THE BILLIONAIRE'S CRYBABY
Chapter 88: FAY’S FEAR

Chapter 88: FAY’S FEAR

Fay took a step out of the room, the same time Ace walked into the room. They almost bumped into each other.

Fay jerked behind the second she laid eyes on him. Internally, she began to shudder, but externally , she struggled to keep her composure.

"Fay, how are you doing?" He asked, not initially taking note of her knee jerk reaction to his presence.

"I’m fi-ne."

"Good, because I’ve come to take you back home."

Home? She echoed in her head. What was home? How could he casually speak about home?

"I think she needs to decide that," Alexander said, coming into the room.

"I wholeheartedly agree. You cannot badge into my house, and then force my guest to leave just because you think you can," Leighton added, coming into the room as well.

Fay’s nervous glance darted between the two. She appreciated their concern over her, but it wasn’t worth the drama.

They didn’t know the whole truth, so they wouldn’t understand that even if she didn’t want to go with him, she had no choice.

"And who’s going to stop me?" He questioned in an amused tone.

Alexander stepped forward. "The nerve of you, Ace. Your wife was found in the most critical of conditions. I already explained it to you this morning. The least you could do is be grateful to the people that rescued her. Instead, you used your power and influence to get our address from the chief- I can bet my life on that. Then you come into my house thinking you run things here? You may be king of your empire, but in this place, we behave like normal people."

Ace amusement did not lift. Instead, it grew, wrinkling his brows in the process.

Somewhere deep within him that cared, he understood what they were saying. But the part of him that actually did not give a fuck, which also happened to be the driving force of his presence in their home, found their outrage humorous.

"Let’s go Fay," he said, facing her instead.

"Fay, do you want to go home? You don’t have to if you’re not ready to leave. I should have listened to Xan. I see what he saw," Leighton said.

This time, Ace was actually curious to know what she could see. If he had to take a wild guess, it would be how mean and controlling he was.

The assessment would be fair enough. He never said he wasn’t any of these things. What he did think was that none of their thoughts mattered at the moment.

His head simply wouldn’t be at peace until Fay was seated in his car, on their way home. She was the only one he owed an explanation.

"Yes. I want to go home," she said, straightening her shoulders that threatened to slouch.

She didn’t want to garner their pity. After all, she was reaping the consequences of her impulses.

"You heard that? She wants to come with me. I appreciate your kindness in saving my wife, and for that, you’ll be heavily compensated," Ace said cheerfully.

Alexander scoffed. "We’re not goods. You can’t buy us."

Fay knew he meant that in good faith, but she caught a stray nonetheless. She had never felt more exposed. Afraid that if anyone so much as took a glance at her, they would see she was a bought commodity.

Ace felt how uncomfortable she was at the direction the conversation was gearing towards. Stepping in, he decided to switch gears.

"I’m not trying to buy anyone. Call it an exchange if you may. You saved my wife, and I’m paying you for it. Why’s that such a bad thing?"

"It’s a terrible thing because we’re not beggars, neither are we paupers. We can afford to save a life on our own terms, and still comfortably feed. Besides, I will never put a price on the life of a dear friend I saved. But it’s not totally your fault. Your wealth had blinded your morality," Leighton said, wrinkling her nose in absolute disgust.

She had defended Ace. Even now, she didn’t consider him a woman beater. What he was could be considered worse.

A manipulative man, whose money was large enough to get him whatever he wanted. A shame, because she genuinely thought Fay was great with him.

Her eyes were opened now, and she wished she could do the same for her friend.

She saw the fear in her eyes, despite how well she disguised it. But also beneath that fear was desire. The story wasn’t clear yet. Unfortunately, she hadn’t gotten the time to fully reconnect with Fay, and catch up on lost times.

However, with the little she could see, her deduction was that her dearest friend had entered into a trap that would be pretty difficult to get out of.

"Never called anyone any names, but by all means, think whatever you want to. It’s not my prerogative to convince you otherwise about any preconceived notion you have of me. Fay?" He called again.

Fay took a deep breath and stepped forward. Judging by the looks on their faces, they couldn’t fathom how Ace could be so unapologetically audacious.

It was a character trait she had begun to see run in his family. Didn’t his grandmother ask her to basically help her son get his full inheritance?

She didn’t understand why they were the way they were, and why would she? She wasn’t a billionaire, so simply couldn’t relate.

Easily sidestepping Ace, she walked over to Leighton. "Can I hug you?" She asked.

"Oh darling, no need to ask," the latter said, pulling into her body for a gripping hug.

"Are you sure you’ll be fine?" She asked as they hugged.

"I will. I promise," she replied, as they separated. "The dress," she looked down at her body. "Should I change back to mine?"

"It was pretty soaked. We took it for laundry. Do you mind me sending it to you when it’s ready?" Leighton asked.

"That’s not an issue, but can I really wear this?"

"You can, right Xan? It belongs to him."

Ace’s hand reflexively formed a fist. It was not enough that the English doctor had found her, she was also putting on his hoodie and sweats.

He wanted to rip it off and burn it to the ground. It was a shocking desire, but unfortunately, he didn’t have the zeal to investigate why he felt that way. Instead, he focused on how good that thought made him feel.

"Can I?" She asked, stepping away from Leighton and going towards Alexander.

Ace held his breath as he watched her communicate with him. He would have very much preferred they left without all the sentimentals.

He didn’t want the doctor to think he stood a chance, because he simply didn’t. Not now, and certainly not when they eventually split.

"Of course you can. I’m more worried about your health. We didn’t get the chance to run those tests. Eye tests show you’re alright, but we can’t fully judge based on that."

"I feel fine, truly," she said. She didn’t know who she was trying to convince.

She could barely feel her feelings. Everything happening was so overwhelming and underwhelming at the same time. She just wished the day could be over.

"Still, if you feel any pain, don’t hesitate to come to the hospital, alright?"

"Sure," she said. With a smile, she pulled into him for a hug.

Ace’s heart skipped a beat, and Leighton’s skipped two.

Somehow, her gaze trailed towards him, catching the moment his fist that was letting loose, tightened again.

She was having a difficult time herself watching them hug, but his reaction made it worthwhile.

The billionaire was definitely not oblivious of the doctor’s feelings, and it was great to observe.

"Take care Fay," he said, drinking in her scent as they pulled apart.

"Can we leave now?" Ace asked impatiently.

"See you." She waved, and quickly hastened her steps out of the room. She didn’t want them to see her lips quiver as she fought back tears.

She made it into the car a good two minutes before Ace arrived.

As he slid into the car, she felt torn. Glad he had come to pick her up himself and not send just anyone.

Scared of what was going to happen when they arrived home.

She had seen his mind, and now she was scared about the consequences.

"Hey, are you really okay?"

She didn’t answer immediately, because she was tired of lying.

No she wasn’t okay. How could she be? But what was her stating it going to change? Absolutely nothing.

When it was clear to him that she wasn’t going to respond to his question, he started the car and drove out of the compound.

"Do you want me to stop by a restaurant?" He looked down at her feet, and relief waged through him as he found her wearing some slides.

"No," she said in a barely audible voice.

"What’s that?" He asked, reaching out his hand to pull her seat belt around her.

She flinched, and visibly shivered.

Ace’s hand paused halfway, as his head turned from the road to her face. The fear he saw in her eyes made his eyes widen with both curiosity, and worry.

"What have I done?" He questioned in his head, as his heart thumped.