Touching the Heart of Ace novel Chapter 48

??Some of my friends are coming. Bring the baby down after fifteen minutes. They will be joining us for dinner. Make sure she does not vomit or piss in front of them. This is an important business meeting.??

I nodded, if Lia was uncomfortable I could take her away to greenhouse.

??Where is she??? Janice asked tying her hair up in a beautiful ponytail. No wonder Robbie married her. She was elegant, beautiful and charming. We got along just fine, much to my surprise. I thought she hated me always but she was warming up to me.

Which made me feel bad because I... I could stop anytime I wanted as long as he did not follow me.

Janice followed me to her nursery. She gave her child a boop on the nose, making her giggle.

??This is kind of a family business dinner; could you please excuse us after introducing the child.??

??Oh! Sure, sure. No problem.??

??Good and wear a suit if you have one. Preferably black.?? She added and then went downstairs.

??Okay.?? Why should I wear a suit? I had several ones, should I not blend to the background? Wearing a suit was asking for attention but Janice wanted this to go smooth.

As long as I did not have to see husband and wife being so cosy together, I could manage.

??Come on, baby love, let us get ready.?? I picked up the baby who was finding her fingers so amusing. She thrusted it to my face to show me. I pecked the drool covered finger making her coo.

I went through a lot of options before settling on a Versace one without tie. Not too catchy I guessed. Instead of making me more manly, suits made people confused about my gender, but this was Janice??s event, I should not meddle in.

I could hear loud talks from downstairs and deduced Robert was home.

Yes, Robert.

My Robbie was nowhere to be seen. Except when we found ourselves alone and I was hiding from him.

I had only one person in this whole home I cared about and she was not happy to wear this frill frock. ??Just for a few moments. Your mother bought it for you. It is so pretty, sweetheart.??

She scowled but when I put on her favourite shoes, my baby was so happy, she started kicking me in merriment.

I was so nervous wearing this suit, hearing the voices downstairs rapidly increasing and then I could hear Janice talking to her friends about the beach house she loved so much.

??What do we do, Princess??? She gurgled at me.

??Yeah, you are right, we wait for some time, go downstairs, smile and come back to our room before dinner.??

6.15 pm

I could do this. I could do this. Robert was there and my baby girl was also there. This was not my party where I had to be overly polite. They were strangers but they were not for me. Everything was fine.

I carried my baby girl secure on my hip and walked down the stairs, when the voices calmed down a bit.

Crap!

They were all staring at me now. Well, at the baby perhaps. Of course at the baby. I had nothing to worry. Robert was nowhere to be seen and I was panicking a tad bit.

My eyes searched for Janice and I exhaled the breath that was burning my lungs. Why were they still staring?

Someone helped me at the last few steps of stair by holding my hands.

??Thank you.??

??Pleasure is all mine.??

I smiled politely and went to Janice. She was glaring at me and I felt the familiar sense of deep hatred coming off her. I thought we had moved past that.

Then there was a murmur among everyone as I handed the baby to Janice.

I wringed my hands when she snatched Lia of my hands and went to the centre. ??Thanks everyone for coming. My husband will be here soon, though he is really forgetful of time.?? She giggled so beautifully. She was so charming holding her baby close like that. Even my sweetheart was enthralled by her mom??s beauty.

Her friends were not too bad, considering they all came to talk to me, midst Janice??s welcoming speech.

??Honey, why are not wearing the suit I had laid out for you??? Janice asked cheerfully to her husband. I refused to look at his general direction.

I excused myself when the doorbell went off and Janice asked me to get the door. The late coming friends of all group.

??Did we get to the wrong address???

??You are not Janice.??

??Are you her husband???

??Do we get free food???

??Is there beer???

They were all talking at the same time and I squeaked a ??please come in?? before rushing out of there. I missed Frankie so much.

I found myself a corner seat and watched the people mingle and occasionally found Janice giggling with her daughter in her arms. They were cute together.

I knew from where the burning stare was coming from but I refused to acknowledge that look.

??Hey... why are you sitting here alone??? I politely smiled at the man who had a bright green beard. Not many people could pull that look off. His whole body was tattooed and his hair was blue. It was not bad, just unique.

??Davidson, take her.?? Janice announced from somewhere in the middle of the crowd and I almost ran to her in relief.

Jesus!

Too many people. Janice was scowling at my baby who was sucking on her fingers drooling.

??I told you not to let her embarrass me.?? Janice hissed at me.

What did Lia do? She was ignoring everyone in favour of sucking her own fingers. That was not embarrassing anyone.

??Stop standing here and take her away. Gross.??

??Drool makes me gaggy. Spit is in mouth for a reason. You should teach children to behave well.?? Some guy with a stuck up attitude was lecturing Janice to stop letting her kid to get away with bad manners!

What the hell!

She was a baby; she should be taught nothing except hurting others was not okay. Then who was the ill-mannered dumbass here?

I expected Janice to stand by her child but she accused me. ??When you let others to take care of your child you expect them to do a good job. Why is she drooling? Couldn??t you do something about that? With my business flourishing I can??t focus on everywhere. Robert was begging me to...??

??You could always leave if my child??s drool makes you ??gaggy??. No one has chained you here.?? A calm and stern voice replied behind me.

Robbie.

I did not know I was panicking and close to crying until I felt his strong presence behind me.

??Excuse me??? The snotty rich man asked Robbie after looking at Janice.

??Honey! Let me introduce you to Mr...??

??Gaggy. Why are these people here???

I tried to slip out of there, but a firm hand on my back demanded me to.

??Hah.. hah... Did you forget honey, I told you about last week? You must have forgotten; this is a charity event for my health-drink campaign.??

What? How was this a charity event? This was a party; charity event was when... never mind!

??Oh really? What charity???