THE BILLIONAIRE'S CRYBABY
Chapter 192: CONFLICTED

Chapter 192: CONFLICTED

"Bass? You don’t mean that right?" Landon questioned Fay.

"Are you policing my choice?" She replied.

"Not at all. I just thought Spades was the obvious choice, seeing it’s a financial institution. You do know this is about finance right?"

"Again Mr Landon, are you policing my decision, or questioning my intelligence in making that decision? It would be easier to just say so."

"No, what I meant was—"

Ace’s hand covered Landon’s before he could explain any further.

"Don’t sweat it. She has made her decision. Congrats Xylon."

"Thanks Atticus," Xylon replied.

"I guess that settles it then. This meeting is adjourned to our next date," the governor said.

Fay’s heart pounded in her chest with every passing second.

The high from snatching something she could tell Ace desperately wanted, had worn off quickly.

She was left with this sinking feeling. Questioning if she had made the right decision.

The governor had trusted her judgement, seeing the work she did at Luxe in just one week.

But that good judgement had not been present during her selection.

In truth, she had picked Bass out of spite. If she had gone with the most qualified, it would definitely have been Spades.

"It’s so good to see you again," she heard Xylon say.

She raised her head to look at him. "You didn’t change much," she said, stepping out of her head for a while.

"But you changed a lot. When I saw you in the news, I couldn’t believe what I heard, and saw. When you called me, I was over the moon. For four years, I’ve searched everywhere for you, Fay. How did all of this happen?"

As Ace gathered his document’s into his briefcase, he couldn’t help but to eavesdrop on their conversation.

He would admit Xylon was a smooth talker. And with how comfortable Fay was listening to what he had to say, she was loving the attention.

She had changed so much. It had finally dawned on him how much she hated him.

Perhaps, she thought she deserved to avenge the brutal way he had uprooted her from his life.

Whilst he agreed it was brutal, it had also been necessary. Except she was just evil, surely she could see why he did that to her.

She was going to syphon his inheritance. Was he supposed to have stood back and watched her have her way?

"Let’s talk over drinks?" He heard her say.

With every word that came out of her mouth, he grew even more surprised by her.

She was inviting a man out for drinks. Same Fay that would usually squirm when he was anywhere close to her.

An Oscar wouldn’t be enough of an award for the kind of actress she was.

He felt almost betrayed to have almost fallen for her..

"Are you okay?" Landon asked beside him. "I know you wanted this because—"

"That’s enough, Lan. Let’s just go."

He moved to pick up his briefcase, but Landon was way ahead of him.

"Allow me," he said.

"Thank you."

He was moving towards the door, when the governor called him back.

"Ace? Please come over for a few seconds."

He turned around, and Fay averted her gaze.

Her heart did a double flip. He had almost caught her staring.

She didn’t want him to have any notion she felt even the slightest pity for him.

"Focus, Fay." She admonished herself in her head.

"Would that be me picking you up from your house?"

"Nope. I’ll meet you wherever you choose," she replied.

"Are you sure you don’t want to pick out a place? You do realise you’re giving me absolute power, right?"

She forced a smile. "I’ll go with whatever choice you make, Xylon."

Ace’s heart leaped at that response. There was definitely something brewing between the two.

Good for her. She had found her next victim. He only wondered how long until everyone that had fallen for her trap, figured out she was nothing more than a manipulative leech.

"Have you seen your Aunt off recently, Ace?" The governor took his attention.

"No, why?" He scrunched his face.

"I haven’t either. It’s like she’s disappeared from the earth in the last month. She said she was finally going to sign the divorce papers. It’s been four years, and I’m still waiting," David sighed.

Ace observed him pitifully. He was getting grey’s faster than it took for light to travel. It was an absolute miracle he had won the elections with such a scandalous marital life.

He wished he could help hasten the divorce. But he was also glad he hadn’t dealt with Celine in four years.

She didn’t even think to bother him. It was a miracle he hoped would be continuously replicated.

"I’m so sorry you have to be a victim of my aunt’s unkindness. Have you talked to your kids? Maybe they know about her whereabouts."

"Nara is so busy with an internship in the hospital, I can barely get a hold of her. I doubt she knows her mother’s whereabouts. As for Neil, he still holds a grudge against me for the family falling apart. He doesn’t want to see me."

Ace wore a thoughtful look for a few seconds, before opening his mouth again.

"Should I talk to Neil? I know he’s a lone ranger but he doesn’t mind me talking to him," he suggested.

"You’d really do that for me?"

Ace huffed. "You’re family, despite the circumstances."

"Thanks man."

He stretched out his hand, and Ace shook it firmly.

"I see you’re having a heart to heart with your brother-in-law, Mr governor," Xylon, who had risen to his feet to escort Fay to her car, said.

The governor smiled. "You never change, Xylon. I’m glad you get along with Miss Fay though. You two would need to be in sync so our plans will run smoothly."

"We get along really well. I’ve had a crush on her for the longest. But she was a taken woman then. I’m just glad she’s free now. But I promise, governor. Business first, before pleasure."

"That’s how it should be!" The governor laughed, and fist bumped him.

"You were once married?" Diane, the woman who Fay had come to realise was the governor’s woman, asked her.

The room suddenly grew quiet and awkward.

"You didn’t know?" The woman who sat beside Fay in the meeting, jumped in. "For an ex beauty queen, you don’t keep up with the internet."

"No, I don’t. I haven’t involved myself with internet gossip for a while. Keeps one sane," she laughed.

"That explains why you don’t know she’s the governor’s in-law’s ex-wife," she said, as if Fay was not standing right next to her.

"Hey, Clarissa, why are you such a gossip?" Xylon scolded her.

"What? I’m just impressed they’re able to be this cordial, despite how messy their fallout was. I still have magazines from that night at the Atticus mansion." She shuddered, and hugged her body.

Diane’s eyes went to Fay. If she knew what the backstory was, she wouldn’t have brought up the topic in the first place. She felt like crap. Like she had purposely instigated this whole thing.

"You need to find a zip for that mouth of yours."

"She doesn’t need to. It’s not like I’m ashamed of my past," Fay blurted, drawing everyone’s attention. "It’s true, Diane. I can call you, Diane right?"

"Please do." She nodded enthusiastically.

"It’s true that Ace and I were once married. But that’s all in the past now. I’m confident to say we’ve both moved on. Henceforth, I hope things are not awkward."

"I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean to—"

"You don’t need to apologise for anything. Like I said, I’m not ashamed of my past."

Ace scoffed. He couldn’t believe her arrogance. She should be ashamed. She should bury her head in total shame and embarrassment.

How dare her continue like her past didn’t matter? He couldn’t fathom how she was this comfortable when the gossip about her being a golddigger had resurfaced. It made him absolutely livid!

"Do you have something to say to me, Mr Atticus?" She turned her gaze to him.

"Enjoy the rest of your day, everyone."

He turned around, and strode out of the room.

Clarissa snorted after him. "How’s he so arrogant, but manages to make it sexy? If it wasn’t for Reign, I’d be shooting my shot."

"Risa!" Diane was cautioning when Fay charged forward..

She couldn’t just allow Ace to have the last word.

He had looked at her like she was filth, and she just couldn’t let that pass.

Spotting him on time, she approached him before he could get into his car.

"Who do you think you are to scoff at me, Ace Atticus?"

He turned, and came face to face with her.

"Do I need to answer your question?" He asked, getting over his initial shock.

"Damn right, you do!"

"Well, I don’t plan to. You made your choice, and now I’ll make mine."

He entered the car, and urged Landon to drive away, leaving Fay boiling with anger.