One Hundred and Eighteen

CHAPTER 118

In the dim forest, the sun could only sneak through the narrow gaps in the trees. The sun's rays that began to rise into the sky illuminated a large man in the middle of the forest. He crawled into the car he was driving. Struggling, he continued to crawl and reach for his cell phone that had fallen there.

With one hand, he grabbed the phone, and with the last of his strength, he called someone using his cell phone.

"Hello, Mrs. Vashylchenko! It's me, M-Mike."

[...]

"A-Ace... he managed to escape. M-I'm sorry."

****

"Arg!!!!"

Angela threw her cell phone against the wall while screaming hysterically. The two waiters who were preparing breakfast hurriedly covered their mouths and looked down in fear. Their boss was very angry. She had just received news about Ace running away. The only pawn she was expecting had just slipped out of the cage. The rope she had hooked to Ace's body had just been cut.

"Asshole! Asshole! Asshole!" The two maids could only back up until they hit the wall, then they shut their mouths tightly. "You two, hurry up and get my car ready. I have to go take care of this rat by myself!"

"W-well, ma'am!" replied the two maids behind Angela.

Angela rushed out of the luxurious penthouse suite, her stiletto heels squeaking loudly on the marble floor. She was a force to be reckoned with in this world of high-stakes business, and the loss of Ace threatened everything she had carefully built.

As she gets into her sleek black sports car, her mind is filled with various scenarios. Ace, the only pawn she had, was gone without a trace. She pulled out of the parking lot, her tires squealing in sync with her racing thoughts. What had triggered Ace's sudden disappearance? Did he have other plans? Where was he going exactly?

The road blurred past her as she headed into the lower areas of the city, where her contacts and connections blossomed. Angela knew that in her world, loyalty was a luxury not to be lost. She dialed a number from memory, the phone ringing once, twice, before a gravelly voice answered.

"Angela, darling, what brings you to my corner of town?" The voice was full of intrigue, belonging to a man known as The Fixer.

"Have you heard anything about Ace?" Angela's tone was firm, no room for pleasantries. She needed an answer, and she needed it fast.

There was a moment of silence before The Fixer laughed softly. "Ah, Ace. That little boy has grown up, apparently."

"I'm not in the mood for games. Mike, your hired man... Ace paralyzed him!"

The Fixer's face scrunched up, he looked sour. This wasn't the first time his hired man had been defeated, but it was the question of who defeated him that puzzled The Fixer.

"Did that boy fight Mike alone?"

Angela ignored the rhetorical question from The Fixer's mouth. She raised her voice and crossed her arms over her chest. "I've paid you a high price. You have to take responsibility. I want you to get Ace back, he's my pawn and I can't lose him."

The Fixer leaned back in his worn leather chair, his eyes scanning Angela's face as if dissecting every word she spoke. His reputation as an elusive manipulator preceded him, and his unreadable expression hid many strategies.

"Angela, you know the game we're playing," he said calmly, wiggling his fingers. "The ace is the wild card. He dances into a much larger world than you or I anticipated."

Angela's frustration crackled in the air. "I didn't sign up for this mess. You convinced me to control it!"

Fixer's gaze softened, a rare sight for those who knew him. "Control, my dear, is an illusion. Ace has broken free of the shackles we thought held him down. He's playing his own game now."

A flicker of fear crossed Angela's eyes. "You're telling me he's out of reach? It's your job to find him!"

"No, not yet." The Fixer's voice brought some reassurance. "But our methods need to evolve. We need a different approach."

Angela's jaw tightened. "What do you suggest?"

The Fixer's lips curved into a wry smile. "A collaboration. You and me, Angela. We play this game together."

Angela's disbelief was obvious. "Collaborate with you? I hired you for results, not partnership."

"Times change, Angela. So do strategies," he replied, his gaze piercing Angela. "We must adapt or lose everything. Ace is a pawn who has evolved far beyond our expectations. Together, we may be able to salvage what is left of our control."

Angela weighed her options, a storm of conflicting emotions raging inside her. "All right. But if this fails..."

Fixer rose from his seat, his figure towering over the room. "Failure is not an option. We don't lose a pawn, Angela. We're redefining the game."

Angela let out a long breath, then looked at The Fixer straight on. "What do you really want?"

"More money. Give me fifty percent of the rest of the money you promised, and I'll send people to get Ace."

"Fuck you!"

"Business is business."

Angela's mind raced, weighing the offer against the risk. She had never trusted The Fixer, but the stakes were higher than ever. The game had escalated beyond their control, and Ace was the key to regaining power.

Determined, he leaned forward, staring intently at The Fixer. "Thirty percent. That's my final offer."

The Fixer's eyes narrowed, calculating. "Forty."

"Thirty-five. And I want a guarantee of Ace's safety. I want you to bring him to me alive. You can give him a little mental stress, but he has to come back alive no matter what."

A faint grin touched The Fixer's lips. "Agreed. But remember, Angela, in this game, trust is a luxury we cannot afford. Everything you've paid for is non-refundable. Deal?"

They shook hands, sealing an agreement that would change the course of their plans. Angela's mind raced with implications, but she knew she had to play her cards right.