The Trap Of Ace

Read The Trap Of Ace [by Eva Zahan] Chapter 13 – “So you mean, he literally declared that he wants you? That you’re his?” asked Cassie, with her jaw on the floor.

“He didn’t exactly say that.”

“But this is what he meant with whatever he said. Even a kid can see through it!” she argued.

I threw the cards we were playing on the table and sat back against the couch, huffing. After the auction I got a call from her to meet at her place. With a feeble flu, she was getting bored out of her mind. So I came to give her company.

“G*d! I’ve seen people being crazy in love before. But this? This is insane!” She shook her head in disbelief. “Buying an entire company just to bring you closer to him, forcing you to join the board meetings so that he could meet you more and wasting a million over just a canvas?”

At the mention of the ‘L’ word, I sat up straight. “There’s no love! It’s- it just could be a want of possession or obsession of his. I don’t know. But there is nothing like that you’re implying!”

She raised a brow. “Even Jeff Bezos wouldn’t do something as crazy as buying an entire company that would cost him a fortune just to bring a girl close to him he wants.”

I rolled my eyes, but the skip of my heart didn’t go amiss. After I found out from Tobias that OC Textiles’ owner was Ace, and not Caleb, I was shocked. I even had a doubt that he’d something to do with my transfer, it wasn’t just Caleb. Though, I wasn’t sure. And when I told Cassie accidentally about this, she got this illusion that he bought that company from Mr. Cooper for me. Even though I didn’t want to believe her, but it did make some sense.

“He must’ve had some other agenda behind it. And it could be a pure coincidence that he found out I’d be working in that company, and so he told Caleb to transfer me here. That’s it.” I still denied.

“Really? And what about the message he sent you just the previous night? That you can’t escape from him anymore? Your time was over and blah blah? Can you explain that?”

I opened my mouth and then shut it. Crossing my hands over my chest, I shrugged.

She gave me a look. And to my utter surprise, she changed the subject. “How’s Warner?”

I cocked my head. “Uh, he’s good?”

What was she trying to do now?

She nodded. “You guys talk everyday?”

“No. Both of us were really busy the entire week. But he did call this morning.” I checked my phone but there were no calls or messages from him. “He was supposed to call me again tonight.”

“So long-distance is already at its work,” she hummed.

My brows creased. “What do you mean?”

Her shoulders lifted as she grabbed her coffee mug and took a sip, sniffling. “Isn’t it simple? Even strong relationships don’t work with long-distance most of the time, and here we’re talking about your one sided relationship.”

“It isn’t one-sided.”

“Oh?” She raised her brow. “So you love him?”

Silence.

“Knew it. Look, Em-” placing the mug back on the table, she leaned in, “-you and I both know that what you and Warner have, isn’t gonna last long. And now that you’re worlds away from each other, and with your a new, slash old lover is back in the picture, you should take a decision on your relationship with Warner now. You and he, both are aware that you were never in this. You never had any feelings for him other than seeing him just as a friend. Yes, maybe he does like you, but trust me, in deep down, he also knows that you won’t be able to love him no matter how much he tries.”

I looked down at my lap. “It’s not my fault that I can’t do it. I tried, I tried my best to love him. But…”

“But your heart still belongs to someone else?”

snapped up to her. “No! I don’t have any feelings for him anymore. Yes, he does effect me still, but… it’s just the awkwardness. Nothing else.” I averted my eyes from her piercing ones. “And I and Warner are doing good,

to get hurt again, that’s why your denying your feelings, aren’t you?” she asked. When I didn’t answer, she sighed. “Don’t you think you’re doing wrong to Warner? Even if he was the one who insisted to try, but you know that you won’t able

huge support. Truth to be

pricked as guilt cut through me. Though even I was thinking to talk about it with him for last some months, I couldn’t do it. My selfishness, fear, fear

a hand over mine. “It’s okay. I know what you’re feeling. But don’t. It’s not your fault. Though Warner doesn’t know about Ace, but he does know that why you agreed to be his girlfriend. Talk

now, I need to do this when we’re face to

you tell

her a glance. “I will just talk

my hand.

a silence, she shifted

“So?”

turned to her.

of Warner is sorted, will you

in disbelief. “So you talked me into breaking up with Warner so that you can pair me up with Ace?

going to do that in some time anyway.

I scowled at her.

just helping my best friend with her love life dilemma. You and I both know what’s is your heart’s desire. And I know, in deep down, beside the fear of another heartbreak, you were stopping

you for real? I’m not going to do anything with Ace. And about Warner, i still haven’t broken up

better for his own good anyway. Because assessing your Valencian’s obsession with you, I don’t think he would take this nicely if he has any competitor in the way

leaving. I’m not talking to you anymore about this!” Red in the face, I got up

card. And now, you’re stuck in his trap. No matter what you want, you can’t escape him. And you

at her, waiting for

want to escape.

***

and Liza inside. My one hand was filled with files and the other occupied with a cup of tea. After the small talk with Cassie,

the most. It’s just been not more

time. Be strong, use your head. Don’t let yourself fall into his trap. You don’t know what happened seven years ago. Even if he knew about your feelings, you don’t know if he really had anything for you in his heart. But that

that she

them, then why? Or there was? Or it could be a moment of heat between them? But

All my life I had been thinking that my sister betrayed me, but the

years ago. But I didn’t know how to start this conversation with him. Did he even know what happened

not even noon and I’m already so tired! The preparations for the meeting with Arabs is taking a real

though? I mean, the way everyone is taking it over

a new clothing line when they found out about our new business in this field.” She shook her head. “I tell you, these

all the fuss about. Then something caught my eyes as we reached the last stop, forty-ninth floor. It was a fifty floor building, then why there

announced, once the doors

are only forty-nine buttons? It’s a fifty floor building, right?” I asked, strolling out

on the fiftieth floor, and no one can go there other than his closed ones. So the common elevator doesn’t have access there. They go there by the VIP one.” Her chit jutted towards the other elevator beside

The golden one.

that was for VIPs, but I didn’t know

to finish the final touches. As Liza said, the boss, meant Caleb didn’t want

left for the meeting?” asked Matt, a guy from the management department. He

hour left,” said Sierra, checking

not that much of time. The boss can arrive at any moment and

let me print those papers in the meantime,” I said, gathering the