Beyond the Walls
Synopsis
~ She was the princess of a fairytale she'd never heard of~ Buried deep in scars, Ace Rhodes is rude and arrogant and probably the last person on earth to show his flaws and insecurities to anyone. On the other hand, Isabelle Reinhart is damaged herself because of what life brought her in the early years. Yet she's hell-bent on bringing out the best in a man who has been nothing but just an insolent boss to her. Working for the self-made multi-millionaire, Isabelle faces the man who stops her heart from beating each time with his mere look at her. While Ace, who sees himself as nothing more than a man incapable of affection, starts to fall in a trap he avoided all his life: love.
Beyond the Walls Free Chapters
Chapter—Prologue | Beyond the Walls
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Ace Rhodes.
I delicately ran my fingers through the tousled strands of my hair, finding a sense of comfort in closing my eyes and leaning my head against the plush headrest of the bus seat.
Today was surprisingly enjoyable. After almost a year, I went to see Noah, and suffice it to say I was thrilled to find him and William content with their lives.
My long-suffering best friend had finally found love, and as far as I knew, Emily was the only person who could be the best match for him. The way she fit in with them and the way Noah's eyes lit up every time that idiot heard her name was all that had always been missing in their lives for as long as I could pinpoint.
William himself seems pleased to see his son and Emily together. I never imagined I'd ever see him truly smile again after everything he went through and dealt with.
Today was Emily's 18th birthday, and since she didn't know anything about me, I felt the odd one out almost the whole time.
Not like that stopped me from being, well, me.
But I was happy that, despite the impression I got from Noah's never-ending rants, she was timid and introverted. She even made an effort to hide her displeasure when I made dirty jokes and did her best to make me feel at home considering my controversial nature.
The bus came to a halt as new passengers started climbing in and I cringed at the thought of having to share my seat with someone. Socializing wasn't my forte. The seats filled up, and I breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that no one had targeted my unoccupied space.
Almost everyone got seated and I heaved a sigh of relief when nobody bothered asking me to share my seat with them. As I was about to close my eyes again, I heard a clanging sound and I rolled my eyes and lifted my head up to see the cause of that sound.
"Hold up! Hold up, dude," a faint feminine voice called out, and there she was, climbing the bus with a bag that appeared larger than her petite frame.
She gave a small smile to the driver and then turned towards the passengers, her eyes roaming the entire bus for an empty seat.
She exchanged a brief smile with the driver before surveying the passengers. Her eyes alighted upon the sole vacant seat beside me, and a smile graced her lips as she made her way to the back of the bus.
For reasons beyond my grasp, I felt surprisingly okay sharing my seat with this girl. Her endearing smile and the flush that crept up her cheeks provided all the rationale I needed to share this journey with her.
Clad in a mauve sweatshirt paired with black ripped jeans that flattered her slim legs, she exuded a captivating charm. Her dark brown waves cascaded down her shoulders, enhancing her allure.
I cringed inwardly. I was not one to casually compliment girls—what had gotten into me?
While on her way toward my seat, she hit her foot on the side of a seat in front of me and almost landed on the floor flat on her face.
"Whoa, take it easy there, Princess," my words slipped out before I could filter them, and she responded with an eye roll, swiftly recovering her bag.
"Hey mister, a little scoot would be appreciated," she addressed me, and I conveyed an exaggerated eye roll to convey my apparent disinterest in her presence.
I shifted to the window seat, observing as she settled in, her fragrance redolent of jasmine wafting my way, a scent I endeavored to ignore.
Why did this girl practically radiate happiness? It bothered me more than it should’ve.
She settled down and looked my way, straight into my eyes. Her eyes were a mix shade of hazel and light brown that looked even prettier up close.
Her face was emotionless and so was mine. She kept looking at me, as if curious to know the answers to the questions that were haunting her for decades. And then again, she smiled, a genuine smile, and I swear I felt my heart stopped beating in that precise moment.
For weeks afterward, she occupied my thoughts. At the end of each day, as I lay in bed, her flawless smile and the lingering scent of jasmine would find their way into my mind. But as time passed, the memories of her began to fade, like a distant echo growing faint.
Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, and eventually, she slipped from my thoughts altogether. The memory of her smile, her eyes, and the scent of jasmine dissipated, leaving only a vague recollection of a girl who had briefly brightened my existence.
Chapter 1 — The Godawful Coffee | Beyond the Walls
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5 years later...
Ace Rhodes.
I eased into my chair, the hum of my laptop beginning to fill the office as I took a sip of my coffee, only to be met with a sinking disappointment.
It was awful.
My former secretary, who had a knack for knowing my coffee preferences, had recently resigned, leaving me struggling to find the same level of satisfaction in my morning brew.
Damn her for marrying someone who lived in another state.
With a weary exhale, I sifted through pending files, my focus shifting to emailing crucial documents to our company's sponsors. Another sip of the wretched coffee offered no improvement, and I rubbed my temples, feeling the beginnings of a headache.
Just as I delved into my tasks, my phone rang, presenting the name of someone I was decidedly unprepared to converse with.
"Good morning, Rhodes," Kevin Grace's voice echoed through the receiver, his firm Spanish accent unmistakable.
"Good morning, Mr. Grace. How can I assist you today?" I replied, attempting to maintain a professional tone, although the underlying irritation was evident.
"I specifically asked you to send me the packages provided by Sterling's Corporation, but alas, they have yet to arrive at my doorstep, Mr. Rhodes," he stated with a hint of dissatisfaction.
My eyes narrowed at his words, fighting the urge to roll them. "I apologize, Mr. Grace. I have been occupied with tours and conferences, overlooking the fact that my employees have not yet sent you the packages. I will ensure they are dispatched promptly."
"Very well, Mr. Rhodes. Have a good day," he responded curtly before abruptly ending the call, leaving me with a lingering frustration.
Filthy drug dealer.
Grace Corporation was the only company in the market that rivaled our own, and their success, achieved through dubious means, only fueled my hate for Kevin Grace. From the moment I stepped into the business world, I despised him, and his constant attempts to assert superiority over me only further intensified my hatred. And the fact that I hooked up with his sister would never make me despise my old self any less. I was certain he would’ve killed me already out of pure hatred had I not been this resourceful.
"Sup, sad fuck?" Alex barged into the office without invitation, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his unannounced entrance.
"It's 8 a.m. and you're actually in the office. Color me impressed, Alexander," I retorted, my tone laced with a hint of sarcasm.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," he responded in absentminded acknowledgment, waving off my comment as he slouched onto the sofa, engrossed in his phone.
This day was shaping up to be a mess.
"The packages, Alexander," I reminded him sternly, hoping to redirect his attention.
"What packages?" he responded, seemingly engrossed in his phone.
I sighed, trying to quell my growing frustration. "I instructed you to deliver the packages to Kevin. How could you forget?"
"Oh shit, I completely forgot. That asshole called, didn't he?" Alex finally looked up from his phone, cursing under his breath as he stood up and made his way toward me.
"Of course, he did. What else did you expect?" I shrugged, feigning disappointment as he took a seat opposite me, shaking his head lightly.
"Yeah, don't worry, I'll ask Gwen to handle it today," he assured me, and I nodded in acknowledgement.
"By the way, I still don't have a secretary," I reminded my best friend and co-owner of this company.
Alex glanced at me, then at his phone, and back at me again, cursing under his breath. After a moment of contemplation, a mischievous smile played across his face.
I knew exactly where he was going with this.
"Nope. Absolutely not," I protested, lifting my hands in a gesture of surrender.
"Aw, come on, Ace. Just this one last time, I promise," he implored, punctuating his plea with puppy-dog eyes.
"No, it's not happening. You know interviews aren't my thing, Alex," I whined, adopting the tone of a three-year-old— something I’d do in front of a few people who truly knew me.
"Just for one day, man. I swear this is the last time," he persisted, his eyes fixed on me.
Intrigued, I couldn't help but inquire, "And where might you be headed off to?" Another sip of the ghastly coffee contorted my features.
Yep. Still awful.
"It's Mom's birthday, Ace. You know she throws a huge party every year, and somehow, you manage to find a way to avoid attending. I'm flying to Texas in two hours," he replied, rolling his eyes, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Talent, bro," I responded with a smirk.
Parties had never been my thing, and over the years, nobody bothered inviting me anymore because they knew I would find a way to gracefully bow out.
"Anyway, I'm off. I texted Gwen about the parcels for Kevin. Good luck with the interviews," Alex said, offering a two-finger salute before leaving me to handle the workload on my own.
I didn't mind the workload, but interviews were a different story. Since the establishment of this company, Alex had always taken charge of conducting interviews, well aware of my aversion to human interaction.
I groaned at the thought of spending the day engaging in small talk, probing into personal interests and relationships. It was going to be a long and arduous day.