The Trap Of Ace By Eva Zahan

"G*d, gilt You should seriously dump that a's boyfriend of yours! I thought

he was 3 ice guy, but I didn't know what a mommy's boy he ist" cursed Casie, shaking her head while Beth grabbed another tissue from the tissue box on her lap and blew her nose.

"Iis not that easy, Cass. I love him. We've been together for three years." Beth sniffed, wiping her cheeks.

"Just because you guys have been together for three years, doesn't mean you'l take his mother's STMt! You deserve much more than thist" Casie snapped.

After getting the early leave, I came directly to Casie's place. And though I didin't find Beth i the same state I found her last night,she wasn't any better, She was stil a mess.

After asking Casie of what happened to her, she told me everything. Beth and her boyfriend, Mason, were happy in their Ittle world. Until his conservative Catholic mother stepped into the picture once she got to know that her one and only son was going to marry a non-catholic girl. His mother's ispleasure of their

relationship was creating problems between them. And being a mommy's boy he was, as Casie mentioned, he didn' have the

guts to go against his mother and stand by Beth and thei love,

And now Beth feared that he might as well break up with her, heeding his mother's advice. And that's why I found her at that bar, drunk out of her mind.

Looking down at the ring on her ring finger, Beth whispered, "You won't understand. I can'tjust leave everything like that. I- can'tlive without him."

Casie scoffed. "But it seems like he definitely can. Othenwise he wouldn'tlet you leave his house 50 easily. He didn't even fight for you! And here you thought he'd come after you if you left the house."

"Now I'm repenting it His mom wil definitely use this situation against us," Beth said, her lower lip trembled.

Placing my hand on hers, I squeezed gently. "Don't worry, Beth, I know Mason. That guy reall loves you. Maybe he's confused between his mother and you right now. But I'm sure, as soon as he realzes his mistake of letting you go, he'l come after you I know he'l" "Huh, I can't second that. Not everyone is Achilles Valencian." Casie stated, rolling her eyes. 1

Though a blush burned my cheeks, I sent a glare at her way. That gil never knew when to shut up. 1

'She shrugged. "What? Don't give me that look. I support those men who know how to treat their women. Not some mommy's boy who lets go of hisfiance just because his mom doesnit approve of it;

Sighing, I shook my head. "Im not siding him. But we should give Mason some time, right? We all know how much he loves his

mom. Maybe he needs some time to convince his mother and then get back to Beth? Yeah, letting Beth go like that wasn't;

'appreciated at all, but Beth shouldn't just give up on her relationship like that." 1 She raised her brow. "Oh, I'm glad that you think that one shouldn't give up on something so easily❞ Taverted my eyes quickly, getting her hint.

"Okay, enough talking about my Ife today. I really don't want to discuss it anymore. I need some time to think. And Em?* Beth said, tuming to me. "Im so sorry for last ight. Because of me you'd to carry so much trouble. I don't remember much, but Casie told me everything. 'm sory, I didn't even realize how much drink I was having."

s alright. You don't have to say sorry." I said. "But you definitely should've thought twice before going to that shady place. It could be risky, you know? Why did you even go to such a place? As fa as I know, we've never visited there before."

She blew out breath. I just wanted to go somewhere where nobody could find me. When I went there, I was already drunk. I

didn't even realize where I was going. And when I saw this bar at the side of the road, ljust got in"

"Donit do that again. It not safe-* She didn't know what trouble we were about to fall into last night. If Ace's guards weren't there..

She nodded, giving me a smll smile. I won' I promise."

"Alight, anyone needs some coffee? Because I defintely need one. All of these are giving me a headache." Casie exclaimed, raising up on her feet from the couch we all were stting on.

"Tes, please." I 535

"Of course!" Chucking, she sauntered into her kitchen to get us some hot drinks.

Once she was back with the coffee and tea mugs, she got herself busy discussing her upcoming modeling project with Beth, while I one the other hand, thought of everything that happened today. Itwas a really hectic day.

No matter how much hurting Warner perturbed me, my treacherous mind went back to the kiss we shared in his bedroom this morning and then in that hallway.

Another blush rose up my neck to my ears. Goosebumps crawled up my skin recalling the sinful sensations Id felt with his scorching mouth on mine.

My heart missed the warmth o hs arms around me, or the husky murmurs of his in my ears.

Asigh slipped through my lips.

"Where are you so lost? Mind a penny of your thoughts?" Casie's voice pulled me out of my trance. Even Beth had her concemed eyes trained on me.

Shrugging, I looked down at my wrist, twirling my bracelet. 'Do you think I'm being selfish doing this to Warner?"

Id talked to her about my and Warner's phone conversation before coming at her home.

"Of course not! Whatever you're doing s good for allthree of you. And even ifits not for Achilles, you would ve done it sooner

o later." She held me gaze. "The relationship was only one-sided, Em. And one-sided relationships don't go for long. You and Warner both knew it, even though he's being an a%s right now."

"His reaction i justified. Anyone would v reacted like this i his place. I shouldn't have hurt him like that" Id tried to call him

again, but his phone was still unreachable. He didn't even reply to any of my messages.

"You don't love him, Em. It was supposed to happen sooner or later. Even he knew it deep down. So the sooner he'll accept it

the easier it be for him to move on." "Casieis right. Don't fret yourself that much. Its not your fault. You can't make yourself fall for him forcefully now, can you?" said Beth, placing her mug on the table.

'She was right. But I couldn't just shake off the guitt. Even after knowing that I wouldn't even be able to love him, I got into a

relationship with him. Even if it was him who convinced me to give us a chance, I shouldn't have agreed with him. This day

wouldn't have come if I denied him that day.

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"So, what did you think? Will you go to Seattle to talk to him if he doesn't come here?" Beth queried.

Inodded my head. "Yes. Honestly, I don't want him to come here. I don't want him to meet Ace, which there's a possibilfy i he. really shows up here."

1d no doubt that that Ace wouldn't take it lightly f he sees Wamer around me again. I stll remember the rage and jeslousy in

his eyes this morning when he saw Warner calling me. And then the way he frightened Matt with his murderous glare, G*d! This man seriously knew how o get on my nerves.

"Oh, let him come here. I want Achilles to beat some sense into him for accusing you of betraying him. I mean, how dare he? Now he can'tforce you to stay with him in a relationship, can he?" Casie fumed, her lips curled into displeasure.

"Aren't you siding Ace too much these days, Casie? What's the matter?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

"Because I know what's good for my best friend. And who knows, maybe he bribed me with something to ship you guys?" she replied, wiggling her brows.

Shaking my head, I chuckied at her words. And Beth joined me.

Actually, it wasn't impossible that Ace would do something ke that. He'd done even way more craziest things before.

Our mirth took a break when my mobile buzzed. A message popped up on the screen. Seeing my sudden change of mood, Casie sat straight. "Who's it?" "Its Warner, ❘ replied, my eyes locked on the screen.

"What did he say?"

Ilooked up at her, He's coming"

Once I was done blow drying my hair, I padded into my closet to choose a dress for tonight's event.

Toight, our company will sign the final contract for the upcoming deal with the Arabs. The defamation Antonio Reymond had tried to stamp on Valencians, was cleared sooner than it was even possible. Ace didn't even let the news of Caleb's getting arrested spread across the media. Though some of the journalists were present there that day, clearl, Achilles Valencian knew how to del with troublemakers.

Now that Liza accepted her crime, everything went back to normal. The Arabs were too eager to work with our company. And. on the occasion of our coming together with a project, they invited us to a small dinner with them at the hotel they were staying at.

Mr. Hakimi especially requested my presence at the dinner with Ace tonight. And to my surprise, the boss wasn't happy to tag. me along. He didn't want me to go there.

But he couldn't dictate me in this matter. I was too excited to try the traditional Arab dishes to heed to his grumbling. So hed

to agree at last, but only on one condition. He'd come to pick me up and during the entire time of our stay there, 1l have to dling to him.

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Shaking my head at hs ridiculous behavior, I searched for 3 suitable outfit for the night.

Lots of choices, but not impressive enough for me to decide.

Then something caught my eye between those heaps of clothes.

Puling it out I ran my hand on it. An involuntary smile tugged on my lips. His t-shit. The same one I borrowed to change into. after my blouse incident.

Itill Gidn't return it to him. I didn't want to. One secret maybe I wouldn't ever tellhim, that I sometimes wesr it at nights when Ican't sleep. Oddly, it comforted me.

He was never gonna get it back. Though I didn't think he'd mind if I didn'treturn this one shirt he didn't have any shortage of clothes.

Folding it, I placed it n it previous place and took out the black dress from the back of the row. It was a dress Tess forced me to buy when I went shopping with her.

At length,sleeveless dress with sweetheart neckiine. Simple yet cassy. This was 3 bad choice for this cool weather ike: tonight, but...

Tbit my lip to hold back the smile that threatened to spill.

Walking back inside my room, I began to get ready for the evening.

My heart skipped when the doorbell rang. He was here.

Blowing out a breath, I checked myself one last ime on the mirror and grabbed my clutch and phone.

'Atthe mention of the phone, I remembered I didn't check my phone the whole day due to my busy schedule at the office. Its

been two days since I got that message from Warner, but ater that I did't hear anything back from him.

Iid a quick check on my phone. No calls or messages from him. I idn't know what was going on in his head. Was he really gonna come?

T cal him again later I have to hurry now. He was waiting for me.

Putting the phone inside my purse, I ushed downstais, as much as I could with my high heels. And once I was before the closed door, I smoothed my hair once more. My heart raced at the thought of his reaction after he'l see me, Nervousness and excitement burst through my veins.

Iwonder what this night has in store for me.

'Then taking a deep breath, I opened the door and stepped outside.