THE BILLIONAIRE'S CRYBABY
Chapter 48: FEEL

Chapter 48: FEEL

"What’s with you, man?" Landon asked as they stepped out.

"What are you talking about?"

"You were kinda an ass in there. Why didn’t you want your wife to know you got the ice cream for her?"

"When I told you to get ice cream, did I mention it’s for any specific person?" He hissed, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"But it was for her. We both know you bought it for her. I don’t understand you right now. Why exactly did you get married, Ace?"

"Lower your voice for fucks sake! Jeez!"

"I just want to understand it. I came back from Amsterdam, and you’re suddenly married. The press didn’t get a hint, neither did the public."

"If you would just shut up, I’d explain it when we’re in a more private place."

"Fine," he said, but it was far from fine. Something was way off. "Why’d you call me out?" He was asking when the door opened, and the pretty doctor stepped out.

His tongue tied, as he stared openly at her.

"Sorry, an emergency." She fixed them with a smile, and walked away.

"Is it the accent? The woman herself? God she’s stunning!"

"Every woman is stunning in your eyes." Ace hissed.

"Well, it’s true. They all are. That reminds me bro," his brow snapped. "Your wife is gorgeous. When I first saw her, I was like no way. Very different from Reign. She looks mystical. Ethereal. A literal goddess!"

He paused when he met Ace’s cool stare. A little too cool. Like he was planning on murdering him.

"What? I’m just saying your wife is pretty." He shrugged.

Ace took two steps towards him,and stopped. Placing a hand on his shoulders, he lowered his head. When he felt him stiffen, a wry smile danced around his eyes. "You stick to the pretty doctor and take your eyes off my wife, alright?"

"Wow, you like her that much?"

He blinked, and pulled away. "I don’t have to like her to keep weirdo’s like you away from her. Now, to more important things. What the fuck is happening?"

"Yeah, that’s what I went to find out, bro." He said, adjusting his shoulders. Ace grip had been just a little bit hard. Maybe he forgot sometimes how much more physically stronger he was.

"And did you find anything?"

"Oh I did. You were right about your Aunt feeding the news. Grant found our mole, and I took it from there. The only thing left to discuss is how to spin this whole fiasco to our favor. And also, you really need to get in touch with your family. By family, you know who I mean."

"Grandma? They said she was with aunt Celine in Fay’s room."

"Shit. So she witnessed firsthand the lies? Did she buy it."

"She was sold."

"Damn bro. What’d you do to make her switch up on you? She was always your biggest supporter."

"Life right? Anyway, the journalists, are they still hovering around? I want to go for a spin, and I will run past them if they are," he said in a warning tone.

"You’re in luck, brother. The coast is clear. But are you going to leave your wife? God knows if I had a woman like that, I’d never step out again. I’d live inside of—"

"Landon?"

"My mouth is zipped." He gestured, zipping his mouth and throwing away the keys behind him.

"You with my car keys?"

"Yep." He threw it to him, and he caught it.

"Where are we going?"

"Anywhere."

There was a back and forth of running personnel as they moved out of the private wards, and stepped into the waiting areas.

"I think there’s an emergency case?" Ace said.

"Didn’t the pretty doctor mention something like that?"

"Yeah. Yeah she did," he muttered under his breath. His jaw set in a hard line, as his forehead creased.

One look at his face, and Landon remembered why he couldn’t stay in hospitals for too long.

His daddy had been an emergency case too. By the time they arrived at the hospital, he had taken his last breath.

Ace tuned out the noise, chattering feets, clicking heels, screams, and urgency.

As the exit door opened, he stepped out, and went straight to his car. He didn’t release the breath he was holding, until he was sitting inside of the safe space, with his hand firmly around the steering.

"It’s still just as hard, ain’t it?" Landon asked in a somber voice.

"Let’s just leave."

He didn’t want to talk about it. He never wanted to talk about it. What was there to say? A thousand words wouldn’t change that day. History wouldn’t turn just because he decided to spill his gut. Nah, fuck talking, he wanted to feel.

Driving at a speed that’d normally get you pulled over, made him feel. The adrenaline rush of breaking the rules while in motion was incomparable. And who was Ace Atticus, if not a staunch rule breaker?

"You know I called Reign. Was it last night? Two nights ago? Feels like an eternity ago to be honest," he casually dropped the bomb, as he drove out of the hospital, and into the streets.

"You called her? Didn’t you two break up?"

And most importantly, wasn’t he married? But that wasn’t a question you could ask a man like Ace. Everything he did had motives, and intentions. He could cheat, and there would be a logical reason for it. That was what made him the scariest man Landon had ever encountered.

"We did," he sighed, taking the turn into the fast lane. "Fay was sick, I was in distress. Called her to the lake house."

"You slept with her?" His eyes bulged.

"Almost did. Decided against it at the last minute, but you know Reign. She wasn’t pleased one bit."

"Well, duh? She’s a crazy woman. Did I not tell you not to ever get involved with her? But not. You love a good challenge, right? Live for the danger and all of that bullshit. You know how crazy things would get if she involved her father in this mess?"

"She already has. He knows about Fay. We were at dinner when they both walked in on us. He threatened me," Ace answered a little too casually for his liking.

"And what’d you do?"

"What’d I do? I told him to fuck off, of course." His face contorted. That anyone would even ask a question like that, much less his best friend that was supposed to know the kind of man he was, came as a shock to him.

"You did what?"

"You heard me." He shrugged.

"No you didn’t. You think Reign is crazy? Her father is a monster. You of all people know that. Why wouldn’t you be more diplomatic about the situation? You usually are."

"He was fucking up dinner. We had just left an explosive dinner with my family. I was on edge. And the bastard threatened my wife, and me in our private dinner. Fuck was I supposed to do? Kiss his geriatric ass? Hell no!"

Landon chuckled incredulously. "You’re even more crazy than I remember, Ace. Perhaps the only one to ever stick it up to the King."

"He should have minded his business, then I wouldn’t have been a bother. But that’s not even what I’m most worried about."

"What else could possibly top what you’ve just told me?"

"Reign of course. She’s really mad I married a girl I just met, over her. Didn’t help that I told her I was hooking up with Fay, while I was still with her. Also didn’t help that I lured her to the lake house, and did nothing. She made a wild proclamation. I wouldn’t take it seriously if I didn’t know how much of a pest she can be."

"What’d she say?" His ears twitched with curiosity as he hung on to every word Ace said.

"She’d be a third in the relationship until I pick a side."

He laughed. "You’re serious?"

"Oh I wouldn’t be surprised if she found a way into my house with her luggage. I did give the gate guys clear instructions on who they can let in and out though."

It was a small number of people, Landon knew. He could even count them with his hands.

"So there’s the Aunt problem, and there’s Reign problem. What about the major elephant in the room? Your relationship with Fay. How’d that come about?"

"Grant found her, and I wifed her. A one year contract marriage. She’d receive a shit ton of money in return for her help."

"What?!"

"Yep. I’m going to get my inheritance in one year, Landon. If that’s grandpa’s only requirement, then I have fulfilled my part don’t you think so?"

"What if love gets into the picture? Have you thought of the complications that may arise?"

"That would never happen." He reassured.

"Why? Why are you so sure?"

"Because Fay cries a lot," he simply said, and stepped on the gas.