Chapter 1 FAMILY

"Are you firing me?" Ace asked, slamming the contents of the letter he had just received on the table of his father-in-law's office.

He stared hard and direct at the man sitting behind the large desk expecting some sort of answer as to why he was being let go.

"Yes. I am. You should get out before I call security on you." Jacob Rodgers said never lifting his eyes for one moment to look at him.

"But I haven't done anything wrong." Ace protested.

Rodgers looked up at him, disgust visible in his face now. He hated him, it was obvious. Giving him this job was just charity to him and he was simply sick of him so he let him go. Typical.

"You're not needed anymore in this building, Ace." He said then added

"Don't push your luck. I'm thin on patience right now."

Ace slammed his fists on the desk, grabbed the letter, squeezing its contents then walked out of the office frustrated.

He had no right to do that to him. No right at all. No reason to sack him. How cruel could he possibly be? Ace wondered.

He walked out of the office building and into the streets, hailed a taxi, and gave his location. His mind was still wandering when he pulled up at his location. It was drizzling already and the café would be less busy. It was perfect for him, on a day such as this, he needed less company.

He walked into the little store and pulled back a seat for himself. Ordered some lunch and sat munching at it. Time seemed to pass faster and soon enough, he was out and in the rain trying to find his way home.

Ace got back home to his wife waiting outside. She was edgy. Olivia Rodgers was a slender blonde woman with perfect blue eyes and a lovely shape. She came from wealth, so she was most likely childish from a young age, and dealing with whatever had her upset right now after he just got fired without any reason by her father was too much. And he didn't have the stomach for that.

"Did you and Daddy fight again?" she asked immediately after he came into her view.

"No," Ace said with venom in his voice. One she didn't seem to notice.

"My cards have been declined and I can't go shopping." She whined, infuriating him the more.

How he came about to live with this woman, sometimes he didn't know. She was beautiful and thoughtful. She could be the perfect wife when she wanted to be. But most times, she didn't want to be. She enjoyed being the rich and childish heiress to a multi-million dollar automobile company.

"And I called Daddy, but he isn't responding." She kept on at it.

"What did you do, Ace?" She said and Ace paused.

When he turned, the scowl on his face was frightening to look at and Olivia made that clear by stepping backwards in horror.

"He fired me. Your old man fucking fired me." Ace spat out. Looked her dead in the eyes and turned back heading to his room.

He pulled the scarf he had around his neck off and removed his large coat and gloves. Pulled his shoes off into the closet as well as his watch. He undid his buttons all the while thinking about why he'd get fired and the first thing his wife would do, would be to accuse him of getting into a fight with her father.

He never understood what it was with these people. Born into generations of money, they felt everyone was under them. Pawns to be used for their gains and only their gains. Pathetic.

He never liked his guts. Didn't even attend the marriage to show his disapproval of his daughter marrying him. Sighting some "foreign business" he had to deal with. Gave him the job out of pity and sympathy for his daughter, then fired him when he got tired of his face.

Ace Mackenzie slammed his fists against the wall as he stepped into the bathroom to wash off the sweat and stink of that day. Possibly he could wash away the failure that hovered around him as well, he thought as he turned the shower on and stepped into the flowing water dripping onto his head and down his body.

He came out of the shower minutes later wrapped in a white towel to his wife already in bed covered up. He walked to the other side, exchanged his towel for his pajamas, and climbed the bed right next to her.

Even though he'd lost his job and her father was determined to see his downfall, he'd still love her like the first time he saw her. With that thought, he leaned in and kissed her on the forehead only to realize her eyes were wide open. He kissed her head and leaned back in on his pillow.

"So what are you going to do now?" Olivia asked and Ace knew she was referring to their finances and his job.

"I'll think of something in the morning, right now, all I need is eight full hours of sleep." He said. And with that, he adjusted the position of his headrest and settled into sleep.

His indecision only served as justification for her own decision. She thought as she lay there watching his chest rise and fall as he slept. She wasn't sorry. Maybe it was just how it was meant to be. And with that, she closed her eyes as well and drifted off to sleep.