Not My Type, But My Love

Chapter Seven

Anika had never imagined she would feel this way—so completely caught up in someone else’s life. But as the days went by, she found herself constantly thinking about Atlas. There was something magnetic about him, something that kept pulling her in despite her better judgment. But there was also the looming question she couldn’t shake: Who exactly was he?

They had been talking more and more over the past week. Dinner on Saturday had gone beautifully. She’d spent hours that night wondering if she had said the right things, if she had laughed enough, or maybe too much. But Atlas was so easy to talk to. His quiet confidence, his intense yet calm demeanor—it intrigued her. She felt a strange sense of comfort when he was around. But as much as she liked him, there was still so much about him she didn’t know.

What did he do? Why was he always so busy? Was he involved in something secretive? She couldn’t help but feel like there were so many unanswered questions. Atlas had hinted at a complicated schedule, but never revealed much about his life outside of their conversations. It made her wonder if he was hiding something—something bigger than just the hectic nature of his work.

That afternoon, she sat at her desk at the internship, trying to focus on her tasks. The office was quiet except for the clicking of keyboards and the rustle of papers. But Anika’s thoughts were far from her work. She had spent most of the morning trying to get herself together, shaking the feeling of curiosity that had been eating away at her for days. Her phone, as usual, was sitting on the corner of her desk, and a few notifications from social media caught her eye. One, in particular, was a news article. She didn’t normally pay much attention to the celebrity gossip that circulated on her feed, but this time, the headline stopped her.

“Billionaire Atlas Warren’s Secret Life Revealed”

Her heart skipped a beat. Atlas. The same Atlas she’d been texting with, the one she had dinner with just a few nights ago. It couldn’t be the same person. She clicked on the link, unsure of what she would find.

The article was a quick read, a summary of a much longer exposé, but it left Anika stunned. Atlas Warren wasn’t just a regular businessman. He wasn’t just someone who kept to himself and had a busy schedule. He was one of the wealthiest men in the country, a self-made billionaire, and a man with a reputation that stretched across industries—from tech to real estate to fashion. The article went on to detail his numerous businesses, his philanthropic ventures, and even his private jet—a far cry from the casual dinners they had shared. She felt her hands tremble as she read.

So, this was who he was.

Atlas Warren, the man she had been texting, had been living a completely different life from the one she had imagined. All this time, she had believed he was just a regular guy—someone who had his own problems, his own struggles. She hadn’t questioned it, hadn’t even thought to ask. But the truth was now in front of her, and she could hardly believe it.

For a moment, her mind raced. What did this mean for them? Could they even have a real relationship when she was just a simple intern, and he was—well—Atlas Warren? The man who practically owned the city.

She closed her eyes, leaning back in her chair. The realization weighed heavily on her. She should have seen it coming. The signs had been there all along—the mysterious nature, the almost too-perfect way he handled everything. But she hadn’t wanted to believe it. She had been so wrapped up in the feelings he stirred in her, that she hadn’t cared to question who he really was.

But now, she couldn’t ignore it. There was a vast divide between them—a gulf she hadn’t seen before. He lived in a world she didn’t belong to, one where her small internship was insignificant. She had always been aware of her own place in the world, but this—this was different.

Anika’s heart dropped as a wave of self-doubt washed over her. What did he see in her? She wasn’t anything special. Just a girl trying to figure things out. She wasn’t rich, she wasn’t well-connected, and she wasn’t part of the circles that people like Atlas ran in. What could he possibly want with someone like her?

Her phone buzzed on the desk, the familiar sound pulling her from her thoughts. It was a text from Atlas.

Atlas: “Hey, can we talk tonight? I was hoping we could meet up.”

She stared at the message, her fingers hovering over the screen. How could she respond? Should she act like everything was normal? Or should she confront him about what she had just learned?

She bit her lip, feeling a lump form in her throat. What if he had been lying to her all along? What if he had kept his identity hidden for a reason? And most importantly, what if she was just another one of his casual flings, someone to pass the time with before moving on to someone else in his world of luxury and fame?

She knew she couldn’t keep pretending. She had to talk to him, to figure out what this all meant. But did she really want to know the truth?

Anika took a deep breath, typing out her response.

Anika: “I saw the article about you. Atlas… why didn’t you tell me?”

There was no going back now. She hit send, her heart pounding as she waited for his reply. Every second that ticked by felt like an eternity.

Atlas: “I wanted to tell you. But I wasn’t sure how. I didn’t want you to see me differently.”

Anika felt a surge of frustration. He had known all along. He had known who he was and had kept it from her. It was one thing to be secretive, but to hide something so big—something that had the potential to change everything—felt like betrayal.

Anika: “You could have told me. You could have trusted me enough to be honest.”

Atlas: “I know. And I’m sorry. I wanted to be just Atlas to you, not this billionaire persona that people expect me to be. I didn’t want you to see me as just my wealth.”

Anika’s thoughts spun. She didn’t know what to say. Could she forgive him? Could she look past the person he was, the one who was so far removed from her world, and see him as the man she had been getting to know?

She typed out a response, hesitated, then deleted it. What was she even asking herself? Could she forgive him for being something she had never expected? Could she even trust him after everything?

Atlas: “I know this changes things. But I want you to know I care about you, Anika. And I want to prove that to you.”

Her phone fell silent again, but the words kept echoing in her mind. Could she accept him as he was? Could she see past the wealth, the fame, and everything that came with being Atlas Warren?

She didn’t have the answer. Not yet.

But one thing was clear—this was just the beginning of something much bigger than either of them had anticipated.