IN THE CAGE

82. ONLY SOUND

...ACE pov's...

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Not a month had passed when I was messing with my mind, predicting that my meetings with Emery's grandchildren - starting with Jeremy, then Jem - would lead me to meet Jenina Emery. Today, the prophecy that I made as pure sinfulness, becomes reality.

Across the table, in a black dress and a large jewel necklace made the glare of the eyes-Jenina sat assisted by her bodyguard.

I looked at the frail woman bored. Honestly, this is not the dinner I wanted. But he insisted, he said.

"How was your trip here?" I made small talk while the waiter next to us poured wine into the glass.

"Are you questioning my physical condition or my mental state, Arcelio?"

"Both, maybe?"

"Don't underestimate me. Even though I'm old, I'm still the official leader at Hearts."

"That's the main problem. You should have formally handed the position over to your grandchildren. You're old, it's time you retired." I'm pretty brash, to be honest. But I don't feel guilty. This granddaughter has been looking for trouble for me, she's lucky I haven't massacred her and her lineage.

"Submitting a position is easy, the difficult thing is to find a solid and reliable successor."

"Heh, that? It must be hard to have a granddaughter whose competence is not as good as mine."

"You're too arrogant." Jenina rolled her eyes. "Not everyone can be as good as you."

"I'll take your words as a compliment" I chugged the wine in my glass while putting on a mocking expression at the woman.

"You're a bitch, Arcelio. This is one of the reasons why Margot better inherit your father's position."

"Still with the same agenda, huh? Not surprisingly. It is your nature like this that is inherited from Jem. That bratty grandson of yours already reflected a lot on you, it let me down."

Jenina Emery - as the supposed neutral party, supports Margot as Diamond's leader. I didn't really care about the old lady's voice, until I finally took the lead on Diamond. Gradually I learned about this black world, about Jenina and her motives for pulling the strings behind our big names.

He thinks he can control Margot, which is embarrassing. If Margot leads Diamond, it doesn't take a week for this company to be destroyed.

He was Jem in a more nauseating form.

I'm surprised he hates Jem, does he hate his incompetent self?

"Stop the bases, Arcelio." Jenina refused to discuss the continuation of my words. Of course, discussing Jem made him even more irritated.

"You're the one who should have stopped" I said. "If you have a dislike for my decision, say it directly. Stop convoluting and raise Margot's name here."

"Well, if that's what you want..." Jenina exhales which implies rage. "I did invite you to meet to discuss my objections to the agreement you sent to our company recently."

"Oh, what's up with that?" I unintentionally grinned. Damn, this is fun. Seeing the old woman fall apart.

"Did Jem do something stupid?"

"I don't know what you mean, he's always doing stupid things in my eyes."

"Arcelio Hunter's. We're talking about the company here. The cooperation I'm working with Diamond is not a trivial matter. Me and your Harkin-father built this cooperation a long time ago. You can't just mess with her."

"Aaaah, I don't think this job is trivial either, Grandma Jen." I responded with a false sense of politeness. "Because I'm thinking so much about this business, I think it's better to change a few things here and there."

"You didn't just change a few things, you were planning to destroy us!"

"I think Hearts is pretty strong. Removing cooperation with our side will not make you fall apart. Don't be dramatic."

No, I know they're gonna fall apart. The investors who followed me and were my colleagues would withdraw from Hearts if they knew I was pulling my support from there.

"Arcelio, what are you playing? Are you planning to destroy three families for your sheer greed?"

Jenina's words made me laugh faintly. "I thought it was Jem's plan, not mine."

I downed my wine one more time, before continuing to speak. "Isn't Jem's goal to make the Clubs and the Spades ally against me? That we might destroy each other until only he stands gallantly between our wars?"

"..." - ".Jenina hunchback.

Heh, don't take me for a fool to not be able to read trifles like his grandson's shallow tactics.

"Do you think I can still trust Hearts after all your grandchildren's passions?"

"Arcelio, please..." Jenina swallowed her pride and looked at me with eyes begging for fear. "My granddaughter is stupid, but this kind of punishment is really bad. Pi-think the party involved? Our employees? They all need a living wage!"

"Are you trying to squeeze empathy out of me, old man?" I crossed my arms around my chest, eyes glaring at the joke Jenina. "If you want to think about your workers, you should think about that risk in the beginning, not after you've been acting stupid!"

"Arcelio, please..." Jenina reached my hand at the table, her fingers clutching my arm coldly at the end of her fingers. "I'll obey whatever you want."

"Do you think there's still something interesting about Hearts that I want?"

"You.., you came here. That means you're still open to negotiations. Tell me, whatever you want, I'll help you."

Jenina's pretty smart. I was amazed at him. She may reflect Jem, but unlike the highly prestigious Jem, this woman knows when to bow her head. He knows who he should be afraid of.

"You may have a point.." I leaned against the bench, a smirked content to play on my face. Now, I am the one who will pull the strings behind Emery's family. I-in other words, am the leader of Hearts now.

I could have done this a long time ago. But I held back because I respected Emery's family who were friends of my ancestors. Now, after what Jem did, I won't think of him as a friend anymore. Not even for a formality.

"I will continue to work with Hearts, but on one condition..."

"Yes, just say it."

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After talking to Jenina Emery, I never felt this relaxed. The one thorn that pierced my leg was already plucked. There were only a few more thorns left before I could run towards Fawn - the figure that had been my longing nest lately.

I miss Fawn, I miss Fawn so much. I longed for his noise, the babbling was insignificant. I miss when she was so real by my side. It's not an illusion that pops into my imagination anymore.

Drrrrtt!!!

Drrrrttt!!!

Shaking on my phone is annoying. With boredom, I reached into my pocket. Indira Rashid's name is on my phone screen, I have not changed to Indira Caspian.

"Hello," I greeted him lazily.

"Aww, Ace. Why is it so cold? Am I bothering you?"

"You've always bothered me, Indira. What do you want these nights to be?"

It's 11 o'clock now, doesn't this princess know rest?

"I miss you, my dear friend."

"Kumatican, huh?"

"Don't, no! I'm just kidding! Don't be mean!" Indira whines in my ear.

"Listen, I'm happy right now, so I called you."

"Wrong person, you should have called your husband."

"Whisper! Don't ruin my mood." Indira changed.

I really hate this woman. "Say, what makes you 'happy' now?"

"Oooh, you're curious, right?"

Should I turn off this call now?

"Ace, do you really not know?"

"You what?"

"Fawn is back."

"..."

"He's brushing my hair right now."

My heart stopped. "Huh, is he there?"

"Yupps. He's been here for two weeks, but since I'm busy, I forgot to tell you. You know, my dad's gonna have a birthday in a minute. I'm busy preparing for her birthday."

"Is he okay?" My hands shook without me holding back.

"Dad?!"

"Fawn, Indira. Is she okay?"

"O-oh, he's nice. He's very nice." Indira responded to me with confusion, but I would not be surprised. I just pressed my voice full of seriousness.

"Is he...., is he really there?"

"Yes." Yeah."

I wanna see it.

"Fawn, Ace doesn't believe you're here." Indira's voice talking to Fawn reached my ears. Hearing that, my heart raced at a very fast pace.

I know, the one talking to Fawn right now is Indira. But somehow it feels like it's me. I wonder how Fawn reacted to my name? Is he disgusted and hated, surprised, sad? Does he miss me?

"Miss Indira, don't hang up the call."

Fawn's voice sounded faintly there. My heart was screaming in pain. I wanna see it. Touch it.

"mmm, mmmm. Ace, are you still listening to me?" Indira greeted back.

"I'm listening" I murmured.

"Forget about Fawn, my dad's gonna be a birthday any minute?"

"He's getting older?"

"Damn it, Ace.. Bebass!!! I'll go to the party, meet my father and everyone!!!"

"Ah.." That's right, I forgot that Indira was still a prisoner of the house in the Caspian residence.

"Have you received an invitation from my family?"

"I suppose?" I haven't checked anything.

"Listen, I'll send another invitation just in case Anggara hasn't invited you." Indira was very enthusiastic, but I was still thinking about Fawn. Stuck to his presence there. Did he listen to our conversation?

"You should come, okay? Take Margot too. I miss you guys."

"I'll try to come." I calmly replied. Normally, if this were the Indira family, I wouldn't want to get involved at all. But, thinking of the probability that I would meet Fawn there, I would go to enemy territory if it meant seeing the deer's eyes again.

I'll see you back, Fawn. I hope.., later, you won't run away again.

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