I stood in the living room, my eyes fixed on the clock as I waited for Maxie's arrival. Ace was getting ready to go out, his movements deliberate as he adjusted his sleeve button in front of the mirror.
My phone rang, shrill in the silence, and I answered, my voice tinged with excitement. "Hey, Max, where are you?"
"I'm close, Shar, but I'm coming with a surprise," Maxie said, her voice bubbling with excitement.
I chatted with Maxie, my attention split between the conversation and the sound of the doorbell ringing. "So you're already here, Max?" I asked, laughing.
"Shar, I'm not," Maxie replied, but I ended the call and hurried to the door. I checked through the security door and saw Diana standing there, a look of determination etched on her face. My heart skipped a beat as I turned and ran back to Ace.
"Ace, it's Diana," I said, trying to catch my breath.
Ace stood calmly, his expression unreadable as he adjusted his sleeve button. "Tell her to leave," he said, his voice low and even.
My eyes widened in surprise. "Uh..."
He still does not reply immediately, the doorbell ringing again
"Except you want her around?" He asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Ace's gaze flickered to mine, his eyes cold and calculating. "If you do, let her in," he said, his voice dripping with indifference.
I hesitated, unsure what to do. Ace picked up his phone and called Diana, his movements economical. "Go home," he said, ending the call without waiting for a response.
Diana rang the doorbell twice and called Ace thrice on the phone, but there he didn't respond. I watched from the door, reporting to Ace like a newscaster, my voice monotone, and he smiled half-heartedly, continuing to adjust his clothes.
My phone beeped, and it was Maxie calling again. I answered, my voice warm. "Hey, b, I think you gave the wrong location, GPS took us to a castle," Maxie said, laughing.
I chuckled. "Don't be silly, Max."
Then I paused, i had realized something. She said we...
"And who's we?" I asked, my tone laced with curiosity.
Ace slowed down, his attention focused on the conversation. My heart skipped a beat as I heard the sound of a car outside.
"Come out, babes," Maxie said, and I ran out to see her standing by Zion's car in the compound.
We ran towards each other, hugging tightly, she then pulls away hurriedly.
"I almost got fired, I saw the boss," Maxie said, looking like she met a ghost.
I squinted. "You almost got fired, I almost got killed."
We chatted for a bit about how we'd both be dead if we were seen by Diana ,
After a while Maxie asked, "How do you feel now? You look chubbier. Does he treat you right?"
I smiled. "B, I'm fine."
Ace stood at the doorstep, his gaze fixed on Zion's car, I could sense his stare then I asked Maxie
"You drive Zion's truck here or what?" I asked, trying not to believe the 'we' Maxie had talked about was her and Zion.
Maxie teased, "Ohhhh, about that... I brought souvenirs, thought you and your contract boy needed enough company than sex."
I rolled my eyes "As much as I want it there's no thrusting going on here, trust me"...
Zion got out of the driver's seat, and Marcus came out of the back door, smiling at Sharon , she returns his smile and the back door opens too
"Max, who else did you...." I didn't complete the statement when Marcus comes down from the car too, and they both walk toward I and Maxie
"Maxieee...." I gritted my teeth while calling her name, I knew Aec would be boiling with rage right now but he looked calm as fuck just staring.
"Well, they insisted and I couldn't leave them, they are just boys Sharon, don't be a bad girl" she laughs slowly while Marcus and Zion approached us
"Hi, Sharon," Zion said, his voice warm and friendly.
"Hi," I replied, feeling a bit guilty.
Marcus chimed in, "Hey, Sharon."
Ace stood coldly, his attention on me and the guys. Maxie moved closer to him, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Ain't you too dressed to be home looking like this, sire?" she asked, looking at him weirdly.
Ace just stared, his attention on me, and didn't reply.
"He's going out, he has somewhere to be," I said, trying to diffuse the tension.
"No... It's cancelled," Ace said, heading inside.
We all walked in, Aec's house feeling alive for once, I laughed and chatted with Maxie, feeling a sense of freedom I hadn't experienced in a while, and I couldn't help but notice how Ace sat quietly, his eyes fixed on me, his expression cold and detached.
Zion, nudged me playfully. "Sharon, you've been missing out on all the fun, ?" he said, grinning.
I rolled my eyes good-naturedly. "You know me, Zion, and beside's I've been down..."
Marcus chuckled. "Yeah, but you're making up for it now, right?" He sounded free so I was playing his game, I actually was comfortable with how he made everything seem
I smiled, feeling a sense of belonging. "Definitely, Marcus. I'm making up for lost time."
Zion teased, "And someone's just lucky enough to have you around!" It was obvious that he was also trying to get at Aec...
I laughed, trying to blow the steam off
"Well..."
Marcus chuckled. "come on, Sharon. You can do better than that." At this point I felt Zion and Marcus planned it out together, to vex up Aec but he gave no reply
Zion grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Yeah, He'll probably die alone, except you keep been available for him?"
I shook my head, trying to signal Maxie to help but she wasn't willing too. "Uhh, I enjoy his company too ."
Ace's voice was cold and detached, a stark contrast to the warmth and laughter surrounding me. "You had better..."
I turned to face him, feeling a sense of irritation. "I'm enjoying the company, Ace. Don't be a kill joy."
Zion, sensing the tension, jumped in. "Hey, Ace, why so serious? ."
Ace's expression didn't change, but his eyes narrowed slightly. "I'm not interested, Zion."
Marcus chuckled. " Ace. Loosen up a bit."
His eyes scrolls towards Marcus for a bit then finally landing back on me
I smiled, trying to diffuse the tension. "Yeah, Ace, come join us."
Ace's gaze lingered on me, his eyes cold and calculating. "I prefer to stay out of it, Sharon."
Zion snorted. "Yeah, because you're always so busy being miserable."
Ace's expression didn't change, but his eyes flashed with anger. "I'm just not interested in your kind of fun, Zion."
The atmosphere was tense, the air thick with unspoken words. I felt like I was caught in the middle, a sense of unease settling over me.
Zion, leaned in, his voice low and teasing. "Maybe you're just jealous, Ace. Maybe you're jealous of the attention Sharon's getting." He was behaving petty and I didn't understand why...
Ace's eyes flashed with anger, but he said nothing, his expression cold and detached.
Marcus chuckled, trying to diffuse the tension. "Hey, guys, let's not fight. We're all friends here."
I smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Marcus. "Yeah, let's just enjoy the company."
Zion grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Yeah, let's have some fun."
As we continued to chat and laugh, Ace sat quietly, his eyes fixed on me, his expression cold and detached, a reminder that not everyone was enjoying the warmth and camaraderie surrounding us.
The doorbell rang, and Ace got the door. It was taking a while so I went to check and I saw Mrs Langley and Diana having a conversation with Aec through the doors peephole, my heart beat slowed and it was painful, I didn't want to spoil the fun so I stood still not drawing anyone's attention especially not Maxie's...
"Sharon, get your ass over and come defend me" I could hear Sharon's voice get closer , I moved away from the door hurriedly
"I'm right behind you , who's putting you on the spot" I replied trying to sound bossy then I glanced at the peephole, noticing Aec leaving with the two women.