EMERALD
Sunlight beamed against my eyelids, making me slowly flutter them open. A yawn snuck out of me as I stretched across the bed. The soreness in different parts of my satisfied body bloomed a smile on my lips.
But it slipped as soon as I found the emptiness beside me when my hands searched for his warmth. The sheets were cold enough for me to know he had gotten up a long time ago. It was getting on my nerves not finding him with me in the bed when I woke up in the morning. I craved his body warmth around me and his sultry kisses.
Then memories of last night flooded my mind. My heart clenched with the recollection of his pain and suffering for years. For the crime he didn’t commit.
It was saddening he lived half of his life thinking he was the cause of his father’s death and thought I’d hate him after learning the truth. I wished he told me earlier about his guilt and fear. I would’ve made it clear to him that I wouldn’t leave him, no matter what. I couldn’t. Especially when he was innocent.
I let out a shaky breath, remembering the torment in his beautiful gray eyes. My heart bled for him. I wanted to take all his pain as mine, only if I could.
After knowing the truth, I saw everything from a new angle. My respect and gratefulness for my father went another level higher now. Though it was still shocking to know it was Dad who saved Ace from that tragedy. And he never told a soul about it. On the other hand, my opinion about his mother also changed. No matter how much my heart went out for her, even though I understood her pain and sufferings, I wouldn’t be able to forgive her for leaving Ace and Caleb when they needed her the most. Especially Ace.
I understood she needed an escape from her traumatic life, but she shouldn’t have left her son behind to suffer in the endless guilt and insecurities. He needed her. There was no one to give him emotional support.
Maybe I was being selfish. I was only thinking about the love of my life. But I wouldn’t leave my only son like that, no matter the hell I went through. Though I’d never voice out my opinion about his mother before him. I knew no matter what she did, he didn’t hold it against her. He respected and loved her.
Sighing, I sat up, rubbing my face. A note on the bedside table caught my eye. The smile returned.
It must be from him.
I was a little upset I didn’t find him in the bed with me when I woke up, but he did sleep the whole night wrapped around me like a baby. He didn’t get up in the middle of the night and go to the gym to channel his frustration and fears into the punching bag last night. And I think this was a big progress.
Good morning, my beautiful rose!
I’m so sorry, my love. I couldn’t stay until you woke up. Had to leave for an urgent meeting. But just for two hours. Stay here. I’ll come home as soon as I’m finished.
I made you breakfast. Heat it up before eating. I’ll try to cut this meeting short and fly into your arms as soon as possible.
Love you!
-A
PS: As it’s a very important meeting, my phone will be switched off. If you need anything, just call Carter. He’ll give your message to me. But DO NOT leave the house until I’m there.
Placing a kiss on the note, I pressed it against my chest, and a sigh of bliss left me.
How did I get so lucky with love? I thought I was never going to get this man. And here I was, staying in the house he bought for our future, sleeping in his arms, on our bed.
God, I already missed him.
Then something clicked in my head.
Wait. Meeting?
What important meeting did he have where he had to leave our vacation and drive back to the office so early?
As far as I remembered, he didn’t have any important meetings until the next Monday. Except…
My eyes widened.
The meeting with the Russians! He said they were about to sign the final contract. It must be it!
Damn it!
Leaping to my feet, I grabbed my clothes.
I had to stop him. I had to tell him about Arthur before he signed the contract. The contract that old bastard was so eager to make Ace sign.
After hearing everything last night, I didn’t find anything he could use against Ace. First of all, Ace didn’t murder his father. It was an accident. His father got shot during the fight. It wasn’t his fault. Even if he and Dad kept it hidden for the sake of his future, it wasn’t that big of a crime for Arthur to destroy Ace. Nor was there any proof. He might know about it, just like Warner did, but he didn’t have anything to prove. Ace and Dad made sure not to leave any evidence of the past.
That leech! He knew what Ace meant to me. I’d die before letting anything happen to him. The bastard just used it against me to keep my mouth shut until he got a way out of his crimes and Ace’s wrath.
I was a hundred and one percent sure he didn’t have anything against Ace. If he did, wouldn’t he and Antonio have used it already?
And the frustrating thing was, why didn’t I figure this out earlier? Why didn’t I listen to my instinct?
I was certain he was planning something big this time. And he would pull off his plan through this contract. I didn’t know what was exactly going through his wrinkled brain, but I had a strong hunch. He’d be using this contract to harm Ace and the company. Half a billion wasn’t a joke.
But I wouldn’t let this happen.
I wanted to tell Ace everything last night, but he was distressed enough for me to start any more stressful conversations with him. He needed a break. I thought I’d tell him this morning calmly, but he was gone even before I could wake up.
Rushing down the stairs, I dialed his number. But as he said, it was unreachable. So, I called Carter. After two rings, he picked it up.
“Good morning, Ms. Hutton.” His cheerful voice came through the phone.
“Carter, can you please pass the phone to Ace? I need to talk to him urgently.”
“Umm, I’m so sorry, Ms. Hutton. But maybe he has already entered the conference room. I’m on my way back to the office. I need to pick some files. Do you want me to give him a message?” he asked.
I came to a halt, panting from flying down the stairs so fast. “Wait, the meeting isn’t happening in the office?”
“No. It’s being held in hotel Diamond Valley.”
Diamond Valley? It was a twenty-minute drive from here. Not that far. But…the meeting has already started.
“Is it with the Russians?” Even though I knew it was, I hoped for the otherwise.
“Yes, Ms. Hutton. Both companies are going to sign the final contract today.”
I groaned. “Listen to me very carefully, Carter. Stop the meeting. Go there as fast as you can and tell Ace that I said, no, I pleaded not to sign the contract. You understand me? I need to tell him something important before he does it. I’ll be there as soon as possible.”
Grabbing my purse, I ran out the door.
“What? But what happened, Ms. Hutton? Is there any problem? I don’t think there’s anything wrong with this contract—”
“Just do as I say! Give him my message and make sure he doesn’t sign anything. At least not before I get there. If you fail to do that, it can cost you your job, Carter. Remember it. I already left for the hotel.” I cut the call before he could say anything and rushed out of the enormous silver gate.
But my legs stopped as several big hulky men in black towered over me. Their tinted sunglasses hid their eyes. I could recognize two of them were from Ace’s security team.
I frowned. Where did they come from? They weren’t here yesterday.
“Ms. Hutton. We’re extremely sorry to inform you that you can’t go out anywhere until the boss arrives. Please, go back inside,” one of the hulks spoke in his deep voice.
“What? Where did this come from? I’m free to go anywhere I want! I need to go somewhere urgent, so move away from my path!”
They blocked my way again.
“We apologize, miss. But we can’t let you go. It’s the boss’s orders. You can’t leave the house.”
My temper rose. “Why?”
Why the hell did he tell them to lock me in the house? I didn’t remember him mentioning any of this yesterday. Everything was fine. What happened?
Then I remembered his note.
DO NOT leave the house.
He warned me not to leave. But forgot to give me the reason.
I was going to be late. The meeting had already started. If I don’t reach on time, he would sign the contract. I didn’t care at that moment about why he didn’t want me to leave the house. I had more important things to handle right now.
The guard shook his head. “We aren’t allowed to say anything. But we can’t let you go.”
“Listen here, I’m getting late. So, move away from my way. I’m going to your boss. I don’t think he’ll mind me leaving.”
They didn’t budge from their places.
My lips pressed tight. “Move.”
“Sorry, miss. But we can’t. We’re just doing our job.”
I cocked my head. “What will you do if I leave? Stop me? How?” I took a step towards them. “Manhandle me? Drag me back inside the house? Because, of course, I’ll fight tooth and nail with you. But you can’t do that.” A smirk tugged at my lips. “If you even touch a strand of my hair, Ace is going to skin you alive,” I hissed, glaring at them.
The subtle look they exchanged and one of them gulping slowly planted seeds of hope in my heart. I was winning this fight. I just needed to hold my ground.
“Now you don’t want me to run to him crying and say how you guys manhandled me and hurt me to drag me back inside, do you? Do you know what will happen then?”
The color of their faces drained. They stood still, not uttering a word.
I smiled. “Good. Now excuse me.”
“But—Ms. Hutton. Stop!” One of them called out, but I didn’t stop. Ignoring them coming behind me, begging for me to stay, I stopped a taxi and got into it immediately before they could reach me.
The moment I walked through the entrance of Diamond Valley, a voice made me turn around.
“Ms. Hutton!”
Carter climbed up the stairs before reaching me. His sky-blue shirt clung to his body, soaked with sweat. With a red face, he looked up at me. Some files were tucked under his armpit.
I frowned. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be in the conference room to deliver Ace my message?” Then realization set in, and my eyes widened. “Don’t tell me you’ve just arrived! Where the hell were you?”
Shit! I made the taxi driver drive faster than a sane man would to reach my destination, bribing him with double cash. I thought Carter was already here, interrupting the meeting. But he just freaking got here!
“I-I’m so sorry, Ms. Hutton. I got stuck in the traffic,” he panted.
Shaking my head, I turned around and ran inside.
Damn it! I just hoped he didn’t sign the contract yet.
With my heart thumping down my chest, anxiety rolling in my stomach, I made my way towards the elevator.
“Ms. Hutton, wait!” he called out for me, still at the entrance, huffing and puffing.
“Which floor?” I yelled over my shoulder, attracting some glances.
“Thirty-eight, room number 1504, but Ms. Hutton, wait! They won’t let you inside the VIP area without…”
His words faded away as soon as the doors of the elevator closed.
While the others in the elevator patiently stood beside me, I kept fidgeting in my place. My palms were clammy as I wiped them on my jeans.
I hope I’m not late.
Chanting this prayer in my mind, I tried his number again, but it was still unreadable. I had left some voice messages for him in hopes he would switch on his phone and hear my messages. But clearly, he didn’t.
My phone blared in my hand, making my heart leap, thinking it was him. But disappointment soon filled me as Cassie’s name flashed across the screen.
“Cassie, I can’t talk to you right now. I’m a little bus—”
“Em, did you see the news?” I cringed at her loud screech. “Oh, God! It’s everywhere! I can’t even recognize his face!”
“What are you talking about?” I rubbed my temple, getting restless. I needed to stop Ace. “Look, Cassie. I’ll call you later. I’m in the middle of a—”
“It’s about Antonio! Didn’t you see it yet?”
She again cut me off. But the name she took grabbed my attention.
“Wait, Antonio?” I frowned. “What about him?”
“God, Em, what world are you living in? The internet is going crazy over this. Antonio’s butt is in the open now. Everything his stupid ass has done, all his illegal businesses is out now. It’s all over the internet. That prick is even involved with human trafficking. Can you believe that?” I could imagine her shaking her head. “He got out of the jail last time, I don’t know how, but this time no one can save him. Everyone knows his deeds. He’s going to rot in jail for the rest of his life!”
I gasped. “You mean, he’s been exposed before the world? But how?” Last time, he got out using his connection with some powerful politicians. But if the media had proof against him in their hands now, no one can save him.
“You and I both know who is behind this.”
Of course. Who else? But why didn’t he tell me anything?
“Though I hate that man, I can’t help but feel pity the way he’s looking covered in blood,” she said.
“What are you talking about?”
She sighed. “You don’t know anything, do you? I’m sending you a video. Watch it.”
Moments later, my phone buzzed as she sent me a message, at the same time the elevator’s doors opened, letting me move out.
As soon as I opened the video, my eyes widened at the sight.
Antonio was lying on a stretcher as some people carried him inside a hospital. His face was battered with bruises and cuts, the same went with his hands. Blood soaked his shirt and the side of his head. He looked horrible.
I read the headline.
‘The famous business tycoon Antonio Raymond was found beaten brutally and unconscious in his own apartment. Police are looking into the matter. Though people are content with his state with his illegal activities now out before the world.’
I stood there, shocked.
Exposing him with proof was understandable. He deserved Ace’s wrath. He had been trying to mess with Ace for so long. But torturing him like that? Was he responsible for this, too?
Even after Ace told me everything about his past, his secrets, I felt like I didn’t know everything about Antonio. He was still hiding something.
But I was content one enemy of ours was down. He couldn’t harm us anymore. And now it was Arthur’s turn.
It’s enough, Arthur. Let’s finish your game now.
Clutching my phone in my hand tightly, I held my head high and went for room number 1504.
