Love In Crimson

Chapter Ten-Saving Grace

Veins stood out on Ace's neck, livid against flushed skin. His breath came short and sharp through flared nostrils, each exhale a controlled burst before it boiled over.

Ace's fists clenched at his sides with his knuckles turning white, as if he were holding back the urge to smash something- Natalia.

His eyes narrowed , burning with a cold, focused fury that made the air feel thinner for Natalia.

Ace was veeeery livid. On the other hand, Natalia was scared. She wished the ground would just open and swallow her up.

Her chest felt tight, each breath too short and too quick. She wanted to apologize again, but her throat was dry and nothing came out. Besides, what use is apologizing in this situation.

Ace was furious, he was pacing to and fro at the gate. “Around what time did you dispose the trash nylon” ,he asked her.

“It was around late evening yesterday sir, when the sky was already turning dark” Natalia said, tightly clutching her hands together to contain her tremors.

Ace didn't think that the waste services work till late evening. But of course, yesterday turned out to be a terrible first time. And why the hell is his gateman out of the compound early in the morning. It really seems he's giving him too much freedom.

He looked at the woman standing with him and only felt more anger than ever before. That photo was very very crucial in the court hearings. It might have looked ordinary, but it contained a lot to be dissected in court.

Rubbing his temples with frustration obvious in his countenance, Ace let out a frustrated sigh. He began to think of various ways that the photo can be retrieved.

Ace decided to contact Scott if he had a soft copy of the photo. Unfortunately, Scott didn't have it.

The only option he was left with was to contact the particular waste services that works for the estate. But if they were working till evening, what is the guarantee that they'll find their own trash nylon.

And trash nylons are majorly the same, black in color. Still outside the gate, Ace contacted the estate security post and asked for the waste services telecom number.

Ace dialed the number and was frustrated when it didn't go through five times times already.

Ace faced Natalia with a murderous look in his eyes, closing in on her step by step. “If we're not able to retrieve this photo, consider yourself dead meat” , he said in a low, dangerous voice.

Natalia silently cursed her luck. At least if they were able to contact the waste services, it would be something. Never in her life will she discard anything in the house again, well, if she makes it through this night.

Ace called someone at the estate security post again . He told them the number they gave to him wasn't reachable and requested if there was another number. The estate security told him they have their manager's private contact that they reach out to incase of any issue.

Ace appreciated them and dialed the manager’s contact number. Natalia's heart leaped when the call went through. A receiver on the other end of the call finally picked up.

On the call, Ace's body stiffened. He ended the call and stood rooted in place. He finally turned to Natalia with dread in his eyes. “The waste services didn't work past 3:00 Pm yesterday”.

Natalia's chest heaved up and down. She heard a danger bell ring in her head. So who emptied the trash bin. Natalia wondered if she'll live to make another mistake.

“Get inside the compound”, Ace ordered her. They both got inside the compound and closed the gate.

Without warning, Ace dragged her and pushed her against the fence wall, choking her neck. “Who sent you”, he asked angrily.

If the waste services didn't work as at the time she put the trash nylon out, then who emptied the trash bin. Did her uncle use her to destroy evidence. After all,he is a cunning man,he might have a secret way of communicating with her and he might be in cahoots with S&L pharmaceuticals.

“Answer me, who sent you” , he roared, choking her furiously than before.

Natalia could not talk. She was desperately gasping for air. She tried to use both hands to remove his grip from her neck but he was too strong for her.

Ace finally let go of her neck. Her face instantly plopped down, while coughing vigorously. She was taking in sharp breaths like she nearly got drowned.

Ace raised her face with his hand and asked again, “who sent you”?

Natalia did not understand, who sent her to do what. “I don't know what you're talking about sir”, she said with a pleading look in her eyes. “I only took out the trash and disposed it in the trash bin. Please sir, I don't know what you're talking about” , she said amidst sobs.

Ace left her and dialed his gateman’s number. “Come home now”! Ace was restless, that photo was a lot.

The gateman hurriedly paid the bill for his drinks and left the bar. His boss sounded furious. Did something happen. Instead of walking, he hailed an in-estate bike to the mansion.

The gateman arrived and entered the compound. He was met with a furious dragon - Ace , and Natalia who was obviously scared. His heart was racing against his chest. If something happened, then he is in trouble.

“Did anybody come to collect the waste in the trash bin before I came back from work yesterday” ,Ace asked directly. He didn't bother to ask questions, he knew where the irresponsible man was coming from.

“No sir, no one came to empty the trash can sir” , the gateman replied, still confused.

“So where is the trash that she disposed yesterday, she disposed a trash nylon when you were out for your frivolous activities”

“I wheeled it into the incinerator at the backyard sir”, the gateman replied.

Ace didn't even know what emotions he was feeling anymore. “Will you be explicit” he yelled.

The gateman took a step backwards in reflex to Ace's yelling.

“ You know that we and some people in the estate use the incinerator for the trash before. But since the time the estate policies kicked against it, everyone has been paying a fee to the estate management for the waste disposal services….so……”

“Will you shut the hell up”. Ace cut him off, he still didn't see the correlation between his question and the story he was saying . “Go straight to the point man”

“Err…yes sir. That what I'm trying to explain. The trash in the bin was already much, coupled with the one she added. It made the house exterior very disorderly and smelly. So I wheeled the trash bin into the incinerator and put the second trash bin outside. I felt since I'm always at the door post, I'll know when the waste services come by”, the gateman explained in one breath.

Ace was shocked . He was feeling a wash of different emotions all at once. Ace made his way to the incinerator and without needing to be told, Natalia followed, then the gateman.

On getting to the incinerator, truly, the trash bin full of trash nylons was there. Ace hurriedly asked the gateman to wheel it out. “Do you enjoy being a statue”, he said to Natalia with an irritated tone.

Natalia's body jerked and she proceeded to lift the trash nylon on top. That was definitely the one she took out. With her disorganized body system, Natalia's fumbling with the trash nylon.

With a frustrated huff, she turned the trash nylon upside down and poured out almost all the waste.

Lo and behold, the photo was sitting amidst the pile of kitchen waste and paper waste from his study .

Ace immediately grabbed the photo with a delighted heart. He was overjoyed. The thought of losing a crucial evidence and appearing non-trustworthy before his legal operations team was shattering him.

Ace stood arm akimbo, with the photo in hand and looked at Natalia with an unreadable expression. Foolish girl, she had suffered for more than what she did.

Natalia frantically tried to pack up the waste. She was still panicking. The ordeals in the last hour has taken a toll on her.

“Leave it alone” ,he said to Natalia.

Turning to his gateman, he said , “clean this place up”

“Yes sir”, the gateman replied with a nod.

Ace started walking towards the house, “ will you rather rot outside”, he said to Natalia who was still rooted in a spot.

With Natalia walking behind Ace, they walked into the living room downstairs.

“Wait here” he said.

Ace went to the study and added the photo to the stack of files he was taking to the office for the day. After today's trouble, he will be a big fool to forget it at home .

Ace went back to the living room and met Natalia still standing, with her hands crossed over each other nervously.

“Well, for the trouble you put me through this morning, let's talk about your punishment”