The Taste of Seduction

"Yes Mr. Martini."

"Hmm, what about the chef and the cleaner I told you to hire?"

"All done Sir."

"Alright, thank you. I\'m now completing her discharge procedure. You can come pick us up in 20." Atlas suggested, walking to Meredith\'s room.

"Okay Sir."

The nurse was now done removing her cannula and was about to leave. She smiled at Atlas.

"I\'m done, Mr. Martini." She was an older woman, so she treated Atlas like her son during his stay at the hospital. She would always encourage him to not give up and that Meredith would wake up and she did.

Atlas smiled back at her, "Thank you for everything, Rose."

"Don\'t forget to bring her for wound dressing every three days."

"Alright."

****

Thirty minutes later, they arrived at Atlas\'s mansion with Meredith sleeping in his arms. Atlas stared at her sleeping like a new born baby and his lips curled up into a gentle smile. He took small steps towards the bed and gently placed her on the silky sheets. Meredith stirred and opened her eyes.

"Are we there yet?"

"Yeah, just sleep." Atlas said softly, adjusting her pillow and pulling the blankets over body.

"Hmm, thank you." Meredith whispered softly; her eyes closing. The medications were finally taking a toil on her and she was sleepy.

"Anything for you love." Atlas uttered and pressed a kiss on her forehead.

"I will be at the room just facing this one, if you need me."\'

"Okay." Meredith replied breathing heavily and surrendered to sleep.

Atlas stared at her for a few minutes before he left her alone. Now that she was asleep, he wanted to finish some work. He hadn\'t been to the company for two weeks so workload was piled on his desks.

He knew Albert had brought them. Some papers needed his signature and he had to call an important investor whom he was supposed to meet at the day after the incident but couldn\'t.

The man was a good friend of his, so Atlas was sure he wouldn\'t mind.

After finishing up his work, Atlas went to back to his room completely exhausted. He saw Meredith still sleeping and he smiled subtly. He walked towards the bathroom for a quick shower and come back.

Wearing sweatpants, he came to sit beside Meredith on chair near the bed.. His heart slammed at the sight of her lying safely in his bed. He pushed a strand of hair behind her face.

Based on the report Ace had given him, he had so many questions but he didn\'t know how to ask her. He was afraid she wouldn\'t let him in. It was hard to believe that someone wants to hurt his innocent, Angel. Who? And Why?

Caught up in his thoughts, Atlas didn\'t even realize that she had woken up.

"A-atlas." She croaked out.

Atlas\'s woke up from his stupor.

"Heyhow are you feeling?" Atlas asked softly.

"Betterbut thirsty." She answered yawing in the process.

Atlas\'s lips curled up in a grin at her cute expression. He took the water he had placed on the bedside when he had come to check up o her earlier and opened it for her.

"Here."

"Thank you." Meredith took a sip. She licked her lips after she was done.

Atlas stared at her and his eyes fell on her lips. He missed her so much gosh. Her eyes, smile, lips everything about her. He didn\'t want to lose her again.

"Meredith..." He called her, sadness thick in his voice.

Meredith took his hand and gave it a small squeeze.

"I know Atlas. Don\'t worry. I\'m right here and better now."

"I know it just" Atlas raked his hands through his hair, frustration bubbled on his face.

"Not finding the person who did this to you, hurts so much. I want to protect you so bad and I can\'t even do that if" Atlas whispered.

"If?" Meredith raised her brows in question.

"If you don\'t trust me." Atlas muttered barely a whisper in the room.

"Of course, I trust you, Atlas! Why would you think that I don\'t?" Meredith questioned.

"Then tell me." Atlas pleaded softly.

"Tell you what?"

"Who do you think would want to hurt you? Because whoever shot you wasn\'t an enemy of mine. The bullet doesn\'t even exist. Who are you, Angel? What aren\'t you telling me?"

Atlas saw the shock on her face. The guilt fleeting in her eyes. So, she was really hiding something.

"Angel. I know that all of this is hard for you, but you have to know I can\'t protect you if I don\'t know what or who I\'m dealing with. Just tell me, you have nothing to be afraid of." Atlas cooed softly.

"I can\'t. I-I" Meredith said, turning away from him.

Atlas sat down on the bed and placed his hands on her cheeks, caressing it with his thumb. Meredith closed her eyes and a tear slid down on her cheeks, "Let me in Angel. I\'m always here for you."

Meredith shook her head. "I-I-I-"

"Is someone after you?" Atlas asked.

Meredith nodded.

"Yes?" Atlas questioned, his muscle tensing.

"Yes." Meredith replied. She opened her eyes slowly and met Atlas\'s own simmering with concern.

"Who, Angel?"

Meredith shook her head, "I-I don\'t know..i don\'t know. Believe me Atlas, I don\'t know who it is. All I know is that they\'re coming for me. I\'m so scared---scared."

Atlas wipe the tears that were falling for her eyes with his thumb.

"Shss.I won\'t let anyone take you from me. Now tell me, why are they coming for you?"

"I-I-I can\'t tell you Atlas. Please.I want to protect you."

Atlas just stared at her for a while and nodded in understanding. As someone in the mafia he knew at times certain information were best hidden to protect our love ones.

"Alright. Is there anything else I should know apart from someone coming for you?"

Meredith bit her lips and knotted her fingers.

"T-that..I-I-killed someone."