ACE

Chapter 87: Under Pressure

Playlist for This Chapter: My Boy Only Breaks His Favourite Toys by Taylor Swift.

* * *

With the preparations going on for the masquerade party, I noticed Nico getting a little distant to me. 

I understood he was busy handling legal and illegal businesses even though he had help from Jake and Stuart and even Matteo, but they could only do so much, since he had the final word.

And then with organizing the party that was supposed to be the biggest one of the year, apparently, and the whole Giovanni situation didn't exactly help his already busy schedule.

But he didn't let all that 'work' stop him from exploring every inch of my body, and fulfilling my wildest dreams.

"So, when are you going to your honeymoon?" I asked Adrianna as we lounged near the swimming pool in our bikinis, soaking up the Italy sun.

"After the party. And after solving the problem revolving around Giovanni or we'd be worried the whole time." She said sighing, glancing at her glimmering wedding ring.

"Marriage suits you. You look happy." I said turning to face her and she did the same, pushing her sunglasses on her head.

"I am happy, and thank you, it does. Stuart takes good care of me. If you know what I mean." She winked and I pretended to gag.

"Too much info, Addy." I said when she chuckled, shaking her head.

"Any sign of Ace since yesterday?" She asked me, peering into her glass of lemonade when I sighed heavily.

"No, he hasn't come back yet." I said, my mood dull all of a sudden since Nico hadn't made an appearance since yesterday afternoon after a steamy make out session with me, saying he had to take care of some things at the warehouse.

And we all know he doesn't actually take care of the people there.

"I'm sure he's busy." She said and I hummed in response. 

We stayed out for another hour or so before heading back in and decided to watch a rom-com movie, which lasted nearly two hours of us laughing till we dropped, and even then, none of the men had come back home yet.

"Do you have a dress for the party yet?" Adriana asked me and I nodded.

"Nico said he'd get me one himself." I said smiling a bit when she awed.

"You know, I'd never thought Ace had even one romantic bone in his body." She said stirring the sauce for the pizza we were going to make.

"But he does." I pointed out and she grinned.

"That he does." She said when Stuart strolled in leisurely, whistling to himself. When he saw Adriana, he grinned at her and kissed her lips before sparing me a glance.

"Stuart." I said in a warning tone, my eyes glaring daggers at the guy while he smiled sheepishly.

"Dove, Ace's one and only love, how are you?" He said, trying to be ignorant but the nervousness in his voice was unmistakable.

"Where's Nico?" I asked, putting my hands on my hips when he pretended to think.

"Warehouse...?" He said nervously when I sighed, shaking my head and slumped on a stool.

"Why won't anyone tell me where he is?" I said frustrated when he opened his mouth to say something but I cut him off instantly.

"And don't you dare say warehouse again because I know he isn't there." I glared at him.