The Trap Of Ace

Read The Trap Of Ace [by Eva Zahan] Chapter 11 – A knock on the door put a break on my non-stop rejecting and selecting the designs from the heap of catalogues. I needed to deliver the final samples to the head designers for the new collection of OC Textiles.

Liza’s blonde head poked through the door.

“Sorry to disturb you, but the meeting is just about to begin. And your presence is required there.”

My brows furrowed. “But I’m just an employee. What’d I do in a board meeting?”

His shoulders lifted. “No idea. The boss’s order.”

Why’d Caleb need me in a board meeting?

Sighing, I nodded. “Alright! I’ll be there in a few.”

“Great! See you there!” With that, she closed the door behind her and left.

I didn’t even have any idea what the meeting was about. Nor did I know what to do there or say. Whatever happens, I just hoped he wouldn’t be there. After yesterday’s confrontation, I’d tried my best to avoid him. But his being the freaking owner of this company didn’t make it easy.

Since Tobis’s revelation about it, I still couldn’t get over the shock. The irony! I’d to work in his company under his orders. And here I was trying to escape him at any cost!

Now i’d this doubt that whatever happened to my job and transfer, he had something to do with it. Maybe it was his influence that Caleb put me in here?

I let out a huff.

I just couldn’t make out what was brewing in his head. It was all so inarticulate.

When I entered the conference room, all entities in three piece suits’ eyes trained on me. The head chair was still vacant and there was no trance of Caleb yet. Flashing a professional smile towards those mostly unfamiliar faces, I found an empty chair right next to the head of the table.

All the other seats were occupied other than the one I took and the one at the other end of the table. And the big bald man seated beside it with a creepy face didn’t encourage me to go there.

Once I took my place, my eyes kept flickering to the door, waiting for the boss to arrive. Because the curious glances those people inside the room sent, made me fidget and uncomfortable.

Though their reactions were legit as it wasn’t a regular thing someone who’s not one of the board members joining the board meeting.

When the door opened, only then did everyone take their interest off of me and stood up as someone…

Achilles Valencian walked in, followed by Caleb and Liza.

I sucked in my breath when his gaze landed on me immediately. Those powerful dominating stormy eyes. The whole room went silent: an effect of the commanding aura he carried with him.

Averting my eyes from him, just as I expected Caleb to come and sit at the head of the table, he changed direction and went to the chair beside that creepy big man. And thus, the head of the table was occupied by the devil himself.

Of course! He was the king of this kingdom. What was I thinking? Now I was regretting not sitting beside that bald man.

Caleb sent his regular sunny smile from across the table which I couldn’t return. I’d just ask him later why he called me here.

At the king’s curt nod, everyone sat down.

“Everyone, I’d like to introduce you to someone who’d be joining in our every board meeting from now on,” spoke his deep voice, when I played with the emeralds of my bracelet. A way to ignore him and the irrational fast beats of my heart due to his close presence. “Meet, Miss. Emerald Hutton, a very special friend of mine. I’d like you all to welcome her in our company.”

My gaze snapped up to him, eyes wide open. What the h**l? I’d be joining board meetings with them? I was just a newcomer employee!

get to work with you!” I turned to the woman next to me who greeted me with

too perplexed for that. What the h**l was really going into

some of the members welcomed me with professionalism, most of them remained

expressions of displeasure etched onto

shake of everyone’s

a little surprised, that’s it,” said the

over your surprise, the better.

he leaned back in his chair, listening to whatever the members were saying one by one. And when his hand slowly slid

crease between his

touch my hand in front of everyone? The nerve

formed into a scowl in

my glare, his fleeting eyes met me for a second. And then the

the meeting as I was too busy showing my displeasure. But a certain topic caught

how they seemed to have better plans than us in every presentation we’re making in our recent deals. It seems like they exactly know what will be

rival company of ours, some AR industries who were competing in every

head at the side. “What do

chair,

we’ve someone between us leaking information out?” He finished for him. It wasn’t more like a statement than a question. His jaw ticked as the bald man nodded

with you first. And we

sure? Is that how you all have been running this company with Mr.

his furious eyes, keeping

cleared my throat. “If you all don’t mind, I’d like

I’d given interviews and presented presentations before the

sharp glare softened as he gave

ask permission to speak up, Em. Say whatever you

backgrounds and recent activities of the people who’re working directly with these projects? Because irrelevant stuff won’t be able to know much of the presentations to disclose.” When no one said anything and listened to whatever I’d to say, I continued. “That way, if we find someone suspicious, we could easily

older man laughed out. “Good idea there, Ms. Hutton. But we can’t just go and start searching everyone’s full history and recent activities. It’ll be

consuming, but it’ll be for the well-being of the company.

course there’s a way,” he argued. “We could just change the

for us right now. Because if we let it go and don’t do anything about it, it won’t be difficult for the rival company to buy someone else again. An example of

now in this situation. You don’t

snapped Ace. “I’d like you to start working on

“But, Mr. Valencian…”

He sneered, cutting Mr. Brooks with his icy gaze. “And from next time, keep your

Brooks nodded his head, shifting

was good that he supported me, but what’s with

on I again went back to silence, twirling my bracelet, only spoke when needed. Even that was difficult with his intense gaze on me most of the time. As if he didn’t come to join the meeting, but

literally sighed in relief when finally a clerk interrupted the long a*s meeting in the

And when my turn

I don’t drink

got some tea for you,” he replied, handing me the cup of

him a surprised look. How did he even know that I

know that I like

face threatened to fall as his eyes

off; his eyes not moving from me.