Filed To Story: The Trap Of Ace Book PDF Free
Something flipped inside me at the emotion that flashed across his eyes.
It was unknown to me.
The more time we were spending with each other, he was opening up to me.
He showed me his emotions, his state of mind.
But I always felt there was still something I didn’t know.
Something he hid deep inside.
He held himself back every time he was around me.
As if hiding a vast part of him.
And this emotion that just washed over his eyes, it was a glimpse of that side he kept a secret from me.
I couldn’t comprehend the emotion his gaze held.
Whatever it was, it was profound enough to send a shiver down my spine.
Our gazes broke away from each other at the voice of Mr.Hakimi as he invited us to join them in the entertainment room.
And I was surprised to see they especially organized a belly dance in our honor.
Though I didn’t like those stunning beauties in their provocative dance attires, I was excited to behold the famous traditional dance.
Traditionally, their costumes weren’t that revealing, but on foreign lands, things tend to change a bit.
Because it had become one of the most popular dance practices among folks.
The dance started once we took our respective seats.
Me, of course, beside Ace, while Arthur enjoyed the show with Mr.Hakimi and others.
Between the dazzling dance and enticing Arabic music, I kept glancing at Ace from time to time to see if his eyes were watching more than the dance.
But he was too busy playing with my hair and taking a whiff every once in a while.
He didn’t even pay any attention to the show.
To my utter surprise, I didn’t mind him doing that.
I was happy he wasn’t looking at those beautiful dancers.
Even at that witch, who glared at me from afar, watching Ace’s attention on me.
An involuntary smirk tugged at my lips as my eyes locked with hers.
Her facial features only twisted more.
As soon as I realized what I was doing, I looked away and concentrated on the dance.
What’s wrong with me?
I shouldn’t be behaving like a jealous girlfriend.
But I couldn’t help it.
This ugly sensation seemed to rise its head every time some other woman whirled around him like a bee.
I wanted to hide him somewhere every time one of those bees came into my sight.
“What’s the matter, Rosebud?
You seem to have lost interest in the dance,” he asked, his voice close to my ear.
I didn’t turn to him.
“What told you that?”
“That adorable scowl on your face.
It looks like you’re planning to murder someone in a very innocent way.”
His tone was filled with amusement.
This time I did turn to him, frowning.
His face was inches away from mine.
“It’s nothing like that.
And no one can murder in an innocent way.
A murder is a murder.
And it’s always vicious.”
A deep chuckle left his lips.
Leaning in, he kissed my nose.
“My Rosebud can.”
“How?”
I asked, dumbfounded.
“With those turquoise eyes of yours.”
His voice turned husky as he pinned me with his hot gaze.
“Just like they did to the conscience of my heart and turned it into a slave of theirs.”
My heart stopped beating down my chest as I sucked in a breath.
A delicious shiver ran down my entire being.
Those stormy eyes of his engulfed me whole in their flames.
“Mr.Valencian!”
Mr.Hakimi’s voice tore his attention from me.
“Sorry for the interruption, but if you don’t mind, I’d like to have a word with you.”
The old man threw me a glance of apology.
I didn’t miss the unreadable look Arthur gave me from the other corner of the room.
His face was blank of any emotion.
“Sure, no problem.”
Ace turned to me.
“Stay here.
Don’t go anywhere.
I’ll be back in a minute, all right?”
I rolled my eyes, my wild heart still thumping under my rib cage.
“I can take care of myself.
You go.”
Still hesitating, he nodded.
“Just don’t go anywhere alone.
If you need anything, call me.”
When he was finally assured I wouldn’t go anywhere, he left with Mr.Hakimi.
But not before sending me another glance.
I let out a deep breath I didn’t know I was holding.
Grabbing my purse, I got up and asked the passing waiter where the bathroom was.
Once I was away from the hubbub, into the bathroom, I let the cool water calm my nerves.
Closing the tap, I grabbed some tissues and dabbed onto my face.
My eyes met the reflection of mine.
With every passing day, he was breaking my walls.
The boundaries I made around my heart to keep everyone away from it.
Especially him.
But I was finding them crumbling, crumbling with his presence, actions, and words.
How long could I hold myself from falling again?
“Tsk, tsk!
Look who I got here!”
TWENTY-NINE: OMINOUS
W hirling around, I came face to face with the red witch.
With arms crossed over her chest, she sized me up and down with her cat eyes.
Her nose crinkled with disgust.
“I don’t know what he saw in you.
But I have to say, you trapped him pretty well in your web.”
Biting my inner cheek, I cast the tissue into the bin and turned to her.
“And guess what?
I didn’t even have to throw myself on him like a shameless woman to trap him.
Seems like that trick got quite old now.”
Her face turned red, matching her dress, eyes flashing.
“So, you used the bed then?
Otherwise, a man like him wouldn’t even look at you if not you pleased him well.
Am I right?
Where did you take your classes to please a man like that, anyway?
He seemed so lost in you.”
My hands fisted into balls.
“From the same place you took your PhD.
I’m sure you got your answers.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go back inside.
He must be looking for me.”
Leaving her flushed with rage, I walked out of the bathroom.
Bitch!
How dare she?
Oh, how I wanted to pull her hair out of her scalp!
Fuming in anger, I passed a couple wrapped around each other, pulling at their partner’s clothes out of desperation.
Noticing me, they jumped away from the other like even the mere proximity burned them.
Their faces flamed crimson as they shuffled into their places.
Saving them from the embarrassment, I got out of the corridor as fast as I could.
Even my own cheeks grew hot at someone’s personal spectacle.
As I passed a floor-to-ceiling window, something caught my eye.
Halting, I neared the window and peeked outside.
Two figures stood there under the shadow, down in the hotel garden.
I squinted.
I… knew them.
Was that—Arthur?
When he ran his hand through his hair, the numerous rings on his fingers lustered under the moon.
It was indeed him.
Along with him was a figure of a woman, but I couldn’t make out her face properly from this far.
Who was he talking to?
The woman’s shoulders shook as she placed her hand over her mouth.
I didn’t know Arthur could crack a joke.
All I saw him do was stay emotionless and cold.
Deciding it was none of my business, I was about to go back inside when the woman stepped behind and walked away from him with her arms wrapped around her.
When the hotel’s walkway’s light fell on her face, a gasp slipped through my lips.
Sierra?
When she wiped her cheeks, I understood she wasn’t laughing, she was crying.
What was she doing here with Arthur?
As far as I knew, her presence wasn’t required here at all.
Nor was she invited.
Even the other day I saw her with him.
After that day, when I went to talk to her about it, I found out she took a week’s leave due to sickness.
And now she was here.
She didn’t look sick to me at all.
She looked exhausted, though.
Strange.
What was going on between them?
I needed to talk to her.
Something was wrong, I could feel it.
I watched her as she rushed into the parking lot and then got into her car before driving away.
When I looked back at Arthur, who still stood there, his gaze was already set on me.
My breath caught in my throat.
His dark, blank eyes sent an ominous shiver down my spine.
But I didn’t let it show on my face as I held his gaze with my chin high.
A small smirk tugged at the edge of his lips.
As if… mocking me.
Shoving his hands into his pockets, he turned around and left.
What was it about this man that always unnerved me?