THE BILLIONAIRE'S CRYBABY
Chapter 136: UNSETTLING

Chapter 136: UNSETTLING

Ace escorted his mother towards the lobby. He had escaped the curious glances of people walking across the hallways because there had not been anyone walking across the hallway.

However, he knew he couldn’t escape the plethora of people in the lobby.

The second they saw his mother’s hands in his, their faces lit up, and the salutations ensued.

"He’s so hot!"

"Ma’am Gabrielle too!" Were the loudest he heard as they walked out of the door.

Gabrielle couldn’t help but release the chuckle she had been holding onto. "Do you realise all your staff have a crush on you?"

"You’re the one they consider hot, and want to find a man for," he replied, his frown deepening.

She laughed again. "I can’t believe you let Lynette get under your skin. She was clearly kidding. Besides, I have no interest in any man. My love died the day your father died."

"That’s not true," he said.

Her head shot up, as she searched his face. "What do you mean?"

"You’re the one person I know with the biggest heart. You welcomed Fay, and also Sophie. I think you have more than enough love to give."

"I understand what you’re trying to say, but I was talking about the love between a man and a woman," she said after a brief pause.

"Why can’t you love another man? Dad has been dead for a while now. They were not lying when they said you’re still young. If you’re worried I would be upset, don’t be. I think you should find someone to love for the rest of your life."

She came to an abrupt stop just beside her car. "Why are you saying this to me, Ace? Did something happen?" She asked in a panicking voice.

"What?" He asked, his face contorted with confusion. "There’s nothing wrong. I just don’t want you thinking you need to be alone to prove a point, especially to Celine. I would in fact be very mad if I discovered the reason you’re not putting yourself out there, is so as not to be judged by her."

"Don’t say that, Ace. Let’s just end this conversation. I don’t want to get upset," she said.

As she reached for her door, he was already ahead of her.

"Why didn’t you ask a driver to bring you here? I don’t like you driving around by yourself," he said as he opened the door for her.

He had touched a sensitive spot without meaning to, and now she wanted to avoid the topic. He understood her. As long as he had made it clear that if she decided to date again, he would support her against all odds.

"It’s been a while since I drove myself around," she smiled. "I needed to remember what it feels like."

"But I need you to be careful. Promise?"

She smiled at him, and stroked his cheeks. "My darling boy. You pretend to be cold, but there’s no one I know with a kinder heart. Do me a favour and practise what you preach? Open this heart of yours, and love with all of it. Life is too short, my son."

She let him go, and rolled her windows up. He was taken aback by her words as she drove away.

There had to be some sort of cryptic meaning behind her words.

If Celine had said the same thing, he would have been forced to believe she had something up her sleeve.

But even as suspicious as he was that his beloved mother had a double meaning, he had no proof to back up that suspicion.

Taking a deep breath, he returned to the company.

The door to the lobby opened up, and his eyes subconsciously went to the screen ahead.

It usually showed financial reports of countries they did business with, but this time it was on a news channel.

He was going to avert his gaze, and focus on the road ahead, when his eyes caught a headline.

There was no sound on the screen, but he didn’t need a sound to recognize one of his biggest rivals; Xylon Bass.

As much as he was in the news, his rival also graced it at the same speed.

He slowed his steps so he could see what he was in the news for this time around.

But when the pictures started to roll in, his heart skipped a beat.

The headline read, "mystery woman spotted beside Xylon Bass?"

He was starting to feel his staff gaze on him, so he continued walking. But that was not the only reason.

He had seen something that caught his attention, and if he didn’t get to the end of it, he could lose his mind.

Hurrying into his elevator, he held his breath as it carried him up to his office floor.

When he stepped out of the elevator, he walked straight to Grant’s office.

He pushed the door open, and stepped in without knocking.

"Sir Ace?" The Stuart man who had been playing solitaire games on his system jumped to his feet at the sudden, unannounced entrance.

Ace, ignoring his shock, walked straight to his couch directly facing the screen in his office, and turned it on.

Thankfully, the news was still on. The headlines still read as it had read in the lobby..

There the mystery lady was. Her face was covered, but that hair could not be missed. There was only one person that had that kind of hair.

Even if he wanted to call it a coincidence, she was standing beside a car he would recognize anywhere.

"Is that, Mrs Fay?" Grant gasped.

"Shut up, Grant!" He said on edge.

It was one thing to be worried about Alexander and his feelings for Fay. Xylon was a different ball game.

He was a man whore with a mouth carved from saccharine. Even as a rival, he respected him.

What could possibly have brought the two together? He wondered, grinding his jaw.

His feet began to tap loudly against the floor as he watched the image from a different angle.

Cam came into the picture. His face didn’t show of course, but Ace could still recognize his frame.

"That’s Ca—" Grant’s voice faded when he remembered he had been asked to shut up.

Ace sprang to his feet, and turned to the man. "Two things I want you to do for me. First, find out what Celine is up to. I know she has something up her sleeve. Second, find out what Xylon Bass is doing with my wife. Prioritise the latter."

"Yes sir!"

He started to walk out of the room when a thought struck his mind. As he closed the door behind him, he reached into his pockets, but didn’t feel his phone.

"Shit!" He cursed, remembering he had left the device in his office.

With how crowded the room was, he wouldn’t be able to carry out his plans.

But as he walked forward, a different thought crossed his mind. Maybe it was good he didn’t have his phone. If he did, he would have dialled Cam to ask him what they were doing with Xylon.

And if he did that, Fay would hear. He didn’t want her to misinterpret his curiosity as controlling or monitoring her movements.

He bawled his fist and his teeth clattered. Stopping by the wall beside his door, he rested his head on it for a few seconds.

It would take a while to control the sudden rage he felt at the thought of Fay being around Xylon. Situations like these reminded him just how gorgeous she was.

He knew it, and a billion more men did too. Add her innocence, and predatory men would want to clinch her.

Death first before he would allow any of them touch her. She didn’t belong to anyone else but him.

He did a little breathing exercise, and then straightened himself. His hand went to the door, and pushed it open.

"You finally returned," Lynette said. She was holding a glass in her hand.

A trip with his eyes to the table showed him the bottle she had poured from. He did make a promise before, but it was one he was about to break.

Strutting forward, he grabbed the glass out of her hands, threw his head back, and dawned it in one go.

"What the hell happened, man?" Landon asked in shock.

He had noticed Ace was purposely staying away from alcohol. He also noticed it began after the situation with Reign. Seeing him drink again meant something horrible occurred.

"Why are you asking a grown man why he is drinking?" Makayla chortled.

"I mean, he should be asking why he grabbed my drink like that when he could have just poured himself a glass," Lynette added.

"Ace, are you—"

"I’m fine okay!" He screamed. "I’m fine," he repeated, and began to pace.

The trio exchanged glances, and instantly knew time was up.

"Okay, I think that’s my cue to leave," Makayla said, rising to her feet.

"Right behind you my darling." Lynette gathered her things, and tossed them into her back.

Few seconds later, the duo said goodbye, but Landon remained.

"Are you ready to talk now?" He asked when the door closed.

"It’s Fay," he said, his face contorted with pain.