Chapter 5

Ace

Two years ago,

Today was meant to be the worst day of my life. I was to be wed to a woman I didn't know. It was unfortunate that she was in an accident, but I was relieved. I sympathize minimally, but I think the little hope I had made all of this possible. 

I didn't want to go back to my place until they get rid of everything wedding related. My ranch was supposed to be the way it was. I didn't want any reminder. They thought I asked because of what happened, but that was further from the truth. I hated all the demands she wanted for the wedding. A hideous duck ice fountain. The decorations. The enormous cake eight men carried this morning. I wanted all of it gone.

I was happy whatever enemies they had done the work, I couldn't. They had gotten rid of my problem. I just wish they had finished the job. She was alive, and I had to pretend I cared when I didn't.

The hospital visit was a waste of my time because the woman lying on the bed was a stranger to me. Whatever they fed her about me made me hate her more because she was excited to marry me. I felt pity for her. She shouldn't be fighting for her life, but just give up because I was not the man for her.

I excused myself and went for a drive with Filip. There was no way I was going to get out of this. I would be tied down to a woman on a hospital bed, too stubborn to die. My grandfather's plan to tame me was making me angry. 

"Stop the car."

Filip stopped the car, and I got out. I need to breathe. Beat someone. Kill her and be rid of her. I wish I could. She should just give up and be gone. I do not want a woman to tame me. I was not a beast.

The laughter and shouts from the teenagers across from the street made me look to where they were pointing. The wind was blowing violently and the girl's dress flew up and she struggled to keep it down. Her efforts were going useless. The boys kept laughing at her and she dropped the flower pot she was holding.

She really was stupid for still trying to keep the plant. She had made it worse because it looked like the dress was about to come off her and fly away. I shook my head and walked toward her and held her dress down. I was annoyed by her stupidity, mostly because this was a windy city.

"Get inside," I huffed, walking her in without looking at her.

"Thank you." She hugged me and cried.

"Are you okay?" I annoyingly asked.

"She told me not to wear this dress."

This was her problem. She was crying for her own doing. I didn't know why she ignored a simple warning. I also didn't care. I was about to walk out, but she rambled on. 

"Why are they so mean? I will never clean the mess I made without them laughing at me again. My dress will blow off again. I should have listened. I shouldn't have worn this pretty dress." she wiped her tears. "Thank you, mister, for helping me."

"Mister?" I stared at her.

"I should clean this before Mrs. Dani sees the mess," she sighed and walked to get a dustpan and brush.

"Give me that." 

I walked out and swept the mess. Filip hooted, but I ignored him. I went inside and found the girl awkwardly trying to keep herself busy. 

"Thank you, mister. Please-"

"My name is Ace," I said under my breath. 

"Oh," she looked at me and smiled. "Thank you, Ace."

I nodded and walked out. She was a strange girl. I wasn't an old man to be called mister. I walked back to the car.

"Take me home," I told Filip.

"What was that all about?"

"Nothing."

"You seem calm." Filip side-looked, "next time you are pissed I'm bringing you back to this neighbourhood. That girl has magic." he smirked.

"She has no magic, but just stupid." I closed my eyes.

*****

Present day,

“Where the fuck is she?” You told me she should have been here already.”

“She will be here,” Filip responded coolly.

“How the hell are you calm right now?”

“I can’t help it. I’m always cool,” he smirked.

“I told you we should have gone to the station.”

“There are many exits, and we would have missed her,” he contradicted.

“I have a bad feeling about this.”

“Relax, she should arrive soon. Maybe she is walking here,” he shrugged.

“Walking?” I clenched my teeth. “Get in the car. We are going to the station. I’m not letting my pregnant wife walk in this heat.”

I got in the car suddenly feeling unease and the coffee I had in hand tasted more bitter. She shouldn’t be walking in this heat.

“Filip?” I shouted and was greeted with silence.

My patience was running thin as I pressed the button for the window to roll down. He was lucky I wasn’t driving because I would have left him standing there.

“What are you staring at?” I scowled at him.

“I thought I saw- “

“Get in the fucking car,” I spoke over him.

“What top was she wearing?” Filip asked as he peered through the window.

“White or cream with a brown leather jacket,” Filip had a good eye like me, so I responded without hesitation.

“I didn’t see the top,” he paused. “It could be her in that taxi. Maybe we should wait.”

“Follow the taxi. I’m tired of sitting here.”

“Ace,” Filip gave me a look I hated, “This is not our territory. It’s against the rules,”

“Time to call Zalchini, then. See if he can help. If I wait one more second, I will end up doing something that will cause a war,” I resigned.

“Got it, boss.”

I let Filip get to work just as soon as I got a text from Luke Zalchini himself.

L: Milo told me you were in my town. You know my home is always open, Tarone. What nonsense did I hear? You are staying in a hotel?

A: I’m not staying long. Have marital issues to solve and I will be gone.

L: Glad I don’t have one of those to deal with.

A: Your time will come Zalchini.

L: For now, I will enjoy all the different gorgeous women in my bed then.

I laughed, shaking my head.

A: Enjoy mate.

“Milo said he will send me something in a while,” Filip added.

“I guess we will wait.”

Every second we waited, I hated it. I felt like she was going further and further away. I wonder if she had eaten. All I want to do is get her, and make sure to run a bath for her and pamper her. I couldn’t sleep last night knowing she was out there when all I want is to have her in my arms.

*****

Diya 

“Are you sure this will work?” I looked at Ruby.

“Yes, trust me,” she grinned mischievously, “You’ll see,”

Ruby was my best friend, and I trusted her, so I told her everything, but I made her swear to not tell anyone because I’m not sure what Ace would do. She suggested we switch clothes as a disguise so I can walk past my husband and Filip into the church. We were the same age, and many people used to confuse us from afar. We wore the same size shoes and clothes. The only difference was that she was a centimeter taller than me.

“I almost forgot how mischievous you can be,” I smiled as I pulled the dress down.

“How do I look?” she grinned at me as she spun around.

“Beautiful,” I say. “Sister Josephine is going to have a heart attack, though.”

“Pfft,” she waved, “This is the 21st century.”

I laughed aloud as I fixed the veil to cover my hair. My makeup had worn off last night from all the crying. I walked to help Ruby pull a few of her bobby pins before she looked at me, smiling.

“I don’t feel good wearing this dress. I took pride in wearing this when I was a virgin, but now I feel like a fraud.”

“I’m not and I still wear it,”

"What?!” I pulled her closer, so she was looking into my eyes. “When did this happen? You said when you do, you would leave the nunnery and marry the guy.”

“Promise not to judge, okay?” she looked down, fiddling with her fingers.

“Never,” I added.

“It was at your wedding.”

“And you waited two years to confess?” I gasped.

“You promised not to judge.” she looked down, embarrassed.

“I’m sorry,” I grabbed both her hands, “With who?” She chewed her lip and went silent. “Ru?” I called her out of her trance.

“Filip,” I stared at her, blinking with my mouth agape, “Say something?” she said.

“Filip, as in the one I know, or someone with the same name?” I was still baffled.

“The one we know,” she whispered, blushing.

“Oh my God,” I released my hands from hers as I placed them onto my mouth.

“You said you wouldn’t judge.” She looked away, pressing her palms over her thighs.

“I’m not judging,” she raised an eyebrow, “I’m surprised because I remembered you said he was too forward. I had to beg you to have one dance with him at the wedding.”

“I know,” she paused, biting her lips, “I enjoyed the dance.” She blushed again.

“When did all this happen?” I grabbed her hand, smiling.

“You are not disappointed?” She looked surprised.

“Ru, it’s me. We might be sisters because of the convent, but you mean more to me. I would never judge you.”

“Thanks,” she smiled.

“I’m sorry you thought you had to keep that secret.” I looked down, thinking about Ace for a second.

“You miss him, don’t you?”

I nodded, biting my lip. I’m afraid and doubting why I left him because I miss him.

“No,” she shook her head, “No more tears.”

"I can’t help it,” she reached for my cheeks.

“Jesus, you were bad before but now it’s worse because of this too,” she placed her hand on my belly. A smile formed on her face.

“I’m scared. What if I made a terrible mistake running?” I asked.

“You have every right to feel that way. When you are ready, you will face him.”

“What if I don’t want to go back? How will I raise this baby?”

“I said no tears,” she banished, as I quickly wiped them off like a scolded child. “You will get through this.”

“What would I do without you?”

“You would still be you. Nothing puts you down.”

“But what he did was inhuman.” I cried.

“I know honey,” she wiped my tears before pulling me into a hug.