Of Kings and Aces

Present and Past

    Jacob immediately jumped up while I stayed glued on the couch with my eyes shut tightly. I could not move. I wanted to kill myself for letting that almost happen, and I have no idea how I’d face Jaxx. I would not want to see how Jaxx would react seeing his CEO and his friend getting more than friendly. In the office. f**k! I crushed the ball in my hand as I tried to steady my breath and the wild thumping in my chest.

    “Hey, are you there?” he asked again. It was only then that I was able to breathe. He was not in the room. He was only calling through the intercom. When I opened my eyes, the door was just about to close and I was alone.

     “f**k, f**k, f**k. God damn it. What is happening to me?” I exhaled with shaky breath obviously panicked and bewildered. I pressed the balls of my hands against my eyes. I wanted to go blind right at that moment but even if I did, nothing could erase the memory of what was about to happen just a few minutes ago. Only amnesia could do that. And even if that happened, I just know my heart would not forget those eyes, the longing, the tenderness, and the depths of his soul.

     My heart. This traitorous piece of s**t! I wish there was some way to change it with someone else’s. It was rejoicing a few minutes ago even though it should not! f*****g abomination! It should not even be feeling anything for that bloody computer engineer!

     I remained seated on the sofa, staring at the screen of the laptop which has now moved to some demonstration. My mind was a mess. I knew I was going to have a meltdown, this time for real. I don’t know how long I stayed that way. I only returned to the present when Jaxx snapped his fingers in front of me.

     “You all right?” he asked, but his gray eyes were asking a deeper question.

     “How long was I out?” I replied robotically.

     “Longer than five minutes, that’s for sure. You were already that way when I got here.” He picked one of the lions that Jacob made and examined it.

     “You’re worrying me, man. I know this isn’t about work. Come on tell me, Ace. What’s bothering you?”

     Already irrational, I hastily stood up from the couch. I refused to talk about it. This should be kept within the walls of this room and I need to tell Jacob that whatever that was, he needed to forget about it. It was a mistake. A big, embarrassing mistake!

     I mean what was I going to tell my best friend?

     Hey yeah, your prized recruit might have a thing for me. He came here and gave tender looks and almost kissed me. And you know what the worst part of it was? I did not resist.

     f**k! What was I thinking? Was I even thinking? What the hell was wrong with me??

     “Ace, goddammit! Quit pacing and talk to me!” Jaxx yelled.

     “Leave me alone, Jaxx! I don’t have anything to say to you!” I lashed out.

    “If you’re here about Lorena, yes, I kicked her out because she was harassing everyone in the office, including me! She just barged in here not knowing who she was looking for, insulted me, she threatened to call you, and she had the audacity to eye-r**e Jacob who was sitting there complaining about her not a minute before. She did that in front of me.

     “Un-f*****g-believable! She was assuming and disrespectful and, frankly, what I did to her was still considerate despite her impudence!

     “If you want to drop the project, go ahead. I won’t stop you this time. I don’t care about being first or bagging their entire company because I can not swallow how arrogant, entitled, and presumptuous, and ugly the bitches are despite their fake boobs, and fake hair extensions, fake nails, and fake lashes that make them look like they took an entire toothbrush head and glued it to their eyelids! Maybe they’re going to pay us fake money, too, because apparently, fake is all they can get their hands on!

     “God what is wrong with the world today!” I bellowed letting some of the pent-up frustration out, pulling at my very real hair.

     “Ace, dude, you need to calm down,” he tried to pacify me.

     “Calm down? I will not calm down until I cut that b***h’s head off and find the answers to these goddamn questions that have been burning in my brain for months! I can not calm down until I get those f*****g answers, Ben!” I wanted to say that but I did not.

     “Calm down?” I laughed humorlessly. “I need a drink, that’s what I need.”

♤ 

     Since that Monday, I vowed never to allow myself to be alone with Jacob Kingston. I would not let him manipulate me into staying with him long enough for anything to happen. When we needed to be together, it would strictly be because of work. And if I would see him outside during night-outs, because I most likely will, I will make sure to stay away from him. Or have someone beside me so he would stay away from me.

     I’m not ready for this. I don’t want this. This, whatever this is, is a disgrace, an abhorrence. This is a mistake. I will not fall for it again.

     Saturday came and we found ourselves in Amaryllis, the club that Cara and her doctor friends frequented. I desperately wished to see Jasmine that night to prove to myself that I was only delusional, that whatever this shitty feeling I had in my chest, it was a mistake. If she was still game, we could hook up. Maybe that’s just the ‘refresh button’ that I needed.

    “Val, come on! You’re taking so long. You can’t do anything with your face anymore!” I heard Seb complain while waiting for our friend outside the ladies’ room. I walked past them and went straight to the bar. It was just a little past twelve midnight but everyone already had one too many to drink. I have a feeling we will all be staying here ‘til closing time or until one of us would be sober enough to drive.

     I had a good buzz but I ordered another whiskey anyway. I rested my back against the bar and surveyed the dance floor for any hot chicks. Jacob and Jaxx did not make an appearance to which I was thankful. At least I enjoyed my night in peace.

     “Ace?” I turned to see a smoking hot chick in a light-colored tube top and a pair of black leather pants. Her hair was long and ended right over her chest, resting lightly on her delectably pert mounds. I squinted and studied her face again trying to place her in my memory. I cursed inwardly and offered her an embarrassed smile. I was almost a hundred percent sure we haven’t met. I could never forget a body like that!

     “I’m sorry, do I know you? Have we met?”

     “Yes, actually.. actually we’ve done more than just meet,” her face was uncomfortable and I was one hundred percent an asshole for not remember her.

     “f**k, I am so sorry! I just… I’m a jerk. I.. I don’t know what to say.” I felt the heat in my cheeks and ears from the sheer embarrassment that I was feeling. How could I forget someone like her? And yet here she was, gracious and poised despite the asshole in front of her.

     “I’m really sorry, I ..” I looked into her eyes, embarrassed but I know I’d be in deeper s**t if I lied. I was expecting anger, and disdain, maybe even hate but there was no trace of any of those. In fact, what I saw were apprehension and shame. This confused me. Why would she be ashamed?

     “It’s Sheryl. You know, from college… Humanities,” she added cautiously. I scanned her entire body and this time, her face. She has changed so much she did not look like the girl I knew. To think I slept with that girl for a while and had some sort of feelings for her until she decided to put me through hell for no reason.

     And then it hit me: the apprehension and shame. That bit of useless information Jaxx spewed out weeks ago was now useful. Of course, she looked different. She was a damn supermodel!

     My blood ran cold and my sobriety grade improved from 10 to 100 in 2 seconds. I drank my remaining whiskey all in one gulp and immediately hopped off the barstool. I didn’t know where to go as long as it was away from her.

     “Ace, I’m sorry,” she said, taking a step closer.

     “Stay away from me, Sheryl. I don’t want anything to do with you.” With that, I made my way to the parking lot and frantically searched for my car. Before I reached it, someone pulled my arm.

     “It was years ago, Ace! Can’t you get over it? Can’t you forgive me?” she said, tears forming in her eyes.

     Forgive her? She must be kidding! My blood that was supposed to be frozen a while ago now was on a rolling boil, my hands clenched. Blood was gushing in my head I had to blink several times to clear my vision which was quickly turning red.

     “That’s easy for you to say, you weren’t the one who ended up in the hospital! You weren’t the one who was traumatized for life!” I spat through gritted teeth. The urge to hit something was so strong I turned to the car closest to me and slammed my hand on the hood so hard the alarm went off. 

     She jumped and backed off a little but only temporarily. Anger and determination were on her face. She clenched her fist as she heaved.

     “You’re not the only one who was traumatized, Ace, I was too! You don’t know what I’ve been through because of that!” she quickly wiped the tear that had rolled down her cheek, but I felt nothing. If anything, my heart hardened.

     “Does it look like a give two f***s about what happened to you after what you did?” I sneered. She gasped, her eyes wide in shock but there was a pained expression on her face. I bet it was because she did not think I could speak to her like this.

     “I was innocent. You knew it from the start, but you didn’t defend me,” I shouted. The car alarm was bothering me. It was getting to my head and I needed to get away from it and from the wicked b***h in front of me.

     “I know, that’s why I am apologizing, but it really wasn’t what happened,” tears now flowed from her eyes as she ran after me. “Ace, I’m really sorry, just give me a chance to explain!”

     “What will your goddamn explanation do? Will it turn back time? Will it change things? Will it –“ she cut me off by grabbing my face and kissing me hard. It took me a second to realize what was happening, and another second before I pushed her off me.

     “What the…?” I was too stunned to even form a sentence. I covered my gaping mouth before I remembered she had just kissed me. I almost gagged at the thought and I rubbed my mouth vigorously to remove the last drop of her saliva on me. I’ve had a few women throw themselves at me but this theatrical display here in the parking lot takes the cake.

     “Ace, I’m sorry for what happened but I really need your help. Just listen, please!” she cried.

     “What’s going on here? What did you do to her, you asshole?” someone was immediately there to rescue her. I had a feeling this was going to end up badly for me again. Just like college.

     “She was the one who threw herself at me, why don’t you ask her?” I pointed a finger straight at her.

     “What do you mean she—hey don’t I know you? You’re the guy who,” he stopped and stared at me with narrowed eyes. “You’re that fucker, aren’t you? You son of a b***h!”

     “Jesus Christ! For the love of god, Sheryl, are you setting me up again?” I laughed in disbelief. I grabbed her shoulders and made her look at me.  The moment I did, however, the big brute shoved me off.

     “What’s this for, huh? What did I ever do to you?” I shouted.

     “Don’t talk to her that way! Disrespect her one more time and you’re dead!” the guy snarled. I don’t remember his name or his face, but I’m pretty sure he may have been one of the guys who beat me up in the locker room.

     “Babe, it’s not his fault, I bumped into him and fell over. Let’s go,” she said tugging his hand.

     Once again, she just blew my mind and I stared at her in disbelief. Did she just call him “babe”? One minute she was kissing me and asking for forgiveness, the next she’s calling some other guy “babe”.

     Not ready to move on, her boyfriend continued to glare as he slowly made his way to me. “You’re lucky she’s here because I don’t have a problem literally knocking some sense into you. Again,” he threatened.

     I didn’t move from my spot as I returned his glare, my hands balling into fists. He was maybe two or three inches taller than me but I could handle him. I was not as scrawny as I was back then, and he did not have his gang with him. After a minute of glaring, he grunted and spat on the ground near my shoe before turning to leave. When he was several steps away, I turned around thinking it was safe to go look for my car.

     “Ace, watch out!” someone screamed.

    Before the words registered, a hard body rammed me from behind making me fall to the gravel. He was immediately on top of me, straddling my waist. All I managed to do was shield my face, anticipating the blows. However, the man grabbed both my wrists and pulled my hands apart, making me look at him.

     “Franco, stop!” Sheryl screamed from behind him while running on her heels.

     “Well, hello again, Ace. I thought we made it clear back then that you are not to touch or even look at her ever again? Feeling a bit defiant tonight, aren’t we?” he smirked before letting go of one of my wrists and pounding my face with successive jabs.

     “Franco, stop! Please! Get off of him!” she pulled on his other arm.

     “Why? Why should I? He touched you without your consent and filmed it! If you have forgiven him, I haven’t!”

     “I didn’t do it, you piece of s**t!” I screamed at him. His guard was down so I took the chance to sock him real hard in his family jewels. There was no room for error or retaliation.

     “f**k!” he screamed and groaned at the same time. He was lucky I was used my left hand.

     Sheryl’s brother and some other friends arrived at the scene, panting. Franco was still curled on his side, eyes shut. I resisted the urge to spit at him and break his ribs the way they did to me. By this time there was already a small crowd watching us, mostly the ones who came out smoke.

     “Sheryl, what’s going on?” her brother asked, eyes darting between the guy and me on the ground.

    “I wanted to apologize to Ace and ask him,” she said, her voice quivering. “We need his help, Carlo.”

     “But—“

     “I didn’t touch her. It wasn’t me. She knew it wasn’t me,” I told them. I dusted myself and wiped the blood off my face.

     “And you can shove your request up your asses because I’m not helping you. f**k you. f**k all of you.”

 ♤ ♡ ♧ ♢