Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Paetyn
I’m not listening to a single word my client is speaking. The words are static in my ears as I stare at her, nodding when needed, but nothing she says registers in my mind.
It’s not because I’m not interested in what she has to say. In fact, she’s telling me about her inability to choose between two men in her life and how it’s tearing her apart at the seams. This is certainly something I should be listening to as the person she has paid to help her and listen to what she has to say. But I just can’t .
Her predicament makes me consider my own strangely similar one. I’m not in a position where I have to choose between two men, especially when there is only one right option in my case. But it doesn’t stop me from thinking about Liam and Ace.
I shouldn’t even have them together in the same thought when they couldn’t be more different. Where Liam is kind and attentive, Ace is observant and dangerous. They are on different ends of the spectrum in terms of personality and even looks, and yet, they both occupy space in my mind.
Giving space to Ace in my mind which should only be occupied by my fiancé is unacceptable, and yet, I’m unable to get those damn ocean eyes out of my head, no matter how hard I try.
I clear my throat and force my attention on Mary as she continues to talk about how she can’t decide whether she should continue seeing both of the men in secret or if she should pick one.
God, the irony of this isn’t lost on me.
Once our session wraps up, I bid farewell to Mary with the promise of seeing her again in two weeks. After she leaves my office, I blow out a long breath and shake my head.
I can’t get lost in my head, or even try to compare my situation to that of my clients. There shouldn’t even be a situation to begin with.
After taking a minute to gather myself, I collect my handbag and step out of my office. Clarissa is sitting behind the receptionist's desk, her gaze trained on me as I approach her.
“What have I told you about sticking around past closing time,” I scold, raising a brow at her.
She chuckles, not fazed by the warning in my voice. “Yeah, yeah, I know. I’m almost done, I promise.”
I stop in front of her desk, gazing down at her. “Good. You work hard enough as it is. Do you have any plans for tonight?”
Clarissa nods. “Jayden is going to take me out to dinner and a movie. It’ll be nice to get out of the house.”
“Don’t I know it,” I murmur. “But have fun.”
She drags her bottom lip between her teeth, her eyes flicking over my face. “How are you doing with everything? I mean… I’m sure it hasn’t been easy these past few weeks.”
I blow out a long breath. “I’m okay.”
“Are you sure?” She raises a curious brow at me as if she doesn’t quite believe the words coming from my mouth. “You seem a little… distracted. I get that the media has been a nightmare and you’re probably on edge given what happened, so I wouldn’t judge you if you said you weren’t doing well. I’m here for you if you need to talk.”
While her words bring me a sense of comfort, how could I possibly divulge the turmoil in my mind? If I don’t understand what the hell is going on, how could I even begin to explain it to another person, much less my coworker?
“It’s been hard to adjust to all the new changes in my life, but I’m okay, really.” I offer a smile, but even I can tell it doesn’t reach my eyes. “Anyway, have a good night, Clarissa.”
“You too, Pae.”
I wave goodbye and walk to the exit. As I step on the street and take the usual route to where my car is parked, it feels as though I’m on autopilot. I barely notice the people walking shoulder to shoulder beside me or the man on a bike who nearly hits someone behind me. The chill in the air does little to cool my inflamed skin.
The alleyway is dark, just like every other night. But for some reason, I don’t feel him . His presence isn’t suffocating me like it normally does, and his scent isn’t lingering in the air. My brows crease into a frown as I spin on my heels, hoping to see him hidden in the shadows, but I’m left with nothing but disappointment when a street cat darts across the ground, seeking shelter in an empty crate beside a small dumpster.
Where is he? Not that I should care given he’s a stalker who kidnapped me not that long ago. But for some reason, I feel… less safe without him around.
A heavy sigh falls from my lips as I turn to continue walking, only I’m stopped in my tracks at the sight of a figure approaching me, their hands shoved deeply into the pockets of their jacket.
My heart hammers in my chest. Any normal person would continue walking and maybe offer a smile to the stranger. Danger would not be high on their radar, especially if it’s not something they’ve encountered before.
I, however, have alarm bells sounding in my ears at the sight of this person. Maybe it’s their quick ended footsteps, hunched shoulders, or the way their head continues to gaze over their shoulder, as if they’re checking no one else is around. Either way, this person screams dangerous to me, and I have nowhere to go.
The man is now a few feet away from me. I scream at my legs to turn and run, but they refuse to listen to my commands, betraying me. Flashes of the night I was kidnapped race through my mind, reminding me of how powerless I was in that moment. And the same thing is going to happen again.
Why are you so weak, Pae?
Now he’s in front of me, the tip of a knife pressed against the base of my throat. I gag as stale cigarettes assault my senses, and he wraps his hand around the back of my neck, holding me in place.
“Give me all of your fucking money right now.”
His voice is gravelly, and his breath is putrid. And despite the fear coursing through my veins, all I can do is stare at the man, blinking rapidly as I try to catch up to the gravity of the situation I’m in. Again .
“I-I don’t—”
“Now!” he yells in my face, speckles of saliva landing on my cheek and chin.
My body vibrates as I stare at the man, his face half covered by darkness. I can still make out the light gray stubble on his cheeks and crooked yellow teeth. The windbreaker brushing against my arm has seen better days and the dark blue jeans he wears are covered in dirt and stains.
I scream at my body to put up a fight, to not let another man assume power over me. Being helpless is the last thing I want, but when my body shuts down, refusing to respond to my demands, there isn’t much I can do.
I swallow hard, my throat dry. “Okay. Just… don’t hurt me, please.”
Before I can reach into my handbag, the man is wrenched backward, and the knife clatters to the ground. A rush of relief washes over me at the absence of the man trying to mug me, but it’s soon replaced with confusion when I hear him grunting and pleading for his life, followed by a fury of skin meeting skin.
My eyes adjust to the scene before me, and my heart almost leaps out of my chest at the sight of the man gripping the mugger by the collar of his shirt.
Ace. He’s here .
“Who the fuck are you?” Ace roars, his voice so deep it vibrates deep in my bones.
The mugger cowers beneath Ace where he cowers on the ground, his hands attempting to cover his face. “No-no one. I was—”
“If you don’t get the fuck out of my sight in three seconds, you’re going to wish you were dead instead of touching what’s mine.”
In the blink of an eye, the man scrambles to his feet and runs back the way he came, the knife forgotten about on the ground beside me.
I stare at Ace as he rises, his height intimidating as he stands in front of me. Despite his harsh exterior and the tattoos littering his right arm and knuckles, his eyes intense as they watch me, I know I’m safe with him.
“Are you okay?” Ace runs his knuckles over the curve of my cheek, the thick ring on his finger cold against my skin. “He didn’t hurt you, did he?”
I shake my head. “I-I’m okay.”
“Good,” Ace says, his hand dropping to his side. “I’m sorry I’m late. I had something else I had to attend to first.”
I blink at him. I want to ask what he was doing, but I’m not sure he would tell me if I did. Either way, I’m grateful he’s here. If he hadn’t stopped that guy… who knows what could’ve happened?
“I sh-should probably go.” My voice is barely above a whisper, shock still lingering in my system.
“Wait.” Ace wraps his hand around my wrist. His skin is warm against mine, and his touch gentle. “You shouldn’t be going home alone, not if you were just attacked.”
“But my fiancé…” I swallow hard, the words dying on my tongue. The thought of going home to Liam right now after he told me I shouldn’t be driving myself to and from work is a recipe for him to tell me, I told you so . “He’s probably wondering where I am.”
“If he was worried about you, he would be here to ensure you get home safe. But do you want to know who is here, little bird? Me.” His hand comes up to cup my cheek, our faces inches apart as he holds my gaze captive. “Come back to my place. I can keep you safe there.”
My head is spinning from our close proximity, but also because he’s right and I hate to admit it. If Liam was as concerned about my well-being as he claims he is, he would’ve put up more of a fight in having a driver take me to and from work, or he would be here himself. But he’s not.
In the time I’ve been with Liam, I have never felt like I’m his number one priority. I’m below his career on that list, and while I’m proud of him for getting as far as he has, I can’t deny that it does hurt that he doesn’t put me first during the moments that matter. It makes me wonder if this will be the norm once we’re married.
Although Ace makes a good point, I know I shouldn’t go to his house with him. I don’t trust myself when I’m around him or the way he makes me feel. Even now, I shouldn’t be standing this close, soaking in his masculine cologne or the warmth of his skin.
But at the end of the day, I know I’m safe with this man. Call me crazy because I know I am, but I can’t deny it. When he’s around, even if he’s lurking in the shadows or watching from afar, I know no harm will come to me. Even tonight, he came to my rescue when I needed someone the most.
That person should’ve been my future husband, but instead, it was my stalker.
I swallow hard and nod. “Okay. But only for a little while, and you have to promise to keep your hands to yourself.”
Ace grins. “I can’t make any promises, little bird.”
God, I hope I don’t regret this decision.