Knock knock.
Lola paused from her work, lifting her gaze to see the door opening. When she saw Amala walk in again, she knitted her brows.
"Amala, do you hate ?" she asked imdiately. "If you’re coming here with more paperwork, please leave alone."
Amala chuckled, approaching the desk. "That’s not what I want to tell you. Haji just returned earlier."
"Did you two talk?"
"About the incident, yes," Amala nodded. "About the thing that he kept in the dark about — that he had an agreent with Vito? Not yet. Once I know what to do with him, it’s best not to talk about sothing that would only hurt him, especially when your life is in danger."
Lola pursed her lips and smiled, nodding in understanding. "I’m surprised you are not angry with about that."
"You’re not the person who should’ve told about it." Amala then placed the folder in front of Lola, having just covered the docunt with it. The latter raised her brows.
"What is this?" Lola asked as she reached for the folder. "Do I have to sign it imdiately?"
"It’s a report Haji got about the organisation that ca for you that night," Amala explained. "I’ve reviewed and checked its legitimacy before coming here. Apparently, the enemies of this organisation are throwing a huge banquet in celebration of the death of their enemy. Lola — all of them were wiped out overnight. Those who survived? They only survived because they ran to the police and admitted to all their cris just to get locked up imdiately."
Lola knitted her brows and slowly checked the folder, narrowing her eyes at the reports and the photos of people and places. These places were familiar to her; she had once spied on them before.
Amala placed a hand on Lola’s desk. "Lola, tell one thing: do you know the man you’re seeing now? This is not Vito’s doing. Vito could wipe out a slightly decent organisation, but it wouldn’t happen this fast."
Lola didn’t answer imdiately, just checking each page. After flipping to the next page and seeing a dead person’s photo from the morgue, she finally lifted her eyes to et Amala’s.
"These people crossed the line," she answered calmly. "So they can’t expect the retaliation not to cross the line as well. Even if Atlas wouldn’t do this, I would — for the sake of the life I’ve been trying to build."
"Lola."
"Amala, I know you are concerned about . After everything I did to get away from Vito’s clutches and taking you and Haji with , I know you don’t want us in a situation we would all regret. The world of violence is already behind us," Lola closed the folder and leaned back, eyes still on Amala. "But if this world is trying to catch up to us, then letting my man handle it is sothing I will take any day."
The corners of her mouth curled up. "Did Haji tell you to talk to ?"
"He’s worried."
"Worrying is a good thing. His anxiety will keep him alive and alert," Lola nodded. "Are you, Amala?"
Amala paused, looking at Lola’s expression. After a second, a shallow breath escaped her and she shook her head.
"You know, wherever you are, I’d be there as well," Amala smiled subtly. "As long as you are aware of this, I won’t be worried."
Amala idled for a mont, but didn’t stay long and excused herself. Staring at the shut door, Lola smacked her lips. She was about to resu work when her eyes fell on the closed folder before her. She stared at it for a mont before picking it up and placing it in the bottom drawer.
"I’ll just throw this later," she whispered, pausing again as she pondered. After a second, a shallow laugh escaped her. "He does sound scary with these reports."
Lola didn’t bother finishing the reports, though she’d read the brutal wording. It didn’t surprise her — Atlas had given her a heads up, albeit not in detail.
Still, not surprising. Why would she? When Atlas’s little siblings disapproved of Lola going easy on those who intruded on the penthouse, plus their reassurance that their big brother would make them pay.
This was Atlas making everyone pay.
Having that in her mind, Lola resud her work and finished as much as possible. After all, she’d sulked and procrastinated the whole day as if she didn’t have a company to run.
"I... wish I were a trophy wife," she mumbled, glancing at the papers still waiting for her attention. "I really do wish I were one right now."
*****
Hours later...
Lola stretched her arms and legs, her back arched, her face twisted. When she felt so relief, she looked at the mountain of papers on her desk with satisfaction.
"Productive day!" she mused, nodding to herself with pride. She refused to look in the other direction — she knew if she did, her mood would sour because there were still a few mountains left to conquer.
Patting herself on the back, she started cleaning her desk and was ready to call it a day. But as she was busily preparing to leave, a knock on the door stopped her. Glancing at the door and expecting Amala, Lola spoke.
"Amala, I can’t eat out with you tonight as I have..." she trailed off, catching Haji’s head peeking in the door. His head was lower than usual, as if ducking; she arched a brow. "Haji, what’s wrong with you—"
"MOMMY~!"
Lola jolted at the sudden screams as the door flew wider, catching Second running inside while Chacha rode on Haji’s back.
"Uncle, let down!!" Chacha scread, tugging Haji’s hair as she excitedly tried to get off him.
"Ah—" Haji clenched his teeth, kneeling on one knee, only for Chacha to jump from his back. When he saw the little girl run away, his face twisted.
These two had already arrived an hour ago, and since Lola was still working, they’d killed ti. How? With him.
"Those kids... were they born to make miserable?" he muttered through gritted teeth, watching them hug Lola’s legs.
Lola looked down in surprise. Seeing the children, her eyes widened and her heart stopped for a second. Slowly, the shock was replaced with excitent.
"Babies!" she shouted, reaching for them. The twins jumped from her legs as she squatted down to hug them. "I missed you so, so much!"
Haji clicked his tongue as he tugged his suit, only to flinch when a figure stood beside him. Turning his head, his pupils dilated as they fell on the man standing right beside him.
"You are..."
Atlas shot him a side glance but said nothing as he walked in, wearing a smile that didn’t seem to fit his face. Haji just stared at Atlas’s back.
Wow... no wonder she’s willing to give it all. That face is... wow.
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