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.

visible gulp. “You’ve mistaken. He didn’t do anything. I left the job because of my personal reasons

it. He’s done something that you had to take this step, didn’t you?

everyone that he hadn’t met me before. Which was a complete lie. And at our first meeting, the words he said, no sane person would say those

And now that I was close to discovering

“You can’t help me, Emerald. No one can. And don’t think too much of what you

own uncle? Would he go to the extent for me to distrust his uncle who had always supported him in every

“You shouldn’t have come here, Emerald. I

“But…”

I can’t tell you anything! Don’t drag both you and me in danger by digging

Something churned in

“What danger?”

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

least tell me why did

for a moment, and then said, “I had to. I

***

I watched the steam vanishing

did she mean by that? She didn’t want to do

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

ran through

face, pulling me out of my thoughts.

What did

if you’re doing well now. I mean, when I

from him asking if I wanted to grab

Ace’s confession at the back of my mind again and again.

He… loved me.

wanted to close my eyes and

off of my chest. Though it still hurt thinking of everything,

all were young back

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

I

already forgave him, didn’t you? You forgot how he used your sister to break your heart!”

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 if nothing much good happened

everything that happened since the last seven years. Even if I couldn’t call him totally wrong for his reasons. Because bitter,

lost into him to see that he isn’t the right guy for you. Don’t you see how he behaves

me what I should do or what I shouldn’t. And about him being controlling, yes, he’s a control freak. But he doesn’t cross any lines if I tell him not to. He respects my decisions.” My

needed time, he’d given me without letting his dominating self in the way.

cross the

I really don’t think I need to

“I’m sorry, Em. I was just

need to worry.” I shook my head, leaning back into

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

him. He was my best friend

everything, my suspicion on Arthur and the matter of Sierra, he pondered for

think he’s doing

He threatened Sierra to do something that she wasn’t comfortable with, so she left the job. I’m sure she didn’t

don’t you tell this to

have any solid proof against him. Nor did I witness him doing anything wrong before my own eyes. And

you find anything against him. But honestly, after hearing what Sierra said, he seems like a dangerous man. So I’d suggest you stay