The Trap Of Ace novel novel Chapter 6

"W-what're you doing here?" I couldn't even ask without stuttering.

Stormy grey eyes roamed over my features, briefly glancing at my lips. They watched me as if they had waited too long…

I gave myself an inner shake. I was assuming things that weren't possible.

"Well?" Voice firm this time. How did he even enter the ladies washroom area? Oh yes, I forgot that he owned this whole damn thing.

"Came to see if you're okay," he said, deep Greek accent strong. Was he- mad?

"How many times do I've to tell you that you don't need to be concerned about me? It's not your job to care for me."

"Someone has to if that so-called friend of yours can't even take a stand for you like a loser he is!" he mocked, gaze hard.

Friend?

So he knew what happened outside?

My eyes narrowed. "Excuse me? Don't you think you're crossing your limits here? You don't have a say in how my boyfriend is or not!"

A muscle of his jaw ticked. "I'm just stating the truth. Only a loser leaves their friend alone after she just got targeted by some drunkards!"

"He didn't leave me. He- he just went to take a phone call," I defended. "And I'm his girlfriend, not just a friend."

His eyes flashed, nostrils flaring as he cocked his head. "Not for long."

"What do you mean?" I asked, confused.

He stepped closer, making me stumble back. And then another until my back hit the wall, his towering figure blocking my escape.

"W-what are you doing? Step away." The intense gaze of his had my heart skip. His intoxicating cologne filled my lungs. He needed to create some distance between us. It was too much.

Placing his hands at the both sides of my face, he leaned in; my heart thudded inside my chest. "I meant, you will NOT be his girlfriend for long." Determination latched into his eyes.

"How do you know that?" I whispered. His close proximity was doing something to me.

When he brushed my cheek with his knuckles gently, a treacherous shaky breath left my lips. And then the bruise of his knuckles caught my eye. As I was about to ask him of his injury, my breath hitched at my throat when the pad of his thumb traced my bottom lip.

"You won't be, because-" leaning in, he whispered in my ear, hot breath tickled my skin, "-you already belong to someone else."

What?

My thoughts were everywhere, I couldn't think straight.

To be able to comprehend his words, I pushed him away, building some distance.

"D-don't come that near me ever again! And what do you mean by I already belong to someone else? Whom are you talking about?"

He stayed quiet. The look in his gaze sent a shiver down my spine. I gulped.

No, no! It's not what I was thinking. I must've misunderstood his eyes. After all assuming wrong probabilities had ruined my entire childhood once. I wouldn't make the same mistake again.

"You will know, soon."

Again incomplete answer!

I went to open my mouth to say something but the pompous cheerings and loud announcement cut me off. The race was finished, and the winner's name could be heard from the gallery outside.

I looked at him. "Looks like the tile 'loser' suits you more now." My lips curved up at the winner's name while he remained monotonous. "My condolences on your loss. Poor Jordan and the Jockey, they tried hard, you know? Sometimes fate just doesn't support you everywhere."

"Em, you're done?" Warner asked, appearing at the exit. Putting his phone in his pocket, when his eyes landed on Ace, confusion flashed over his face. But then he smiled. "Hello, Mr. Valencian."

And Mr. Valencian stood still as a stone. His gaze on Warner was unreadable.

Jerk!

"Yeah, let's go!" I linked my arm with Warner's. Stormy eyes followed my moves. "Better luck next time," saying that, I turned to go, pulling Warner along.

I didn't know why I did that, but when I glanced back at him, something flipped in my tummy.

An almost non-visible smirk tugged at the side of his mouth. It whispered a secret I couldn't unfold.

"What was he doing there?" Warner asked once we were outside.

I shrugged. "Nothing. You tell me, how do you know him? Even at that party, it seemed like you knew him even before anyone introduced you two."

He laughed as if it was the silliest question someone has ever asked him. "Who doesn't know Achilles Valencian?"

I rolled my eyes.

"Is there any problem between you guys?"

"Why do you ask?"

A shoulder of his lifted. "I don't know, but… whenever you're with him or hear about him, you always get tense."

I tried my best not to get tense right now. "Nothing. It's just… we never got along," I lied. And my tone told him not to query more. So he didn't.

When we passed the place where those drunk guys were, I didn't spot them anymore. But I did spot some drops of blood scattered on the ground. Frowning when I looked up, I found some guards dragging those guys away down the stairs to the exit. One of them was holding his bloody nose. He was the one who asked me if I was interested mentioning his money.

Then the bruise on Achilles's knuckles flashed in my mind. A silent gasp left my lips. Did he… did he do that to them?

But why?

When we got back down to our folks, I was still lost in my thoughts. But my sister's gloomy face caught my attention. Of course! The horse she was cheering on lost. But Tobias, on the other side was grinning ear to ear as he poked Tess.

"See, I told you Jordan will lose. Now you owe me a thousand dollars!"

"But you weren't supporting Cage either! So how come I lose the bet?" Tess glared.

"Doesn't matter. The bet was about Jordan's winning or losing. And he lost. So the money is mine!"

Huffing, Tess slumped beside Caleb who shook his head in amusement. "It's all Ace's fault! Why didn't he tell me that this time he was betting on Cage instead of Jordan? It's not fair!"

My eyes widened. He betted on Cage? Not Jordan? But I thought…

My eyes met Caleb. He flashed me a sheepish grin. "Even I didn't know. But what I said turned out true, right?"