Touching the Heart of Ace novel Chapter 84

I whined when he pinched my butt again.

"Daddy please." I tucked my head under his chin and pouted.

"Look at him all cuddly after a good dicking."

My face turned like a tomato and I whined again. "Stoooop."

"What? You always turn bratty when you want a thorough dicking."

This man! "Stop saying dicking!"

"It is what it is." And he pinched my butt again.

"Ga!" I squirmed on top of him, straddling his stomach and squeezed my eyes shut because it was so embarrassing.

I did not want dicking.

Ew! It was still embarrassing to say that word.

I threw the blanket over me and hid. Robbie's laughter jiggled me on his chest.

Meanie!

I heard the door bell ringing and my eyes went wider. "Did you call for room service?" I came out of my hiding and glared at the man who was smugly smiling up at me.

"COME IN." He shouted and I hid myself under the blanket again.

Damn, this man crawled up from the hell only to embarrass me.

ASSHOLE!!!

I heard Daddy asking the stuttering girl to leave the refreshments on the table. Even if I was still hiding under the blanket, I knew the hair that peeked out would scream that 'I got a thorough dicking from Robert Brantley.'

Ew!

And my hand was still around Robbie's neck and the ring was a dead giveaway that I was Davidson Truscott.

"You did that on purpose." I slapped my man's face thrice, my face still under the blanket; so I ended up patting his nose.

He laughed a bit smugly, a bit cruelly. "Of course. You were ignoring me in front of everyone."

I was not... not at all... may be a bit... well a lot...

I was missing him so damn much and he did not care.

It was not dicking I wanted but his attention. I meant I was so used to him being all over me or in me for that matter but... last week he was so preoccupied with Nick that he even forgot to kiss me properly.

Then he was like 'Oh, Angel let us go to that Award Ceremony'; to show Marcus that I was taken by Robbie in all possible ways.

So maybe I had ignored him. Maybe I did not smile when he kissed my cheek. Maybe I had said 'no' when he tried to feed me his piece of toast.

Whatever.

I came out of my hiding, glared at my man and then bit his neck hard.

Asshole!

The bastard laughed, ignoring my whines of protest, draped me over his body with my back on his chest and started feeding me the fruit platter.

"You and Nick are up to no good and you are keeping me in the dark." I glared again as I chewed on a piece of watermelon dipped in powdered sugar.

Robbie was not even meeting my eyes.

"Did you get in trouble?" I asked again, purposely brushing my hand over the bandages I had plastered over his knuckles. "Aaron spilled that you were wearing protective gloves on the day of sparring... and no you don't get to be mad at him."

Robbie sighed and shoved a piece of honey dipped papaya in my mouth to shut me up.

I chewed faster because he should know by now that the more he did not want me to talk more I would be persistent.

"Did you fight with the bad men who were after Janice? Is that why she followed us to the shopping mall?"

Thankfully Lia was with her Uncle Gay in our real home while we had gone to shopping. We had just exited our favourite perfume shop, when she screeched and ran to us.

"YOU! How can you do this to me!!! You fucking waste all your money when I want it. How could you!!!"

She yanked the shopping bag from my grasp and took our bottles of perfume and threw it on the floor.

"Where the fuck are you staying!!! I am your wife! Fucking wife!" Then she started crying on the floor on her knees. "Please... you don't understand... Please..."

This woman hurt your Robbie, hurt your Lia; you can't feel any ounce of pity, Ace.

And I did not.

"You have money. I am not asking much. Please. Help me! HELP ME!"

Robbie pulled me behind and simply watched when the securities came and dragged her away.

"I will kill you Robert Brantley. I will kill you. That bitch is my daughter too. I will get her. Then you will be sorry. YOU WILL BE FUCKING SORRY!!!" She screamed all the way, kicking and spitting.

I gulped. "Daddy."

We had frantically run back to our baby, only being able to breath properly after seeing her taking a nap on sleeping Gabe's back. Jason was watching T.V and I saw him leaving immediately after one look from Robbie.

Robbie had handed me the copy of restraining order for Janice soon enough from court soon enough but that was it.

I had no idea how things went down further.

Lia slept in our bedroom sandwiched between us every day from then on. Robbie had told me that since Lia was starting preschool soon, it would be better if she stopped going to care centre.

So I was not worried much except Daddy was ignoring me; not on purpose I could tell but...

He got out of the bed and picked me up.

"The award ceremony starts in two hours. That won't be enough for you to get ready. Come on, Angel."

See! Ignoring me again!

"That part of me is squeaky clean, you perv, let go." Robbie laughed but obeyed me before washing me up properly and drying me off.

He picked up a very revealing shirt for me to wear; to show everyone the hickeys he had gifted me. I was still high from the happy hormones to fight with him so I just let him be.

The shirt had a plunging neck line till the starting of my abdomen but Killers crafted it with such perfection that no matter how I twist my body, my nipples would be hidden.

I loved the glittery, stone-adorned neck piece that acted as a collar and held the shirt in place without slipping off my shoulders.

Soon, the hairstylist and make-up artists came in, to help Daddy and I look more dashing, or that was what they said.

Might as well do something good for our business if we had to attend this ceremony.

I sighed before chuckling at Robbie who was swatting away hands of the girl who was trying to apply moisturizer on his face.

"Let me." I took the beauty sponge from the girl and straddled his lap.

"Behave..." I chided when his hands settled on my butt and girls started giggling before giving us some privacy.

"Angel... no goo... please..."

I smiled. "It is not gooey and I promise you will not even feel it in five minutes."

Robbie started complaining again but I was not having it.

"Is our Lia in danger? Tell me the truth. She is with me all the time and I want to know what we are up against. Please." I did not look him in the eyes to let him think. "I don't want to unknowingly put her in danger. I know I come off way too naive and I do not blame you but... this is about our daughter. If something happened to her..."

"Nothing will happen to her." Robbie snapped.

My eyes flicked to his and I dabbed the sponge around his lips. "Then why are you hiding it from me? Did I not tell you when I spotted Janice outside my company building? I could have handled it without informing you. But I knew you would want to handle it yourself... especially because Lia was with me at the time."

Robbie should know what I was hinting. If it was before Janice coming to my mom's home and causing a very disturbing, unrealistic episode, I would have left Lia alone in my office to talk to Janice.

Robbie gulped and I dabbed the sponge on his Adam's apple after dropping a kiss.

"All done." I stood up, ignoring his hand that tried to keep me in his lap.

"Nick is worried that Janice might kidnap our baby."

I nodded, I had inferred that.

"The people behind her is..." Robbie was waiting for my reaction.

"I can handle it. Tell me."

"Remember Jeremy-Peotone scandal?"

I nodded. Everyone did. That sick fuck was arrested for having child pornographic videos in his computer and phone. He had several of them and I wished I could say they were illegal because the kids were just merely a few months below legal age.

No.

They were of infants, babies... kids barely a couple of years older than my Lia... The shitfuck tried to plead for innocence because apparently he only watched...

A sound of pain was heard and I did not know that it came from me.

"Daddy?!"

"No... no... just..." Robbie hugged me, rubbing my back. "Nick identified some people who were suspected of distributing such videos among the gang Janice fucked with. They are known to wring people for blood."

Okay... okay... calm down, deep breaths, Ace.

"So, you are worried that Janice being in contact with us might put Lia in danger."

"Yes. Exactly yes." Robbie smiled and kissed me.

"They are not coming for our baby, right?" My head was spinning.

"We are not taking any chances. According to Nick who is under guard, we have got nothing to suspect that but I am her father. I worry and go overboard. And you also being her father would worry till you make yourself sick."

I breathed; relieved. It was just a suspicion and Daddy was being extra careful like he should.

"I got very scared for a second." I panted.

"I know, that was why I wanted to keep you away from that... and about my knuckles, Nick pointed out someone that had escaped the law because of some damned excuse."

"You could not let him walk away."

He nodded.

"Did you..." I did not finish the question but Daddy got what I was asking.

"I did not." His eyes were unwavering. "After all, it is not me who he had hurt..."

So he had given someone else an opportunity to... do something.

I leaned up and kissed his cheek. "Good."

"I thought you would be angry."

I shrugged before hugging him. I did not know. My life at this point was very confusing and I was taking one day at a time.

I had too many questions, related to my own life and it was slowly constricting me.

We pulled apart when the girls came back to pretty us up and we let the giggly girls take our hugging photos.

"I am big fan of gay people." Ariel gushed waving her hands around.

"Why?" Daddy asked unamused and she blushed. I elbowed him but the damage was done. Some girls were like that. Jason said some people were overly fond of gay people because they thought we deserved empathy and extra love after generations of ridicule.

Kind of like, the empathy turned into fandom. I did not know if it had any research back up but I liked that description.

"Well... we... you..." She tried but failed miserably.

I smiled. "Thank you. But we hope you find something good in us apart from being gay."

"Of course, of course. Did I make you annoyed? I am so sorry... I... uh... shouldn't have... I can delete the pic if you want. May be I should just delete it... What was I thinking?" Her pretty eyes filled with tears and I felt bad.

I glared at Daddy who was still standing there clueless.

"It is okay. We would not have posed if we minded. My love was just asking why you find us..." I waved my hands around because I had no idea in what way she was a big fan of gay people.

"Adorable?" She filled in.

Thank god.

Adorable was good. More than good.

"You find me adorable?" Robbie asked Ariel but at least this time the playfulness could be heard clearly.

"No... not you... just... God, I am so bad at this whole explaining... but... I find that you two in a relationship adorable... I don't find... I mean... you two are good looking men but..."

I nodded.

"Where I come from, being gay is illegal. They are treated as criminals." She blurted out. "Gay people are thankful that they could live another day and I find it... disturbing... and sad. I have known a few people who are closeted back at home but... no couples... so here, when I see lot of people in love and especially when they show affection in public... my heart flutters. But that is no excuse to make you feel annoyed or worse... objectified."

"You did not make us annoyed... Robbie was just asking, right, sweetheart?"

"Yes... yes... if my Angel is okay, it is basically whatever."

"Thank you. I sometimes send them to my close friends who are closeted. They always reply that one day they will get out of there like I did... and find their love too... it makes me happy..."

"Well, that made us happy too. Please make sure we don't end up being in the FBI wanted list, okay? You can keep that photo." She giggled and happily went off to gush to her friends.

Our photos were still all over the internet. What would an another one do? We just had to keep our real residential address hidden; there was nothing much a photo could do.

"Come on. We are already a bit late." I yanked my man's hand and walked to the next room.

Lia was fine. She was happy with Frankie and Gabe...

"DAVEY!!! PETTY BABYYYY!!!"

Lia twirled around showing me her frock. "Ah! So pretty!!!" I agreed and picked up her, throwing her to the air.

Dear fucking god.

She was the rhythm of my life and I would not know what I would do if anything happened to her.

I kissed her till she started to squirm in my hands to get down.

"DADA!!! PETTY BABY!!!"

Robbie nodded and kissed her forehead. Were his eyes a bit wet?

"Daddy will not let anyone take you away from Davey. Okay Baby Angel?"

"Okeeey Daddy. Go now?"

We all laughed at her impatient jumps and followed her to the elevator. Gabe picked her up as soon as we reached the lift.

"J is already waiting for us." He said before handing me my kid.

"Frankie, you will always be with my Lia, right?" My heart throbbed at my own request.

Jeremy-Peotone scandal.

Dear fucking God!

My baby giggled in my hands and played with the stones on my collar.

"I will guard her with my life, Sir."

Frankie still refused to call me anything except Sir when we were in public and he did not care how annoying it was.

Meanie!

We all went down and as expected Jason had an amazing way of making me feel welcome among strangers. How could he do that? I kissed his cheek and accepted his affectionate pat. I did not intrude when he nodded to Robbie and whispered something to him.

We mingled as Lia went off with Frankie to waiting Winnie who was holding Lia's bag.

When I looked, Winny gave me an evil smile and raised her t-shirt revealing the hidden knife strapped to her waist.

I wanted to tell her that it was unnecessary, wanted to scold her for carrying sharp weapons in the first place but...

Jeremy-Peotone scandal.

Knife should be replaced with nukes.

I nodded to Winny and walked behind my man who was looking a lot calmer, which in turn calmed me.

Robbie pushed me to the sharks with a wink and I wanted to hide under his shirt.

I hated this part of business. I stood close to Slave and nodded whenever he paused, not really caring what he was even saying.

I noticed that Marcus was not receiving attention like he had apparently gotten last time.

Good!

No one was messing with my man ever again.

He tried to strike up a conversation with me and I purposefully remained thick, pretending not to know him at all. But of course I introduced Robert Brantley, my soulmate, to him and of course person in charge of managing my time. So I left them both to discuss about my business when Marcus subtly tried to bring up my 'trip' to France.

Daddy could make him eat dirt under his feet.

When would people stop messing up with my family???

I checked my watch and saw Lia singing songs along with Winny.

Stay perfect as you are, Baby girl.

I followed behind Jason, nodding along, smiling when he smiled, chuckled when he laughed, and of course pretended to know what the heck he was talking to other business men.

Jason would send me small texts of lines for me to say if someone asked me a question and damn, I loved my brother so much.

Mom would be so proud of him.

When I had decided my presence was enough I slipped away to my business associates who were waiting for me to join them.

"Mr. Truscott, people do not know you anymore." Granger welcomed me into the circle and I laughed.

"I would love to keep it that way, gentlemen."

"Come on, show up a little. Our own employees only know Mr. Andre as the owner. That is not right."

[Jason's full name is Jason Andre Philip]

"I am sure Jason loves it that way."

They all laughed. "Yes, very much. It is nice until the kids bring codes to his desk. He hates it. It is so funny when he runs around like headless chicken trying to get you in contact."

"That is not a nice way to backtalk about your Bossman, Kenneth."

Jason said in mock anger before throwing his hand over me.

"Well, it is all fair in war and business."

"I will toss to that. Bring home money, bitches."

I shook my head at their antics and refused the drink they had offered me. I took a small sip from Jason's glass at their boo's but I had my Little Baby to think of.

I checked my watch again and Frankie showing her magic tricks.

I smiled before searching for my man.

I stood froze when I saw a girl in pretty orange dress standing way close to him and touching his hand.

What the fuck!!!

She giggled shyly at whatever Robbie said and my eyes narrowed when he went with her.

Where the fuck are you going, Robert Brantley?

I watched in disgust when she curled her long fingers around his elbow but took a calming breath when he shrugged it away immediately.

Okay, so Robbie gets to live, but what about her, Ace?

I watched when she introduced him to her circle of friends, giggling and sitting way too close like a lover would. Like I would.

Over my fucking dead body.

God, was this what my Big Baby felt when people stood next to me? It was a very troubling emotion that I was feeling right now.

I watched Robbie being polite and that girl getting more and more courageous minute by minute.

I even saw her swatting his shoulder giggling.

FUCK!!!

I hoped I was not stomping as I walked towards them.

Everyone in this whole fucking world knew that this man was mine. It was all over the fucking internet! Look up, people!

"Having fun?" I was thankful when my voice came out soft and calm.

Robbie smiled and nodded before leaning down to listen to what the girl was saying.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO LEAN THAT DOWN!!!

I cleared my throat and got burned when the girl smiled a bit smugly at me.

So she was doing this on purpose.

I wanted to curl my hand around that flawless shiny neck and squeeze... squeeze... squeeze...

"I would very much love to discuss what we were talking about in private... Mr. Brantley. You seem very... interested." She blushed and giggled as I tried very hard to keep my hands to be loose without fisting.

Her friends started to make fun of her and she took it like a virgin girl who got a crush.

Well, I will fucking crush her skull in my hands.

"Then I will let you guys have fun. Excuse me." Robbie tried to stand up and she gently pulled him back down.

"There is no rush. They will understand that we need to talk. They are polite. They will not stare..." Her eyes flicked to mine before looking at wonder at my Robbie.

MINE!!!

"Oh... That will not be necessary... I will..."

"Please. You were interested before. Are you not, now?" She wringed her hands together and peeked at him.

"Yes, I am but this is not the place..."

She turned away her face, shyly. "You are right but I would..." Robbie sighed before sitting back.

My fucking heart hurt like a fucking wound.

"David, come on. Sit. This girl has something to say."

"No, no... I should not intrude. You guys talk..." I watched how satisfied she was with my reply. My fucking tongue tasted like acid and sand.

Robbie laughed. "You? Intrude?" He chuckled before asking me to sit again.

I grit my teeth when the girl refused to shift for me to sit, and all her friends pretended not to notice me standing.

They could shift to the next seat, so I could sit comfortably next to Robbie. But would they?

No.

The girl played with her hair without looking at me but smiling at my obvious discomfort.

It was until a strong hand curled around my hand pulled me to my man's lap.

"I thought I asked you to sit. Want another round of dic..." I flicked his lips to stop him from saying that word.

He laughed before pecking my cheek.

The whole ugly feeling I had for a few moments vanished without a trace. He was mine. He pulled me to his lap in front of everyone to see. He only loved me. He only wanted me.

"God, you look ravishing in this attire. Can't wait to..."

"Stop it Daddy."

I noticed the girl trying to get my man's attention. Either Robbie did not hear her talking or he did not care what she was talking. He was busy staring at my lips.

Normally I would have chastised him for being inappropriate in public but today...

I pulled his face to me and gave him a gentle kiss; a true lover's kiss; a husband's kiss; a soulmate's kiss.

When he was so absolutely fucking lost in me, my eyes met the girl who was embarrassed as fuck and annoyed as hell.

I did not fucking pulled him away from a bitch only to thrust him to another one.

I smiled victoriously, looking at her before kissing his cheek and talking to him about all the nonsense until all her friends were squirming in their seats and orange girl felt abandoned, not knowing what to do.

"I don't even know why we have to be here at six when the award ceremony starts at eight." I pouted.

"Because some bosses only see their employees at occasions like this."

"Hey! You are making fun of me." I gently pulled his ear and he laughed.

"I was not but you fit the description."

"Mmm... What were you guys talking about?" I looked around at the table, sitting on my 'throne', ignoring some disapproving glances from the girl's friends.

Like I ever wanted their approval.

"Oh... this girl... what is your name again?"

Oh the burn.

Replay! Replay! Replay!

Aw! Snap! I could not see her face one more time.

Her jaw dropped and she flushed in embarrassment. I loved how it went down like that right in front of her friends.

She sputtered but Robbie did not even seem to notice.

That is right, sweetie. He tends to forget everything when I am around.

"Hm?"

"You have been talking to her and you did not even ask her name?" I poked on her wound.

"I asked. I forgot. Anyways she works for you and she says she has an amazing idea that she wanted to share with you. Right?" Robbie asked the girl and she was confused.

"I work at Cyberonics."

"Yes, that is my Angel's company. You said you were given a chance to present in front of your boss."

"I work for Mr. Andre."

She did not get it. I was way above her paygrade to know me personally. I did not think if she had even seen Mr. Andre, my Jason, even though she worked for him.

"Interesting." I mumbled and promptly ignored her. "Anyways, to important topics, our child is causing ruckus to get our attention. You might wanna head down and play with her for some time. Mr. Anderson has invited me to a meeting in..." I checked my watch "... in fifteen minutes. Ooops. I have to go. Wanna come with me and kiss her together?"

"You have to ask? Why did you not tell me earlier?"

"You seemed... busy..." I looked down at the girl, standing up.

"Busy? No. She introduced herself as your employee. So, I just..." He shrugged before pulling me with him without even bothering to say a goodbye to the girl.

I turned around and started back at her. She seemed so funny looking confused.

I smirked before dropping my head to 'my' man's shoulder before leaving with him.

God!

I was so petty.

It was Robbie's fault.

Uggh!!!

I left my man with my baby after kissing her both cheeks and gifting her with a small bar of chocolate.

As I had expected Mr. Anderson came in with some employees in tow to introduce them to me and I was not surprised to see her there.

At least she pretended not to know me beforehand at all, so I went along with it.

We casually chatted; my asking if they had any complaints in their work environment and they asking if I would be presiding the presentation and all that...

I wanted to scream at the orange girl that Robbie was mine but well...

Presentation was mediocre on a good day.

It might be my jealousy or my all in all foul mood or maybe I hated her flirting with my man more than I let on but I hated the orange girl's presentation right away.

God, her dress was taking all the attention from the details.

But this was a party and she was wearing clothes fit to it but... still... she could have toned down a bit.

Fine!

I admit, I was jealous; even for a very few seconds she had my Robbie's attention when I was there.

Well, he did not know I was there and he did not care about her but...

Jealousy is such an annoying emotion.

"Stop."

She stopped surprised. It was like no one had ever asked her to stop a presentation.

"Remove the animation from the slides, and please explain your programming. I do not want to know how much money that red will bring if we use it instead of silver. I want to know the mechanism. Go on."

In a very few minutes, I knew she had no idea how the programming was working. Of course she knew the programming or she could explain the next steps without looking but when I asked why certain additional lines of codes were added, she had no clue whatsoever.

It was not my coding, so I did not know why either. That was the purpose of this presentation.

"Who did this programming?" I asked bluntly.

"I did." She looked offended.

"Then explain why those fifteen extra lines of codes were added. If we loop command 2A,15B with 18A,48B the result will be same right? Why did you add them?"

I waited... waited some more and she had no answer except it was to add some oomph factor.

"Remove those codes."

She nodded, removed the code, compiled and then pushed run.

Code crashed.

WoW!

I narrowed my eyes. "Why did it crash? Has this happened before?"

"Y... yes."

"How many times?"

"Once."

"Once?" That was highly unlikely.

"No... not once but... I changed the codes right away and that is why added the lines and it did not crash anymore."

"So you know why it does crash, otherwise you would not be able to come up with those lines of command, yes?"

She nodded but she was not making any sense.

"Who actually did this programming?" I asked nicely.

She again said it was her.

"Mr. Truscott."

"Hmm?" I turned around in my rolling chair and Mr. White was looking bit pale.

"Actually half of the programming is done by another person; Miss. Wilde. Well, she is useless pretty much. So, Miss. Vivian stepped up and finished the project for her and that is why we have so many errors in the programming..."

"There are no errors in the programming except so many unnecessary commands which I do not get... and even the person who did it does not know it either."

Then they all started bickering.

"Can you please stop telling me the amount of money it will bring, Jesus! I don't care! That is Jason's department. Tell him."

God, I was so sick of this nonsense.

"Bring the other girl in."

"She is useless Mr. Truscott." Mr. White tried again.

"Well, so are you. None of us knows what we are even seeing."

I exhaled and counted to ten.

"Bring Jason in. I want to know what is going on."

Jesus!

A timid looking girl came in with her glasses on the tip of her nose. She was scared; I could tell.

"Did you do this project, Miss Wilde?"

She nodded and I noticed her fingers tremble.

"Don't lie to your boss." Mr. White snarled.

"I actually did the programming but they did not like it. So, they changed it..."

"Changed your codes?"

"Yes..."

"Could you please explain what I am seeing?"

She froze and started to take shallow rapid breaths.

"I... I... ca... can't..."

"It is okay. You don't have to... if you can't. I just wanted to know certain things. Have anxiety?"

She nodded.

"I understand. I have too... sometimes. You have medication?"

"N... no... I d... don't get them often... I... uhh... Therapist said I don't need medication yet. He is taking it slow."

"Social anxiety? New people?"

She shook head 'no'.

"I just can't talk when I am nervous." She dropped her head as soon as she raised it to look at me.

"Alright then. We were confused as to why there were some unnecessary commands."

Poor girl.

"There are no unnecessary commands in my programming." She frowned and looked directly at me.

"Are you talking back to your boss?" Mr. White really had something against her.

"Yes! No... I don't know. My programming might not be good at business point of view but it works." Miss Wilde looked a bit... well, wild.

"Could you please explain it to me? Those lines?"

She shook her head sadly and Vivian huffed triumphantly.

I did not have to be a therapist to know that Wilde was hurt. "Alright then. You may leave. We will figure something out."

She nodded but I saw her shaking.

"Why don't you sit next to me?" I rolled a chair and asked her to sit. "Deep breaths. It happens."

"I am sorry." Her teeth started to chatter.

"No, no, it is perfectly alright. Like I said, nervousness is my twin brother."

She smiled, then nibbled her lips. "I can write the deleted code on the board. I just can't talk."

"That would be fabulous. Thank you, Miss Wilde."

I rushed out before she could hide back in her shell.

And then came the absolute beauty of programming. Her fingers flew on the board and I noticed how confident she looked when she was coding.

She was fucking marvellous.

Gorgeous.

"But why don't it work without these?" I asked standing next to her and she did not even notice.

"That Sir, I don't know... I tried circle, you know..."

"To maximize the surface area?"

"Yes... but... it did not work... I tried square but... that did not work too..."

I narrowed my eyes... "But why not?"

"I can... may be work it out somehow but when the rotatory shaft turns... it is heating up..."

"Heating is not a problem, Wilde... we can..."

"Enough to melt the armature hand..."

"... heating is a problem." I swallowed my words.

She giggled.

"We need a material scientist." I deducted.

She nodded.

"But, Sir, in the risk of sounding incompetent, I have a feeling that I am overlooking something..."

"Aw! That is fabulous but that means you can solve this right? Given time, that is... How much time were you given for this project?"

"Two months and some... I was late for submission. It took me almost three months and a half. Then they assigned Vivian to this project and then... here we are..."

"Wait... so Vivian was assigned after you had done three months' worth of effort?"

She nodded.

Crucified Christ!

I shook my head.

Gods, this was not what I envisioned when I started my company.

"You did this much in three months?"

Holy fuck!!!

She was the absolute gorgeous goddess of programming.

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

I took calming breaths.

FUCK!!!

"So, if I give you another three months or so... would you be able to?"

"Uhhh... I am terminated by the end of this month... This is not the only late project I have submitted. I used up my final warning for this project."

My neck almost broke how fast I turned back to the board of company.

They were going to fire her. Someone like her!!! From my company!

God, she was standing next to me and I was already grieving for letting her go.

I cleared my throat and asked both the ladies to take their seats.

"Can I know your education qualification, Miss. Wilde? Or not, wait a minute. Listen Miss. Wilde, I... I am sorry you are asked to leave but... if given a chance would you like to study a bit more on robotics? I mean, as I have seen, your coding is out of the world. It is when you have to implement it in Robotics, that you have a kind of..."

"Yes, Sir." I loved her enthusiastic nod.

I quickly dialled my mentor and the person who I run to when I had trouble like these coding; Dr. A.

I gulped, knowing quite well that he was going to embarrass me in front of everyone. But I had a gem in my hand and she was slipping away.

"Hi, Dr. A." I squeaked and the man glared.

"I was busy."

"Doing what?"

He looked around behind me and noticed two girls sitting. " Trimming some weeds in the garden. What do you want?"

"Well, I want help."

"I am busy." He grumbled.

"You will not regret it. I promise. Five minutes. That is all I ask."

"Like I said I have weeds to trim, vegetables to grow, you know something better than babysitting snotty kids... When I retired I thought... finally, I will get peace of my mind..."

"You can go back to it in a minute..." I ignored his complaints and swiped the codes to the screen and he adjusted his glasses.

He scowled, then bit back a curse before huffing. "Which stupid did this? If it is you, you might wanna go back to high school than running a company. This is so bad."

He was impressed, I could tell; unlike the giggling mess of an orange lady.

And my board members knew that too, because unlike her, they were used to seeing Dr. A wearing a robe, tousled hair and of course that angry glare intensified with spectacles on my screen.

Dr. A scratched his head and I smiled.

Bingo!

Take that old man! You can't throw you diary to me through the screen.

"This is not your coding."

"Nope!"

"You are way too happy about that."

"Yup!"

"God, you are so annoying. Leave me alone, kid."

"Nope!"

He sighed but there was a slight smile he had tried very hard to hide.

"Fine, bring in."

I nodded to Wilde who was dumbstruck. "Dr. Mehboob Khan... it... it is an honour. Oh God! Are you real? Sorry... excited... too excited... I did this code. It is not good; I know but I don't know where I went wrong."

"Fabulous! It is almost like you cloned yourself." Dr. A huffed at my giggle. "Your code is not just not good, it is pathetic."

Wilde nodded and I felt bad. Dr. A always came too intimidating on first meeting.

"But... you... kind of did some fabulous thinking."

"I did... did I? I mean if you say so..."

"She just have bachelors in computer application. Nothing else." I added and Dr. A slipped and fell right into my plan.

"That true, kid?"

"Yes."

"Well, you won't reach anywhere without learning something more."

Sadly, that was correct too.

"I know... I uhh... saving up for masters..."

"11 a.m, 20th. Don't be late. Jesus! A man can't have a simple retirement life." He hung up the call before I could even say good bye.

I smiled so big.

I was so happy!!!

"So, Miss Wilde. How would it feel to be Dr. A's prodigy?"

"What?"

"You heard the man. 11 a.m. day after tomorrow."

"Oh god." She lied down rapidly breathing.

Oh shit!

"Hey... hey... it is okay..."

"I am fine... I am okay... just dying... god, it feels so good to die..."

Did I kill Wilde? I did not mean to.

"Oh. Mr. Truscott. I have to leave if I have to..."

"Do you have anyone to come with you? I will arrange the jet to leave tomorrow morning. You might want to sign some papers before leaving to take your code with you."

"I will sign anything." She quickly added.

"Please don't do that. Do you have anyone?"

"My brother. He is here actually. He will come with me."

"Excellent. So, why don't you rest for tonight? Where are you staying? I will send the papers right away."

"Yes, yes... I can do that... Oh my god! I get to see him. He is like... you know..."

"I know." I smiled.

"It is a dream come true."

I nodded again.

She went away talking to herself and then patting her own back.

I squeezed my eyes shut after she left.

"Really? Seriously? You were going to fire her?" I asked the uptight men in the conference room.

No one replied.

"Shame on you... and shame on me for trusting you to run my company. What is this Mr. White? Why did you not even bother to ask who did the project? Mr. Anderson, you have been more than just an employee to me. How could you let this happen? Let a programmer like her go..." I shook my head again.

I wiped my face and made eye contact with each and one of them.

"The girl can't even properly speak." Mr. White mumbled.

"So what? Do I look like I run a circus company for flashy animated slides?" My eyes slipped to the orange girl. "We need talent, calibre and good programming. And that girl you almost fired had all of it! Why do I need to see a power point presentation of jumping slides? Are you kidding me? My uncle is the Hollywood director, not me. Even he would not be impressed. Grow up, people!"

"I did the... real work?"

"You are asking me? Well, then the answer is 'no'. You contributed nothing to that project."

"I suggested red is better... It would bring more money." Vivian answered me back.

"Then shift to our sales department. You can't sell a product if it does not work! You can put blue, pink, dear god, may be a diamond encrusted ones but no one will buy if it does not work!!! Is it too difficult to understand?!!"

My angry eyes met Mr. White. "What is your job Mr. White?"

"I am really sorry, Mr. Truscott. The mistake is mine. I should have..."

"Exactly. Now, how many people have you all fired for some pathetic excuse as not being able to show a presentation?"

"Five people this year." Mr. Anderson told me and my eyes popped out.

"On what ground? What are the reasons of termination?"

I did not wait for an answer before swiping my hand across the smart desk and data popped up in tabs.

"Lee Adam ?C delayed submission. Jesus! He was working on our Verne platform and had contributed nine months of his life for us... Renjith Singh ?C cannot keep up with work environment... then it is our problem, not our employees... Are you guys even real?"

"We run a business, Mr. Truscott." Mr. Hill added.

"No, you run 'my' business. Connect me to these people right now."

I watched as Uncle Andy quickly set up the call and two calls were left unanswered.

Adam Lee took the call and his tired voice rang in the conference call.

"Hello, Mr. Lee. Davidson? Truscott speaking. You've been my employee at Cyberonics..."

"Sir, hello... did my Verne crash? It did, right? I knew it would..."

"Yes, our Verne project is not proceeding well but that is not the reason for my call. I want to know why you dropped off the project because your career profile is excellent."

"I did not drop off Mr. Truscott. I could not tell them how to make money using my program and they..."

JESUS!!!

"Would you be able to finish your project if I give you additional time?"

"Yes, Sir. But again I don't know what good my programming brings to you or your company."

"That is not your job. Your job is coding. How to sell it is somebody else's job? So, could you please come to the office, tomorrow morning?"

"I am honoured Sir. But my shift only ends at nine in the morning."

FUCK!!! Did he join another firm?

"Oh, that is a shame. When will you be able to come, then?"

"After nine, Sir. I am on watch duty in a morgue. I cannot leave until the next person comes." I noticed how his voice was trembling like he was trying not to cry.

A watchman? That was an insult to my company and that man's intelligence.

"Take your time. You can start your job at five in the evening tomorrow. I have already sent you your employee clearance card... Please check your mail."

"Yes, sir. I got it... Thank you... thank you so much... I..."

"We will talk tomorrow, Mr. Lee. It is a pleasure to have you as my employee." I dropped the call.

Jason came in with Natalia in tow and I fucking lose my shit right there.

"Jace, if I wanted to run a show business, I can train a monkey to do a better presentation." I did not care if that orange girl was hurt. "Seriously, Jace, who found the business opportunities for my codes when we were in college. Damn right you did! I did not know or care about that. Now, we are expecting programmers to analyse business too? Then why the hell do we have your department? To prance around?"

I bit my tongue before I could add 'seduce people'.

I would not let my jealousy to stoop me that low.

"Nat, Miss Wilde is going to be Dr. A's prodigy. I want her bad; really bad. Fill up the forms. She still works for us... give her a stipend. Is 10k a month good amount? Make it 15k. I don't want anyone to give her a better opportunity. Food, accommodation... anything... we will pay, her therapist too... I want her to have her own department after her training. You got it?"

Nat nodded and I nodded back.

I almost snarled at orange girl's jealousy. I wanted to know how she became the lead programmer.

Jace gently rubbed my back and slowly calmed down.

"I want to conduct an inspection. I will send the demands the programs tonight. Three days' time for each programmer. And they will all be different. I don't want people who steal other's work in my company. Let us see... who stays after that."

My watched chimed and accepted Robbie's call.

"Baby Angel is going to cry."

I chuckled just like that. "Aw! What happened?"

"Misses you. Well, I miss you too, but I won't cry... or so I think..."

I wanted to preen at the orange girl.

Let that go, Ace!

"Incoming torpedo." Daddy added before my conference room was opened and Daddy was standing there with my pouting Baby girl.

"Aww!!! What happened, Sweet Baby?"

She whined before leaning to me to pick her up. I kissed both of her cheeks as she sat on my hips.

"Missed Davey?"

"Nu!"

I laughed. "Oh, you did not?"

She shook her head but her tiny arms squeezed my neck tight. God, I loved her so much.

"But Davey missed you so much."

"Weally?" She mumbled before smiling shyly.

"Really really. Now why don't Baby Angel find Davey a chair to sit. Go with Daddy..."

"Nuuuu..."

"Come on Sweet Baby... Davey be right back." I handed her back to her dad and pecked her head.

Then I pecked my man's cheek too. If my hand accidently pushed his shirt to side to show the whole world the hickey I had given him... well, it was no accident.

Lia's pout was back but she went with her Daddy without much fuss.

I sighed. "Mr. Anderson, I am the boss. I not only own the company but from now on I am taking charge. Mr. White I am revoking your power to promote, demote, or terminate any employee from my department. If anyone is still working in my department hoping to enter the show business, please resign and make way for intellectuals. Jace, from now on I want a clear gap between our sales team and programming team. Am I clear? Good. Now find me a temporary Key Director who will work directly under me. When Miss Wilde comes back, it will be her position... and yes, she will be your boss Mr. White."

I walked away, tired, hungry, horny and still jealous.

UGGHHH!!!

By the time I reached my family Lia had begun her waterworks. It was almost like I had abandoned her in the side of the streets.

I picked her up and she tried very hard to remove my shirt and hers too.

"Little Baby, we are with people now. We can't get nakey nakey, now... It is shame shame..."

She hiccupped and yanked on my collar again. She was just too tired and hungry.

But I removed the chain that kept my collar clasped together and she cuddled under my chin.

"Robbie, let us change her frock. I think it is making her sweat a lot."

I blew on her head while Daddy and Winnie came back with her bag. "Frank is getting her dinner, Angel."

"She won't eat anything, now..." I gently removed her frock making her scream harder. "Aww... Awww... is okay sweetheart... come on, let us get some air."

I felt Lia licking her thumb and sometimes she would lick on my collar bone too.

It would have been better if I could remove my shirt. When Lia wanted comfort, she wanted to cuddle up my naked chest.

When she was younger I might have gone overboard with naked tummy time. Doctors were strongly pointing out how mother's body heat while breastfeeding was important for Little Lia's immunity and temperature regulation.

So, whenever she showed mild discomfort I would throw away my shirt and cuddle with her along with her feeding time.

It always worked.

But sometimes, when we were in public it was difficult to do it under prying eyes.

"Daeey..." She sniffled and cried harder.

"Come on." Robbie found us an empty corner and I finally heeded to Lia's demands and removed her underwear too.

"She is way too sweaty." I pouted before trying to wipe Lia's sweat if only she did not wiggle too much without crying.

Winny handed me a Chinese fan with a wink.

"You are so wholesome. Do you know that, Winny?"

"Yes!" Winny flicked her hair with a proud smile.

"DAEEEYYY!!!"

"She is not going to calm down until I remove my shirt." I sighed before handing my baby to Robbie who started to kick and scream harder.

I quickly discarded my shirt and picked her back up before placing her on my lap to jiggle.

Robbie undid his jacket and loosely hung it on my shoulder, so Lia and I could get some privacy.

Lia's tired droopy eyes met mine and I wiped those tears.

"I thought you were a Princess, Lia and Princess won't show pee pee to anyone." I put finger on my nose and tried to put across the idea of shame. We had to break this habit soon. We had a few more years but I had to start it now or it would never happen.

She only cried harder. "Daeyy... pee pee baby..."

She looked so heartbroken and I melted.

"You are right. Davey can see baby's pee pee. It is okay. It does not count." I put her on my naked chest and gently rocked her.

"Dada pee pee..." She whined but her cries slowly diminished.

"Yes, Dada too."

"J..." She yawned. "JJ..."

"Yes... JJ..." I softly whispered willing her to sleep.

"Gay..."

"Yes... Uncle Gabe..."

Then she mumbled something more and I kept on slowly whispering her answers back until she fell asleep sucking on her thump.

"She was hungry." I told Daddy when her breaths evened out.

"Why did not she just say so?" I giggled and patted the spot next to me. He cuddled up to me, frowning at our child.

"It is way too confusing for her, Daddy. It is the sweaty frock, not seeing me, hungry, tired and whatnot... she is a baby... she can't figure out what she is feeling... so the tears. If it was just hunger, she would have told us."

"She only has to say and I will get her anything... that you approve..." Robbie assured me.

I giggled. "In a few years, she will figure that out."

I leaned down and pecked my child.

I would die before anything happened to her. "I love you, Princess."

Daddy gently fanned us both with the Chinese fan.

In half an hour Lia was up, feeling much better but so hungry. She allowed me to put on my shirt and pull up her soft onesie but had to cuddle up on me while Daddy fed her dinner.

"Lia aaahh..." She opened her mouth and the angrily chowed down the mashed potato. "Why did you cry so much? Dada would have fed you a lot earlier." He pecked her head.

With her filled stomach and not in so tight sweaty frock, my baby girl was back to the sweet angel she truly was.

She cackled, giggled and laughed with Winnie and Frankie.

At the time of ceremony though she wanted to be with us but refused to wear a frock.

I could already see the heading 'Billionaire heiress wore onesie to the award function.'

But whatever.

I was too tired to put up with another tantrum from Little Lia.

As expected, and known earlier, I was given the Genius something something award and honestly I just wanted to go home. God, I was so tired and still... jealous.

If anyone noticed I was purposefully avoiding the orange girl, aka Vivian... well, not my problem.

I came down from the stage with lots of cheers from my associates and Jason in tow. I was not the only Genius in this business. My brother was too. If they thought they could conveniently forget him, I would gladly remind them that there would be no Cyberonics without my Slave.

"Imma bite, Davey... Imma bite..." Lia glared at the shiny sphere on top of my award and her teeth was practically aching to give it a bite.

"You can't Lia." I laughed before trying to pry it off her tiny hands.

"IMMA BITEE" She gave out a war cry and there she jumped and started to gnaw on it earnestly.

Daddy honestly looked trying very hard to figure his kid. "She said no to French fries."

I almost fell on the floor laughing.

All throughout the dinner, Vivian and Mr. White tried to get back into my good sides but I was not having it.

She flirted with my man and I did not like the emotions that brought back the memories.

I would not go through it once more. I looked down at the shiny ring that I carried around like a part of my body; just like Daddy did with my Angel chain around his neck.

If she was anyone with integrity she would have backed off.

But had I?

Robbie used to wear a golden band and I had ignored it all the time I opened my bedroom door for him.

And that exactly was my fear.

What if someone else...

I noticed how her eyes frequently slipped to my ring and finally I gave her a glare that stopped her rambling to save her face.

I wanted this girl out of my office and my life but with the way Mr. White seemed to have a soft spot on her, I had a feeling I had to work harder.

"Let us go home, now."

Jason and Gabe would handle the rest. I kissed them both before leaving with Frankie and Winnie in tow.