I need you to love me, p.13
I Need You To Love Me, page 13
Once everyone takes their spots at the altar, the bride walks down the aisle. She’s stunning. Her white dress is fitted at the top with floral details, and the bottom of the dress flows behind her. Her mousy hair has been left mostly down, only the sides swept back and pinned with clips of pink and silver. I watch the groom’s expression when his eyes land on the bride, and he wipes at his cheeks as if there are tears there.
After the ceremony, we head inside for the reception. The centerpieces have candles and a bouquet of white and pink roses. Each table has assigned seating, and it’s no surprise Ace is at the same table as us. I bet it was his doing.
There are speeches from their close family and friends, followed by laughter and tears. Finally, the bride and groom share their first dance while everyone watches them. They glide across the dance floor, focused solely on each other. From where I’m positioned, I notice the groom whispering to the bride, and she tilts her head back and laughs wholeheartedly. When the song ends, another one begins, and other guests make their way to the dance floor.
Nik stands and extends his hand to me. “May I?”
I’m surprised by the gesture. I didn’t take Nik for a dancer. “You may.” I take his hand and let him lead me onto the dance floor, where other couples are now gathering.
“This is a beautiful wedding,” I comment as his hands park on my waist, and I put my own on his broad shoulders.
“My first one.”
“You’ve never been to a wedding before?”
“You say that like it’s a crime.”
I lift my eyebrows as if to say it is. “Is it because you’ve never been invited to any, or for other reasons?”
He considers my question, running his tongue over his bottom lip. “You’re asking me if I believe in marriage?”
I nod.
“I believe that it’s a meaningless concept, and tradition is the only reason many people do it. But I’m not opposed to it with the right person, especially if it’s important to them.”
“I think we have similar views on it. If I find someone I want to spend the rest of my life with, I would like to commit in every way possible.”
“Are your parents married?” Nik questions.
Nik and I haven’t talked much about our families, or anything for that matter. Come to think of it, we barely know anything about each other. “My mom died six years ago. My dad never remarried.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Are yours married?” I ask, not wanting to talk about myself.
He shakes his head. “My parents aren’t together. My mother died when I was ten.”
My eyes widen, surprised at how many similarities we share. “I’m sorry.”
The song finishes, and another one starts. There seem to be more people on the dance floor now, swaying from side to side, enjoying the moment. The ceiling is covered with lights shaped like hanging icicles that change from pink to silver.
I feel a hand on my shoulder and instantly know it’s Ace. “I can take it from here.” His tone is full of male arrogance.
I turn to glare at him. Shouldn’t he be dancing with his fiancée?
Nik goes to say something, but I beat him to it. “I don’t think so.”
Ace narrows his eyes, and I gather he’s not willing to take no for an answer. “I insist.”
“She said no.” Nik comes to my aid.
Ace takes a step closer toward him in a challenging manner. Nik doesn’t back down. Two alpha males are not a good combination, and I’m not about to let them ruin a wedding.
I sigh and lay a hand on Nik’s chest. “One dance, Ace.” Nik looks to me as if asking if I’m sure, and I nod in response.
Ace situates his hands on my waist, a little lower than necessary. I grab them and move them higher. He smirks condescendingly, and I narrow my eyes.
“Anything you want to tell me?” I prompt him when we begin to sway from side to side.
He furrows his brows like he has no idea what I’m talking about. “Why don’t you enlighten me on what I’ve done. Something has obviously got you in a mood.”
“A mood?” I scoff and look back to our table where Cassidy sits. Something about this situation doesn’t seem right.
Ace follows my gaze, and his mouth curves up at the sides. “Are you jealous, love? Is this what it’s about?”
My toes curl at the endearment. “I could ask you the same since you’re the one who interrupted.”
“Seeing you with other men does more than make me jealous, Calla. At least I can admit it.”
“Other men, or just Nik?” I counter, trying to squeeze any information out of him that I can.
“I told you to stay away from him.”
“And I told you you have no right to tell me who to see, especially when you’re…” I trail off.
“When I’m what?”
He’s clueless, and the more I think about it, the less plausible it seems they are engaged. So many things don’t add up. I recall Ace telling me about his father, and how he cheated on Ace’s mother with many other women during their marriage. Ace hated him for it. He wouldn’t do the same, would he?
“When I’m what, Calla?” he repeats the question, leaning closer toward me, letting the warmness of his breath caress my mouth, clouding my thoughts.
“I need to use the bathroom.” I withdraw from his grip and walk toward the back corner, but instead of going into the bathroom, I veer to the right and slip outside, onto the deck. I need a moment to gather my thoughts.
No one else is out here, so I lean on the wooden railing and stare out at the scenic view. The clipped grass in front of me is like a blanket of greenery, suffocating the ground. In the distance and toward my left is the lake I saw on arrival, reflecting in the sun like a splinter of glass. It’s truly a breathtaking venue.
I hear the door open behind me, and the clack of heels on timber. I turn to find Cassidy approaching me. Did she follow me, or is this purely a coincidence? It can’t be, she saw me walk past her. She leans on the railing, and retrieves a compact mirror followed by lipstick from her purse. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice her gaze sweep over me.
There’s no denying that Cassidy is stunning. I’d be lying to myself if I thought otherwise. From her plump lips, to her flawless skin, and her vivid blue eyes, she looks like she’s been airbrushed on the front cover of a magazine. How can anyone compete with that? She and Ace make a dazzling couple.
She looks me up and down in a disapproving manner. “You slept with him, and now you’re attached just like all the previous women.”
My eyes widen at her bluntness, and I wonder how she even got that concept in her mind. I open my mouth to speak, but she continues.
“Such a shame.” She sighs, capping her lipstick. “A friendly warning—he’ll be done with you shortly. No one lasts more than a couple of weeks.”
The last thing I expected from her was an ambush. However, if she’s engaged to him, then she has every right. But I’ve been studying them all day, and I don’t think that’s the case. They don’t appear like an engaged couple.
“Are you speaking from personal experience?” I ask, keeping my face neutral.
She laughs. “Darling, I’ve been the only constant thing in his life for the last two years.”
Two years?
“But don’t worry, the ring is not from him, if that’s what you’re wondering,” she says sweetly, lifting her hand to examine the extravagant diamond on her finger. “I have better things to do than to pine for men that don’t have feelings. But the connection that Ace and I share goes beyond any jewelry or sentimental thing.”
Cassidy leaves me more confused than I was before. If the ring isn’t from Ace, then what sort of relationship do they have? I return to the table, questioning everything I know.
“I’ve passed your number on to my friend from The Times. He said he’ll give you a call next week to arrange a time to meet,” Nik says.
“Thank you, Nik.” I place my hand on his shoulder to show him I appreciate the effort. He had no obligation to do this, especially considering our relationship is based exclusively on the physical aspect.
“It’s nothing. If you ever need anything else, let me know.”
The wedding doesn’t conclude till late, and after hours of mingling with everyone, including the newlyweds, I’m ready for bed.
“I can take her,” Ace says when Nik offers me his hand, ready to leave. “Since we’re going back to the same place anyway,” he adds.
Cassidy shoots Ace a look. “I thought you were taking me home.”
Ace shrugs. “I’ll get Denzel to drive you.”
On the drive back to the apartment in Ace’s Lamborghini, both of us are quiet. Ace reaches out and links my hand in his. I look at him, but he keeps his eyes on the road. I’m too tired to say anything or pull away, so I just let it be. It’s nice. His warmth radiates through me, and I tilt my head back against the seat and close my eyes.
We seem to be slowly crossing lines into dangerous territory. What will happen once the two weeks are over?
“Why do you have a driver?” I question, not knowing if it’s just a regular service one gets when they have enough money.
“I prefer not to drive a car, and the bike isn’t an appropriate option at times.”
I nod in understanding.
Ace’s phone rings back at the apartment. He answers it and strides into another room. I have a shower while he takes the call, letting the hot water stream and relax the knots in my muscles. Then, pulling a sweater and some shorts on, I descend the stairs to discover the front door closing and Ace slipping behind it.
He left. Again. Without so much as telling me he was going out.
It’s as if he doesn’t remember why I’m here, even though it was his idea. I’m meant to be following him to all his arrangements, but he seems to think it’s only when it suits him. Where could he be going at this time of the night?
Cassidy?
I quickly grab my bag off the counter and follow him. I watch the elevator go down to the basement, but instead of following him there, I head to the lobby and out the glass doors. The doorman gives me a quick once-over and a curt nod.
There’s a cab sitting out front, and I open the door and slide into the back seat. “Good evening. There’s a black Lamborghini that’s about to come out of the basement. Follow it, please.”
12
Seeking the Truth
Calla
It’s midnight, and I’ve barely slept in the last forty-eight hours. The red brake lights from the cars in front of me blur. I coerce my eyes to stay open. Keeping myself awake is second nature to me. I know how to do it. I’ve done it for years so I didn’t have to endure the nightmares that tried to invade if I surrendered to the temptation.
I retrieve a piece of chewing gum from my bag and place it in my mouth. The minty taste deceives my mind into staying awake and offers me something to do instead of grazing on the skin around my nails or chewing on the inside of my cheek—bad habits when my nerves are at their peak.
The files Mia provided me with are burning a hole in my bag, and I take them out, sighing. I turn my phone light on and skim through them while glancing up every few seconds to ensure we’re still following Ace. The cab driver maintains his distance a few cars behind.
Ace Blackwell. The undefeated boxing champion, the youngest to ever hold that title. He’s invested in multiple companies, from clubs to sporting venues. However, it doesn’t stop there. He doesn’t just own companies and properties in New York. There are also some in other countries.
The revenue he makes per month requires me to recheck the figures, wondering whether my eyes are playing tricks on me. No wonder he could donate five million dollars without so much as blinking. This is not exactly public record, and I wonder how Mia obtained all this information.
He used the money from his first fights to begin Blackwell Enterprises one year into his career. Impressive and almost impossible, but Ace makes it seem effortless.
There’s a mention of a sibling, but nothing in detail. Nothing in particular about Ellie or his mom. It seems like Ace went to extreme measures to exclude them from the public eye. But why?
Next, I open the file on Niklaus Stryker. He grew up in Massachusetts and attended Harvard Law School. Impressive. After graduating from law school at the age of twenty-three, he moved to New York and began working as an associate. Two years ago, he was made a partner at the corporate firm now called Stryker & Portman. He’s never lost a case, and that’s what makes him so well-known.
Nik has purchased a few properties, one in London, which doesn’t surprise me since he often travels there for work. There’s nothing about his family or siblings, only that his mother raised him alone and passed away suddenly when Nik was ten. His father wasn’t in the picture until four years ago. No names, nothing I can search up.
We’ve been following Ace for twenty minutes throughout the city, driving to the point where I feel like we’re going around in circles. He doesn’t seem like he’s going anywhere in particular. I’m beginning to think this is a waste of time and quite a bit of my money. Maybe there’s something on his mind, and he needs to clear his head. I close both files and toss them back in my bag. I’ll look at them more thoroughly another time.
I’m about to tell the cab driver to take me back to the apartment when a feeling in my stomach influences me to wait a little longer.
Finally, Ace turns into a narrow, dark alleyway, and I instruct the driver to stop after it. From the back seat window, I observe another car waiting for him.
I squint my eyes and press my nose against the window to get a better look. Ace and the driver from the second car get out simultaneously and swap vehicles. Ace gets in the G-Wagon, while the other man, whom I don’t recognize, takes the Lamborghini expeditiously and without hesitation, like they’ve done this many times before.
Ace is taking precautions, but is it because of the paparazzi or something else? I glance around to see if anyone else is following him, I don’t detect anything out of the ordinary. Over the last week, I’ve observed that Ace doesn’t get noticed if he doesn’t want to be.
Even though it’s past midnight, it’s also the weekend, meaning the streets are still lively with traffic. We continue to follow him, this time routing onto the highway and out of the inner city. After another twenty minutes, Ace comes to a halt in front of a large house. From what I can see under the dim street lamps, the neighborhood itself is quiet and prestigious. Each home has a security gate at the front of the driveway, and the houses themselves are beyond spectacular.
Ace doesn’t park in the driveway. Instead, he pulls over near the curb on the side of the road and strides toward the white three-story house on foot. He’s changed into black jeans and a plain black T-shirt instead of the suit he wore earlier tonight. He’s a shadow in the night.
I get out of the cab and pay a hefty fee. We’ve already been driving for close to an hour, and cabs aren’t cheap. I’m not going to wait in the back seat while the meter runs. I maintain my distance on the other side of the road where Ace won’t see me.
The large front door opens, revealing a woman behind it. The light on the porch is bright, but I can’t see clearly enough to distinguish her features even with it on. Ace disappears inside, and the door shuts behind him.
A heavy feeling flows through my chest, and even though I expected this, it still manages to surprise me. I try not to jump to conclusions, because things aren’t always as they seem with Ace.
Drops of water speckle my hand, and I look up. A blanket of dark clouds covers the sky. I curse under my breath. This is just my luck. I shuffle under a tree, weighing up my options. How long is Ace going to be there? And what am I to do when he comes out? I can’t approach him and have him know I followed him here.
As I contemplate my options, I don’t notice when someone comes up behind me and covers my mouth with their hand. My breath hitches in my throat like cotton, but I would recognize those hands anywhere.
Ace heaves me closer toward his hard chest, into his warmth like he’s trying to shield me from the rain. “If you thought you could follow me without me knowing, you’re mistaken, love.”
“Just doing my job,” I mumble against the palm of his hand.
Did he know all along I was following him?
“I didn’t realize that included being a pain in my ass.” He removes his hand from my mouth and instead positions it on my hip.
The hardness of him digs into my back. “Is that a gun, or are you excited to see me, Ace?” I twist myself around to face him, pressing my body into his, and scan him, confused.
His body stills. I know Ace is well-equipped down there, but this… This is something else.
“Calla…” he warns, grabbing my wrist before I can reach for it. He casts me a look that tells me to drop it, but he’s dreaming if he believes I’m going to. He should know me better by now.
I narrow my eyes, piecing everything together. “Why do you have a gun?” My voice leaks out steadier than I thought it would.
Ace doesn’t answer. Instead, he takes my hand and leads me toward his car. I allow him only because the rain is getting heavier, drenching my clothes.
Ace turns to me when we approach his car across the road. He considers something, his expression softening just for a second. “Do you want to drive?”
“It’s fine. You drive.”
He nods, opening the passenger door for me, and I climb up. The step is high, and Ace holds my waist for support. I don’t say anything when he begins driving, hoping he’ll explain, but he doesn’t. I stare absently at the road in front of me, not noticing we aren’t going toward his apartment until Ace speaks.
