IN THE CAGE

44. TRAPPED

...ACE pov's...

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A handcuff lay on a wooden table beside the bed. I was sipping a cigarette while holding a laptop - staring at the handcuffs. Those handcuffs are the same handcuffs I used to shackle Fawn.

I remember asking Felix to take it off, but I didn't know they were just gonna leave those handcuffs there. Felix too - I thought he was going to put that thing back in place, but he just scratched it everywhere.

I-though having a job on my lap, found myself reaching for the handcuffs. I didn't understand the ridiculous desire to touch that thing, but when I felt the cold iron on the tip of my finger, my smile broke out without me holding back.

Fawn's screams were still fresh in my mind. All his emotions were overflowing when he was cornered, anger in his voice and fire in his eyes. He looks so charming.

I always made fun of his desire to die and be free from here, saying I wouldn't let him because I still felt comforted seeing his suffering. That might sound reasonable-but at the bottom of my heart, I don't know if the word just means something as a joke or has changed into a dependency.

I.., I don't think I want to let go of the girl, and this thought scares me.

It's been a few days since Fawn was in Margot's room? He was separated from me so I could think clearly. At least, that's what Margot expected of me. But.., my mind is very mixed. I don't know if the strong grip on my heart right now is the result of my clear thinking or something new has come along and taken over my sanity.

Tokks! Geck! Geck!

A knock from the outside made me look up at the door. I put my cigarette in the glass ashtray before getting up and moving my laptop to the desk.

"Boss Ace, Miss Freya has arrived." Carcel's voice sounded from outside.

"Let him in" I ordered calmly.

After a few seconds when I gave my permission, the white wooden door opened. My eyes were first fixed on the pair of legs that stepped inside. A tattoo covers the woman's ankle-like bracelet. I looked up from her legs-continuously to her synthetic body wrapped by a tight, open black dress in some parts, then-our eyes met.

"For a long time no see" Freya said in a seductive voice. "I thought you were imp*ten."

"I'm just busy." I said, not willing to explain anything to the woman I invited just to fulfill my lust.

"Remain busy?" Freya approached with her model steps, crossed legs and elegant pounding shoes.., "I heard Ace's boss already had another woman in his room."

"Where did you hear that rumor?" I didn't move from where I was standing, even as Freya's fingers slid down my arms. I looked into her eyes which were covered in light blue contact lenses.

"Everyone speculates that way. It would not be strange to remember that our loyal customers suddenly disappeared. There are only two answers, imp*ten or-yah, you know..., falling in love?"

"That's stupid..." I rolled my eyes. Who is in love with whom?

"Well, at least I'm glad you're back. There is no customer in Aphrodite who can satisfy me like you."

Freya is a sweet-mouthed woman. Sometimes, hearing his sugar-like talk, I couldn't help but laugh. He is laughable and one-sided smart in captivating the hearts of his customers. I don't hate the way he flatters me, but to work - I'd rather he stop mince words.

"Since you're here, how about you get to work?" I caught Freya's chin gently, pressed her face in my grasp and...

"Aces..."

Fawn's face popped into my mind like an electric shock.

"I will show you," whispered Freya greeting my ears, along with her tongue that began to go down the surface of my skin. I clenched his waist with indistinction. What was I just thinking?

While I was trying to refocus on Freya, Freya who was in a meeting on my chest was doing her work intensely. Not only his lips, both of his hands moved shrewdly in removing every button on my shirt, shedding my clothes onto the floor while his other hand began to infiltrate my pants. I didn't let her dominate and pushed her into bed.

"Do you still refuse to kiss?" Freya looked at me with a breath.

"You know the rules" I said and Freya immediately groaned in annoyance. 

"Damn.., I want to kiss you so bad."

"Keep that in your imagination" I said before finally climbing over Freya. With open arms, he greeted me joyfully.

In a room that smells like tobacco, I scooped every inch of Freya's skin like it was scooping up air. Sweeps his white skin with bites, licks and kisses. At that moment, I tried to remind myself. This is what I usually do. This is the real me, Fawn's whereabouts don't bother me at all - I'm still myself. There is or is not there he will--

"What's this?" Freya touched the handcuffs I left near the pillow. My eyes were fixed on the thing once more and died, all the passions I was trying to let go were extinguished. Pleasure, distraction, the evaporation of my stifled emotions - all of them were dissolved in just one glance at the thing.

The cuffs of the son of a bitch that had tied Fawn to my mind were like curses.

My face feels stiff.

"Yes?"

"You-are you okay?"

I rolled over and moved beside Freya, eyes closed tightly. "I don't think I do."

"Something happened? Did I ruin your mood?"

"No, it's not like that." My mood's been broken for the past few days. I feel like I want to get my brain out and wash everything about Fawn out of there. I can't-can't do anything with that girl running around in my mind incessantly. Every trace he left in my life was like a nail stuck in my heart. I want to stop thinking about it but.., again, I can't.

What that girl did to me, I don't know.

It's not even just about lust, she's already consumed every space of my mind with her being.

"I can't do this now" I finally complained. Disappointing Freya without having to see her face. "I need some fresh air."

Maybe a walk in the park will make me a little breathable? Who knows, I just want to get out of this room. Away from everything that reminds me of Fawn.

"I'll pay you as usual" I told Freya, who now sits on the lip of the bed and improves her appearance. I looked towards the woman at a glance and swore, she was a very charming woman. He knows how to take care of himself, very well from toe to head. Freya when compared to Fawn who acts like a girl with no confidence-is superior to Fawn.

But, damn.., something's broken in my brain!

Picking up my shirt carelessly on the floor, I walked out without fishing. I opened the door and saw Carcel's astonishment.

Don't be surprised, I'm just as surprised as myself.

"boss Ace? Is something wrong?" Carcel's worried.

"Take Freya home-" I said and would walk if I didn't catch Fawn's face three steps ahead of me. That girl-is she jumping out of my mind or am I already completely crazy?

"Ace," Margot appeared behind Fawn-conscious me and relieved me all because it turned out that Fawn was not an illusion that my mind had created.

"Where are you going with a very messy appearance?"

"I'm supposed to ask you, where did you take him?" my eyes turned to Fawn who avoided my gaze. He looked fine in that white training shirt. No, she looks so adorable, and it hurts. It hurts me who tried to refrain from reaching it. Goddamnit! What was I thinking?

"I'm gonna take my dog for a walk.., he needs some fresh air, you know."

"I'm not a dog-"

"I know." said Margot. Damn it, I just heard Fawn and Margot cut her words.

"You're still in the denial stage" Margot said, embracing Fawn's neck. "You'll realize you're my pet, sooner or later."

Fawn was about to say something, but stopped when my door opened. His eyes were behind me, and I turned to look at him.

Freya came out of the room still in a state that could not be said to be neat.

"Sorry, can I use your bathroom? My body is so sticky." Freya asked with a clumsy grin. "I have an invitation after this and have no time to return home."

"Do what you want" I said and turned back to look at Margot and Fawn. Both are silent and silent.

"Margoth?" I broke the silence of both of them.

"Uh-yes, sorry. You seem to be a very busy man." Margot threw a naughty look at me. "Yesterday Fawn, and now another woman? Hmmm, hmm?"

"Don't talk nonsense" I replied and looked back at Fawn. There was no expression at all on his face, and it reminded me of the times when he was still Indira's bodyguard. Fawn always appears expressionless when working. I want to know what's in his head.

Ah-talking about Fawn, I thought back to Indira's request. Goddamnit!

I agreed to look for Fawn's whereabouts to get information about Evan's client. Of course, I didn't mean to help Indira. But, the thought that now there are people out there - people like Indira, thinking about Fawn and trying to take her away from me, this feeling made my emotions stir.

Something has changed in my chest, I'm afraid I know what it is.

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