Not My Type, But My Love

Chapter Five

The next few days were a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions, mostly revolving around Atlas. I couldn’t help but replay our conversation in my mind over and over, trying to decode every little detail of our exchange. My heart fluttered each time I thought about his eyes, that deep, intense look that made my breath hitch. Even the sound of his voice—low and confident—echoed in my ears long after our conversation ended.

But as much as I tried to resist, I found myself thinking about him constantly. His words lingered in my mind: “You know, you're quite bold for someone who's so shy.” I could feel the weight of those words, the hint of something more beneath the surface. Was he intrigued by me, or was I just another passing encounter for him?

I couldn't be sure, but I wasn’t about to let myself be caught up in something that felt too good to be true. I was an intern, struggling to find my place in the world, and he… well, he was someone completely out of my league. I couldn’t afford to get distracted by him, no matter how attractive or mysterious he was.

That night, after a long day of work at the office, I sank into my couch, exhausted. The thought of Atlas crept into my mind once again, making it hard to focus on anything else. My phone buzzed from across the room, pulling me from my thoughts. I reached for it, still not expecting anything of importance. But when I saw the name flashing on the screen, my heart skipped a beat.

Atlas.

It was him. He actually texted me.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. My thumb hovered over the message, my pulse quickening as I debated whether to respond or just leave it be. I didn’t want to seem too eager, but at the same time, a small part of me couldn’t resist.

I opened the message, my eyes scanning the words:

Hey, Anika. It’s Atlas. I’ve been thinking about our conversation earlier. I think you’re someone I’d like to get to know better. How about we grab dinner sometime?

Dinner. My stomach flipped at the thought of seeing him again, especially after the way we left things off earlier. The idea of spending time with him outside of the office seemed both thrilling and terrifying at the same time.

I bit my lip, trying to calm my nerves before I typed my response. My fingers hovered over the keyboard as I tried to come up with something casual, but not too eager. After what felt like an eternity, I finally settled on:

I’d love that. When are you free?

A few moments later, my phone buzzed again. His reply was quick, almost as if he was waiting for me to say yes.

How about tomorrow night? I know a great place. I’ll pick you up around 7?

The message made my heart race even faster. He was picking me up? That seemed too... intimate. But I quickly reminded myself that I didn’t have to read too much into it. It was just dinner, right?

Sounds good. I’ll see you then.

As soon as I hit send, I dropped my phone into my lap, my hands shaking slightly. I couldn’t believe it. This was really happening. I was going out with Atlas. The same man who’d been a complete mystery to me just a few days ago. And now, here I was, agreeing to dinner with him like it was the most natural thing in the world.

But as excited as I was, a small voice in the back of my mind kept reminding me to stay cautious. This was all so fast. I didn’t know him, and he didn’t know me. I couldn’t let myself get carried away by this whirlwind of emotions.

The next day felt like an eternity as I tried to focus on work, but my mind kept wandering to Atlas and what the evening would bring. I found myself going through my closet multiple times, trying to figure out what to wear. I couldn’t settle on anything. Was I supposed to look casual? Sexy? Elegant? My head was spinning with possibilities.

In the end, I opted for something simple but chic—dark jeans and a white blouse that showed just a hint of my shoulders, paired with some simple heels. I didn’t want to overdo it, but I also didn’t want to seem like I wasn’t trying.

When the clock finally struck 7, my heart was in my throat. I barely had time to check myself in the mirror before there was a knock at my door. I opened it to find Atlas standing there, looking effortlessly handsome in a fitted black jacket and jeans. His jaw tightened slightly when he saw me, but then his lips curved into a smile that made my stomach do flips.

“You look beautiful,” he said, his voice smooth as velvet.

I swallowed hard, trying to mask the fluttering in my chest. “Thank you. You look great too.”

He chuckled softly, his gaze lingering on me for a moment longer than necessary before he turned and motioned for me to follow him. “Shall we?”

I nodded, trying to stay composed, and followed him out the door. As I stepped into his car, the world outside seemed to blur, leaving just the two of us in that small space. The silence between us felt charged, as if something unspoken hung in the air. But neither of us spoke, and soon enough, the sound of the car engine filled the silence.

As we drove to the restaurant, I couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking. What did he see in me? And more importantly, what did he want from me? My nerves only seemed to heighten with each passing moment, but at the same time, there was a part of me that felt alive in a way I hadn’t before.

The night was young, and this dinner was only the beginning. I couldn’t shake the feeling that my life was about to change in ways I couldn’t even imagine.