Jaxx was able to move Jacob's game to Friday, and for the next three days before the fight, I have never been sicker. My nerves were on overdrive, and each time I thought of Friday, my delicate stomach would be unreasonable. My heart rate has constantly been rapid. I think I might actually die of a heart attack soon if it did not slow down.

Does the heart get tired of beating? Not that corny romance-novel heart stops beating kind of shit from lousy heartbreaks. I'm talking literally. Does it? Because I thought mine was about to give way from fatigue soon.

"For the love of God, Bart, fuck off!" He took a photo of me retching my guts out at the men's room on the IT floor.

"Joe is going to love this," he sniggered before he left.

'Joe' was going to fight for his life tonight, you fucking insensitive prick!

"Mr. Ace, are you sure you don't want to go to the clinic or take the day off?" Noelle offered as she handed me a bottle of water.

"I'll be fine, Noe. It's just a stomach bug. But thanks." At least someone cared.

"There are people waiting for you, by the way. I locked your door to make sure they don't slip inside. They don't look friendly, Mr. Ace," she warned.

"You got a name?"

"They didn't say, but I heard one of the men call the lady 'Ms. Sofia'." I nodded. 

Who on earth is this Sofia? I racked my brains. The only person that came to mind was that bitch who Jacob almost went home with. Well, at least that's what he said.

"Thanks, Noe. Send security up to make sure we'll all be safe in case they try to do something. I'll be there after I fix myself."

There were only a couple of hours left until the fight and, after everything that's happened, I did not want to take any chances. We were so close to the finale. I could not afford a slip-up. Not one of us could.

From the looks of it, I was their main target because I was less precarious than Jaxx, and I certainly had a lower profile. They thought it would have been easier to get rid of me, that I would be the less formidable opponent.

But I was that little irritating pebble in their shoe that they should have gotten rid of the moment they felt my presence because right now, I was bruising their foot, and I was going to keep on pressing until they stopped stepping on me.

The first face I recognized as I neared the office was the woman's. Everyone else's faded. Oh, dear mother of all coincidences.

"Hello, Ace. That's not happiness to see me, is it?" she smiled sweetly.

"Try surprise," I smirked. I did not want to waste such a fitting allusion to A Perfect Murder. "How can I help you... Mona, wasn't it? And what's with the guards?"

"Can we talk in your office?" she raised a brow.

"Of course, how rude of me. Come in." I opened the door and let her walk inside first. When her bodyguards hesitated, I did not push them. Instead, I left the door wide open.

"A little privacy, please." Her eyes were sharp and calculating as if reading my next move. 

"I prefer my security over my privacy. So, what brings you here? I hope this isn't some pregnancy scare because I sure as hell don't remember coming that night, and it's been barely a week," I chuckled, and her eyes narrowed.

"You were a horrible guest. Couldn't even start before you passed out. Fucking useless." I laughed on the outside and jumped for joy deep inside with that revelation. I even doubt anything happened between us.

"So what are you here for, another poisonous apple?" I sneered.

"I'm here to make a deal with you. Your employee is fighting tonight," she started, and I was all ears.

"By employee, you mean..?" I clarified.

"You know who I mean," she held her chin high, as high as the eyebrow she cocked. I shook my head. I needed her to tell me who exactly.

"Let's not talk riddles and make vague declarations. I talk in binary codes – zero or one, black or white, yes or no."

"Jacob Kingston," she rolled her eyes.

"Okay, go on."

"I think he may have a fair chance of winning against Torpedo. He did the last time. But I need you to secure his win." I raised an eyebrow at her proposal.

"In exchange for what?"

"Your dirty little lover who sold you out," she smirked. It took me a few seconds to realize who she was talking about. My jaw tensed, and my breathing hastened.

Anger. Fury. Betrayal. They were all in my heart and my head, and maybe even on my face. "This deal is more of blackmail than a proposition."

"I never claimed it was otherwise," she indolently looked at her perfectly polished fingernails while I was boiling in my seat.

"And the deal is?"

"If Jacob wins, Brigham lives, and you live. If he loses, then all three of you will die." She paused for a second before looking at me. "Quite dramatic, no?"

"Why do you want Jacob to live? Isn't it supposed to be the opposite?"

"I'm still not done using him. It's just that Beau—gart, Bogart is getting jealous and wants him out of the picture," she quickly recovered from her slip up. Unfortunately, this was another opening I needed. I bit my lip to hide my smirk and pretended to think things over.

"Who's Bogart again?"

"None of your business," she snapped.

"So you're going against the wishes of this Bogart guy to end Jacob's miserable life so you can use him to your advantage. Well, isn't this just a wonderful turn of events? What do I get for not telling on you?"

"Your life. Don't be stupid, Ace. You're just a pawn in this game. You don't even know who Bogart is." She stood up to leave. Aha, so defensive.

"Never underestimate a pawn, Sofia," I said darkly. She stopped in her tracks, stunned that I knew her real name. She turned to me with anger in her eyes. I could see the desperate tears forming.

I smirked even though I was so goddamned nervous it felt like I was going to pass out. Sure, I'm good a selling our product and convincing our clients, but I've never done these kinds of negotiations. This was malevolent, and the only trash talking I did was among friends.

But I had to keep going. I had one foot in the door, and if I played my cards right, I knew she would fold.

"If you help me, I can end this with a stalemate or, even better, a checkmate."

"How are you even sure? Do you know whom you're dealing with?" she scoffed.

"Why would I tell you my aces -- mind the pun -- when you're working against me?" I sat confidently on my swivel chair and gave her an uninterested look. That was equivalent to her staring at her nails earlier.

How quickly the tables have turned, I smirked.

"Your aces? I doubt you even know whom you're playing against. I don't have time for this," she turned her back again.

"I, too, have no doubt Beau wouldn't let Brigs live another day, seeing that he knew a lot of things already, including the truth. Shame, Brigs was a good friend. If only he weren't too reckless to get caught double-crossing the boss," I sighed dramatically.

She didn't turn around, but her hands were balled into fists so tight her knuckles turned white in an instant.

"Noelle, kindly tell security to escort Ms. Sofia and her entourage out," I pressed the intercom as Sofia neared the door.

"Security? Are you so afraid I'd hurt a hair on you?" she glared forebodingly.

In an instant, she closed the door and locked it. For a moment, I imagined she'd throw a knife right at me or shoot me, just ending me right then and there. The scenarios of my death flashed in her eyes but were gone in a blink. I chuckled to cover my nervousness.

"I know you wouldn't. Because Brigs told you not to, right? And he means something to you," I said, pretending to be unperturbed. I picked up a random pen and twirled it in my fingers. It was all a bluff. I don't even know why I said that, but my gut told me that she worked with him or for him, that she would not hurt me even if she wanted to. Unless, of course, if Brigs were dead because of me.

In a few long strides, she was back in front of my table, and she slammed her hands on it. Her eyes were red with unshed tears, her face contorted in anger, and her nostrils were flaring.

"You son of a bitch! Brigs did everything to protect you, and this is the goddamned thanks that he gets? I hope you rot I hell, Ace! You're not worth saving!" she slammed her hand again so hard I thought she was going to break it.

My smirk vanished, and I dropped the pen I was playing with. It was as if I was doused with a bucket of cold water. Did I hear her right? Was Brigs protecting me, too?

"Why would he protect me? From who?"

She laughed derisively. "See? You don't know shit, Ace!"

"Neither do you, Sofia! Now stop being a cunt, and tell me what's going on. If you want to save your friend, your boss, or whatever he is to you, I'm your only hope because, as far as I know, Beau Montevideo and Admiral Fuentabella want him dead!" I stood up and seethed. She sucked a harsh breath. 

I know I shouldn't trust her fully, knowing full well I was treading in shark-infested waters. But I took my chance. If she wanted to help Brigs, maybe she would be able to help Jacob, too.

There were knocks on the door, and various voices called out my name and Sofia's.

"If you want us to help Brigs, you will have to open the door, tell them we're okay, and then we can talk," I ordered. "Otherwise, get the hell out of my office and stay the fucking hell away from me."

She took a few moments to decide, all the while killing me with her looks. She shook her head and wiped a stray tear before turning to the door.

♤

"Holy shit, Jaxx, I didn't expect this to still be on your radar. And wow, this place is packed. How are we gonna get out in case something happens?" Chino asked as we walked inside the warehouse in Quezon City where the fight was. I pointed at the exits that Jaxx haphazardly showed me the first time I came here. I knew I wasn't unreasonable when I asked Jaxx that. He was just being an ass for laughing that time.

The lights went out except for the ones lighting up the octagon as we weaved through the crowd. We were hidden from view and stayed at the corner opposite our usual so Jacob would not see us. I did my best not to look at the ongoing fight and covered my ears. I was delicate, and my stomach has been queasy for the past few days. I did not need more stimulation to induce throwing up again.

When we reached our spot, I immediately sat down and continued to press on my ears.

"You okay?" Chino asked. His eyebrows were furrowed. I shook my head and counted my deep breaths.

"He can't stand the sights and sounds of flesh pounding, ripping, blood spurting, and bones crunching," Jaxx teased, giving me a vivid picture of what was happening.

"Fucking ass," I groaned before retching.

"Aw, you poor thing," Chino teased and patted my head. The fight finished, and I wasn't sure whether I should be thankful or not because the next game was Jacob's.

"Okay guys, you stay here. Aiden, please take care of our delicate friend." With that final instruction, Jaxx left us.

"This is it, bro. I hope to god you read their moves right because I don't want to see anyone die with my own eyes. Especially not my friends," Chino said. All I could see in his usually stoic face was fear.

♤  ♡  ♧  ♢