Touching the Heart of Ace

??You are your mom??s son.?? Aunt Marie shook her head as she poured me a cup of tea. Robbie was brooding on the sofa looking like he wanted to bolt out of the door.

He did not like it here. He did not like her.

??Robbie, do you want to take Lia and stroll through the garden??? He picked her up in a second and looking longingly at me.

??What about you???

??What about me??? I glared. He was not keeping me away from Aunt Marie; he got the message and went outside.

??Did you spank him too??? I asked my tired, yet so beautiful Aunt. Janice got her good looks from her mom.

She laughed clutching her chest, ??Oh, I missed you so much.??

??Stay with us for a few days, Lia does not get to be with you as much as she should. You are her grandmother; you need to be close. Mom stayed with us for two weeks and we missed you so much. You will love our greenhouse.??

??Someday.?? She handed me her famous apple pie. ??Claire told me about what you did.?? I slowed down my chewing.

??I did not do it for you...?? I answered truthfully. ??Or for Janice.??

Aunt nodded. I hoped Robbie did not put Aunt Marie and Janice in the same boat.

I only did what I did, for my baby girl and Robbie.

The meeting that happened that day escalated to a disaster. I could not believe Janice expected Robbie to hand over a million and sixty thousand dollars just like that. She wanted him to stop asking her investors questions and just sign a check. I had to call Robbie on his phone from upstairs to wind up the whole ??meeting?? because they were disturbing Lia.

The tranquillity we were keeping in our home started to crack with her frequent visits and deliberate shouts and crying.

I came up with the idea of buying their project, because Robbie was going to seriously hurt someone with the way he was grinding his teeth and fisting his hands.

After-gym health drink was a good marketing product. I told him that.

When I was regularly dancing, I had this muscle pains and fatigue that did not go away fast and if I ate food, it gave stomach cramps. If we could come up with something substantial yet wouldn??t bring any stomach upsets, it was a good product.

Robbie was sceptic at first but I asked him how long he had to wait after his sparring and gym activities before he could eat normally without wanting to puke?

All they had to do was handover all the product claims to us and we would take it from there, as ours. Robbie said they needed to wait a year before he would give them back their money; without interest.

The investors fought hard, but we backed our demands with my lawyers. One of them cried asking him to pay his bit, but Robbie was used to crushing people and he did not even blink his eyes.

At the end, they signed every paper we wanted them to sign. I felt a little bad. Now they had no product and no money. They were completely at Robbie??s mercy.

I was surprised that Janice was not happy. He took away her threats, what more did she need?

It took us a lot of time before we could get all the ingredients right. It did not taste bad, it was watery but thick enough to settle the gnawing hunger, did not shock our fatigued muscles to cramp and it came in different flavours. We got it certified, meeting all the government standards.

??I want to break the stereotype.??

??Every budding businessman ever. You will get used to it, Mr. Truscott.?? One of the marketing guys said. He was good but a bit too sarcastic for my taste.

??We do this his way or no way at all. At least listen first or show your judgemental ass out.?? Robbie had no chill but I was thankful for backing me up. I was not used to business conferences and these guys were picking on my nerves.

??Sorry, Mr. Brantley.??

??Not to me.??

The guy tried to glare at me and I was not having it. I taught college students who were older than me; this was no different.

They either listen and give me constructive criticisms or don??t bother at all. You can do this Ace.

I waited for a few moments but the guy was trying to intimidate me.

??Leave.?? I asked looking at his eyes. I was not going to back down.

??What???

??You heard me. Leave.??

??You can??t do that. I don??t even work for you, Jesus.??

??And you never will.?? I crossed my arms and waited.

??Mr. Brantley... he...??

Robbie rose his hands, ??Not my project, I already told you.??

??Then it is all good, I did not want to be in a noob??s team either.?? He spat and stormed out.

I knew what happened. Robbie must have talked to his people about my being a little nervous and new to main stream business.

??What did you tell them, Mr. Brantley???

??Sorry, they did wonders to my company, and I thought it would help you if they knew about our... situation.??

I wiped my face and looked at about twenty of marketing advisors. Some were bored and were here, only because their bosses asked them to. They did not want to help us, they needed multi-million projects not a project simple and small like this.

??I want to thank each one of you for coming and giving me a chance. I know it is a small business venture and not very ??colourful?? at that. If any of you want to leave and not want to be a part of this team, you can leave without any ill-feelings. I know you have worked with Mr. Brantley and he has very high opinions on you and it will not change, if you choose to sit this one out.??

I looked at Robbie and he nodded.

??I pushed you without considering the pressure of working for a new businessman. You have your reputation at stake, and I did not consider it. Anyone can leave, I don??t care; it will not affect you in anyways.?? I was surprised Robbie completely agreed with me.

??That is very kind, Mr. Brantley.?? I gave him an appreciative smile.

One man stood up and left after politely bidding us goodbye. Robbie and I smiled at him, encouragingly and that loosed the glue that kept many on their chairs.

I gave them half an hour to make up their minds and finally there were only four people, who nervously folded their files, twitching.

??New???

??Yeah. Our boss made us come.??

??You can leave, guys, I would not even ask your names. We will talk to your boss if you are worried.?? I was serious.

??No... we are also noobs. Never done anything like this before. We did good in the last month??s assessment and this was the gift.??

??Do you think you can handle this??? I looked at the three boys and a girl who was sweating bullets in an air-conditioned room.

??Everyone left. We thought we would work with them. Do you think we can do it??? The girl asked me hopefully.

??I am not going to lie. It is going to be difficult to the border of impossible. Competitions are high and we want something catchy for people to give us a chance. But...?? I looked at each one of them in the eye... ??we have no other option but to make this work. We will try everything we can until it works, or the one million dollar is going down the drain. If you think you are ready to work non-stop until our product is the next best thing since sliced bread, then tell me your names and agency.??

Fifteen minutes later I even knew the names of their first pets. From a hacker??s perspective, never disclose your maiden name and pet??s name freely to anyone. But, oh well, I didn??t need their money anyways.

??Sir, you said something about breaking the stereotypes. Can we add that to our goals??? Olivia asked, where she was drawing circles and making a flower.

I looked doubtfully at Robbie and he nodded smiling.

??Yes.?? I was sceptic, that first guy said it was not a good idea. Olivia wrote that down to one of the petals of the flower.

??Anything else???

??Uhhh... should we go fake, Sir???

??What? No... no... why would we??? I looked at Robbie in panic and the bastard laughed.

??Uhh may I??? Eric rose his pencil and I nodded. ??It is a marketing strategy sir, for products like this. We give them very high hopes and if it does not work it is because they are not using it properly. No legal complications whatsoever and we can run wild with ads.??

Robbie chuckled again. ??I so want to take you home and make you hot chocolate. Your disappointed face, oh my god.??

I growled. I would pinch him when we went home.

??No, we are not going fake.??

I gave them a very big idea on how I wanted the ads to be. I wanted maximum inclusion, cautioning babies, pregnant women and hypertension patients. We did not need the overly muscled people to be ones in the ads.

??Sir??? Olivia rose her hand after I was done. I nodded so she could add her suggestion. ??There is this thing with your idea on stereotyping. People build stereotypes because of their assumptions. So if we only focus on overly normal people they will think that our product won??t work, or it is just a normal drink. We do need some fit people in the mix. You can take the dancer part; you look like a dancer.?? She blushed. ??And we need a model to be brand??s face who is fit.??

I did not know there were so many complications in marketing a health drink. Was I living under a rock?

I was surprised at the salary of a model and I almost thought I would model for the product, myself. Or Robbie... Robbie could be a model, he was fit, he was handsome...

??No.?? Robbie announced.

I scowled.

??Not in a million years, Angel.?? Robbie did not even know what I was going to ask. I huffed.

God! We were tight on the budget for this whole scheme. Janice blew up the investment, adding unwanted expenditure to this venture again was the worst thing we could do at this point. Dammit! Why did I think this was a good idea?

Because I did not want Janice to taint Robbie??s name.

??How did it go??? Jason asking holding our sleeping Baby Angel. I winced at the mess they both made in the living room.

thing called business gene, but today proved me wrong.?? Robbie pecked my

??So, goose did good???

is not perfect and beautiful like

know what will make me more marvellous...?? I blinked

??No.??

not even

??Fine! Ask away.??

??Will

smiled so

Meanie.

model and I kind of crushed his dreams

very tight body, and people would believe if he said he worked out twenty-four hours a day in the gym and

Hmmmm...

my ass for that. ??What

??What do you mean???

what

precious baby. I kissed her cheek and

are helping Janice, now helping Gabe, hell you did not chew me out for making peanut butter drawings on

head was now filling with ringlets of beautiful soft hair; I smoothened her already pristine onesie

??Goose.??

at her, Jace. What do you see? I see my whole life. I know that you disapprove but... she is

disapprove... that was

??Before what???

if I did not approve. What does she

the best of me for her. I want to better myself than I was yesterday because I want her to grow up the

like a

jumped

Parent?

to Lia? I

woken her up. Then she turned around, curling her whole body around my hand and fell

her whole body in my one hand,

did not even

was perfect until

to start this project. I failed to figure her out and Robbie said

one time but once more? Nope, they were happy that Robbie took over their project, though they were scared if they

mom called me at the middle of the night I had expected

on the other side, did not register

Aunt Marie was

it was too tired

anymore, thought she could just leave, like that... out of

not do

could not die; she was so

the man I thought would understand me, would help me, would be my strength; what did

baby out of our

my mom and I had. She jumped to the sea and immersed her life, so

lost our captain, now we lost our anchor

??You are not going.??

??WHY THE HELL NOT???

??Angel. Enough!??

he do? Punch me? Kick me? Fucking

I pushed on his chest. ??What did she ever do to you? You fucking hated her, didn??t you? Huh? Well, happy news, you have one less person to hate.??

wrist when I tried to punch him. ??Calm down. You

I AM NOT GOING? YOU

was her funeral. There I said

Funeral.

her for leaving me. I had to go there and punish her; we were going to be so angry at each other and then we would stop talking and we would still not talk when mom called for us... We... we would... would say nasty meanie things to each other...

Robbie??s shoulders. I felt a hug.

??No.??

??Wh... what???

are not going and

I wanted nothing

??I won??t allow it.??

are you to allow me or not

mirth and all. ??Oh, my precious. You are not

taking Lia too.

times; she has only one grandmother and that is

took the keys of my Bugatti from the bowl and almost

inside and I bit his hand hard.

me over his shoulders and climbed the stairs. ??You fucking asshole. You bastard. You are a psychopath, you sadist. Let me go, you son of a bitch.?? I kicked, screamed and fucking did

his bed and locked me from the outside. ??Please, Robbie, please...?? I slammed my fists on the door trying to change his mind. ??Please, please... Robbie... My Aunt died, please... I just want to see

and punched the door until my hands were red. I hated

Oh My God.

My Aunt Marie.

the memories of our amazing time together were driving me crazy. ??I want to go home.??

he were not close, but why was he

it opened, Robbie stood there holding a crying Lia. He handed me my baby and went

Robbie kicked him out

set my baby girl off, but... the pain was killing my heart. And I was more hurt

give that bastard a look when the morning

I fed my girl her bottle, but refused eat anything myself. By

dip and a warm hand

do you

him and his bullshit. It was my aunt who died and hated the fresh

please drink

you take

??No.??

tell... tell me why not.?? I hiccupped and pushed

??Angel... please.??

you ever.?? I adamantly said and cried harder when he locked

and the dreams were lonely, scary and depressing. I could hear my baby screaming when Robbie tried to give her a bath, and she fought him hard. I was too

and I had this deep sense

looking for me? I wanted to see her, now

I will take you there,

I did not even blink when he turned my face around. The funeral was over, what was I going to? Too see

please... and drink some water. I

not over, yet??? I

I will take you

I will do anything, Robbie... I promise...

He yanked on his hair then pulled me to a deep suffocating hug.

you want

come back with

Why was

are not going anywhere if you don??t promise me that, Angel! I swear to God I will take you to the end of the world if I have to if you try to

nodded. ??I promise.?? I was not planning to stay

He pushed a plate to me and damn I was hungry and... thirsty to drink a gallon of

??Where is Jason???

??Getting our car ready.??

are you looking so

did not reply me and I was too tired to fight with him again. I fell asleep half way through our journey, Robbie covering

managed to stay collected until I had to see her in a casket. It was frightening

mom was

all Robbie told me before reluctantly letting me walk to the house

did not have

My Aunt Marie.

burial but wanted electric cremation, and wished to have her

NO!!!

was supposed to be buried like a queen, I wanted to plant white flowering plants all over her grave, because white was

Truscott. we could proceed to take her to crematory if you sign this paper, Sir. We brought her here expecting her daughter to arrive. But... It is already

shook as I tried to hold the pen right. ??Me? What about her

Sir, but

is not coming? Mom? What? Janice is not coming??? Mom sniffled but nodded. ??Did you call her, she

kept

Sir. It is in her will. There is

please give her the best. She is my Aunt and...

understand, Sir. Our deepest condolences.?? I sat down and signed everything they asked me

mom to my chest with my baby sleeping in

run to us and hug. Jason came behind him and took the baby from my mom??s hand and gently steered

what

an electric cremation, Robbie... My...?? I cried to

no one. Because no one cared if she died. Not even her daughter. Only my mom and I did. She was our loss; no one knew her worth except

with my mama in her last moments, lying on her lap

she was with her

drag me to the car and take me away. ??We can wait until it is finished... if you want.?? He wiped my tears, his eyes also filling up as

my baby; Robbie and I followed them and I could not handle the

was just not there, I

to do this. ??I am so mad at you,

remains of my Aunt and I lost track of time,

me to say goodbye. Robbie was clutching me to his chest and I was thankful he was