CHAPTER 381: BUSY

It wasn’t that Lola felt sad. She knew everyone just had a lot going on. What confused her was how suddenly even the twins were clinging to their father like glue.

"You guys are really going with him?" She asked as she, Atlas, and the twins walked out of the residence toward the driveway. "I have candies."

The twins smiled.

"Mommy, we have projects to do," Second said with a pout. "We’ll be with you later!"

"Mommy, don’t worry about anything and just live your life to the fullest!" Chacha chimed in, making Lola raise a brow.

It wasn’t that she wasn’t used to the twins staying with their dad. What was new was that this time, they didn’t even try to negotiate. No pleading, no bargaining. They just volunteered to go.

"Get in," Atlas said in his usual flat, deadpan tone. As the twins climbed into the SUV, he turned to her and added, "I’m busy."

"..." She blinked. "I know you are—"

"So don’t ask what I’m doing."

She blinked again, watching him turn his back on her without another word.

I didn’t plan to ask, but now that he said it, I am tempted.

Once he was inside, the window rolled down, revealing the twins waving goodbye. Lola smiled and waved back.

As the car disappeared down the driveway, she dropped her arms and pouted.

"I feel bored," she muttered, then remembered she had work. "Ugh. I don’t want to work."

She shook her head, wondering where her strong, independent she-wolf self had gone. Lately, she’d been feeling lazy—perhaps because, for once, she had someone she could lean on. Her body, mind, heart, and soul all seemed to be taking a well-deserved rest.

After years of nonstop work like she was running out of time, something in her was changing.

"Right," she murmured, turning around, only to see Slater sprinting out of the house. "Oh, Slater, want to—"

"Busy!"

Without even stopping, he jogged to his blindingly red sports car and sped off. Lola’s lips curved down.

"Even Slater’s busy," she muttered. "Am I the only one who isn’t? Or am I just lazy?"

She sighed, watching his car vanish through the gates. "Maybe I am just lazy."

*****

Not wanting to be the only idle one in the family, Lola quickly went through her morning routine and headed to work. She wasn’t expected early today because she had a MEG Fashion event later in the evening.

"You’re motivated today."

Lola paused mid-task and looked up to see Amala walking in. She smiled and shrugged.

"I’ve been slacking lately, so I thought I should finish a few things."

Amala stopped beside her desk, eyeing the thin stack of documents Lola had gone through. When she looked back up, a sigh escaped her.

"Everything okay, Lola?"

"Why? Is there a problem?"

"How could there be a problem when you’ve worked so hard since before we went public?" Amala teased with a smile. "I’m just asking because I’m concerned about this sudden burst of motivation."

"It’s not motivation," Lola said. "It’s... laziness."

"You’re not lazy, and you know it."

"I know. But lately, it feels like I’m not doing anything," she frowned, meeting Amala’s eyes. "I feel like I have too much time."

"That’s because everything you’re working on today is the result of years of hard work and consistency," Amala said, dropping a stack of papers on her desk.

Lola gasped. "What in the world is this?"

"My work," Amala said simply.

"Huh?"

"Please finish them for me? Since you said you have free time, you can help me out, right?" Amala smiled sweetly. "They’re just final checks before submission. Might as well hand them over now."

"Amala, I said I felt like I had free time. That doesn’t mean I want to do everyone else’s job."

"Just this one," Amala said with that same too-sweet smile. "Please?"

Lola narrowed her eyes. "Something is going on, isn’t there?"

"No, of course not. I just have a date! My first date in Novera since moving here." Amala flipped her curls dramatically. "I want to pamper myself. Anyway, let me know what you think of that and send it back when you’re done. Ciao."

With that, she sauntered to the door, her hips swaying like a model on the runway. She gave Lola one last dazzling smile before closing the door behind her.

"Now I know what’s wrong," Lola muttered, tongue pressed to her inner cheek. "I’m becoming the employee, not the boss."

Despite Amala’s strange behavior, Lola didn’t dwell on it. Amala had never dumped her work on anyone before, but since she’d been single since coming to Novera, Lola figured the woman’s excitement was justified.

*****

Hours later...

Haji sat on the couch in Amala’s office, staring at her as she calmly painted her nails.

"A date?" he repeated flatly. "You said you’re going on a date, yet you’re still here? Do you think she’ll believe that?"

"Lola always believes me," Amala hummed, carefully coating her nails in red. "She trusts me so much that I have to pick every word carefully when we talk. You wouldn’t understand, Haji—nothing you say matters."

Haji snorted. "She believes me."

Amala snapped her gaze toward him, staring for a solid minute before shrugging.

"What was that look for?" he scoffed. "Amala, Lola trusts me, you know?! We might argue a lot, but I’m her one and only bodyguard. Well, before those guys showed up and took my place."

"Sure, sure," she said, clearly uninterested. "Just take her out and keep her busy."

He frowned. "What kind of proposal plan is this? It feels more like bullying."

"Lola’s sharp," Amala replied, meeting his eyes. "If she finds out, Atlas Bennet will be displeased. And if that man gets pissed, he’ll find out who messed up—and he’ll make them pay. I can’t afford that, Haji. So if I were you, be useful."

"Damn it!"

Amala watched him ruffle his hair before storming off to fetch Lola. After all, he was supposed to pick her up and meet Cedrick for the MEG Fashion event. Once he was gone, she leaned back and sighed.

"I wonder if she’s figured it out," she mused. "Atlas Bennet’s been working hard for this. I just hope she doesn’t find out too soon."

The thought made her chuckle softly. Atlas’s surprise visit the night before had been something she hadn’t expected at all.