replied, sarcasm laced in her voice.