The Trap Of Ace

Chapter 20

Read The Trap Of Ace [by Eva Zahan] Chapter 20 – The aroma of fresh spices and sauce wafted across the kitchen, proclaiming the deliciousness getting ready for the special Italian dinner. And the provoking sweet goods that baked inside the oven had me salivating.

The hunger of my tummy spiked more at that. The result of not eating the whole day. And how could I when all my mind was spiraled with one suddenly vanished man’s thoughts?

“I’m happy that you came here, Em. In all the preparations of the marriage, we couldn’t get enough time to spend,” said Tess, adding some basils in the spaghetti.

I nodded. “Yeah, but don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere for sometime. So we’ve a lot of time to fix that.”

Something flickered over her eyes, but then she smiled. “Right. Anyway, how was your day?”

“It was good.”

Not good. At all. After last night I hadn’t got any peace. What Caleb said, about their relationship, about her involvement with Ace kept my mind busy. And then he suddenly vanished from the country.

In the evening when I got Cassie’s call and got to know about Victoria’s being in the UK, it’d raised a lot of questions in my mind. Like he’d literally no one out there except her, so the suspicion that she could be one of the reasons for his frequent visit there wasn’t unrealistic. Even if I didn’t have any right to feel vexed about it, but I did. But then, somehow I knew that he wasn’t there for her. There was nothing between them like I thought at first they had. They were just friends.

That’s what you thought about Ace and Tess too.

That was the main reason for my being here. I wanted answers to my questions. And at this moment, only Tess could enlighten me. I’d lose my sanity if she didn’t.

Fidgeting in my seat, I cleared my throat. “Uh, I was thinking to ask you something… umm, I…”

She looked up from salads. Observing my hesitation, an understanding etched into her features. “You can ask me anything, Em. I’d try to answer them as long as it’s about me.”

I took a deep breath. There was no point to beat around the bush now.

“Did you cheat on Caleb with Ace seven years ago?”

A gasp slipped through her lips as her eyes widened in fraction. “What? What are you talking about, Em? I never did such a thing!”

“Look, I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t ask you these questions. It happened years ago and I should just keep it there. But I…”

“It doesn’t matter if it’s years ago or not! I’ve always loved Caleb. I know we were never sure of anything, and also dated other people after our first break up. But I’d never cheated on him. And especially not with Ace. He was my best friend for G*d’s sake!” She cut me off, disbelief filled in her eyes.

“So, there was nothing going on between you two?”

“Of course not! Why’d you think that?” A frown set between her brows. And then realization hit her as she went quiet, guilt flashing over her eyes.

“I saw you kissing, Tess. If there were nothing between you two, then what was that?” I queried, a sudden desperation rolled my insides. “Caleb told me you and him started dating just a month ago before your nineteenth birthday. Means you were with Caleb when you… what do I think of that?”

I’d no right to ask her these personal questions. It was all in the past. But I needed to know.

Both of them knew of my feelings. That other night on the terrace, she told me she’d never hurt me on purpose. Ace’s words and actions proved that he remembered every word he said to me and somehow

meant it, that’s what I saw in his eyes every time he called me his. I wasn’t sure if he did harbor any real feelings for me back then, but he didn’t think I was a fool in love with him. He cared and respected me and my feelings.

That’s what I understood from his all crazy actions and other things. And even if they didn’t have anything between them, then why would they do that? Why’d I found them wrapped around in each other’s arms like that?

What was the reason he became so distant with me all of a sudden and didn’t even call or ask of me once after that night? Not even when I shifted to NY. Yes, after his father’s d***h, he did get distant with everyone, but he never did with me. Even for once in a while, he used to visit me. Until one day, it stopped. And then came that ominous night. The night my heart broke.

All these things have been nagging me after Ace suddenly out of nowhere began to appear in my life, declared his claim on me, after my talk with Tess that night, and finally after what Caleb told me last night.

“Tell me, Tess. Why did you kiss the boy you knew your sister had lost her heart to?” Tightness clogged up my throat, burning my eyes. “Even after loving someone else, even after Ace was just your best friend, even after you didn’t want to hurt your little sister as you claimed that night. Why?”

Closing her eyes, she rubbed her face. “I can’t tell you that Em.”

“Why?” My voice rose. Couldn’t she see how desperate I was to know the truth? The truth they were hiding.

“Just as I said, I will answer your questions as long as it’s about me. And it’s not about only me here, Em. Nor is it my secret to tell. Only Ace can give you these answers.” She blinked away the unshed tears in her own eyes. “But know that Em, there was never anything between me and Ace except just friendship.

And I’d never, ever cheat on Caleb. It’s not always what it appears to be. Sometimes, you need to see beyond it.”

Her eyes pleaded me not to ask anymore questions as I sat there silently, taking in her words. What did she mean?

It was not what it appeared to be? Then what was it? Maybe Ace had the answer to this question.

Though my confusions still remained unsolved, her stating that there wasn’t anything between them ever did something to my heart.

“Em?” Her voice snatched my gaze back to her. “I hope you understand why I can’t tell you anything. It’s not my place to tell you this. I’m sorry.”

I nodded. “It’s alright. I understand.”

She placed her hand on mine. “I know how important for everything to clear up to you to take your next decisions of your life, Em. So I’d suggest you ask him yourself. I think the time has come for you to know everything.”

Surprised, I watched her in perplexion. Did I really want to know everything to take my next steps in my life with him? Was I really considering Casie’s words to give us another chance?

And what did she mean by it was the time for me to know everything? Why did it feel like the truth that I was going to know soon would change my life forever?

The blare of my phone distracted me from my thoughts. It was Beth.

“Hello,” I said, picking up the phone.

“Hello, is it Em I’m talking to?” a male voice spoke from the other side of the phone, some hubbub buzzed at the background.

“Yes? Who is it? And why are you calling from my friend’s phone? Where’s she?” I frowned.

“Miss, I’m calling you from Dakota’s Bar. Your friend here is drunk and alone. She’s refusing to leave and we don’t know her address. So we got your number from her emergency dial list and called you. We’d be grateful if you come and get your friend, she’s in a pretty bad state and we don’t know what to do with her.”

“Oh G*d! How long has she been there?” I asked, getting up from the chair.

“Approximately four hours, miss,” replied the man.

“Alright, can you please have an eye on her until I reach there? I’ll be there as soon as possible.”

“Of course, but be quick, miss. We’re about to close our bar for the night.”

“Alright, thank you!” I put the phone in my purse.

“What is it? Who was that?” asked Tess, concern latched into her eyes.

“It’s Beth, she needs me right now. I’ll tell you later everything, I’ve got to go now,” saying, I grabbed my coat and hurried out.

“Call me once you’re free. And stay safe!”

***

Turning to another turn, I took the car through an almost empty street, my gaze continued their connection with the GPS tracker of my phone. I’d never heard of that bar’s name before, and after tracing Beth’s phone, I found it was at Northern Avenue. The street infamous for old buildings, illegal casinos, small cafes and bars. And most importantly, hundreds of alleys.

I’d no idea what the h**l she was doing here at nine of the night!

And seeing the eerie silence around, I felt people of this area called it a night much earlier than others.

Once I was finally outside at the destination at the middle of a narrow road, I double checked the location and the bar’s name. A big ‘Dakota’s Bar’ was written on a white board, red fairy lights lit at the edges. And the wobbly two rugged men that stumbled out of the bar rose the scale of my uncomfortness higher.

I’d just pick her up and flee out of this uncanny area. © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

When I was about to park my car at the small parking lot at the corner, I found it full. And the c****o beside it explained the reason. I’d just park my car outside the bar, but a big no parking sign stopped me.

Sighing, I went ahead and turned to another narrow road and found there a place to park. Keeping my car there, I took my phone and went back to the bar.

Cold air pricked my skin as I walked along the footpath, brown locks of mine swayed with the breeze. Distant music coming out from the c****o’s closed doors was the only sound I could hear other than some dogs barking afar.

As soon as I entered the bar, her sprawled figure came into my view. With a large bottle in her hand, she sang something in her not so pleasant slurry voice; her dark curly head rested on the rounded table at the corner. It was a small bar, so finding her wasn’t a hassle.

When I approached her, a man in white shirt and red bow around his neck greeted me.

“I guess you’re the friend of hers I called, right?” he asked.

“Yes, that’s me. Thank you so much for informing me about her! I’d no idea she would be here at this moment,” I said, genuinely grateful. At places like this, she could fall into a wrong man’s hand. Thank G*d, this man, who must be a bartender here, turned out to be a gentleman!

“No problem, Miss. She’s actually here for the last four hours, drinking and crying non-stop. And when it was our time to close the bar, we asked her to leave but she wasn’t in a state to leave alone, so we’d to call you.”

Crying? What happened to her?

“Alright! Again, thank you so much for taking care of her until I arrived,” saying, I hurried to her and called out her name.

Blinking her red swollen eyes at me, recognition flickered over her face as an uneven smile stretched across her lips. “Emmm! You’re ‘ere! I was soooo lonely.” She tugged at my hand. “Come, sit ‘ere! Now we’re going to drink together!”

I brushed her unkempt hair out of her forehead, her cheeks were streaked with dried tears and smudged mascara. She looked like a mess.

What happened to her? G*d, I hoped everything was alright. I’d talk to her once she was sober. But I needed to get her out of here first.

“No, Beth. You’d had enough drinks for tonight, you aren’t having any more. Let’s go, we’re leaving.” I tried to get her up by her shoulders but she shrugged me off.

“Nooo, I don’t want to go! Need more drinks, an’ you’ll drink with me,” she slurred. “Hey, you! Gimme another bottle!”

The man shuffled in his place, eying his wrist. The whole bar was empty, he was just waiting for us to leave so that he could close the bar.

“Beth! Come on, get up! We need to go!” Forcing her to stand up, I wrapped one of her arms around my neck and snaked mine around her waist.

“No! I want a drink!” she complained, but walked along me with swaying legs anyway.

“I’ll give you one once we’re back home. Now let’s go,” I said to her and then glanced at the man. He offered if I needed help but I denied. Paying her bill, I thanked him again and carried her out of the bar.

Once outside, I glanced around, leading her the way my car was parked. Some wobbling figures appeared and disappeared around the corners. In the whole area, only us two girls could be seen on the street.

As I dragged her along, she started crying again, mumbling something incoherent under her breath.

“Shh, Beth. It’s alright. We’re almost there.”

A sudden shiver ran down my spine as I felt eyes on me. My gaze flickered around, but there was no one. Only two dogs passed across the road.

I tried to ignore it, but it was too strong. And when I heard footsteps behind me, i’d to turn around. A fleeting figure moved behind a black car, making my heart skip.

Someone was following us. And then my gaze fell onto the other black Range Rover standing at the other end of the street. But there was no one in there. It was the same car that was behind me most of the time during my arrival here.

W-was someone following me even before I came here? No, it must’ve been another car. There wasn’t only one Range Rover out there. But that man…

With my heart at my throat, I turned around and urged Beth to walk faster. But her being drunk hindered our pace.

When we passed the head of an alley, I almost ran when a whistle reverberated across the street. Some middle-aged men huddled under the shadow, I could feel their gaze set on us. When one of them pushed

against the wall, standing straight, I tightened my grip on Beth and dragged her as fast as I could.

“Come on, Beth! Walk faster! We need to move fast!” I urged her.

She groaned. “I don’t wanna go home!”

“We’re going to my place, don’t worry. Now walk faster!” I said, glancing over my shoulder. No one there.

As we turned to the road I had my car parked on, I almost sighed in relief. Until footsteps behind us reached me. And this time, there wasn’t only a pair, there were several.

My heart pounded in my chest as I walked as fast as I could with her along. With another hand, I fished out my pepper spray and phone from my pocket and kept it in my hand.

S**t! I shouldn’t have come here alone. I at least should’ve taken the bartender’s help.

The footsteps sounded more closer when we were almost near my car. My brain screamed at me to run, but I knew I couldn’t. Fear gripped my chest in a tight grip, making my knees wobble. But I didn’t stop walking.

I almost screamed when one of them yelled out something in a foreign language as they neared closer and closer, their footsteps faster now.

Tugging the door open with shaky hands and pounding heart, I pushed her inside and whirled around, the pepper spray ready to blow out.

But to my utter surprise, I found no one. As if they suddenly vanished into the thin air. Just like that. The entire street echoed silence.

What the h**l did just happen?

Not wasting any more time standing there and waiting for another trouble, I ran inside the car and drove off. And when we were out of that area, away from those alleys, only then I let myself to breathe in relief.

While Beth slept next to me, I messaged Tess about us heading home. I was so definitely going to talk to this friend of mine about the stunt she pulled tonight tomorrow morning. While I felt like I just escaped a heart failure, she was sleeping in peace. It was just sheer luck that we got out of there safely.

But what I wondered was, where those men suddenly got missing all of a sudden?

***

“Good morning, Alfred!” I greeted the old doorman as I entered through the glass doors inside of OC Textiles.

A warm smile pulled on his face, the sides of his eyes crinkling. “Morning, Ms. Hutton! Have a good day!”

Smiling back, I hopped into the elevator and pressed button number forty nine.

Sipping the tea in my hand, I checked my phone again. Yet no calls or messages from him.

Is he ignoring my calls on purpose?

I’ve even called him this morning after waking up, but again, it was switched off.

Sighing, I typed a message to Beth instead, about our pending discussion after my work.

When I took her home last night, Mom and Dad were stunned seeing her in that state. Among three of us friends, she was always the sensible one and never really drank. So it was really a matter of shock for them to see her like that, and the matter wasn’t any different for me.

When I left home this morning, she was still asleep. So I couldn’t talk to her. I’d informed Cassie of her condition last night and she said she’d pick her up from my place after breakfast. Even she’d no idea

what happened to her.

Once I reached the forty-ninth floor, I headed directly to my cabin, but Liza met me on the way.

“Morning!” I smiled at her. But it slipped when I saw the paleness of her face.

“Thank G*d, you’re here! I was just about to call you to ask what’s taking you so long!” she said, eyes wide.

I frowned. “As far as I know, I’m exactly on time. Why? What’s wrong? You’re looking pale here. Is everything alright?”

She shook her head. “Forget everything. You need to go to the penthouse this instance.”

My heart skipped a beat at the mention of the penthouse.

“Why?”

“The boss is here. And he demands your presence, right now!”

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