The Trap Of Ace By Eva Zahan

Chapter 52

With a tight smile, he nodded at me. The fleeting grimace on his face, while he took a look at my clothes, didn't go missed.

"I heard there were some problems going on between you two. But I'm glad to see you together today," he said, though his eyes didn't match his words.

Ace came back with a shirt on and took the charge of the pancakes from me again. Placing a kiss on my forehead, he said, "I've got some clothes for you in the room. Go, change. And then come out for breakfast." When did he do that?

But it was good since I didn't want to roam only into a shirt before Arthur.

Nodding my head, I walked away from the kitchen as I heard their voices.

"What brings you here so early in the morning, Arthur?" Ace asked.

"It was important. I thought to call you but then thought discussing face to face would be better. It's about the deal with the Russians."

And the rest of the conversation was cut off as soon as I closed the bedroom door behind me.

***

"Achilles, as you implied a lot of conditions for the contract, there'll be a lot of paperworks. And we're not sure if the Russians will agree to them. They're quite a big fish in the market nowadays, you know?" Arthur's gaze set on Ace as he took a bite on his pancakes. "If you want them to work with us, we should consider giving some loose on our conditions, don't you think?"

When Ace offered him to have breakfast with us while having the discussion, he agreed. Much to my dismay.

Placing some more scrambled eggs on my plate, his left hand went back to my knee as he shrugged. "I don't mind some paperworks. And no, I won't change my rules for anyone. And don't forget that they're also interested in working with us. Yes, they're big, but nothing compared to the Valencians. So if they want to do business with Valencian Corp, they'll have to do it our way."

They were talking about a Russian company who wanted to expand their business more in the US. And so their first choice was to go for the Valencian Corp. And as they could bring huge money to the company, Arthur didn't want to let them go. Not to forget the project they were interested in working with us, it'd take about half a billion of investment. So a little mistake and big loss.

And the worst thing was, Arthur was going to handle it.

I didn't have a bit of faith in this man.

His jaw ticked but being wise, he decided to keep quiet before Ace. And my Mr. Valencian was too busy to feed me more fruits to notice his uncle's discreet rebel. Suddenly Antonio's words rang into my head.

Why didn't I think of it before?

Enemy from inside. And who could it be other than him? He was doing illegal businesses behind Ace's back. He threatened Sierra with her life to hide a secret of his. There could be a vast possibility of him being the enemy from inside. But... could he be foolish enough to go against Ace's back and join hands with Antonio?

I didn't know. And the only person who could answer my question was Liza.

Someone had forced her to put those d***s into Caleb's car. Maybe it was him? He threatened Liza just like he did to Sierra?

I've to find out. And for that, I need to see Liza.

"Alright, if that's what you want. I'll talk to them once more about our conversation. Let's see what their opinion on it," said Arthur, wiping the corners of his mouth with his napkin.

Ace nodded, smiling a little. "Great. And please make sure you're present at the meeting with the Arabs today. I can't attend since i've a private meeting with De Sylvano."

That had my attention. Meeting with the Arabs? Means that red witch will be at the office again?

When I asked Matt about her visit at the office that day, he said she had come to complete some paperworks about the project. And as we were working together now, the Arabs will be coming for meetings and conferences frequently now. I pressed my lips. I had another problem to solve today.

"I can't eat more. I'm full!" I complained as he added some more pancakes on my plate.

"You need to eat more, Rosebud. You've lost weight in the last months. Here, open your mouth" He put the fork before my lips. "And after last night, you definitely need some energy," he murmured the last line into my ear.

My eyes widened as heat crept up my cheeks.

Arthur's clearing his throat snatched our eyes to him. "Alright, then. I'll meet you at the office. See you later."

Getting up, he threw me a last glance before turning around and walking out of the room.

***

"Please wait here. She'll be here in a minute."

I nodded as the lady cop walked out of the small cabin they had made me sit. It was a small room with just a table with two wooden chairs in the middle.

After Ace left for the office for some important meeting with some Vincenzo which he couldn't miss, as he said, I took the chance to come here. Even though he had strictly told me to stay there and have some rest, he didn't even let me go to the office with him. He said he'd be back in an hour, and I'd to finish my work in the meantime.

After five minutes, the door opened and the familiar figure with a tall frame and blonde hair walked in. The orange jumpsuit was loose on her thin body.

Surprise washed over her face that's dull and pale now. Gone the usual brightness of her eyes.

Standing up, I smiled at her. "Hello, Liza. How are you doing?"

"Em? What are you doing here?" Her brown eyes were confused.

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"Let's take a seat first." I jutted my chin towards the chairs.

Once we were seated opposite of each other, she leaned in.

"I know it's not your responsibility to find out if my family is well, especially after what I did. But do you know if they're fine? My brother? Is he okay?"

My heart went for her state. Even though I was pretty mad at her when she betrayed us like that, now thinking of how she was threatened by a dangerous man, I could understand her situation back then.

I had a hunch that it was Arthur who threatened her.

I put a hand on hers, squeezing it slightly.

"Don't worry. Your family is fine. Ace had some guards watching over them since you got arrested."

A gasp slipped from her lips. "B-boss did that?"

Smiling, I nodded.

Her eyes shone with unshed tears. "Even after everything I did, I know I don't deserve it. But it must be your doing, Em. I- I don't know how to thank you. I'll be forever grateful for that. I thought you didn't understand my gesture that day. I was so worried thinking about my family's safety. After they got to know what happened, they're so disappointed in me that they didn't even come to see me." "I didn't do anything. It was Ace who did all the arrangements."

She shook her head, sniffling. "I know the boss. He can turn into someone's nightmare if someone crosses his path. He doesn't see why they did it or how valid their reason was. But he did it for me even after I tried to defame his family. And I know it's because of you." A soft smile tugged on her lips. "Boss can do anything for his Rosebud."

I tried my best not to blush and concentrate on the current situation.

"I understood why you did it, Liza. I know you. You're an honest and kind girl. Seeing you doing what you did was extremely disappointing and shocking. But we couldn't just leave your family in danger for your deed. After all, you had worked in that company for years with loyalty."

She looked down, biting her lip. "I don't deserve your kindness, Em. But... t-thank you! Thank you so much."

"We can't change what you did. But you can help me with something if you want." I kept my face neutral. "Help? How can I help you with anything while staying in here?"

"You can. You can tell me who was the person who threatened you to frame Caleb."

Her eyes widened as her shoulders tensed. Leaning in, I grabbed both of her hands in mine.

"Look, Liza. I know you're scared that if you tell us their name, your family will come into danger. But trust me, they're safe. We've people there for their safety. You don't need to be worried about that anymore. So you can tell me the person's name so that I can find out who they're and expose them."

She snatched her hands from mine, shaking her head. "I've told the police thousands of times that I can't spill the name no matter how much they torture me. And I'll tell you the same, Em. I'm sorry. I can't tell you anything. Even though my family is safe now. But you don't know him. He's dangerous. Those guards can't keep an eye on my family the whole time."

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He's dangerous.

The same thing that Sierra said.

"You know Sierra resigned?"

Her brows furrowed. "Resigned? Why?"

They were quite close. So maybe hearing about her, she would say something?

I nodded. "Even after her financial crisis, she had to leave her job. And guess what, a certain someone threatened her with something also. And when she denied to do that, she had to leave the office."

She froze in her place. Her Adam's apple moved as she gulped. "Y-you know?"

"I've a guess. I even tried to talk to her. But she said the same thing you told me. That he's dangerous.

And guess what I've heard him talking on the phone?" I titled my head. "That if she crosses her limits, she'll have to lose her life just like her job."

H****r etched into her features as she stared at me with wide eyes.

"Look, Liza. I know you're scared for your family. But if you just tell me the name so that I can confirm my doubt, I'll be able to stop him. If you continue fearing him, I don't know how many people will suffer because of him just like you and Sierra." I prayed in my head for her to understand my points. She could be a great help to expose Arthur if she agreed. "Sierra is in danger and there's no one who can protect her. He's needed to be stopped. Please, Liza. Just give me the name."

A tear rolled down her eyes as she shook her head. "I can't. I'm sorry. Sierra must be strong enough not to succumb to his threats. She's my friend and I want to help her. But I can't. I can't put my family at risk." "He won't know if you say anything. Nobody will tell him!"

She held my gaze. "If he even gets a sniff of you knowing his secret. He'll come after me first, Em. And then... he'll go after you."

A shiver ran down my spine. But I didn't let the fear that threatened to crawl under my skin and hold my ground.

י

"He won't. I'm Emerald Hutton. He can't threaten me with something just like that. You don't worry about me. And you're here in j**I. He can't harm you either. Your family is also safe. Then why can't you just tell me the name?" I sighed when she kept quiet.

I had to get something out of her.

"Alright. Don't say the name. Just answer my one question." I took a desk breath. "Is it Arthur? Did he threaten you to do it?"

Her hands balled into fists, her whole body tensed at the name. With tears shining in her eyes when she averted her gaze from me, I got my answer.

So the enemy of the house was Arthur indeed.