IN THE CAGE

68. TRAILS

...NORMAL pov...

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

Breakfast with Margot is an activity that Ace rarely does. More precisely, the tall man with the pitch-black mane never paid any attention to breakfast. Ace buys coffee more often and goes straight to work. Margot is also-albeit very concerned about her health, not so much about whether or not she will have breakfast with Ace.

To this day come.

Today, at the outdoor cafe overlooking the sea, an old tree is waving near the entrance stairs with a pink ribbon hanging on each of its branches-Ace and Margot go hand in hand to the spot. They booked a seat that was far enough away from the crowd and quiet enough to exchange words.

Margot was the one who masterminded the breakfast-shaking meeting.

"You can talk to me at home. Why waste my time here?" Ace mendumel. His eyes were fixed on the faint blue sea water due to the cloudy clouds that surrounded the end of the horizon.

"I want to eat some waffles" said Margot. "This place has the most popular waffles on the internet. I read the review and it's 4.5 stars."

"That's good information, but I don't care."

Margot shrugged her shoulders. "You're not slang at all. No wonder so many people love you more than they are interested in you. You should be like Jem, Ace.., he's friendly, sweet and knows how to please a woman."

"I believe you'll kill me if I act like that."

Margot immediately laughed at Ace's response which had a point. Ace with his current personality is the perfect Ace. He was like a sharp sword capable of slashing through every obstacle and obstacle that blocked Margot's path and purpose.

"Alright, you don't have to enjoy the waffle.., just listen to me."

While Margot was leaning on the back of the bench, Ace looked at her brother with contorted eyes. Today Ace's schedule is quite solid, and he has no time to breathe the sea air or just hear his brother's babble.

"I heard from Uncle Jack the company is going really well lately. I'm so grateful to you. I also know, even though Larson is dead-we don't lose the lead completely."

"That's all thanks to David." If it weren't for Margot's bodyguard stalking Larson like a mole rat, there's no way Ace would have known who'd been contributing in an attempt to get rid of her.

Although it was indeed a task that David did, Ace would not turn a blind eye to the man's fine contributions.

"Evan Caspian..., since all the clues are already pointing to the man..., what are you going to do in front of him, Ace?"

"I know you can't wait to finish your goal. But, I hope you're not acting rashly." Ace is serious. "Me too, for now will just monitor his every move."

"But every piece of evidence is already leading to it." Margot riled. He can't be patient anymore. Not when the bastard who had already killed his parents was now breathing and living happily in their luxurious mansion.

"For now, all I need to do is corner Evan until he falls off his throne. I believe, if I continue to dominate every space of his movement, he will bring out his true identity."

Ace does not want to kill origin, he needs to listen to Evan's confession directly. That, he was the one who had already killed their parents. Ace wanted the man to be frightened, angry and lose his footing.

"Is the evidence not enough to get you to finish him off?"

"I can do that now but it won't be satisfactory, not for you and me. I want, if he's destroyed, I'll destroy him as fat as he is. Do you understand?"

Ace then continued talking. "Because I've thrown my whole life after him, I don't want my pursuit to end in vain because of you who don't know patience. This hunt is mine, Evan is my target. Even if the man had to die, he would have to die at my hands."

Think of it as a reward for his hunting, the time he wasted, the freedom he deferred. Ace will not take his hand off the wheel just because their target is clear.

"Alright, as long as he dies. I'll follow you." Margot did not dispute anything at the time. That's a relief, but it's quite foreign to Ace. He's used to Margot always wanting to win on her own. Seeing him become a submissive and unselfish brother makes Ace even unsettling Margot's head. Hopefully he's not planning anything bad in his dark brain.

"Boss Ace, boss Margot." Carcel who was closest to their table interrupted. "I got a report that Mr. Evan and Mr. Anggara were at the front door."

"That's fine," Ace glanced at Margot and his brother spontaneously shrugged.

"Don't blame me, I didn't know they were coming."

"Yes, like I trust you so much." Ace wouldn't trust Margot. That crazy woman must have deliberately made her meet with Evan and Anggara here. I don't know what he expected? Does he think Ace will punch Evan in the head instantly when Ace sees him?

"Boss Ace, they're aware of your whereabouts and are headed this way."

"Tsk, just let them come." Ace is angry. The energy in the morning was spontaneously drained.

While Ace pretended to be indifferent to the arrival of the two men who were now pitching towards him, Margot waved as her eyes met Anggara's eyes. Acting like a good-natured girl, Ace wants to die looking at her.

"Stop acting disgusting" Ace rebuked Margot and kicked her brother's leg from under the table.

"Mind your own business." Margot replied in a half-whispering voice.

"Ace Hunter, Margaret Hunter." Evan-man unravels the tanned curls smiling warmly to Ace and Margot. The two brothers with dark black manes looked up to them with two opposing expressions. Ace with a monotonous expression, Margot with false hospitality.

"Are you always surprised to see people having breakfast?" Ace chimed.

"You should stop thinking then."

"Ace," Margot glared. "Don't take heart, Ace, if it's really annoying in the morning."

"Margot is right," Ace responded with a cynical smile. "You two sit down."

Evan-without awkwardness, instantly pulled the bench that was on the left side of Ace. Different from his sister-in-law, Anggara even stood with eyes staring back and forth. I don't know what he's looking for.

"Female? Are you waiting for someone?"

"Huh?" Anggara blinked his eyes, digested Margot's question and sat down. "No, nothing." He was just looking for a woman with a black, climsy mane and an addictive plain face. Someone named Vera.

"I'm very disappointed not to be able to welcome you that day. If I had known you were coming, I might have emptied my schedule and taken you around our barn." Evan asked Ace to talk.

"Don't bother, my goal came just to meet Indira. Anyway, he's my best friend. Not seeing him running around makes me..lost?"

"Huh..., you guys are really close, aren't you?"

"Nearlier than you and him."

Anggara glanced at Evan's hardened facial expression as a result of Ace's speech. But, anyway, Ace was not wrong. Evan couldn't argue with it either. Unlike Ace who always treated Indira with a pure friendship, Evan treated Indira like a special guest. That's not bad, but it can't be said to be convenient either. If Ace wasn't a threat, Anggara might have agreed that Indira married Ace rather than Evan.

Seeing the tension and discomfort begin to atmosphere at the table, Margot inevitably tried to melt the stiffness by inviting Anggara to chat. Occasionally, Margot involves Ace and Evan. Every now and then, Ace would post a comment that made Evan's calm expression crack in dislike.

"I'll be going to the toilet for a minute." Anggara who could not stand being there decided to escape. He stepped off the table with shaky shoulders.

That place is so sickening. All the falsehoods and friendly chatter, everything is like a drama performed without a script. Anggara did not want to involve himself in it, but at one time he was caught in the madness.

Her morning mood was really hatchiii!!!

Someone sneezed and caught Anggara's attention. He glanced to the side of the stairs leading to the back door.

Standing near the beach when it was still quite early, hit by the salty and very cold sea breeze, Vera felt her fate was starting quite badly today. He was very sleepy, but he had to go out to accompany Margot who suddenly wanted to eat breakfast outside. Whereas in Vera's memory, Margot loved breakfast on her bed. Why did he change his behavior so easily as to turn the light switch down?

Ugh..., the cold and humid temperatures did not help at all.

Vera found herself sneezing a few times, mingling with the cauldron that made her jaw seem like it was coming off. If there's a criminal who's trying to beat up his boss today and they choose the backdoor route, Vera swears he'll hit that bastard for his stress relief.

"Hatcheee!" Vera sneezed again.

"God bless," someone blessed him from behind. As fast as lightning, Vera pulled the gun from her back and pointed it at Anggara's face leaning a few stairs above her.

"Mr Angga?" Vera instantly lowered her gun, a feeling of uneasiness raging. Why is that guy here? As Vera recalls, Carcel notices that Anggara and Evan are eating with Ace.

"I'm sorry" said Vera, then bowed politely. Despite apologizing, Vera did not feel guilty. It is his duty to always be vigilant to anyone who approaches him while on duty.

"Not smoking today?"

"I work" said Vera.

"How are you, Vera?"

"Well, Mr. Angga." Why would that man know? Vera grimaced confused. He is increasingly uncomfortable with Anggara mentioning his name. Hey, they're not that close! At least that's what Vera thought until Anggara finally came down the stairs and approached her.

"You should wear thicker clothes. It's pretty cold, especially in the morning."

Vera nodded. A clumsy smile splashed across her face-making Anggara into a faint laugh. "It seems you've forgotten me."

"Yes?"

"It's very disrespectful, isn't it?" Anggara took one step closer to Vera, so close that Vera pulled her face back. Vera is confused, but does not know what to react to the intimacy Anggara gave her. Vera did not want to misunderstand and thought that the man who stood on par with his boss was teasing him. That doesn't make sense because their social class is so

"It looks like it's gone." Anggara interrupted Vera's thoughts with her ambiguous speech.

"What's that missing, Mr. Anggara." Maybe Vera can help.

Anggara anchored his palm on Vera's shoulder, and like an electric shock, Vera shuddered under Anggara's touch. Anggara pulled Vera's shoulder without a cue and directly lowered the back of the black suit and the white Vera shirt that covered her nape.

 "My kissmark, right here. It's gone."

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