Page 23 of Atlas
Maximum laughed. “Not even close, brother. Not even close.”
“All right. Talk to you later.”
“Sweet dreams.”
The call ended, and my screen went dark again. Giving it another shot, I went back to bed and tried to sleep.
An image from my fantasy earlier made me wrinkle my nose and turn on my other side, but there she was again, Jolene, naked and with her ass red from my hands spanking her.
Stop it!
I rolled on to my stomach, thinking about what work-out I would do tomorrow morning. Maybe I should do the rowing machine instead of running, or both.
Oh, Atlas, oh…I squeezed my eyes closed. Why did she have to tell me she was a screamer? My eyelids couldn’t shield me from the visions in my mind of Jolene tied up and helpless, her mascara running, her lips puffy, and my hand in a firm hold around her jaw, forcing her to look up at me.Open your mouth. I want to hear you fucking beg for my cock.
Sitting up and opening my eyes, I grunted and hammered my fist down on my mattress. “I’m not him. I’mnothim!”
CHAPTER 6
Digging
Jolene
I turned down the volume on the TV when my phone rang.
“Jimmy. How are you?”
“I’m good, and I have some tea to spill.”
“Yeah?”
“So, I got your email, and I asked Henry about Atlas Robertson, and it turns out that hedidgo to Harvard when he was only sixteen. Henry says that he can’t discuss students, but I told him that we can’t have you working for a shady guy and that if he knew anything, we’d have to warn you.”
“And? Did he tell you anything?”
“Yeess!!” Jimmy lisped on the word and lowered his voice. “Atlas Robertson wasn’t popular among the professors. He was eccentric and unwilling to fit into the standardized system.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, according to Henry, Atlas wasn’t interested in a degree. Rumor is that he wrote a brilliant dissertation comparing the systemic rise of dictators throughout history, but refused to publish it.
“Wait a minute. He did get his degree, didn’t he?”
“I don’t think so. He studied hard, but as far as Henry knows, he never graduated.”
“But he’s the Director of Research and Development at Solver Industries. Surely, they wouldn’t have hired him without a degree.” Before Jimmy had a chance to comment, I added. “But then again, he is the son of the chairman, so maybe it’s a case of nepotism.”
“Auch, that’s a bit harsh, Jo.” Jimmy chuckled low, “Atlas Robertson might be eccentric and without a degree, but Henry made it sound like the man is somewhat of a genius.”
“Yeah, you’re right. Solver Industries is probably lucky to have him.”
“What’s he like in real life?” Jimmy asked in a conspiratorial tone of voice.
“Hmm.” I thought about it. “He’s analytical and likes to be presented with facts. You can tell that he likes to be in control, and he has this aura of… hmm...” I searched for the right word.
“Superiority?” Jimmy suggested.
“No.”
