IN THE CAGE

139. SUPPER

"To break loyalty, you need to teach it bitterly a betrayal."

Ace responds to Carcel's question to him. A question concerns whether it would be okay if Ace cornered Fawn to the edge of the cliff?

Not that Carcel questioned Ace's decision, but in Carcel's eyes, the mental pressure Fawn was likely to face now was very bad. Being asked to choose between the safety of her mother or her lover was not an easy choice.

Even when Fawn was still a prisoner in the Hunter, Fawn was willing to do whatever it took to protect Joseph, a man who was nothing. Now, he was instead asked to eliminate people who were very meaningful in his life. Ugh, that's so cruel.

Carcel was quite concerned about Fawn's condition. The girl could be ruined.

"I believe Fawn's loyalty to Anggara was gone when she came to dinner today, Boss. Because of that.., I think we can end it all before the situation gets worse."

Ace chuckles. "The problem is Carcel, I want the situation to be very chaotic. I didn't play this far just to stop a step behind the finish line."

Even if it means destroying Fawn, Ace wants him to get an absolute win from this game.

Also...

"If I wanted Fawn to just look at me and just like me.., don't you think the right solution would be to get rid of everyone who could block her view from me?"

Carcel felt his heart stop beating for a few seconds. Carcel thought he had grown up a long time with Ace to the stage he would not be surprised again at the thought path of his boss, but it was not. Even today, he was still surprised.

"Oh..., how's David doing?" ask Ace back.

"He's ready for his position, boss."

Today, with all eyes set on Ace, David on the other hand has his own mission. That saved Vera.

"Before David leaves, make sure he remembers well his main task." Ace pointed out while hooking the Hunter family crest pin on his tie, an arrow-shaped crest inside the eye circle.

"Good, Boss."

"Okay, this way, I'm done."

Retracing two steps away from the mirror that reflected the perfect picture of him, Ace then smiled faintly. No. gabe. He is not smiling at the beauty of the honest, no longer something new.

No, Ace smiled as he could imagine in his mind how his plans today would go as he wished.

...----------------...

...NORMAL pov...

...----------------...

Although this dinner was specially designed just for her and Ace to spend together, Fawn who was sitting restlessly in front of the long banquet table was not going to be fooled. He knows Anggara and Evan are monitoring him somewhere, scanning his interactions with Ace and making sure that the mission goes as they expected.

The fucking bastards!

Fawn wants to curse out there, unfortunately the energy he has is drained out just to prepare for this meeting. Anggara - with her people - forced Fawn to do the royal princess-like treatment. As if it was important to do.

Fawn believes, all the care that he has received since 5 dawn was certainly a form of revenge Anggara to him for having dared to threaten the man. Because...fuck it, this smooth skin with the scent of wild roses is useless!!!

Toad

Geck! Geck! Geck!

A knock from the outside sounded, light and polite. Fawn stood up. The anger that had filled his head overflowed into anticipation. Behind that door, Ace...

"Come in" said Fawn. The sound of shaking full of anxiety. He tried to approach the door, greeting Ace who was about to enter. However, thanks to the tall black heels that encircled his legs, Fawn sauntered like a fawn just learning to walk.

Not yet had Fawn approached, Ace had already entered first and looked at her in surprise.

"Welcome home." Fawn's face was spontaneously flushed red, shy and nervous blending one.

"Yes?"

"After that," Ace approached Fawn and helped her stand steady. "You're not like the woman I want to meet."

"If you want to insult me, you can openly say I'm bad." Fawn throbbing. His nervousness was set aside for a moment.

"You're beautiful, Fawnia. I just don't like the way people use your beauty as a weapon." Ace brushed Fawn's black mane with gentleness, while adding his argument to the head with a hint of cynicism.

'More when the weapon is harmless'.

"I like you better as you are" Ace said back and smiled. You're more dangerous when you're wild, Fawnia.

"I feel the same way" Fawn responded. Ace led him back to sit on the bench he had previously occupied. "This is not my style at all."

"Margot might like it" Ace said, joking.

"Oh, you're probably a little right." Fawn secured his seat on the bench as his eyes followed Ace's movements.

Ace who never sat and even coolly scanned the contents of the table to make Fawn's anxiety back to the surface. Cold sweat re-wetted his palms, making his knees tremble as well.

"Look at your performance today, Fawn. I feel like our relationship has become a burden to you." Ace talked about Fawn's physical condition which, although already covered by makeup, still looks very bad.

"I'm sorry. If I knew the situation would be this bad, I should have killed Jem that day. Then Evan, then whoever has a chance to hurt you. But I didn't do it."

Fawn sighed after hearing Ace say, "Don't blame yourself. You also can't carelessly get rid of everyone just for my safety, can you?"

"..."

"I just..," Fawn looked at Ace and widened her eyes as she saw Ace almost grabbing a glass of wine on the table.

"Ace!!!" Tegur Fawn panicked.

"Hmm?"

"Uh.., sit down first.., I-I have a question for you." Fawn looked at the wine. He was relieved when instead of reaching for the glass, Ace's hand moved to grab an apple in the fruit basket.

"What do you want to ask, Fawnia?" Ace took an empty seat opposite Fawn. Both of his hands were elegant.

"Vera..., umm, I believe you must know about Vera, don't you? So I thought of this..," Fawn paused her speech for a moment and looked at Ace worriedly. "Why don't you come and save him? I-I mean, he's just a bodyguard.but..."

"But he is an important asset of the Hunter family" Ace continued.

"Not only Vera, I was able to flatten Caspian's residence overnight but I didn't. I think you already know why Fawnia."

"Huh?"

Ace smiled obliquely, "Because you're there."

"..."

There was a long silence there until Fawn managed to attribute one by one the intent of Ace's words to him.

At that moment, Ace's answer made Fawn's eyes glazed over. The warm liquid burst into his eyes, a combination of ill feelings and sin. He felt tremendous guilt when he thought back to what he was going to do to Ace tonight.

The man who loves her sincerely.

"Fawnia," call Ace again. His eyes were as warm as the morning sun.

"No matter what happens, I've vowed to never hurt you again. Therefore, even if it means that I have to let Vera go, it's better than getting you involved in a dispute that could harm you."

...----------------...