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.

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

to me. I need to

I miss you too!

to talk. It’s really important.” I

He went quiet.

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

Silence.

I thought the line went d**d,

Achilles, isn’t

through my

“H-how…”

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 should’ve seen that coming. But I was too foolish to

looked down. Shame and guilt burned

you think. I

do this to me, Em? You’re ready to leave me now that you found your lost love? You forgot how I was there for you when no one

that

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

gulped the lump of my throat. “Warner, please. Listen to

You tried your best to manage to look happy with me. But you never were, were you? You were always in love with him. No matter how much I loved you, you never

“Warner…”

Em. You shouldn’t have played with me

then the

cheek. I just did what I was afraid of. Hurting one of my best

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

to call him again but it went unanswered. And the

I let

sort it out.

Because I didn’t think he’d come here after our conversation. And I didn’t want him to confront Ace. That’s what I feared right now. A possessive man

It’d be a chaos.

***

from my cabin I needed to take home along to work on them, I found Matt on my way

carton box in one hand and another small white box on the other, he struggled to walk out

all this? Where are you going with these boxes?” approaching him,

huffed. “To my

“Why? Are you shifting?”

happy that he showed such trust in me, but d**n! My job

a breath of break most of the time. She

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

of head. I

I didn’t waste a moment

need any help with

“Yes, please! I’d be

handed

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. The tense jaws and clenched fists of his

He was… furious.

grey eyes came to a smolder when they met mine. The strange swirl of

My smile faded.

a sudden.

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

pointed Carter to the white parcel in

from here. Don’t worry,” said Carter, casting a nervous

my eyes at his boss as

you now? And do not give me those looks, I’m not scared of them!” I said,

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 another sharp look to Matt, “-one of

stuff,” I replied, confused. What’s

can help himself. And if he can’t, then he can just take someone’s help. You don’t need

with me helping him?”

together,