Exposing him with proof was understandable. He deserved Ace’s wrath. He had been trying to mess with Ace for so long. But torturing him like that? Was he responsible for this, too?

Even after Ace told me everything about his past, his secrets, I felt like I didn’t know everything about Antonio. He was still hiding something.

But I was content one enemy of ours was down. He couldn’t harm us anymore. And now it was Arthur’s turn.

It’s enough, Arthur. Let’s finish your game now.

Clutching my phone in my hand tightly, I held my head high and went for room number 1504.

SIXTY-NINE: FORBIDDEN PLACE

Walking through endless corridors, I scanned the room numbers so I wouldn’t get lost.

The hotel was huge. It was a palace built in the nineteenth century, now turned into a lavish five-star hotel. With the mixture of antique architect and modern decorations, it gave a feeling of royalty. From the paintings on the walls, the huge gold-plated flowerpots on both sides of the corridors, the gorgeous chandeliers shimmering with a golden glow, to the red carpet down the way, everything screamed money.

As soon as I neared my destination, I found the whole area separated from the others by a pair of glass doors. VIP Area was written in bold red letters on the glass. Two men in dark uniforms stood on both sides of the door.

Not again!

I remembered Carter’s warning about some restrictions.

Mentally groaning, I approached the VIP conference area. The guards straightened, noticing me, their hands blocking the way in.

“Our apologies, miss. But random people aren’t allowed here,” one of them said in their thick Russian accent.

Random? Who are they calling random?

My brows creased. “I need to go inside. It’s important. And I’m not any random girl wanting access. I’m Emerald Hutton, Achilles Valencian’s girlfriend and a board member.”

“We don’t know you. No matter who you are, no one is allowed to go inside whose name is not on the list. And you’re not on the list we were given.”

What the hell? Not allowed? Were they having a CIA meeting or something?

They were definitely not Ace’s men. Otherwise, they’d have immediately recognized me.

“Listen to me. I need to go in there, please. I need to talk to Achilles about something very urgent. Please, let me go,” I pleaded.

That rude man shook his head. “We’re afraid, we can’t, miss. We have strict orders not to let anyone in until the meeting is over.”

I gritted my teeth in annoyance. “And who gave you the orders?”

“Arthur Valencian.”

Of course. I should’ve known! That fucking leech didn’t want anyone to interrupt the signing. That’s why he put guards here.

I groaned.