The Trap Of Ace

Chapter 15

Read The Trap Of Ace [by Eva Zahan] Chapter 15 – I shook my head. Why did I care about what he was doing here?

I should just go back to the terrace.

Once back upstairs, I found the meeting was over and everyone was now enjoying their drinks, except Ace. He simply drank a glass of plain water.

And… that witch was now in my seat!

But his attention wasn’t on her, instead those stormy eyes were searching around for something. Until they landed on me. Was that relief that flashed over them?

He beckoned me to him with his head, but I turned around and went to Liza who was talking to two of the Arabs beside the railings. Matt wasn’t here, he went to attend a phone call right after me when I left for the washroom.

“Hey, where did you go?” Liza asked.

“Washroom,” I replied, standing next to her. Nodding her head, she returned to the conversation.

One of the Arabs’ eyes locked with mine as he flashed me a smile. I remember his name was Fazza. At twenty something, with dark hair and tanned skin, he didn’t look bad. But the interest in his brown eyes didn’t match mine.

But out of politeness, I smiled back.

“How long are you working for Mr. Valencian?” he asked.

“Umm, it’s been just a week.” I averted my eyes from his awkward stare.

“Oh, so you’re new here,” he stated. “Though mine working in this field isn’t that old either. I just joined some months ago.”

“You’re a designer too?”

He nodded. “Yep, loved doing these drawings with paper and pencils from my childhood.”

This time my chuckle was genuine. “Well, I still draw the designs with them. Doing it on the computer doesn’t feel connected.”

A grin spread across his face. “Looks like we’re on the same page then.” He glanced at my hand. “You’re not having anything. You need a drink?”

When I was about to answer, an arm around my waist cut me off. A gasp slipped through my lips as I was pulled against a hard frame.

“Sweetheart, what took you so long? I was waiting for you,” he said with jaw tight as stone, casting a look of frost at Fazza. And I just stood there dumbfounded.

“You- you guys are together?” Fazza’s eyes fell where the arm that was wrapped around me possessively.

“Yes, she’s taken,” Ace replied, but it came out much like a hiss. Though his expression was cool, his eyes were hard, as if warning him off, staking his claim on me.

Fazza put his hands up, eyes wide. “No bad intentions here, Mr. Valencian. I was just talking. Anyways, I’ll just take your leave now.”

Once he was gone and so did the others, I tried to wriggle out of his hold but he only tightened it. Huffing, I glared up at him.

“What are you doing? And what did you mean by I was taken?”

He cocked his head. “Because you’re. You’re mine.”

My heart stopped at my chest, breath caught at my throat. The intensity of his eyes held me speechless. And then my heart started racing, blood ran hot in my veins as something soared into my chest.

I gulped. “I- I’m not yours.”

“You aren’t?” He leaned closer, stormy grey eyes held me prisoner.

The shake of my head was vague.

“You sure, Rosebud? Because your eyes are saying otherwise.” His hot breath fell on my lips as his fingers dug into my flesh, sending shivers down my spine.

***

“Why did we stop here? We were supposed to directly go to the office, right?” I asked, glancing at the mall standing tall outside of the car window.

“At least you said something,” he remarked, eyes amused.

Pressing my lips, I scowled. After he declared his claim on me back at the terrace, all I could do was get out of his arms and run away from him. Then my plan to return with Liza and Matt failed as they already left me assuming I already had a ride. And I’d no way but to get into his car with him again.

Throughout the whole ride I hadn’t spoken to him. Even when he tried to grab my hand – the nerve of him!

“Well?” I crossed my arms over my chest, snatching his smoldering gaze on there. Blood rushed to my ears.

Inhaling a deep breath, he brought his eyes back to mine. “Caleb and Tess’s engagement is on this Sunday night. And I need your help to choose a gift for them.”

I raised my brow. “It’s your cousin and best friend you’re talking about. You don’t know what to get for them?”

A sour feeling appeared in my mouth as the picture of him and Tess from that night flashed in my mind. Did they really have anything at all between them? If they did, then he should’ve at least felt some discomfort that the girl he used to date was going to marry his cousin, who was more like a brother to him. But it seemed like it didn’t affect him, at all.

And if there wasn’t anything like that, then what was that I saw? The intensity between them, the passion…

My hands balled into fists, my chest constricted. But I managed a calm facade before him. Years of practice, how could I not manage?

“I’ve got something in my mind for Caleb, but I don’t know what to get for Tess. Yes, she’s my best friend, but as her sister, and a girl, you’d know better.” He regarded my face with assessing eyes, as if searching for something in there. Did he know of my inner turmoil? The turmoil that was getting more difficult day by day to cage in.

I stayed silent, lost in my own thoughts.

You’re mine.

What did he mean by that? All of a sudden, after years, the years he maybe didn’t even care where his best friend’s little sister was. And now out of nowhere he called me his? He wanted me? When did this happen? Because I didn’t believe he just fell for me after just seeing me at that party.

***

“Here, I’m sure you’ll love this one, Ma’am. This is one of the best pieces of necklace in our store,” said the manager himself of this renowned jewelry outlet. And why not? The great Achilles Valencian was in his store.

I rolled my eyes in my head.

Yes, I was here with him, helping him find a gift for my sister. I thought of declining, but I couldn’t just say no to those in need stormy grey eyes. I knew, I was being stupid and weak. But… I couldn’t help it.

And we were here because Tess was obsessed with diamonds and clothes.

Shaking my head, I passed another piece of necklace. They were too heavy. “Show me something light and contemporary.”

At Achilles’ nod of head, the manager took off to show me some more of their collections that I finally might like. I didn’t know much of Tess’s choice, but I knew she was fond of trying the brand new designs in the market.

Twirling the bracket on my wrist, my eyes went around to the jewelries on display. Then something caught my eyes. A simple pendant with a diamond cut emerald in the middle with tiny rubies adorned around it. It was gorgeous.

I wasn’t that fond of emeralds before, but the tiny ones in my bracelet had won my heart.

I wonder who’s left this beautiful bracelet before my door that day…

“You like something for yourself?” Came his deep voice close to my ear. My step away from him was swift. This man just didn’t know of personal space.

“No. We’re here for Tess, not me, remember?”

He watched me for a moment and then nodded his head.

“Mr. Valencian, please take a seat. Let us show the latest collections of our store,” the manager urged, with two assistants behind him carrying dozens of boxes in their hands.

With a curt nod, he wrapped his arm around my waist and led me to the sitting area. I tried to wiggle out of his arm, glaring at him. But he kept a firm hold, pulling me more into his warmth.

I huffed, giving up, not wanting to create a scene. And the thing that I felt in his arms, his scent, could be another reason why I didn’t pull away.

He was tampering with my head, as well as my heart.

After I was done choosing something for Tess, finally, he maneuvered me to another store. This time, I was thrown to hunt for a dress for her.

When I told him our dressing style was a lot different, I couldn’t help him in that. He said,

“I trust your decisions, Rosebud. I’m sure, whatever you choose, will be the best. And don’t worry, I’ll help you make the decision.”

I had just frowned in confusion. Whatever he said, had gone over my head. What did he know of my decisions and choices anyway?

Though I wouldn’t admit it, I was thankful that this woman who helped us find a dress wasn’t staring at him like a puppy craving for a bone, like the other shops we visited. She was polite and professional, not dancing her eyes around. And when I told her what type of dress I wanted, she’d handed me over two dozens of expensive gowns. For wedding occasions, they’d be best: suggested the woman.

I ran my hand over a pink satin, checking its florid designs.

Suddenly it was snatched from me. Looking up, I found a displeased Ace glaring holes onto that dress. “We’re not taking it.”

“Why? What’s wrong with it? I think it’d be perfect for Tess. And pink is also her favorite color.”

He raised his brow. “What’s wrong? It’s too short.”

“So? She has no problem with short dresses.”

“But I’ve!” His lips tightened.

Something nagged inside me. Why did he care if Tess wore short dresses or not? My temper suddenly flared as I grabbed the dress back from his grasp.

“I liked this dress for her, so we’ll be taking this. You told me to help you and I’m just doing that. And if you don’t like my choice, then be my guest and help yourself of your own!”

My sudden outburst didn’t seem to bother him as he was too busy eyeing me up and down. Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

“What’re you doing?” I frowned.

“How do you know Tess’d look good in it? You didn’t see it on her, did you?”

“I don’t need to see it on her. I can tell, this will be perfect for her.”

“But I’m not that certain,” he said, tilting his head. “Why don’t you try it on you, and see if it really looks good?”

My eyes widened. “What? Why’d I do that? And how can you decide if she’ll look good or not seeing it on me? I’m not her!”

He shrugged. “But both of your height and weight are almost the same. So I don’t think there’d be a problem.”

“But…”

“No buts. You’re only wasting our time arguing over this. Just try this out, let me see you and get done with it,” he cut me off. But when he mentioned of seeing me, a goosebump crawled up my arms. And it didn’t help as his stormy grey eyes were a lot more stormier.

“Fine! Let’s just get over it!” Glaring, I walked to the changing room. There were people around the shop, men more than women in our section.

G*d! I’d have to walk out in this t***h length sleeveless dress.

Slamming the door shut, I cursed under my breath for agreeing to help him and started undressing. I didn’t even know if it’ll fit. It looked tight.

It did fit. And it was tight, as h**l. I could barely breathe in it. He was wrong. Tess and I weren’t of the same weight. She was thinner than me, where I was the curvier one. Well, it was obvious as she was the girl who spent hours at the gym.

Once I was ready to go out, I tugged at the ends to somehow drag them a little lower and opened the door. I didn’t find him outside the door as I expected. In fact I found him sitting comfortably on a couch, with his elbows on his knees.

And the most surprising thing was, the whole shop was empty except the sales girls of the shop

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