I Blame Wattpad for My High Expectations of Men

Chapter 73 - Marry me!

~Sunday, April 2, 2017 – The Exchange~

~Ace Rivers's Point of View~

Sometimes what you're looking for comes when you're not looking at all...no better saying explains how such a blessing like Lola Dino could've possibly showed up in my life.

Ryan Parker's appearance, on the other hand, I assume was just one hell of an overdue punishment from a time way back when I didn't know right from wrong. He's been pissing me off ever since, even now when everything is just seconds away from being over.

I can't believe the fucker had the nerve to show up to -what was supposed to be- mine and Christian's private meeting in attempt to sabotage it.

"Sir, you're making a big mistake here," he tries to convince Christian. "This cunt," he sneers my way, "hasn't been loyal to either you or your organization."

I'm so tempted to speak up, hell to even knock the headlights out of the fucker, but I know better. Christian is a man who believes that actions speak louder than words, that's just one of the many things I've been able to pick up on during my time here. That being said, if I act upon Ryan's accusations and show that his words have any kind of effect on me, he's bound to get suspicious.

However, if I remain as calm and collected as I currently am, Ryan will have nothing on me. He can spit out pointless allegations all he wants, but without any solid proof, he's done for. There's no way in hell Christian is going to let his act of barging in here slide just like that, so all I have to do is continue playing my cards right.

"You speak of this as if you have any legitimate kind of proof," Christian tells him, even more calm and collected than I'm trying to be.

"I don't have any physical proof, no, but-"

"No proof, no case."

"I understand that, sir, but you're a smart man," the fucker refuses to give up. And then he mentions something that he shouldn't: my family, those that mean everything to me. "Between his sister, best friend, and that little Italian bitch of his" -I'm forced to clench my fists behind my back to prevent myself from bashing his head into the concrete floor underneath us- "do you really think he's kept his mouth shut this whole time? He's been playing you all along, boss! Just like the rest of us!"

"You really want to know what I think?" Christian challenges Ryan as he blows out another puff of smoke from one of his infamous Cuban cigars. "I think you should worry less about a man who's about to be granted his freedom, and more about that self-destruct button inside you just waiting to happen." The room grows quiet for a brief moment, my soon-to-be former boss daring Ryan to say anything else. And when he doesn't, he concludes their conversation with, "this is the second and last time I'll ever say this to you, boy: your only competition should be you today versus you yesterday. And whether your egotistical shitty piece of mind believes it or not, you're failing already."

I smirk as I watch Ryan bite back his next words, knowing damn well that if he talks again without permission, he's a dead man. Christian then proceeds to count all the money inside the duffel bag and soon, he's knocking on the closed door behind him, telling two of his guys to escort Ryan out the dark room.

"Oh, and Ryan?" The two men holding Ryan make an abrupt stop, easily turning around so that the fucker can face their boss. "Given that from this day forward, Ace Rivers is a free man, you're no longer to follow him around anywhere," he stresses. "And on top of being banned from Santa Barbara altogether, if I ever find out that you went near him or anyone associated with him on your own account ever again, I'll kill you myself." Ryan visibly gulps at his words, a single streak of sweat beginning to trail down the side of his face. "Have I made myself clear?"