THE BILLIONAIRE'S CRYBABY
Chapter 154: LOVE AND HATE

Chapter 154: LOVE AND HATE

Xylon Bass was ahead, but Ace had not one worried bone in his body.

Many years ago, his father had taught him that sometimes to beat people, you had to read them.

When you have sufficient knowledge of who they were, and how they operated, then you could generate the best way to best them.

What he had done so far was study Xylon’s way of driving. And what he discovered was that the big dog was all bark and no bite.

They were nearing the finish line now and he could tell there was a big smile on Xylon’s face.

He thought he had it in the bag. Ace, just to toy with him, gave him a few more seconds to wallow in his delusions.

A few more seconds, and then he really propelled the car forward.

It all happened in a blink. One second, Xylon could already taste the victory in his tongue.

In his head, he thought of the things he could want from Ace, and what he would eventually collect.

He even sucked his teeth when he realised he had tossed aside legacies. If he knew it would be such an easy win, he would be having Ace’s company in a few seconds.

It hit him like a hammer when Ace’s car drove past him, and through the finish line.

"What the fuck!" He screamed inwardly, because he wasn’t a sore loser.

His own father had told him how to count his losses in silence. For the eventuality that there would be a way to reclaim it.

Pushing the door open, he stormed out of the car, and marched towards Ace who was leaning against his.

Ace kept his eyes on him as he approached. He looked like a tiger coming to pounce on his prey.

If it was a fight he wanted, then he could do it by himself. He was at that point where he could do with a little hit after hit on his face.

Much to his surprise, he came to an abrupt halt in front of him and stretched out his hand.

"You win. Which of my businesses do you want."

Ace eyed his hand carefully. He didn’t want to give room for any misinterpretations.

They were never going to be friends. It just wasn’t something that would happen.

Even cordiality was something he didn’t see in their future.

That was the reason he once again refused to shake his hand.

"I don’t need any of your businesses. I just want one thing."

Xylon quietly brought his hand down, hating that he had been burned a second time. Third if you were counting his loss.

The reason he hated Ace was because he did the littlest things and still managed to get under his skin.

If he didn’t hate him, he would definitely be one of his closest friends.

"What do you want? We had a deal, Ace. Don’t back out now."

Ace scoffed inaudibly. "We’re both wealthy men. Billionaires like the city magazines describe us. Except for an ego boost, I have no use of any of your businesses. Besides, I have enough work on my plate."

"Then I don’t owe you anything. The deal was to take one business if either won."

"Consider this a business then," he retorted immediately.

"And what is?"

"Fay."

Xylon’s brow lifted. "Fay. You mean the redhead? How do you know who Fay is?" He asked.

"She’s my wife. Stay away from her. I won’t repeat this request."

He pulled out of the car, and strode forward. Tossing the keys at Kelly who approached them, he walked past her, and straight into the changing room.

Xylon was too stunned to speak. The same man who was his rival in business also had the same taste in women?

Only that this time, he had beat him to her first. Just like today.

He was tired of losing to Ace. It wasn’t many losses, but any more, and it would be too much.

Fay was someone he wasn’t willing to let go. She was too special.

If Ace was asking him to step aside, it only meant there was space for him in the marriage.

"You should have asked for a business, Ace," he muttered under his breath.

Ace walked into his car, and finally let out the breath he had been holding.

He had done it. He had beaten Xylon Bass at race, and looked cool as hell doing it

He had felt every rush of adrenaline he sought. So why did he still feel this burning ache in his heart?

"Shit!" He closed his eyes, and allowed his mind to simmer down.

Too many thoughts at once were not good for the soul.

What he needed to be able to scale through this test was a clear head. A clear head, and a hardened conscience.

He opened his eyes, and started the car.

When he arrived home, somewhere deep inside him, he hoped that Fay was waiting for him

He hoped he would see her, and she would explain everything. He would tell her that he didn’t care what Reign felt, because he didn’t have any feelings for her.

He would tell her his pronouncements before was borne out of anger, and frustration. Not really because he wanted to let go of her.

But when the gates opened, and he drove into the compound, he knew she was nowhere around.

His pride overcame his reasoning, and he was back to being angry.

"Sir Ace?" Marilyn and Alice ran towards him as he stepped out of his car.

He hadn’t realised how dark the day had gotten already. Perhaps, he was too occupied with his mind to see the day slowly fade into darkness.

"We’ve been so worried about your whereabouts. We searched everywhere for you, sir Ace. Are you okay?"

He ignored them, and forged ahead, into the house.

They didn’t relent. Instead, they doubled their efforts, and followed after him.

"Sir Ace, have you heard from Fay? No one has seen her yet. She was last seen with doctor Alexander," Marilyn yapped as she ran after him.

Alice focused on the phone as texts after texts came in. Everyone from the Atticus mansion wanted to know how things were. They knew they couldn’t rely on Ace, so they didn’t call him.

He wouldn’t even answer their calls.

Ace, determined to ignore his staff and their head grating mention of that bastard, Alexander, with his hero complex, entered into the living room.

He stopped dead on his tracks when he found Reign waiting for him.

His eye moved from her frame to the luggages all around the living room.

"What’s going on here?" He turned to the same people he was trying to ignore.

"We tried to warn you, Sir Ace," Marilyn said. "She came in a while ago, and all our efforts to keep her out proved abortive."

"She came with her father and some officers. They demanded that she be let in because you’re responsible for her now," Alice took time off the series of texts to add.

"That’s right Ace," Reign drawled. "You’re responsible for me now. God I love the way that sounds!" She laughed, giddy with excitement.

"I—"

He shook his head and continued up the stairs. He just couldn’t do it.

Not tonight. Not with his head ready to explode.

He had hoped to see Fay. The universe in its usually tricky way, gave him Reign.

"Baby, where are you going?" She called after him.

He knew it was to further annoy him. There was no doubt about that. He ignored her. She was nothing to him so it wasn’t difficult to ignore her.

Entering his room, he slammed the door shut behind him. His phone rang just as he sat at the edge of his bed to take off his shoes.

His hand went into his pocket, and he pulled out his phone to switch off the device. In no mood to talk to anyone, he just wanted to be alone.

But as his eyes caught the screen, he became too curious to ignore this time around.

"What do you want?" He answered.

"It’s me, Leighton."

"I know," he replied. "What do you want?" he asked the second time.

"To tell you Fay’s whereabouts. Aren’t you curious?"

"Nope. She left with your colleague, didn’t she? Well I hope they have a happy life together."

"No! Don’t go yet. What do you think you’re doing? That’s your wife. You can’t just give up when you’re the one in the wrong. You got another woman pregnant!"

Now he regretted answering the call. He was fully aware of what he did. There was no need repeating it like he didn’t hate himself for driving to the lake house that night.

"Goodnight Leighton."

He ended the call, and switched off the device. Rising to his feet, he walked to his door, and locked it with the key.

Taking his clothes off, he tossed them all around, not a care in the world.

Stark naked, he walked into his bathroom and shut the door behind him.