Page 24 of Atlas
“Weird? Is he like one of those intellectuals who go around using words that no one understands?”
“No, he’s nothing like that. I think the word I’m looking for is class. He has an aura of class about him. He’s eloquent and cultivated. Of course, it helps that he speaks with a slight British accent; I always found that appealing.”
“Jolene Margareth Fisher, am I sensing an infatuation on your part?” The way Jimmy used my full name and spoke in a sing-song voice, had me smiling. He’d been my mother’s friend from college, and my favorite among all the adults visiting our house.
“No infatuation here. I’m just trying to get more back story on my boss. With my history, I’m more careful about the people I let into my life, you know?”
“Yes, I understand,ma chérie. You’ve been through enough already.”
“I wish I knew why Atlas is obsessed with tyrants and psychopaths. The more I think about it, the more I worry that I’m helping him gain information that he can use for evil.”
“Hmm, yes. I see what you mean. It is a strange thing to study, but people have always been fascinated with the ugly side of humanity. Why else do you think Steven King sells millions of books?”
“There’s a difference between seeking out scary entertainment and starting a research company to get answers, wouldn’t you say?”
“Perhaps.” He sighed. “But either way, I have to go now, ma chérie. Dancing with the Stars is about to start.”
“All right, say hi to Henry from me, and thank you for calling.”
“My pleasure. Bye-bye now.”
“Bye.”
I turned the volume on my TV back up while using my phone to search for more information. At first, I'd scanned through the same LinkedIn profile that I’d seen the first time I looked up Atlas. It was factual, telling me he was the Director of Research and Development at Solver Industries and the owner of Curious Minds Research Center. He was well connected within the business world and had a ton of recommendations on his profile.
The cooking show soon faded in the background when I moved on to search through Google Images. Photos of Atlas in sharp suits and tuxedos with different women on his arm came up. In some pictures, they were wearing casual outfits, and in others, the women wore gala dresses for various charity events. I scrolled down over the photos and stopped when I finally found one where Atlas was smiling. He stood with his arm around a man, and based on their striking resemblance, I guessed him to be his brother. They were in tuxedos and laughing about something. I tilted my head, finding the carefree version of Atlas appealing.
Scrolling on, I recognized two of the women from previous pictures, and then on page four of Google images, a photo surprised me. The two women were in the same shot talking with each other.
I had assumed they were his dates in the other photos, but it was clear that they knew each other. I clicked a link under the picture of the blonde and the dark-haired woman talking. It took me to an article from a British newspaper.
River Robertson admits to heartbreak.
This week, River Robertson was attending the opening of the new art exhibition at the National Gallery in London. Stylish as always, she was wearing a sapphire blue dress emphasizing her feminine curves from Genny Hill’s latest collection with a pair of daring yellow heels that matched her belt and purse. When asked about her recent and very public break-up from film star, Storm Johnson, she admitted it was a difficult time for her, but that she wished him luck with Serena, his co-star on his upcoming movie,Beyond Tomorrow. River did not want to comment on the paparazzi photos of Storm and Serena holding hands and kissing, which emerged last week and are rumored to be what led to River ending her seven months’ relationship with Storm. She was attending the opening with her sister Lumi Robertson, CFO of Solver Industries, who showed that there’s more than brains to her. Lumi looked elegant and beautiful in her tight black dress from Rose Petals and Bloom.
Ah, so the two women were Atlas’ sisters. It hadn’t occurred to me since they were opposites in looks. River was blond with blue or green eyes, while Lumi was dark, as if she had Middle Eastern or Indian heritage.
I did another search on the Robertson family and frowned when I found Charles Robertson’s Wikipedia profile. He was only forty years old but the adoptive father of Lumi, Atlas, Nathan, River, and Maximum Robertson.
How was that even possible?
I forgot all about the cooking show and read with concentration.
Married to Charlotte Liv Christensen with whom he has daughter, Saffron L. Robertson.
There was a picture of Charles and Charlotte together.
I was just about to move on when I caught the word survivor in the list of articles related to Charles. Clicking the link, I saw a headline that made my blood freeze.
Here are the seven survivors of the Red Manor Suicide Cult.
The article spanned over several pages and told a horrific story of Charles being a member of a cult in Ireland. The leader, a criminal by the name of Conor O’Brien, had convinced his members to commit suicide. Twenty-eight people had died in one night, but Charles, Charlotte, and five children had survived.
I stared at a picture of Atlas as a teenager. Between him and his brother Maximum was a handsome man with a charming smile. Under the photo, it said, Conor O’Brien with his two sons Atlas and Maximum O’Brien.
After reading the article, I had to skim it again. Atlas had grown up in a cult, and now he was using a lot of money to find an answer to why people were attracted to cults and how mind control worked. Leaning back in my couch, I reflected on that for a moment.
I would have to confront him about his past and get clear answers to what we were trying to achieve at C.M. Research. If he was planning to start a cult like his father had, then I wanted no part of it. But if Atlas was trying to heal his traumatic past, then maybe I could help. I was a psychologist after all, and helping people was in my nature.
