Danielle Hayes

"Yeah! I knew. It's just that, I didn't want him to feel any different about it, like I was like other girls." She sighed. "And it was kinda wierd for me. I kept seeing him and we got closer in yoga class and his love gave me courage to protest. So, I stopped the coding and Oliver got really furious. He then said that he wouldn't get humiliated by that and whatever that was between his son and I, must end then. I told him that it would actually end and that I quit."

"That's the reason they fought. He wanted you to break up with Noah so that he could keep you. You are the genius behind Bennet corp." I exclaimed. She sighed, leaning against the glass window.

Mr. Prescott just nodded and remained silent.

"Please don't tell this to Noah."

"When are you going to tell him? You wouldn't want detective Ashford to break the news now, do you?" She kept silent as I continued. "They will say it's the motive. That you or Noah might have killed him for freeing yourself."

Looking unbothered for the first time, she smiled.

"They won't. You will solve it. I believe in you."

•°•°•°•°• 💙

The lighting in the lounge was quite low, as usual. Couples huddled around the lanterns that hung low.

"Anastasia, I have a news. It's about the Bennet corp."

She raised her eyebrow. "Go on."

"Crystal Wagner is the actual genius behind Bennet corp."

She smiled taking my hand. "Yes."

"You knew?"

"Yeah! I am sorry, it's not my story to say. But she did ghost coding right?"

I nodded. "That's not it. She worked her ass off 15hrs a day while Oliver snuk out with Lara."

"I didn't know that. That's bad." She frowned.

"You are the majority share holder. You have to do this right." Mr. Prescott adviced her while she just nodded.

"I want her to take over." She said, starting a video call. "I'll let Lara know."

"Wait, she doesn't want to make it public yet."

"But that makes police think that it's her motive and that, she killed to take his place."

"Maybe not his place, but to get out." She hummed, drumming her nails on the bar counter.

"Can I help you with something now?" She asked, taking a sip.

I was about to say no but Mr. Prescott bet me to it. "Actually, yes Anastasia! We didn't get a chance to meet the pool boy."

Wait, how did he know? Yeah! By sneaking up on me that day. Damn him.

"Atlas! Yeah! He's a part timer here." Pulling her phone out. "Lemme check."

Some time into the phone, I heard her yell. "I don't care Atlas! Get your ass in here. Now!"

Ending her call, she furiously sipped her wine again.

"Apparently he's at his work. Somewhere." We nodded.

An hour later, Anastasia yelled through the crowd. "I got his behind the bar. He won't come all the way here, for free."

"Alright! We'll try to keep it short."

As I trudged towards the bar, his eyes met mine and a smile crept into his face.

"Hey gorgeous! What will you have?" He smirked, leaning onto the counter.

"A Anastasia special for me and something old fashioned for Mr. Prescott." I waved him off. I turned to find Mr. Prescott, clutching his jaw. His fists were balled as he glared at Atlas, who was working on the drinks.

"Mr. Prescott as in... Logan Prescott?"

"The one and only." He smirked. "We need your help with something."

"I guess, you will need them." I put couple of dollars on the counter. His eyes lit up.

"Sure! Enjoy your drinks. I'll talk to you soon after the rush dissolves."

An hour or so later, Atlas slumped onto the couch, beside me.

"How are you holding up Atlas? You have seen his dead body right?"

He winced. "Honestly, I have never seen a dead body before but we have to get used to it."

"I never get use to it. It fades at the same time it remains." He nodded. "Can you take us back to that morning?"

He squinted. "That day, I was working and Mr. Bennet along with that blue haired lady-"

"Lar-"

"Yeah! Lara. The PR lady. I mixed their two usual special drinks and put them by the pool."

"Specials? Like you mixed here?"

"Nah! No, not the liquor. It's like energy drink. Lara's red bull and adrenaline cola while Oliver's was wheat paste with electrolytes. It takes awfully long, to mix them. Then, Lara left to take the call and I heard a dive. Maybe Oliver dived into the pool and let me make this clear here. I am a bartender and not a life guard. He was on the pool, his face down. And... That's it! Are we done? I have to server." He got up.

"At that moment you realised-"

"Yeah! I went in. I pulled him to the shallow end. He wasn't moving. I called the 911 and I tried Mouth to mouth but he was dead. He was gone. Okay? I am leaving now. There's a party coming and they need." He took my hand. "Here's my number, if you need me."

•°•°•°•°• 💙

The music was erratic and the lighting was dim which made me lose my footing. He was soon to catch me.

I shrugged it off.

I had to remember, I am his assistant only.

The back door was open as Atlas worked there. The gush of wind made my loose tendrils cover my face. Before I could, a hand tugged them behind my ear.

I opened my eyes as Mr. Prescott tugged the hair. His touch sent tingles and sparks course through.

Stop it Dani!

"Guys! I love to talk to you guys but I have work."

"This is about your boss, Anastasia." He glanced at Anastasia, who was greeting everyone at the door.

"Shoot."

"Did Anastasia move the bottles by the pool?"

"Why?" He frowned. "Was there a problem?" He stretched out his muscles.

Just then, an idea snuck in. Maybe it could be just a hunch but, could I get more information if i get him alone with me?

"Atlas... I want talk to you." I whispered into his ear. "In private." I smiled.

He opened his mouth to say something but quickly closed it. Rubbing the back of his neck, he blushed.

"Sure!" He pulled me along with him. "I know just a place."

God! I hope this goes well.

With a last look at Mr. Prescott who was standing there, dumbfounded, we left the lounge.

He snuck me out, through the back door and onto a silent dark street that had a single light.

My heart beat faster and faster and my breathing grew shaky.

Turning to me, he pulled me into him. His hand circled around me waist as he looked at me, wetting his lips.

I tried looking calm.

My hands crashed into his chest as he did, his head dipped down into the crook of my neck, as he breathed my scent.

"You smell so fucking good." He growled.

And you fucking stink.

God! Help me.

"Is that so?" I whispered into his ear as my lips touched it. It made his grip around me increase.

"Mhmm." He hummed, gliding his nose up and down my neck as I gulped.

"Atlas?"

"Mhmm." He hummed again, not stopping what he was doing earlier. He moved to other side.

"Did you see Anastasia move the water bottle?"

"No! She didn't. She bitched me about getting her order late and was gone. So, yeah! She didn't do it. Now, less talking." He said, opening my top collar buttons.

Not knowing what to do, I took his jacket off.

He trailed kisses from my cheek, down my chin and lower and lower and back once more.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah! She didn't move anything. By the way, did that witness tell you about Oliver's last words?" I nodded in negative. "Before diving down, he whispered something to Lara."

"Mhmm! What did he say?" I whispered, pushing him against the wall, his hands pinned above his head.

"Fuck! You are turning me on." He smirked earning a glare. "Something about being blind and she blushed. Clearly it meant something to both of them and they were kinda his last words."

He turned me around, pinning me against the wall as he continued what he started.

"Atlas!"

Knox! Yelled my inner concious.

What?

I abruptly stopped him.

"Am I taking it too fast baby? Tell me?" I asked, caressing my cheek. I nodded.

"Alright! I will take it slow." He smiled once more. "Let's dance then." I nodded again.

Taking my hand, he put it on his shoulder as his other hand glided to my back as we started moving.

"When I saw you for the first time, my first thought was, to ravish you." I raised my brow. "Yeah! You were looking stunning even though, it's just your work attire. You looked like a goddess."

"You aren't anything less either. God!! Guys would kill to get there muscles. You are handsome."

Not! You weren't as handsome and sexy as somebody I know.

He chuckled, lowering his head to the crook of my neck as we danced, god knows how long.

"Well, I wanted to tell you something. I know, it may sound crazy but, I have Oliver's mobile."

"Really?" I almost yelled.

"Shh!" He shushed me. "Yes! He left it on the table then. I didn't tell the police either. So, if you want it... I want a kiss."

"A kiss?" I raised my eyebrow.

"First the phone and then the kiss." I extended my hand. He shook.

"If you give me the phone first, the kiss would be damn strong that you'll want me do it again."

"Sounds sexy to me. But, fine! Here you go." He placed Oliver's phone in my hand.

Smirking, I took it. My hand slowly travelled up his torso, as he shivered under my touch. It reached the neck as my lips touched his sweet spot. He breathed out heavily.

"Hey! I wanted it on my lips." He pouted.

"A deal's a deal. You didn't mention it where. So yeah! Our deal's done. I must get back to work. See you some other time." I smirked.

"This is my address, if you want." He put a slip into my hand and ran off.

I felt absolutely disgusted. I didn't know why, but I wasn't feeling alright. My heart was screaming at me to stop but my mind... It told me to do my job and I followed. I followed my mind.

I couldn't stand any longer. I just couldn't. He was the first one who got this close to me...

What if Mr. Prescott knew? Would he fire me? Would he appreciate me for taking my work seriously, risking it although it was something else?

But, why was he at the back of my mind? Why did I feel that Atlas's touch should have been Mr. Prescott's?

I needed my shower. I couldn't do this.

God! I was feeling awful. Ugh!!!

Clutching it in my hand and a phone in another, I turned around. As I threw away the slip, my eyes found the sight of a pair of tormented grey ones.

He stood right under the light, with his fists balled. His hair was completely disheveled that, it fell onto his forehead. His eyes were drooping and he looked weary.

The look on his face made my stomach churn.

"Danielle,"

********

Hey guys! Hope you liked this chapter. I am sorry, but I had to do it.

Your favourite jam 😅

Mine's blue berry

Love 💕

Mikaelson