Chapter Three

Ace’s POV

I woke up with a very bad headache.

I felt a sharp and heavy pain, right behind my eyes as I tried to open them and then I felt warmth beside me which made me open my eyes slowly.

White ceiling, soft light, and a faint smell of lavender. This is definitely not my room.

I turned my head and saw her lying next to me. I froze, holding my breath without meaning to.

Her brown hair spread across the pillow, dark and smooth, her long lashes rested on her cheeks, and her lips were slightly parted, soft and pink. For someone who had spent all night drinking and dancing, she looked way too calm.

I didn’t know her name but I remembered her. 

The club, the noise, the anger in her eyes, and the way she laughed like she didn’t care about anything else in the world but herself.

She was beautiful in a quiet way, not loud or trying, just real. 

My head throbbed harder, making me close my eyes for a moment, and just like that, the memories came rushing in.

*Flashback*

I was standing in his office again. 

“This is not a request, Ace,” my father's voice echoed.

“It’s an order.” 

I stared blankly at the thick papers on the table and stared back at my father. “I will not sign,” I said calmly.

He laughed, deep and cold.

“You’ll marry her.” He continued. “If you want to secure your position in this company, you must marry her.” He said calmly.

“This alliance would be good for us… for you.” “Sign the papers boy.” He said.

“You didn’t even ask me.”

“I don’t need your feelings boy, just your signature. Sign them now.” 

I wanted to tear the papers up and walk away, but I didn’t. I knew what that would mean for me. I knew my father, Michael Garren. He never cared about me. 

I was a tool, just another one of the assets he used to expand his wealth. He knew I would do whatever he asked, I always did.

I picked up the pen, and my hands shook as I signed my name.

Ace Garren.

My phone buzzed in my hand in my memory.

The message came through while I was standing alone, looking at my phone like it might burst.

“Engagement announcement tonight”. Mr. Gerald confirmed.

 I read it twice. Then again. My fingers tightened around the phone.

Engaged.

 So it was done. No sign. No talk. No choice.

 Marriage is power.

Control is safety.

 That was the rule my father drilled into me. Then why did my chest feel tight? Why did my pulse jump like I was cornered?

 I imagined her. Mila Gerald. I’d never seen her picture. Her father shielded her from the media like a virus. But she was a pawn.

 Just like me.

 I closed my eyes.

 This is fine, I told myself even though I felt empty. This is important.

Then a thought slipped in, unwanted and sharp. I grabbed my jacket and went to the club.

*Flashback ends*

The sound of my phone ringing snapped me back to the present. 

I opened my eyes quickly once I heard my work ringtone.

I glanced at the woman beside me one more time. She was still asleep. For a second I thought about waking her but discarded the thought immediately. 

I carefully slipped out of bed quietly so I wouldn’t wake her. I grabbed my phone from the nightstand and stepped out of the room, closing the door behind me quietly.

I walked far down the hallway and answered the call.

“Yes,” I said, my voice rough.

“Ace,” Stella said. “Where have you been I’ve been trying to reach you for hours”

“What do you want Stella?” I asked sternly.

She sighed. “The board meeting has been moved up. Your father wants you there in an hour. Do you know what this is about?”

“Why not ask him yourself?” I replied sharply. “I’ll be there.”

“I heard something about a marriage contract—“

I cut the call before she could finish that statement.

I let out a deep sigh. I stood in the hallway for a moment, phone still in my hand. My chest felt heavy and my head throbbed harder this time. 

I walked back to the room and opened the door.

It was empty. I looked around the room quickly. The sheets were messy and the bed was still warm but she was gone.

There was no sign of her, no bag, no shoe, no note, nothing. Like she was never there.

I rubbed my face and let out a deep breath. This was not how I expected this to go.

My phone vibrated in my hand disrupting the silence.

Stella.

“What does she want this time,” I said, letting out a deep sigh. I considered ignoring it but I knew she wouldn’t stop calling until she got answers.

“What?” I said the moment I answered the call.

“Don’t do that again Ace,” she said sternly.

“Stella, I’m really not in the mood for this right now,” I replied.

“Is it because of the engagement?” She asked. “I’ve been hearing whispers about a marriage contract your dad set up.” 

“Which is insane because he didn’t mention it to me and neither did you,” she continued. “You always tell me everything. Is this true?”

“I think my father is in a better position to answer this don’t you think?” I said.

I could picture her sitting on her desk, hands tightly wrapped around the phone with sharp eyes.

“Ace.. is this true?” She asked again.

I closed my eyes. Stella has been there through it all. When I got kidnapped and my mom died trying to protect me from the kidnappers, she offered a shoulder I could lean on.

She made sure I ate, even stood up to my father a few times when he acted like he didn’t care about my mother’s death.

I let out a deep breath.

“Yes, it’s true.”

For a moment there was silence, heavy and cold.

“Who is she?” She asked coldly.

“That doesn’t matter,” I answered.

“It matters to me Ace,” She said. “I can’t believe you accepted this engagement,” she continued.

“You of all people should know I don’t have a say in these matters,” I replied.

“Look, I have to get ready for the board meeting. If you have any questions about this, ask my father. This would be the last time I would talk about this with you.” I tried to hang up but her voice came ringing out.

“You always do this,” she replied bitterly. “You keep shutting me out, your father is using you again and you’re letting him…” 

I hung up again.

I didn’t expect her to understand. I looked around the room once more and let out a deep sigh, nothing about this was going to be easy.