â**Chapter 4**â
Ace
My hold on the phone tightened as what my father asked me sank in my brain.
"Please, Ace, I'm begging you. He's the only way we can survive this bankruptcy. Please."
One of the things I hated the most is hearing my father begging, begging for the guy who I hated so much. And saying he's the way to survive this when I am the one who they asked for help.
"I can'tâ"
"Ace, please. I know you're not on good terms with your brother, but it's my company that's at risk. I really need your help."
"If it was Kit who'll work for me, then I might accept it."
I've been good to his new family, I accepted them. I loved Kit as my own brother and I also loved Melissa like my real mother, I even love her more than my biological mother. But Luke? We never had even a second when we're not fighting. And after he stole Dad's company from me after I made everything to have the company enter the top 10 most successful companies in New York City, I don't think I'll be able to let him step in my company.
Now that he's in control of Dad's company, and it's in a mess, they ask help from me?. I work hard for what I have now, I get nothing from them, not even cents.
"Ace, please don't be like this. I'm sure he regretted what he did back then. You were young back then, he doesn't know what he's doing."
Is nineteen young? It might be, but that doesn't mean that he doesn't know what he's doing.
"I don't know, I'll think about it and I still need to talk about this with my wife." That's partly true. I use it as an excuse to end the conversation, but I do really need to inform Madison about it.
Hearing him sigh on the other line, I close my eyes. "Okay, son, Please think about it."
Hanging up the call, I bring my hands up to massage the bridge of my nose. I hate how he's the one who's begging me, when his scumbag son is the one who really needs my help. I'm tired, I'm not in the mood to think about it right now. All I want to do is rest.
Hearing the door click open, I turn my back on the glass wall as I stride over to the office to sit at the couch, her eyes following me before putting her papers down on the table in front of the couch and taking the space next to me.
"Everything's fine?" concerned not hiding in her tone.
Letting out a sigh, I look at her before speaking. "Dad asked me if I could help them with their company. He also asked if I could let my brother in this company and show him how to manage a business properly. Unfortunately, their company is on the edge of bankruptcy."
"And?"
"He's the last person I wanted to see if ever the world ends. I wouldn't even want to see him if that ever happens."
With an understanding nod, she gave me a small smile before shaking her head.
"I don't know anything about your brother, and whatever happened between you two. But don't you think you could help them, even a little? Just think that what you're doing is for your father and not for him, besides it's your father who asked, right?"
"And that's one of the things I can't accept, that my father is the one who's begging me to help him."
"You know, this is kinda similar to my relationship with Liam, our eldest brother. There was this time that we had a fight, and we didn't communicate for like two years? Or three? I'm around twenty at that time." her smile appears on her lips as she tells me this. "I had trouble with my tuition, and I almost got kicked out of my apartment. But that only happens because Dada freezes my account. In the end of the day, even though he hated me for being a brat, I feel mutual, he still flew from London to New York just to help me. He paid for my tuition, gave me his spare card, and talked to Dada to unfreeze my card."
She looks at me, waiting for my response, but it shows that I didn't get it.
"I mean, whatever happened, even after how much you hated each other, you are still brothers and who can help you in your toughest time is your family too. Just like now, they're asking you for help because they know you can help them, and they trust you. Do you think it'll be easy for him to agree to work for you? He needs to lower his pride to do that."
She's right.
And I hate the fact that she's right.
Because how could she know that in just a few words when I'm here trying to look for a reason to accept him for over a decade.
I love how she tried to make me understand this, with her memories.
I love how she flashed her reassuring smile to me.
Furthermore, I love how she tried to help me even though she knows nothing.
Forcing myself to smile, I slowly nodded at her before holding her hands. "I understand, thank you."
"Follow what your heart wants, and I can see in your eyes that you want to help your Dad. Trust me, it always works." she smiles before shrugging off and looking back at her table, "I need to go now, I have a meeting with the Finance Department."
She was about to leave my side, but I pulled her back on my lap before attaching my lips on hers. I can feel that she was shocked as her body stiffened in my hold. With my eyes closed, my arms wrapped around her small waist, keeping her close. Feeling her hot hitched breath against my mouth, I start to move slowly, careful not to freak her out. Parting my lips open as I tilt my head on the other side only to claim her lips again. It's sweet, sweeter than a lavender's smell. Brushing my lips over hers, My grip on her waist tightened when I felt her kissing back, she finally gave in.
Smile curving my lips, I pulled her closer while her hands went to my shoulder. Moving my mouth against hers, her lips pressed closed before parting them open. My tongue takes the invitation to slide my tongue in her, savoring every inch of her mouth, I lock my arms wrapped on her while slowly laying her back down on the couch.
Without breaking the kiss, I hover on top of her with my leg in between her thighs. Roaming my tongue in her mouth, I inhale her shallow breath. Solely opening my eyes, I meet hers, who's already on mine.
"I don't want our first just to be a quickie."
A smirk bloomed in my face when she bit her lower lip, suddenly getting shy.
Again attaching our again, her hand wrapped around my neck. Our tongue made its way in, while my mouth was claiming what's mine, my body fell on top of her connecting us.
Her breath, the taste of her cherry lip gloss, her sweet vanilla scent.
Shit.
It's so good.
Now I wonder if I'll be able to keep those words I just said.
Feeling my pants tightening, I slightly lift my hips to adjust my pants before breaking the kiss. Keeping our forehead connected, I stare at her glossy lips before giving her a soft kiss.
"That's what my heart wanted to do."
"See, it works." she smiles.
"It did, and thank you." Mirroring her smile, I pressed another soft kiss on her lips, much longer before sitting up next to her.
"Ace, I'll have my way in." A familiar voice was heard on the other side of the door, followed by the door opening wide. Revealing the motherfucker who interrupted us. "Ohâ Am Iâ?"
"Yes, Zane, You are interrupting us." Pulling away from her, I gave him a bored face.
"It's not my fault, the door is not locked, Hey sissy, are you good?" He asked while taking a seat on the other couch.
Bringing my attention back to her, who's still laying on the couch, while her hands were resting on my thighs.
"Should I ask Dada to teach you how to knock? Even a five years old kid knows that" rolling her eyes, she holds my hand and sits up next to me, legs still behind me.
"Ohâ I didn't know office is one of the place you two canâ"
"We're not doing anything" I said with a scowl, throwing a pillow on his face which he managed to catch.
"Then what do you call that?" He asked with a bored face while pointing at her heels that's on the ground.
"Heels? What do you think? A cow?" That sarcastically left her.
"Still duh... It's very clear that you two were doingâ"
He suddenly groaned loudly, cutting his words when her heels met his face. I bet he didn't see her grab her heels to throw it straight to his face.
"Scumbag." Standing up from the couch, she takes her heels and wears it, still glaring at him, making me chuckle.
"I wanted to surprise you, but you didn't tell me that I'll be the one who'll get surprised."
Letting out a chuckle as I flip my middle finger to him. "Shut up Zane."
"Okay, chill, I'll stop." He stands from his seat and gives her a hug. "I'm not going to give you a kiss, not after you make out with your husband."
I know he meant it as a joke, but that doesn't mean that she won't kick his balls. A painful gasp left him before she left a peck on his cheeks.
"It's so good to see you, bro." With that evil smile of hers, she walked to her table and took her papers. "Wait for me, the meeting will end in 30 minutes."
Giving her a smile and a small nod, she smiled before leaving.
"God, I'm so thankful that she left Dada's house, or my future babies will have their destiny end before I even find their Mom." He said jokingly while holding his pants. "Ouch, It hurts."
"You deserve it."
He just took a deep breath before looking at me.
"So, How's married life?"
"Isn't it too early to ask that?
Giving me a knowing smile, he said, "Well, I think it's going well." smirk.
"It will go well, no matter what happens." Shrugging him off, I went to my table and took the invitation for Happy Center Home, the orphanage we collaborate to donate.
"Mr Smith called me earlier, it's like they'll need some funds for the classroom that the children will use. Unlike other kids, their school year will start July first." I explained while showing him the papers and invitation. "They'll need some books, school supply, and necessities."
"Hmmm. This event is next Friday night?" He asked, confirming it, I nodded before he looked back again. "I won't be able to come, just bring Madison with you as substitute"
"I'm going to bring her there, even if she's not your substitute."
"Right, right, so dumb of me." He chuckled while putting the papers down. "I just want to warn you bro, If you think I'm hard-headed, then she's ten times like me. She may be quiet for now, but after she got close with you? I swear you'll just wish you didn't marry her, good luck with you bro"
With his joking tone, I shrugged off.
That's called Corwardness
Coward for giving up and not understanding her. If you really love her, you'll do everything to understand her, and I'm making my way to loving her.
****
Madison
The way he kissed me immediately had a place in my mind, and it's eating my fucking mind.
Trying to focus on what the Finance Manager Mr Johnson is discussing , I opened my laptop and went to open the email he sent earlier, just a copy of the presentation he's showing in the projector right now.
I'm asking them to send a copy of it to me, so I can show it to Ace later.
Learning about the previous projects, sales record for the whole here, the way they communicate with the dealers and suppliers and specially how Ace managed to keep his company in top 1 for most successful clothing company in Brooklyn, Even New York, for the last five years, ever since they started.
"How many sets of collections are we going to sell for the first month? Even just your estimated count, Ms Grey?" He asked while raising an eyebrow at me.
Studying the charts in front of me, I start to compute using my mind. Only to get interrupted by someone's voice, "That's Mrs Ashford for you." looking over my shoulder, there he is, meeting his dark blue eyes, my eyes went to the scumbag next to him. "Finish this quickly, Mr Johnson, didn't you say 30 minutes? It's been 30 minutes, you can wrap this up now."
"Y-yeah, I-I apologize, Mrs Ashford. Let's just continue this on Monday."
With that dismissal, they all took their thing before leaving the meeting room.
"You know, It's not really a big deal whether they'll call me Mrs Ashford or Ms Grey. No need to scare him." leaning my back on the chair, they walked over me and took a seat.
"Nope, He's right, If someone clueless heard that, they might think you're still single. Oops, no one would try to ask you out because you're ugly as shit." My very nice brother said, making me roll my eyes.
"If you just know why he moved my office to his room." a smirk plastered my lips when I looked in Ace's direction.
Knowing exactly what I'm talking about, he looked straight into my eyes before smiling. "Take your coat, We'll go now."
"Where are we going?" I ask while exchanging glances between them.
****
"Dada. Stop it." I said while hiding my face on the cushion.
"Why? You know that one of my wishes before I die is to see my great-grandchildren, so Ace, when are you planning to start a family?"
Shit.
Why did they not tell me that we're going here?
Dada doesn't really have a control with what he is saying. And I hate it so much.
We're now at the patio near his pool, having a talk while waiting for dinner. The moon and stars can be seen from this no roof patio, the cold breeze caging us. Why would he even want to be here? It's freaking cold out here.
"Dada, it's not even a week yet since we got married, and you're already asking that? That's unnecessary"
It's not like I hate talking about it, but if we continue this, then I'll be red as this rose beside me.
A chuckle left Dada before looking at Ace again, who's staring at me. "I had my first child when I was 25, I think there's nothing wrong if you'll start your family now. Besides, Ace is already 30, he might already want a child. Most men want to have a child before they reach their 30s. Right Ace?"
He just looked at me before looking at my Dada, "I'm still waiting for her, but that doesn't mean I'm going to force her. It's her body. She's the one who's going to carry that for nine months, and she's the one who's gonna give birth." I can see the sincerest in his eyes when he looks at me, meeting my eyes. "So I think the decision will be on her whether she wants to have a baby or not. But I'll wait, that's for sure."
"What if she doesn't want to have a child?" Zane asked, coming from the kitchen.
"We can still be together even if we don't have a child, right?"
His words.
I know he's saying this to reassure them, but something feels right.
Like he meant it.
"Madison, You should make a decision, in the next ten years, he'll be in his 40s." Zane said, making Ace narrowed his eyes on him.
"Like you?" I asked, making Dada chuckle.
"Still, I'm going to wait for my great-grandchild, Zane has no chance at all, and Liam is much worse." Dada said with a tone, he gave up on them.
Chuckling at them, as they continue to talk about stupid thing. The longer we stay here, the colder it gets. Why the hell did I leave my coat on the car? Fuck. Hugging the cushion to my chest, I brought my feets up to the couch, keeping it warm.
"Cold?" Ace suddenly leaned to me and asked right into my ears, making me startled.
"A little, why is the dinner taking so long?" looking over my shoulder, I tried to look at the kitchen where Dada's helper is cooking. They're still not done.
"Wear this, I need to make a call." putting his coat on my lap, he excused himself to Dada before going out.
Ace has been good to me since the first days, he never makes me feel unwanted, even though that's how it is supposed to be or maybe that's what I'm expecting him to be. What I don't understand is why is he forcing himself to do all of this? I can feel it. He's trying his best to accept me and make me feel like this marriage is not a big deal to him. But he's holding back. Everything he does, it's always to make him feel at ease.
I don't know any from his past or what happened to him, but he's still not ready for this. He's trying hard, and I appreciate it.
But I can't blame him, even me, part of me is still in the past.
Still thinking about my past, everything that happened.
More likely someone.
But the past is the past, and I already moved on.
I don't know why I am suddenly thinking like this, not after that kiss.
My hands tighten to his coat when a smile appears on my lips.