I cocked my head. “What will you do if I leave? Stop me? How?” I took a step towards them. “Manhandle me? Drag me back inside the house? Because, of course, I’ll fight tooth and nail with you. But you can’t do that.” A smirk tugged at my lips. “If you even touch a strand of my hair, Ace is going to skin you alive,” I hissed, glaring at them.

The subtle look they exchanged and one of them gulping slowly planted seeds of hope in my heart. I was winning this fight. I just needed to hold my ground.

“Now you don’t want me to run to him crying and say how you guys manhandled me and hurt me to drag me back inside, do you? Do you know what will happen then?”

The color of their faces drained. They stood still, not uttering a word.

I smiled. “Good. Now excuse me.”

“But—Ms. Hutton. Stop!” One of them called out, but I didn’t stop. Ignoring them coming behind me, begging for me to stay, I stopped a taxi and got into it immediately before they could reach me.

The moment I walked through the entrance of Diamond Valley, a voice made me turn around.

“Ms. Hutton!”

Carter climbed up the stairs before reaching me. His sky-blue shirt clung to his body, soaked with sweat. With a red face, he looked up at me. Some files were tucked under his armpit.

I frowned. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be in the conference room to deliver Ace my message?” Then realization set in, and my eyes widened. “Don’t tell me you’ve just arrived! Where the hell were you?”

Shit! I made the taxi driver drive faster than a sane man would to reach my destination, bribing him with double cash. I thought Carter was already here, interrupting the meeting. But he just freaking got here!

“I-I’m so sorry, Ms. Hutton. I got stuck in the traffic,” he panted.

Shaking my head, I turned around and ran inside.

Damn it! I just hoped he didn’t sign the contract yet.

With my heart thumping down my chest, anxiety rolling in my stomach, I made my way towards the elevator.

“Ms. Hutton, wait!” he called out for me, still at the entrance, huffing and puffing.

“Which floor?” I yelled over my shoulder, attracting some glances.

“Thirty-eight, room number 1504, but Ms. Hutton, wait! They won’t let you inside the VIP area without…”

His words faded away as soon as the doors of the elevator closed.

While the others in the elevator patiently stood beside me, I kept fidgeting in my place. My palms were clammy as I wiped them on my jeans.

I hope I’m not late.