THE BILLIONAIRE'S CRYBABY
Chapter 102: CONNECTING THE DOTS

Chapter 102: CONNECTING THE DOTS

Lynette rolled her head, and scoffed. "I can’t believe my eyes. Kings?" She repeated, scrunching her nose.

"Lynette," he squeezed under his breath.

"And here I thought you were too busy to be casually run into. What are you doing prancing around the City?" She asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

He held back the barrage of insults that were just at the tip of his tongue, diverting his attention to Ace instead.

Lynette had always been a talkative who loved to meddle in businesses that were not hers.

Once you learn that about the woman, you’d think twice before falling into her bait.

"I stopped by to talk to Ace. Do you think you can leave us alone?"

"Why?" She was quick to ask. "Are you planning to harass him? Because if you are, I’m telling you right now, I won’t sit and watch you carry on. Your daughter has complicated his life enough."

"And what has my daughter got to do with this? Why can’t you mind your business, Lynette?" He asked, hating how he had failed to jump pass her bait.

"I’ll–"

"That’s enough," Ace interrupted, finally expelled from the dizzy route his thoughts took when Kings entered his office. "Leave us alone, please."

"Are you sure, bro?" Landon’s gaze fizzled all over him.

"I’m sure," he nodded.

"Alright, Ace. But if this guy bothers you, don’t hesitate to call me. I know how to deal with miscreants like him." Lynette gave him a quick once-over. Rolling her eyes, she clicked her heels, linked her arms around Landon’s, and drew him alongside as she sashayed towards the exit.

"Bitch," Kings muttered under his breath as the door closed behind him.

"That’s not a nice way to describe a woman, is it?" Ace, catching the vibration of his words, queried.

"You’re in no position to tell me how to speak. My daughter told me what you did to her!" He pointed his walking cane at him..

Ace’s gaze briefly swept through the fine wooden stick. He was amongst the few that knew the cane was just a fashion accessory for Mr Kings. It also had a secret switch. Flicked, and it’ll project a sharp edge from its tip.

A perfect device for when the ruthless man wanted to deal with those that stole from him. Also those who betray him.

His daughter stood no chance, being solely raised by a man with such a twisted mind.

But he personally was over the bullshit.

"What did Reign say I did to her this time?" He took his seat, and crossed his leg, not bothering to offer Kings a chair.

Taking the initiative on his own, Kings moved over to the chair Lynette had occupied before, and sat down.

"What’s going on with you, Ace?" He asked in a less violent tone.

He had tried to understand the boy’s sudden change, but no explanation he came up with justified why he was acting this way.

They used to be a force. When he was still under his wings, Celine couldn’t do half the bullshit she had done so far to his image.

Then one day, he woke up and decided to draw a line. To date, he couldn’t understand what spurred the switch.

"I don’t understand what you’re talking about," Ace said, feigning confusion.

He did understand. Fully well too. He understood that few months ago, he had woken up and asked himself what the fuck he was doing.

At this point, he was so far up Kings ass, it was a miracle he left without suffocating to death.

All because he had dated Reign, which gave him proximity to her father’s protection.

In turn, he had offered his brain and helped him expand his businesses.

But that deal didn’t stop the man from trying to snake him.

A fact he found out, and realized in this fucked up world, it was all man for himself.

"I mean, we used to be comrades. We did everything together. Have you forgotten how good business was when we were the unstoppable duo? Celine couldn’t cross you. You were in love with my daughter? What the fuck happened, Ace?"

"I’ll love to correct a motion please," he wiggled his nose, as if he had stepped on shit. "I was never in love with Reign. Attracted to her, sure, but what we had was never love. And to answer your question, life happens. We’re humans, we outgrow things. Maybe I just outgrew you." He shrugged nonchalantly.

Kings inhaled sharply as his eyes shot daggers through the head of the cocky boy before him.

Yeah, that was exactly what he was. Cocky and arrogant. He had grown wings that rivaled the greatest of dragons. Wings that needed to be clipped because they just kept on sprouting.

"You’re playing a dangerous game, Ace. This is the third time I’ve warned you. If you know me as well as I think you do, you know there won’t be a fourth."

"I know, and I don’t give a fuck. Where do we go from here?"

King’s hands wrapped around the trigger switch of his stick. It took a fierce battle within his soul to stop him from dismantling Ace with the stick.

The boy he set up in the world, had finally become a man.

A man that had turned against him.

Rising to his feet, he smiled sinisterly. "For your sake, Ace, pray Reign is not really carrying your child." Turning around, he walked out of the room.

The door closing had Ace releasing the fist he had clenched all through King’s presence in his office.

He was too sober for the bullshit being sent his way. On the flip side, he couldn’t exactly drink.

"Damn it!" He punched his table, just as the door opened, and Landon stepped in.

"What did the bastard want?"

"Reign. Apparently, she told him about us. He threatened me."

"Pay him no mind," he hissed, walking to a secret compartment in the office. He punched in a code, and a drawer opened. Grabbing a bottle of whiskey, he closed the drawer, and stepped away. "Maybe you need something strong?"

He raised the bottle up, a smile hovering around his eyes, as he approached him.

Ace sighed. "No please. I’ve sworn off alcohol."

Landon laughed heartily. His laughter began to slowly fade off when he saw the serious scowl on Ace’s face. "You’re serious? Please tell me this is a joke."

"Nope," he shook his head, his jaw set in a determined line. "I’m serious this time. No alcohol. Look at what happened when I indulged a little."

"A little?" Landon snickered. "You almost finished a bottle whilst driving. On a serious note though, is that why you’re quitting?" He searched his face, a puzzled expression on his own face.

Except his friend had some great guilt eating him up from his insides out, he wouldn’t be quitting alcohol.

It was literally their shared vice. How could he enjoy alcohol going forward, when he knew his best friend wasn’t having any?

"I’m serious, Lan. I quit. I can’t do it anymore. It’s not worth the strain it put on—" he clamped his mouth shut.

"On what? Put a strain on what? Your relationship with Fay?" Landon asked, suddenly interested in this conversation.

This was the important thing that had Ace rethinking his stance on alcohol. It was Fay. Always Fay. Everything he did recently, seemed to be connected to her.

He could deny it as much as he wanted, but he was no fool. He sensed something there. Something happening between them, he’d rather fight than feel.

His poor friend was getting whipped, and he couldn’t nonchalant his way out of this.

"Who said anything about Fay man," he hissed. "This has nothing to do with her. It’s me. It’s all me," he said.

"Sure," Landon bobbed his head. "You quit alcohol days after you slept with another woman while your wife was fighting for her life, and I’m not supposed to question it? You’re lying to yourself, Ace. When will you admit you are?"

"Well, maybe cus I’m not? What’s the point of this stupid conversation, even? Can we talk about the fact customs is withholding our shipments, and I don’t think it has anything to do with either Reign or Celine, this time?"

"What?!" he blinked, taking the seat both Lynette and Mr Kings had occupied.

"You heard me."

"Have you started an investigation yet? What the fuck is happening?"

A knock sounded on the door, and Ace sighed in exhaustion.

"What now?" He questioned under his breath, as the door opened, and Grant stepped into the office.

"Ah, Sir Landon! You’re here too. I stopped by your office but didn’t find you," he said, a bubbly smile on his face.

He paused on his heels when his joy wasn’t being returned. "Is something wrong?" He asked in a trembling voice.

"Grant?" Ace called, making the Stuart man wince internally.

"Sir?" He answered with a bow.

Ace rolled his eyes. "I need you to investigate someone for me."

"Really?" he asked, relaxing. He had thought there was trouble for him, hence, the anxiety that rushed through his body.

"Yes, really," he snickered.

"Who are you trying to investigate, Ace?" Landon asked.

"My grandmother. I want to investigate my grandmother," he said, cursing himself for only just connecting the dots.