Page 81 of The Fire We Make

Ace licked his lips noting her attire. She wore a sleeveless ankle length white dress that fit to her natural curves and looked fucking amazing against her skin. The dress was simple with an asymmetrical neckline and slight ruching that further defined her slim waistline.

Her curls were pulled loosely atop her head in a style that left ringlets brushing the perimeter of her face and the back of her neck. She held her clutch tucked under her arm and plucked a glass of champagne from the expertly done tower. Her red nails popped against the glass and her dress, looking like small speckles of blood.

She was the picture of beauty and elegance but her eyes still held that same mixture of fury and melancholy that Ace could never seem to look away from. Only tonight, there was something new added to the cocktail. Not the resigned sadness but a determination that made the flames in her irises dance and call to him.

When Ace was done eyeing her frame and ensemble, he brought his gaze back up to her face, catching her ogling him in return. Similarly to everyone else in attendance, Ace was wearing all white — white Italian leather shoes and a white suit with the top few buttons of his shirt undone and accessorized by a black Hermes belt with gold hardware and chains resting against his chest.

When their eyes caught, they stared at one another for a moment before Joy was tapped by someone else from the office and she turned, taking her attention from Ace and giving it to their colleague.

“Isn’t that your associate, Joy?” April asked.

“Mhm,” Ace hummed in response without taking his eyes off of Joy.

“I’m gonna go say hi,” she announced.

“Don’t be on no weird shit,” Ace warned her.

“I’m not!” April exclaimed, waving off his warning as she sauntered in Joy’s direction.

Ace watched his sister greet Joy with the same bright smile and double cheek kiss she’d been giving all evening — the only greeting befitting of the socialite and heiress.

Joy returned the greeting in kind without missing a beat.

“You’re drooling, son.”

The sound of Zachariah’s voice made Ace turn to face his grandfather. Glass halfway to his mouth, he chuckled, then continued the path, taking a swig as he watched Joy and April laugh together about something.

“You trippin’ Pops,” Ace replied, unable to look away from the radiant beauty of Joy. The sun had set and ambient lighting had joined the decorative candles, casting her in a soft glow.

Joy hardly offered up her real smiles but when she did, it was a treat. Her brown skin seemed to glow brighter and her entire face lit up. She was beautiful in all situations and emotions but joy looked the best on Joy. Ace worked hard for the few smiles he was able to pull from her.

“She’s a pretty girl,” Zachariah noted, not dropping the topic as Ace had hoped.

“Who?” Ace asked, unable to hide his smirk. Pops’ face screwed up at Ace’s deaf, dumb and crazy act.

“Play games if you want to,” his Pops warned, chuckling into his own drink.

Soon, Ace was no longer watching Joy from afar because she and April had migrated to the tall table where Ace and Zachariah stood. Ace nodded in acknowledgement when Joy approached and she returned it. Their greetings were subtle but their eyes shone bright, reflecting against each other.

“Pops, this is Joy Thibodeaux. She’s a junior associate at the firm,” April introduced. “Joy, this is my grandad, Zachariah King.”

The two shook hands as Joy spoke. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Mr. King. I’m honored to meet the man that started it all.” Her tone was laced with the practiced poise and professionalism Ace had gotten used to but despised nonetheless. Everything about it contradicted the wildness in her eyes when she thought no one was paying attention or no one would notice.

He wanted that version of her. The one that she kept hidden but reflected who she truly was.

“I’m flattered Ms. Thibodeaux, though I must say, none of this would have been possible without my better half,” he admitted, gazing across the room at his wife lovingly. As if she felt his stare, Ella turned, catching his eyes and blew him a kiss that he pretended to catch and put in the breast pocket of his suit.

Ace, April, and Joy all laughed at the corny display of affection from the two elders but Pops was unmoved. Ella cut her conversation short, migrating to be with her husband.

This time, it was Zachariah who led the introduction and instead of a handshake, Ella pulled Joy into a hug that she stiffly accepted.

“Happy anniversary. 55 years of marriage is no small feat, especially maintaining the love that you two clearly still have for one another,” Joy said looking between the couple.

“Thank you baby,” Ella smiled warmly. “Marriage is hard work but it’s easy when you’ve found the right one. The storms of life don’t seem so bad when you have someone solid at your side to weather them with you.”

Joy smiled politely.

Zachariah looked down at Ella with stars in his eyes. “That’s the key right there. It’s about having somebody that knows exactly who you are — good, bad, ugly — and doesn’t flinch. Finding someone who doesn’t feel like work but feels like… home.”