I could only hear Atlas’s breath on the other end. Finally, he said, “You’ve been causing trouble for me for a long time now. What should we do about it?”

I tensed up and tightened my grip on the phone. Atlas’s words caught me off guard, and I asked, “W-What do you mean?”

"You should give yourself to me," he said playfully.

I found him ridiculous. We were discussing something serious, yet he started joking with me.

“Y-You’re…” I wanted to refute but switched to a more severe matter instead, “Did my contract affect your career? If that’s the case, I’d rather not take it.”

"It's too late," he said, "So, you only have one option, and that is not to disappoint everyone's expectations."

My body trembled as I gulped. After a while, Atlas whispered, "Are you asleep? Do you want to see me?"

My mind went blank, and a longing surged within me. However, I restrained my impulses and changed the subject, “You’re going on a business trip tomorrow, and it’s too late now…”

I couldn’t continue.