THE BILLIONAIRE'S CRYBABY
Chapter 121: THE CONFRONTATION

Chapter 121: THE CONFRONTATION

"I’m glad you like your gifts," Ace said, wearing a smile just for her.

She lifted her head, and stared at him wordlessly for a few seconds. She knew the game. Always had, always will.

The battle between his Aunt and him. Both fighting for what was legitimately his.

Celine’s presence had been to tilt her decision in favour of her. She knew this. Yet, Ace had said ’gifts.’

He had made sure to also honour her efforts, even if she was pretty certain Celine’s gesture was just to appear better in her eyes.

Clearing her throat, she relaxed her facial features until it spread into a smile. "No Ace, thank you."

The note had added a special touch to the fragrance. It had been a while since a gift called to her like this one had done. Whoever he sought to create that particular fragrance, it was as if they knew her more than anyone else in her life.

It was a gift she would forever cherish. Same way she would continue life wishing Ace was her son, or at least her son-in-law.

"And because I’m very grateful, I won’t waste our time doing the usual negotiation dance. Send details of your proposition to my lawyer. If the figures are within our budget and he—" as she was talking, Ace’s phone beeped.

He was going to ignore it, when it beeped again and again.

"Check that out Ace," she said.

"Thank you," he sighed with relief as he reached into his pocket and grabbed his phone.

Moving behind, he stood where he could hear Christine continue speaking, as he brought his screen to his phone.

There were notifications. Messages from a number that wasn’t part of his contact.

His first thought was Celine, but she wasn’t operating a phone. She only looked like she wouldn’t mind killing him if given a chance.

Ignoring the daggers she sent his way, he continued through the messages. At first he didn’t understand the blurry images, not until he saw a door that looked oddly familiar.

It didn’t take long after to figure out the pictures were taken from the same floor he had seen Makayla.

He was about to save whatever games those pictures played for later, when he scrolled to the next, and his heart jumped.

He couldn’t see her face, but he could damn well see her. She was buried into the arms of someone he recognized all too well.

None other than Jason. He was Zed, their longest running client in the hotel’s, son.

His breath caught against his chest, and the fist of his free hand reflexively tightened.

With a shaky thumb, he scrolled to the next picture. His heart sank when he saw them even closer. Their heads were both bent, as if they were kissing.

His eyes closed briefly, as he willed himself to remain calm.

He didn’t want to rush into conclusion and think the worst. There were too many questions to be asked. A character to be assessed. There was also his location. He had to keep remembering regardless of his closeness with the client, this was a business deal he needed to close.

Feeling less motivated than he had in a while, he shut the phone, and slid it back into his pocket.

Inwardly, Celine smiled as she discreetly observed him. She was beginning to think the pictures wouldn’t come. Judging by the brief rage she had seen in his face, they had come, and he was fuming.

There was nothing she would have loved more than to be a fly on whatever wall would witness his rage when it finally exploded.

"Ace, you’re back. Is there something more important you need to do? You can totally leave. I’m certain Landon, and Celine are more than capable of handling the rest."

He didn’t trust his voice to speak immediately, but he knew that was no excuse not to. Reminding himself once more that she was an important client, therefore, priority, he opened his mouth. "It’s nothing important. Please, go on." He urged.

She nodded. "Like I was saying, my lawyer would be in touch the second he assures me the figures are within our budget. The next response you will receive from me is a copy of my signed agreement. Maybe I’ll send it through this child. You would agree with me that she needs to be more involved with the company."

"More than I already am, mummy?" She whined.

"Money doesn’t fall from trees, daughter. You have to work hard, and smart for whatever money you get to spend on frivolous things."

"They’re not frivolous!" She protested in alarm.

As they went back and forth, Ace’s head spinned. All he could think of were the images of Fay passionately embracing another man.

The kissing part was still a doubt, but there was no doubt about the hug.

He wondered where Celine had been in all of this. If she had whisked Fay away, only to return her later, like both Grant and Landon had admitted, then she had to know something about that picture.

"I can’t do it today, mum. I’m going to see my husband to be."

His attention was drawn to the present when Makayla said those words. He watched as her mother frowned. She was intuitive enough to see that there was no love between her daughter and the moron, so he wondered what the delay was in putting a stop to that relationship.

"Why couldn’t you have married Ace or something?"

His heart lurched at that question. She had also dodged a bullet with him, he would admit. It didn’t seem like he was good at marriage, judging by the bumpy road that was the relationship between him and Fay.

"I practically threw myself to the guy, but he rejected me. Besides mummy, Ace is married."

Christine whipped her head towards him. "I heard the rumours. Is it true, Ace?" She asked.

"Yes Ace, is it true?" Celine, who had been silently nursing her wound, echoed.

He allowed his gaze to graze her a little, before swerving towards Christine. "I am. She made the fragrance too," he said, unable to stop the pride that had crept into his voice.

He didn’t mean to put Fay’s business out there, especially because she was always saying she wanted her talents to remain private. But he couldn’t help it. She was absolutely good with what she did.

"She made this?" Her brow snapped. "Wow! I want to meet her, Ace. She should make my perfume henceforth."

"Mine too, because that smells awesome!" Makayla chipped in.

"Don’t even think of it," Christine quickly warned. "This was specifically curated for me."

"Whatever mum." She rolled her eyes.

"I’ll tell her, but I doubt she will do it. She’s not really comfortable with monetizing her gift."

"Oh please, don’t force her to do what she doesn’t want to do. It’s enough for her to know she has a fan in me. Tell her I’m grateful for her gift."

Celine’s chest tightened once more. Twice she had been slammed a piece of the humble pie. None of her schemes were sticking. Silently, they were blowing up in her face.

"I think we’ve covered everything there is. I have other things to do, so I’ll be going now," she said, rising to her feet.

"I’ll see you off, mummy!" Makayla jumped in before anyone could get a word in.

"I’m sorry for her childishness, guys. I raised her like this because I had no other choice. She’s my only child."

"Mummy, stop embarrassing me!"

"Then start walking. We’ll just see ourselves out," she said to both Celine and Ace. "Thank you so much for further fostering the relationship we have. Take care of yourselves."

"I’ll call you, Ace!" Makayla said to Ace, as she followed her mother out.

"This is not right, I should see–"

"There’s a guard outside," Ace interrupted whatever Celine was going to say. "They’re going to escort them out. You and I need to talk."

Landon, who had been silent all along, took a trip to his friend’s face. Seeing the anger in his eyes, he didn’t think it was safe to leave him all alone.

Not like Ace was going to do anything crazy. At least, when it came to handling his Aunt, he seemed to be able to contain himself. But he didn’t want his friend to be alone.

"Leave us alone, Landon."

"I don’t think so bro. You don’t look like you should be left alone."

"Leave us alone, Landon," he repeated without even so much as a glance towards him.

Knowing when he wasn’t needed, he decided to leave. Swallowing his hurt, he gathered the files they had ended up not using, and walked out of the room.

"You were too harsh on him, you’d admit. His parents are also wealthy, but he chooses to be your lapdog. You should be more appreciative," she said, adorning a taunting smile.

"What did you do to Fay?" He ignored her attempt at getting a rise out of him, and went straight to the question that had been bothering him even before he received the messages.