The Trap Of Ace

Read The Trap Of Ace [by Eva Zahan] Chapter 26 – I knew that he knew what I was asking. He knew really well what I wanted to know.

His feelings couldn’t grow just in these days. It had to be from our past. And if he really did feel something for me, then why did he do that? Why did he push me away like that?

“I want to know, Ace. Will you tell me?”

Not only about the night years ago I wanted to know about, what happened to his mom and his hatred for his old house also nagged at the back of my mind. I didn’t forget the venom and pain reflected in his eyes when he stared at the doors of his mom’s former room at Tess’s engagement.

There were so many things I’d questions about. But the answers weren’t anywhere in my sight.

Taking a deep breath, he took my hands and brushed his lips against my knuckles. “I will. I will tell you everything you want to know. You’ve every right to. But not now. At least not today.”

Suddenly a heaviness lifted off my chest. I felt relieved. At least he didn’t deny.

“Then when?”

Just as he was about to answer my most awaited question, a knock on the door halted him.

I jumped off his lap as Carter poked his head through the door. His eyes widened seeing my flushed cheeks and Ace’s murderous glare.

“You better have a valid reason behind the interruption, Carter.”

The gulp of the secretary was visible. “Y-yes, boss. I’ve got the reports on-” taking a glance at me, he stopped, “-uh, project CA.”

Ace stood up on his feet as soon as Carter mentioned about the project. The ambience around us veiled itself into staid all of a sudden.

Project CA? It must be something really important.

Noticing Carter’s hesitance of talking openly due to my presence, I cleared my throat, glancing at Ace. “Uh, I gotta go now. I’ll see you later.”

When I turned to go, he again grabbed my hand for the third time. Pulling me closer, he left a peck on my forehead.

“We’ll talk, soon.”

Staring in his grey pools, I nodded my head and then walked out of the room, leaving an awkward smile at Carter’s way.

G*d, I don’t know what he might be thinking catching us in that position!

But I was more frustrated than I was embarrassed. He was just about to tell me when he was going to unravel the past before me. But Carter ruined it all.

The nagging desperation to know the truth vexed me.

Leaning my back against a wall, I closed my eyes. A sigh left me.

I had to know everything before making a decision. I was falling weak. I was finding myself giving up every time he was around me. One look at his stormy gaze, and I’d be that fifteen years old Emerald again.

How long can I resist?

Not for long.

I have to talk to Warner.

And just as I thought of him, my phone rang. His name flashed on the screen.

“Hey!” I tried to smile, but failed miserably. Nervousness and guilt swirled inside me at once.

Nervousness, because I’d no idea what to tell him. And guilt, because I didn’t want to hurt him, but I’d no choice. It was for the well-being of both of us.

“Hi! I’m so sorry, I couldn’t pick your calls then. It’s such a busy schedule today. When I finally got some time, I thought to call you, but you didn’t answer.”

“Yeah, I was… uh, a little busy,” I lied, clenching my fist.

“No problem. By the way, I called to inform you that I might not be able to attend Tess’s wedding. I don’t know what’s up with my boss’ a*s, he just hates the word ‘leave’. I don’t think he’ll allow me to attend the wedding. It’s too much work here,” he complained.

“What? But you can’t just miss Tess’s wedding!” He’d to come. Otherwise how’d I confront him? I couldn’t keep it in for that long. This guilt will k**l me alive.

try my best, Em. But I can’t guarantee anything. And don’t worry, we could always

a deep breath. “Warner, listen to me. I need

miss

really important.” I

He went quiet.

you. I can’t tell you on the phone. I need

Silence.

line went

about Achilles,

my lips. How did

“H-how…”

chuckle reverberated through the phone. “Isn’t it obvious? Whenever he’s around, your eyes only draw to him even if your boyfriend stands right next to you at that moment. You think I didn’t notice at that party and at that race track?” He scoffed. “And now that you work for him,

I looked down. Shame and

you think. I

ready to leave me now that you found your lost love?

that

into your eyes whenever you gazed at him, it said it all. Childhood love, a family friend. Now it made all sense. He’s the family friend who broke your heart

throat. “Warner,

You were always in love with him. No matter

“Warner…”

shouldn’t

then the line

at the phone as a lone tear fell down my cheek. I just did what I was afraid of. Hurting one of my

think he could ever forgive me. I felt like the worst person

tears, I tried to call him again but it went unanswered. And the next time, it was

some time, I

it out. Convincing him won’t be easy, but I didn’t want to lose a friend like him

our conversation. And I didn’t want him to confront Ace. That’s what I feared right now. A possessive man and a hurt ex-boyfriend’s

It’d be a chaos.

***

to collect some files from my cabin I needed to take home along to

carton box in one hand and another small white box on the other, he struggled to walk out of the elevator. The ruffled hair of his and perspiration on his forehead told

this? Where are you going with these boxes?”

“To my

“Why? Are you shifting?”

place. Though I’m happy that he showed such trust in me, but d**n! My job was much easier

remembered how Liza didn’t even used to get a minute to take a breath of break most of the time. She was best at her job, but

But hey, look at the positive side. Your position and salary would now be doubled.” I winked at him. Even though I was joking with Matt, the talk with Ace and Warner lingered at

gave myself an inward shake of head. I wouldn’t get any peace until everything

that’s why I didn’t waste

at the boxes. “You need any help with these? I’m free right now if

eagerness was lucid on his eyes. “Yes, please! I’d be more than grateful if you

that he handed me

chattings with him and laughing at something he shared of his first day at job, when

as he strode with his longer step, much ahead to his almost running assistant.

He was… furious.

came to a smolder when they met mine. The strange swirl of intense emotions that

My smile faded.

a sudden.

moved back to me, eying the boxes in our hands. In my peripheral vision, I saw Matt taking

Carter to the white parcel in my hands and in seconds it was taken from

Don’t worry,” said Carter,

his boss

do not give me those looks, I’m not scared of them!” I said, even if

cupped my chin as if Carter and Matt weren’t standing there, watching us. “I told you to go home and rest. Then what are you doing here? And with-” he threw

was just helping him with these stuff,” I replied, confused.

can’t, then he can just take someone’s help. You don’t need to

with me helping him?”

lips together, he