IN THE CAGE

112. CARCEL TAU

...NORMAL pov...

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Fawn's loyalty to the Rashid family was already etched into the stone, permanent and would not be able to wear off. Ace-as the man who from the first time he met Fawn was immediately stunned by the girl's loyalty-would not be surprised if at any time a split occurred, he said, Fawn will sacrifice himself as a shield from the Rashid brothers.

Ace certainly does not like the brave attitude of dying Fawn. He dislikes how Fawn takes his life lightly without knowing that for Ace, the girl is more precious than anyone who breathes in the world.

Carcel who was Ace's bodyguard since adolescence also noticed the same thing as Ace. That Fawn's loyalty is not something that can be shaken by a light thing like persuasion and diamond necklaces. No. Fawn will stand firm as Anggara's shield. Unfortunately, Anggara is a pawn of Evan Caspian. The man that Ace must eliminate if he wants a comfortable life with Fawn.

"What are you gonna do, boss?" Carcel asked him that time.

The day Fawn stepped out of her mansion, coming off like a pigeon flying from her cage. Ace is immersed in a deep-seated frustration - staring at the balcony door of his room that opens. To the outside world who stole Fawn from her.

An obsession grew in his eyes, blooming wildly and creeping within his veins.

Ace bit his lip.

"I have to destroy it" Ace muttered, leaving Carcel astray. Wh who?

"Jem?" Carcel questioned the figure because Jem was the main cause of Fawn leaving this house. Jem is the one who triggered Fawn's peaking courage.

"Do I look like I care about that son of a bitch now?" Ace chimed Carcel with a voice implying ridicule. He lowered Carcel's ability to follow his words.

"Then...?" Carcel still had not found the figure that his master intended. Not until Ace looked up with reddened eyes, a sneaky smile.

"I'm sorry I asked."

Carcel has found the answer. Carcel regretted having found that answer, because it only meant one. He already understood Ace and understood the man's way of thinking. That means, Carcel will be a witness to another madness his boss is about to commit.

The day Fawn leaves the Hunter mansion, that very day, Carcel realizes the girl has made her biggest mistake yet.

Against Ace was his first mistake.

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"Miss Fawn has come." Rio gave a report to Ace who was sitting alone with a glass of champagne in hand. Hearing the report as well, Ace put on a thin smile on his lips.

"Hn, that's good. What about the stalkers who have been following him lately? Do you know who that guy is?"

"He's just a reporter from a small company. He started following Fawn after seeing Fawn's interaction with Vera in Leviathan. He's no one's man. Should I get rid of it now?"

"Oh," Ace was quite amazed. If that person-the reporter-is no one's man, then that person is smarter than anyone who has been Ace's opponent all along. Anggara and Evan, the two of them don't even find Fawn's connection to him. How can a reporter from a small-business-have such a keen instinct.

"Don't get rid of him" Ace broke up right then and there.

"Is that okay?"

Ace shrugged. "A person with the ambition to be great will be very useful to me. Just.., just make sure he hasn't contacted Evan or Anggara. I need him to move when I want him to move."

"All right, Boss." Rio obediently.

"What about Vera?" ask Ace again. This time brought up bodyguard Margaret who was in an unnamed relationship with Anggara. A brave girl, Ace was amazed at the relationship of Vera and Anggara that bloomed and lasted long enough.

"I sent their information to reporter Jun. It was just a matter of time before he negotiated the information to Evan."

Finding all his plans running safely, Ace feels a sense of calm. Now, he's just waiting for Fawn to come in through that door and the day will turn out to be more fun than what he's feeling now.

"Boss Ace," Rio realized his master's mood was in good shape right now. However, he could not stop himself from asking. Noiseless. "If Evan knew about Vera and Anggara.., what....., Vera would be fine? I mean..., is this necessary?"

Ace looked up at Rio. His bodyguard who was more experienced in the field of spying and killing from a distance was not someone who was good at strategy. He still needs to learn a lot from Carcel who in any way, is smarter, understands it more. Know when to talk, and know when to keep his mouth shut. Things like worrying about other people, human things like feelings, fears, worries - Carcel knows when to control them and hide them.

Rio doesn't know that yet.

Ace was forced to compromise on the ignorance of his bodyguard. Well, let's just say he was teaching Rio about one or two things.

"Vera's gonna be fine." Reveal Ace. "Evan won't touch it. Well, more like he wouldn't kill her. Vera knew what she had to do when a dangerous situation would occur. You just have to watch from a distance."

"What if Vera betrays us?" Rio hesitating. "I mean, if he loves Anggara, it's very likely that he'll sacrifice his job to be with Anggara, right?"

"I wouldn't be able to do anything if such a situation happened." Ace smiled again. Not because Rio's speech comforted her, but rather because he found Fawn appearing at the door.

Entering the dining hall with hesitant and clumsy steps. Fawn is like a deer lost in the city center. The alienation surrounding him made his pair of hazel irises widen alertly.

"Anyway, Rio, you don't have to worry about anything." Ace changed his attitude to be more relaxed. "You just have to do what I tell you to do. If you have any questions, you can discuss everything with Carcel."

The intended Carcel was breezing two steps behind Fawn. Eyes were fixed calmly to Ace, implying that he had done his job completely and perfectly.

Without caring about the bodyguards that surround it again, a pair of black irises like onyx jewels were fixated on the arrival of Fawn's figure. Fawn with one-tied hair was a bit of a mess, plain black t-shirts, dull green cargo pants, and boots.

With Fawn's simplistic appearance, Ace finds himself remaining entranced. Still falling on the same figure. A figure holding an invisible bridle that strangled his neck.

Fawn with an innocent smile and her pair of bright irises would have no idea how much she had control over the figure of Ace standing before her now. The smiling figure was dominant, with arrogance covering up his weakness. Fawn would not know that Ace had seen him, admiring him as worthy of a god.

Ace is not used to love. As he said, as he always thought, love is weakness. Now, that love has consumed him, and until he gets Fawn back completely, to be his, Ace will continue to blame Fawn for the feelings and weaknesses he feels now.

"Welcome," said Ace lightly. Contrary to his blackened mind. He wanted Fawn now, to chain her, to tie her up until she was his.

But it's not gonna work. Not if there's another chain that binds Fawn. A bond called loyalty, a bond that for whatever sake, Ace would lose.

"What did you bring me here for?" Fawn somewhat shuddered in horror at the luxuries that surrounded her. He was just used to ordinary things. Instead of eating at the hotel's dining hall that is every corner shiny, Fawn is more comfortable sitting in a cafe or mini restaurant that serves ready meals and a cup of coffee.

"I want to talk to you" Ace said.

Fawn sat across from Ace, eyes staring at the table showing the sumptuous food he remembered - a meal he often ate during his early stay at the Hunter family mansion. Foreign specialties whose portions are no more than cat food. Oh, yeah, no rice there either. That's disappointing.

Fawn wants to eat rice.

"sounds serious. Carcel also said you wanted to talk about something important."

Ace nodded. "It's important."

"So..., what is it?" Fawn tried to melt the situation that suddenly felt a bit tense, she smiled faintly.

Why was Ace looking at him so seriously? Is that guy going to propose to her? Take a ring out of your pocket and make a romantic confession, as it is written in romance books?

Eiii, no way, right?

Fawn believes Ace is more of the type of man who would stab him than propose to him. Also, why would he even imagine such a faraway thing? Even if Ace proposed to her, Fawn did not feel she would be able to respond to the man right then and there. Fawn might prefer to jump off the roof of this building rather than hear a proposal.

Not that he's reluctant to be with Ace. It's just, Fawn hasn't thought far to get there.

After all, the current situation is not the right time to get married.

Oi!

Fawn wants to smash her face into that glass table. Burning his face over the food he himself did not know how to mention because there was too much Q there.

"Fawn, are you okay?" Ace raised his eyebrows next to his. He was again faced with the figure of Fawn who likes to be immersed in his own mind.

Sometimes Ace wondered what the girl was thinking, dissected her head and checked what exactly distracted Fawn from her. What's more important until Fawn leaves him and gets glued to her own thoughts?

"Sorry, sorry. I just, I don't.., I mean, move on." Fawn who was caught red-handed was brooding, spontaneously showing a wide grin. Too wide, actually. He was like a child trying to hide the secrets of his mother by pretending to be a moron.

"So..., what's up?" mummified Fawn later.

"I.., um...,"

Shit, is this really going to be a proposal?

Ace took a deep breath. "I want to offer you protection."

"..."

"..."

So. not a proposal.

Fawn's face instantly met red. His wide smile slumped and faded.

No, he was not blushed by Ace's words and the two plane tickets that the man had offered him. No, Fawn was just feeling immense shame for her own thinking.

Why did he think that far? The proposal? That..., would it be impossible? Ace would never propose to her.

Yeah, Ace couldn't have proposed to her.

Thinking of the impossibility, Fawn felt like a knife stuck in her throat. He should not have expected anything. Not thinking far there. He even thought about a rejection just in case Ace would indeed propose to him.

But why..., when what he feared did not come true, he instead found disappointment?

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