The Trap Of Ace

Read The Trap Of Ace [by Eva Zahan] Chapter 42 – Pressing the bell, I waited.

The elevator opened and a lanky middle aged man came out in a floral shirt. Stopping at his track, he eyed me up and down with his slightly red eyes. I faced away from him and tapped the bell again.

What’s taking her so much time to open the door?

Once the creepy man unlocked his apartment next to the one I was standing before and got inside casting me one last lingering glance before closing the door, I sighed in relief.

G*d knows how she stayed here with this creep at the other side of the wall.

With a click, the door opened and her blonde head peeked through it. Surprise was etched into her brown eyes.

“Emerald? What’re you doing here?”

“Hi, Sierra!” I smiled. “Sorry, I tried to call you but it went unreachable every time. I heard from Matt that you weren’t well, so thought to give you a visit.”

“Uh, thank you for your concern. I’m much better now.” Her wary gaze flickered around. She still was talking to me through the small gap.

I cleared my throat. “You won’t invite me in?”

She seemed hesitant, but then nodded her head and held the door wide for me.

Flashing another smile, I walked into the hall of her small apartment. With an adjoined kitchen, there were two more doors attached to the hall. An old couch, two chairs and a small bookshelf were placed at the small area. Not anything fancy, but it was cozy.

“Would you like to have anything? Coffee?” she asked, stance awkward.

What’s with the weird behavior?

I shook my head. “No, thanks. I just came to see if everything is okay. Umm, why did you resign all of a sudden? I mean, if you needed more time to recover completely, then you could just ask Matt. I think he’d help you out with this.” I came to the point without beating around the bush. Her meetings with Arthur, taking leave all of a sudden and then resigning. I had a hunch it could be somehow related to him.

She shrugged, wringing her knuckles. “Uh, as you know I wasn’t well. I needed some time to get better completely. I couldn’t just expand my leave like that. And I decided to give myself a break, to spend some time with my family, you know? So…”

“So you decided to quit the job?”

“Yeah,” she answered, licking her dry lips. The swell around her eyes and dark circles under them caught my attention.

“With your stack of bills pending?” I pointed at the papers on her small table beside the door. Clearly, she hasn’t been able to pay them on time.

She averted her eyes. “I-i was just about to pay the bills. I was just a bit late and they sent notices.”

“You don’t need to explain anything, Sierra. I just want to know why you quit the job all of a sudden if you were facing some financial problem?” I asked. “Is it- is it because of Arthur?”

Her eyes snapped to mine, they widened to a friction. So I was right. He had something to do with it.

“W-what are you talking about? Why would he be the reason behind my quitting?”

“Because I saw you with him twice, Sierra. And at both times, you were pretty shaken.”

All colors drained from her already pale face. Fear flashed across her eyes.

“H-how? W-where? Listen, it’s nothing as you think it is…”

“What’s going on, Sierra? You’re definitely hiding something.” I cut her off. “Is Arthur threatening you about something? Or is there something else that you had to leave your job? Tell me, Sierra. Trust me, if there’s anything like that, I can help you. I’ll talk to Ace myself.” Placing a hand on her shoulder, I tried to assure her.

do anything. I left the job because of my

didn’t you? I

denied before everyone that he hadn’t met me before. Which was a complete lie. And at our first meeting, the words he

that I was close to discovering the real face behind his polite

a step back from me, she wrapped her arms around her. “You can’t help me, Emerald. No one can. And don’t think too much of what you saw. It was nothing.

believe me.” I knew he’ll. But… against his own uncle? Would he go to the extent for me

she took a glance at the door. “You shouldn’t have

“But…”

in danger by digging something that

Something churned

“What danger?”

please. Just leave. I’m telling this for your

sighed. “At least tell me

and then said, “I had to.

***

watched the steam

by that? She didn’t want to do anything that was

But what? I wish Sierra would’ve told me everything. But clearly, she was scared. How dangerous Arthur could be that if she

ran through

hand waved before my face, pulling me out of my thoughts. Warner had

What did

now. I mean, when I met you

him asking if I wanted to grab some drinks together. So here we were, sitting at a small buzzing

I couldn’t help but remember Ace’s confession at the back of my mind again and again. A blush rose up my neck as

He… loved me.

surged through my chest along the flutters in my tummy. I wanted to close my eyes and relive the moment when he said those words to me again and

like a huge burden had been lifted off of my chest. Though it still hurt thinking of everything,

all were young

after what he did you wouldn’t even see his face ever again!”

heaved a sigh. “It was the original plan. But then, I was bound

make him terminate the contract if you wanted. But clearly, you already forgave him, didn’t you? You forgot how he used your

narrowed at his tone. “I didn’t forgive him yet. And he didn’t use my sister to break my heart. Tess volunteered. And… he had a reason to do that. Not that I support his way, but he only wanted my well-being. Even

years. Even if I couldn’t call him totally wrong for his reasons. Because bitter, yes, but he had valid reasons. He

to forgive him? You’re so lost into him to see that he isn’t the right guy

about him being controlling, yes, he’s a control

many times. If I needed time, he’d given me without letting his dominating self in

you’ll let him cross the

I don’t know. And I really don’t think I need to answer you everything

again. “I’m sorry, Em. I was just looking out for you, you know? I just don’t want you

worry.” I shook my head, leaning back into the chair. “I’m sorry

alright. I pushed you too much. Anyways, forget about it. You

could trust him. He was my best friend

Arthur and the matter of Sierra, he pondered for a moment, taking

think he’s doing something at

she wasn’t comfortable with, so she left the job. I’m sure she didn’t want

why don’t you tell this to

my lips. “I can’t. I don’t have any solid proof against him. Nor did I witness him doing anything wrong before my own eyes. And Ace and Caleb trust him blindly. They won’t believe me if I inform them of

find anything against him. But honestly, after hearing what Sierra said, he seems like a dangerous man. So I’d suggest you stay away from him, Em. Don’t drag yourself in any kind of danger,” he