Chapter 131

131 Our Resolution

I could feel her pain and her stress; however, I couldn’t truly say that I sympathized with her. Everyone had their own problems and mine happened to come with putting enough food on the table for me and my mother. So, I didn’t really want to hear about the sorrowful story of a rich heiress and her struggle to marry the love of her life against all odds and all that.

“Did Kyle admit that he stole that storyboard from me? He came to my room saying that he wanted to pick up his things and then stole that storyboard,” I spat accusingly.

Then, this dear Elizabeth person came to me and screamed at me for seducing her husband because of that same incident.

“At first, I didn’t want to believe it, but Ace presented some proof. On top of that, I felt like the storyline seemed to be something that Ace would have come up with. When I confronted Kyle about it, he finally admitted to it when he was faced with Ace’s evidence. Once again, I am very sorry for everything that happened,” Elizabeth apologized regretfully.

I was speechless. So now that she has apologized, what happens next?

“Kyle has been working very hard to please my father and our recent wedding just made him more desperate to do so. He thought that coming up with a storyboard that would help us win the competition would help. I never thought that the storyboard that he gave me was stolen,” Elizabeth explained.

“Well, that is that. So now what are we going to do?” Ace asked in a light tone.

Although Ace seemed relaxed about it, Elizabeth was tense as her brows drew together in a deep frown. After a pause, she sighed loudly as if she had made her final decision.

“Chase Creatives will issue a public and formal apology to Jessen’s and Hill’s regarding the truth behind this case. In addition, we will withdraw from the Ashford competition this year. Hopefully that will be enough for you, Ace,” Elizabeth said in resignation.

.....

Really? She would do all that, really?

“I’m fine with it but I’m not the one who needs to decide. Rina, what do you think?” Ace asked me.

“I...” I began saying before I realized that I was still finding it hard to take in all that was going on and its implications.

Chase Creatives publicly apologizing is going to be a very big deal and it would probably be a news that would shake up the industry. The same could be said about withdrawing from the competition. If they really withdrew then it would be almost like an automatic win for our company. Elizabeth was really sacrificing a lot to apologize for Kyle’s mistakes.

“I’m fine with your proposal. However, I want you to return the storyboard that Ace and I worked on. If possible, I would like our company to use that storyboard in the competition,” I stated my preferences firmly.

'

Ace’s eyes widened at my proposal, and I could tell that he was at least slightly surprised by my demand. The reason for it was very simple, Ace and I worked so hard together on that storyboard. It’s the first work that Ace and I produced together, and I didn’t want it to go to waste because of something stupid that Kyle did.

“I understand. I will clarify to the committee that the storyboard belongs to Jessen’s and Hill’s. Whether your company decides to use that storyboard going forward or not will depend on Ace’s decision,” Elizabeth said seriously.

“We’ll use it. It’s a very good storyboard,” Ace said decisively.

“Thank you, Ace...” I quickly thanked him.

“It is a good storyboard,” Elizabeth agreed readily.

“Send my regards to your father,” Ace told her with a slight smile.

“I will. Have a great evening,” Elizabeth said before she got up from her seat.

Ace and I got up from our seat as well and then we watched silently as Elizabeth exited the room. My legs lost its strength the moment that she disappeared from sight and the door closed behind her. I flopped back down onto my seat.

Did that really happen just now? I didn’t just dream that all up, right?

“Ace...is this real?” I asked in a breathless whisper.

That was probably a very stupid question, but I just had to ask it.

“Yes, it’s real. That’s Elizabeth for you. She’s always been as straight as an arrow. I can’t say that she’s got great tastes in guys, though,” Ace said with a small laugh.

I had thought this from the first time that Elizabeth showed up. It seemed that Ace and Elizabeth knew each other quite well. I could feel it in the way that they talked and interacted with each other.

“You seem to know her quite well...” I murmured.

“I do. I know Elizabeth very well, actually,” Ace replied casually.

‘Well’ as in how well?

“She’s your...friend?” I took a guess.

Ace smiled at me before he started laughing softly. I watched him shake his head from side to side.

“She’s my ex-fiancée,” Ace replied with a small laugh.

Ex...fiancée...

Ex-fiancée?!

It was like time stopped. That was just how stunned I was at his words. Did he just say what I think he said? Does he mean what I think he means?

“What? Really?!” I exclaimed in pure shock.

“Really...” Ace confirmed.

“You two were dating?” I asked in shock.

“Not quite. Our fathers wanted us to get married. It was Elizabeth’s father that proposed the idea because he wanted to merge our companies. I’m not even sure if that would work given the anti-trust laws but he was convinced that it would work out,” Ace explained in a very relaxed manner.

It felt like he was talking about someone else and that the matter never involved him.

“Aha...” I mumbled.

“Basically, it’s more of a business deal than an engagement. We were both against it from the start. She was still young and then she got into a relationship with someone else and I...I was just loving my freedom too much to settle down anywhere or with anyone,” Ace explained with a carefree shrug.

–To be continued...