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QUINN

I was supposed to be happy for my sister. This was an important step in her life. I pushed my head back and the voices of our family members and friends talking and dining filled my head once again.

Walking back to the dining, I almost tripped but Dylan held me before I could fall.

"Hey hey, are you okay?" He asked. "You've been like in another world throughout the night."

"Yeah yeah I'm fine just a bit dizzy," I lied.

How could I explain to my ex-boyfriend that my present supposed boyfriend was cheating on me with his ex-girlfriend?

"You sure?" He rose an eyebrow as he helped me to my seat. I nodded and thanked him.

The party went on. We were at the one place we always have our dinners, it was where Ace and I had dinner the other night. The memories from that night flowed through my head again.

Just after we make a toast to a successful year for Xenia, Ace walks in.

My breath hitched in my throat as I took in his appearance. He looked like he had been running his hands through his hair multiple times but his all-black outfit covered up that mess. I found myself gulping my drink in one go and taking a seat.

They all welcomed him and to my dismay, my mum urged him to take sit beside me where she was previously sitting. I internally groaned but decided to act nonchalant.

The party continued and I noticed that Milo had been extremely touchy with my sister. I squinted my eyes and made a mental note to talk about it later with her. I giggled and shook my head. My ship was sailing.

Ace was also tensed beside me and we both sat still without saying a word. His phone began to beep multiple times but he did not attempt to check the text. Even though low music was playing and chattering of people filled the room I could still feel his presence no matter how much I tried to ignore him.

I had to leave, I couldn't take it anymore. I had fallen so in love with this man and he didn't feel anything for me. I had to fix my heart myself and staying next to him didn't do me any good. 

I quickly stood up and packed my stuff after telling Dylan good night. He offered to drive me back to the apartment but I told him I wanted to be by myself. He finally gave up on coming with me and made me promise to call him when I get home.

Taking my eyes off Dylan I caught sight of Ace staring at me through my side eye, I fought the urge to look at him and turned away after giving Xenia a forehead kiss.

My heels clacked on the tiles as I walked to the door and got to the elevator. I adjusted my coat which was dangling on my arm and pressed the button to open the elevator, luckily for me it was empty. I loved the idea of being alone at that time. My peace was soon ruined by a hand that stopped the elevator as it was about to close.

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion and the elevator slowly opened to reveal a heaving Ace. Our eyes locked for the first time tonight and I could feel my heart stop beating. I know I was so stupid, but getting over someone you once had feelings for was one of the toughest and most heartbreaking things a woman could go through. This was the reason why I couldn't stay in the same space with him, my feelings were still fresh, and seeing him constantly would just prolong my healing process and keep hurting me.

I tucked my hair behind my ear as he made his way into the elevator and it shut behind him. I took my eyes away from his and my senses came back to me.

"Quinn." His low voice rang in my ears and he tried to make his way to me.

Choosing to pretend like his presence was unimportant I clicked the button for the ground floor and the elevator began moving.

He must have gotten the clue because he paused and said nothing.

Then in a flash, the elevator stopped roughly with a loud crash, almost instinctively Ace dragged me into his arms, my face was in front of his chest with his hand protecting the back of my head while his other hand held me close to him. The lights began blinking incessantly and another loud crash was heard again, a low whimper escaped my lips and his grip on me tightened. Finally, it all stopped and the light blinked a few times before it became so dim that all lights which illuminated the button went off.

We remained in that position, just our breaths syncing and him gently caressing my back. I knew I had to push him off but just hold on another voice behind my head told me, I knew I felt too comfortable in his arms but just a few more minutes the voice said again. I loved being in his embrace, my body recognized his scent as a familiar calm scent that automatically made me calm and feel safe. 

But I can't do this again.

I pushed him away instantly and he stood before me shocked but quickly masked it. I looked around accessing the situation we were in.

"I think it's a power outage.... We're stuck here until they can get us out. Don't try calling, there's no network here," Ace explained as I tried to press the buttons.

I didn't say anything and moved to the edge of the elevator, trying to get as far away from him as possible.

I heard him sigh and run his hands through his hair which already looked like he had been running his hands through it a lot. He was silent for two seconds before speaking up again.

"Okay first," He took in a deep shaky breath and continued. "You're not dumb or stupid, you're not someone I just consider as a person I met through a family deal, you're so much more than that. And all the times we spent together..... the kiss, the times we spent in my apartment and your apartment, the times you've taken care of me, the times I've taken care of you, the times we've spent laughing and crying and being there for each other it means the world to me. I was a mess before you came into my life and you are the best thing that has happened to me in the longest time. I fucked up I know Quinn I know."

"I have no new feelings whatsoever, you can date whomever you want. As you said it's your life." I made my tone cold and harsh as I stared into his eyes that studied me intensely.

"I know you don't mean that." His voice was deep and raspy making shivers run down my spine. But I held my head high and refused to be affected by him again.

"I thought you knew me more than this. This conversation is over, I'm leaving.......for good this time."

Now he moved closer to me and I felt his presence behind me. Trying to reduce the sound of my sobs I took my hands to cover my mouth as the tears freely dropped.

"I'm so sorry for everything Quinn. Nana is just a friend, yes I admit we did date but that was then. We broke up and everything ended. I have no feelings for her, that night was complicated and it all happened fast I pushed her away the second it happened. That night was one of the worse nights of my life.... Well right after this night. I know you hate me so much right now and I don't blame you, I pushed my feelings back and pushed you away all because of my family matters. I didn't put your feelings into consideration. That night I felt so terrible losing another person I love so much," I heard his voice crack at the end and so did my heart.

At that moment I was a sobbing mess, I felt his shaky hands on my arm. He traced his finger down to my mine and slowly captured my shaking hands in his and turned me to his. His eyes were bloodshot red and the tip of his nose was turning to a light shade of pink. 

"I refuse to let my grandfather take another person I love away from me. I had always found you amusing since the day at the cafe, you brought light into my life and my life didn't seem as bad anymore because you were there. I hated the thought of making my grandfather get what he wants like us dating but I think I've fallen for you too deep for that to change my feelings.... I love you Quinn Manchester."

My heart twisted.

My senses refused to work.

My hands refused to stop shaking.

The tears refused to stop pouring.

He loves me?

He just said that?

"I love you," He repeated and moved closer. He took his hands to cup my tear-stained checks and gently wiped the tears. Now I looked up and our eyes locked, he paused like his world had stopped and so did mine.

"I hate seeing you in tears," He whispered and I chuckled through the tears.

His sea-blue eyes glowed in the dim light and looked at me with so much love that I thought my heart might burst. Slowly I found myself smiling and so did he.

"Did you practice that speech?"

"Really? That's the first thing you'll ask?" He chuckled and sucked in a breath. "No, I didn't know what to say when I saw you, this all just came at the moment."

"You hurt me, Ace, you made me feel like the worse."

His smile slowly disappeared, "I know..... I'm going to make it up for all the shitty things I did in the past. Can we start over?"

My palms began to get sweaty and I stared into his eyes which were eagerly waiting for the words to leave my lips. His lips.... My eyes wavered to his pink soft lips for a second and I gulped. I had missed the feeling of it. I saw him smirk and his hands moved to my waist where it fitted perfectly. Now we were so close I could feel his heartbeat.

His hair which fell across his eyes ticked my forehead. He leaned in closer to me and I gave in to the urge to run my hands through his hair and he closed his eyes in satisfaction of feeling my touch. I smiled and held his face in my hands, he had a little rubble on his face from a new set of beards growing and I caressed it. His eyes were still shut but I could feel his heavy breaths and his body pressed again mine. The cold feeling of the wall of the elevator behind me didn't stand a chance to the warmth thriving between us at the time.

Finally, my hands landed on his lower lips and his eyes slowly flutter open. Then I moved closer and kissed his lower lip just as little as a peck and waited for his reaction. He stared at me and my heartbeat filled my ears as he remained silent and looked at me like I was a drug he was addicted to and finally got a taste of the drug after a long time.

"I'll take that as a yes," His voice was low and husky. It sent ripples down to my toes and I could feel myself getting intoxicated by his voice. In a flash, my hands were above my head held by one of his hands and his other hand was placed on my throat with his thumb under my chin lifting it.

His lips captured mine and at the same time a low moan escaped from our throat and I wrapped my legs around his torso. He released my hands and his hand found its way to my thigh and finally went up to my butt and held me up. His lips kissed mine hungrily as his hands caressed my body. My whole body was on fire and I wanted him closer. We broke the kiss to breathe as our breaths were heavy and our lips were swollen.

"You're driving me crazy Quinn," He whispered.

"That's what I do best."

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Finally😭😭 Told you all that patience was the key🤭

Ace has finally broken from his grandfather's grip and has let himself fall in love.

What do you all think about this chapter?

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QOTD: What's your latest search history?

Mine is the branches of psychology.... It was for an assignment. 😂