70

Ace and Chelsey sat down opposite each other at the restaurant.

They were out having the lunch that Ace promised her the other day but couldn't make it because he had to drive Catherine to the hospital.

Of course he came up with a different excuse.

He couldn't tell her the real reason why he couldn't make it.

" Are you okay?"Chelsey questioned, her eyes holding Ace's.

"Yes Baby, why do you ask?"

"I don't know." She responded truthfully, she twirl her fork around the spaghetti sauce and sighed. "I just feel like you're not very open to me."

" Come on, Chelsey. I'm open to you. We are going to get married soon, you can't say that." Ace said to her and she chuckled.

"Really? You should have thought of that when you left me standing meanwhile you're with that girl! Do you think I didn't know? I just kept quiet, I'm not a fool." Chelsey gritted out.

Ace has been trying to avoid stuffs like this.

He took Chelsey's left hand in his and started caressing it.

"I'm not here to fight with you."

"Then pick a date for our wedding. Pick a date for our wedding Ace, or are you still thinking about it? Having second thoughts?" Chelsey asked and he shook his head.

He just wanted her to stop talking and eat.

"I'll think about it. I will pick a date soon , don't worry about it and eat." He replied her.

They continue eating in silence, the atmosphere heavy with unspoken words.

After eating lunch, Ace dropped Chelsey off at a salon and left to visit his mother at her hotel room before she leaves for New York.

Pathetic.

That was the only word to describe him.

After everything that happened he still secretly wish Catherine the best. Ace still secretly hope that she finds her happy ending.

Pathetic.

"I am here for Veronica Hampton." He said to the receptionist, his eyes darting down the hall.

"Does she knows that you're coming?"

" No."

The receptionist picked up her telephone and pressed some numbers before pressing it against her ear.

"Mrs Hampton, you have a visitor. " The receptionist said and stared up at Ace.

"What is your name please? "

"Ace Hampton, her favorite son. " Ace responded and flashed the receptionist a boyish smile.

The lady returned the smile and said something on the telephone before dropping it.

"Top floor, please."

*******

Ace sat down on a couch inside his mother's suite.

"I wasn't expecting you son, I thought I'd have to leave for New York without seeing you again." She said and smiled. "What brings you here?"

"Chelsey said that you both talked about the wedding." Ace said and she hummed. "And Catherine also talked to me."

Mrs Hampton's facial expression changed instantly. From happy to blank.

She indeed gas no love in her heart for Catherine.

"Why are you bringing her up? Is this some kind of a joke?"Mrs Hampton questioned Ace.

"She ask me to help her. She is desperate, she said that I am the only one who can help her." Ace said and sighed. "She looked pitiful."

"And?" Mrs Hampton asked, she was bored and tired of the conversation.

"I want to help her. I contacted Uncle Scott the other day and he will be meeting with the bank. I will deal with her uncle."Ace explained and Mrs Hampton stood up instantly from her seat.

"Over my dead body. You will do no such thing, Ace. Listen very carefully. You shall not involve yourself with that family. Choose a date for your wedding and get married. In fact you've lost the privilege to make a choice, I'm choosing next week Saturday as your wedding day. You will get married and forget about that girl. And you shall not associate yourself with that company. I'll call Scott and put a stop to all this nonsense! I won't have you soil my name in your bullshits." She fumed.

Ace frowned, his eyes zeroing in on his mother "I'm not even doing anything wrong. Why do you have to be hostile towards Catherine? I'm trying to help her as a friend."

"I don't care what it is about, Ace Hampton. That company is in debt of 660 million pounds. There is no way you're going to cover up that debt. It will affect my company. I won't let you destroy what I've been building for years. For you! I won't let you destroy my hard work for a random girl that can't even fight for you!" She bellowed. "Tell me Ace. Have that girl ever fight for you? Have she ever stand ten toes beside you? I threatened her and the next thing she did was break up with you and run. Is that the kind of person you want to give my money to? I'd rather throw my money inside the ocean. Listen and listen very good young man, if I hear that you got involved with that family, I'll be forced to do something that we will both regret. Don't push me."

She said all that and walked away from Ace.

He was speechless.

He didn't even know what to say.

It was one of those dates occasions where he get caught off guard.

His mother caught him off guard with her response. He wasn't expecting it at all and he was throw off guard by it.

She threatened him.

His mother has never went that far before.

He sat there for a long time. He was confused and didn't know what to do.

"I am afraid that you're on your own now, Catherine. You made your bed, now you have to lay on it." He muttered under his breath.

Ace stood up from the couch and walked towards the door.

"I'm leaving Mom," He called out to his angry mother but heard nothing.

He was stupid to even think of talking about his plan in front of his mother.

He was stupid.

Veronica Hampton will do anything to watch Catherine suffer and she was already getting what she wants.

The Meyer's financial trials and tribulations.