Hi peeps!
Welcome back and again, thank you for your ongoing support!
Now, this chapter is kinda long and I didn't even put in all I wanted to put in it, but I guess it's a nice prelude to what is inevitably coming... hehe.
I had to change the name of the chapter as well, because the part the 3 of Swords refers to, didn't come to pass in this chapter yet.
For those of you, who are wondering, the name of the chapters are indeed Tarot Cards. They always reflect the content of each chapter.
Now, onwards! And enjoy...
Relevant Tarot Cards:
-Minor Arcana-
Nine of Wands : The card predicts that the querent will get what they seek from the wands, a career goal, leadership position, whatever they've invested their energy into making real. They will, however, feel guarded and wary till it's done.
-Major Arcana-
Temperance: Relates to blending and mixing opposites, trying, experimenting, and adjusting the amounts of both sides. Temperance isn't about surrendering one for another. It is about mixing things until you get exactly what you want, which is usually a perfect blend of the two, like for example a perfect Love-Work balance.
3. Nine of wands - Temperance
The lights of the city flashed by as Ace's car sped through the nearly empty streets of the growing metropolis that was Sabaody. Ace had electro-pop music playing, which fit perfectly with the relaxed feel of their car ride and the city's transition into the crepuscule of the day.
Sky scrapers that hadn't been there four years ago dominated it's skyline now, residential complexes had been pulled out of the ground, giving birth to new neighbourhoods Luffy didn't know the names of.
He found himself smiling as they drove by more familiar spots, like the recreational area around the Sabao Lake. He remembered spending warm summer afternoons there shooting hoops with Franky, Usopp, Sanji, Chopper and Zoro. It looked exactly the same as he recalled it.
"They finished it..." He whispered, as they drove by the Sabao Dome, which was alight that evening, hosting the finale of a televised sporting event.
"Yeah," Ace confirmed, reaching for his music player and reducing the volume. "It was finished not that long ago. It's a huge place and really a monument to some ingenious architectural prowess.
Luffy followed the building with his eyes until it dissappeared out of sight once Ace made a left. "Definitely worth seeing then."
Ace smiled, "That it is."
They continued their drive with only the dance music playing in between them for a few moments, Ace grinning when he noticed Luffy mouthing the lyrics of the currently playing song, nodding his head to the beat. He reached for the music player again and turned it up, catching Luffy's big grin and delighted expression.
"Love this song," Luffy admitted.
"I can tell," the older male replied with a chuckle. "Maybe we can go out dancing next time."
Luffy smirked coyly while moving his shoulders to the rhythm. "Maybe."
Ace chuckled at that, silently acknowledging the issued challenge. He then turned up the music and joined Luffy in moving his head to the dance beat.
They soon arrived on Ocean Drive Boulevard with its many high end boutiques and classy restaurants.
"You told me that you knew the owner of Baratie on 10th central, right?" Ace questioned as he slowed down his car to enter a parking lot building.
"Yeah?" Luffy confirmed, reaching for the volume button to turn the music down a last time.
"Did you hear that that Sanji guy opened another restaurant here?" Ace continued, parking his car in an empty spot on the ground floor.
"I did," Luffy answered. "Is that where we're having dinner?"
Ace turned off the engine and nodded. "Unless you want to go somewhere else?
Luffy shook his head, "Oh, no, no. This is more than fine. I didn't even think you'd take me to such a high end place."
Ace smiled at him and unbuckled his seatbelt. "Well, you know first dinners and all... and technically, we're here for business purposes. I couldn't take you to some pizza place."
"Technically?" Luffy questioned with an amused expression. "I didn't bring this portfolio for nothing, you know?" he said, holding up the black document holder.
"Well, we have all evening," Ace replied, grinning. He then opened his door and stepped out of the car. Luffy followed suit.
"Marco told me you've really been working hard on your assignement," Ace commented conversationally as they made their way to the exit of the building.
"Event planning requires quite a bit of preparation. I have my contacts and I have to draw up an estimate that strokes with their expectations as well as my client's, Mugiwara and Vivi's management in this case," Luffy explained, holding his portfolio close to his chest. "A certain level of additional market research needs to be done too to complement what has already been stated in previous market studies. And then of course, all of the organisatorial hassle that goes with planning such an event needs to be thought out to the finest of details."
The smile that Ace had been sporting only grew wider and he became more and more impressed by the level of know how Luffy exhibited. "You did organise your senior class' boating getaway," he said, giving an example of Luffy's organisatorial skills that he got off his resumé. "That to me was proof of your talent."
Luffy was taken by surprise by the unexpected praise and nodded his head in thanks. "Yeah... that was really fun. To put together as well as to experience. Most people think that the pirate theme has been overdone, but a good old fashioned treasure hunt coupled with a spa getaway really does the trick."
"That sounds like a fantastic incentive idea," Ace commented, stepping out of the building and onto the brightly lit boulevard. "Definitely something you and I should look into if we get the chance to do this."
A blush was starting to spread over Luffy's face, and he wished for his heart to stop beating so frantically in his chest for no reason. He had to remind himself that this was a work/pleasure thing, it didn't need to go any further than that. There was no need to see things that weren't there. If they ended up fucking, that would be certainly fine. He didn't need anything else from him. At least, for now.
He still had no idea what level of involvement Ace expected of him on this project, but he felt like he could trust him on a professional level, so he nodded in response to Ace's earlier statement and followed him as he turned left and walked on. "I'd love to help."
Ace nodded. "I have a distinct vision of how I want to run things and I'm certain that having you on my team will prove itself to be a very valuable investment. Your resumé really held my attention. Your work for the Punk Hazard Charity Ball has been highly praised by the Grand Line recreational commitee," he pauzed to give Luffy a thankful smile. "Truly, we're lucky to have you, Luffy," Ace concluded.
Luffy grinned back contently. "Thank you. It's an extra source of motivation when people appreciate what you love doing..."
"And it shows that you love what you do," Ace added. "Makes me curious as to what you've come up with for us."
Luffy's grin only grew wider as he let his eyes go over his surroundings. Most boutiques and shops we're closing up for the day, but a lot of people we're still out enjoying the rather warm evening.
"This is the place, the Nasugasira."
The Nasugasira was located on the 7th floor of the Sambas building overlooking the harbour. The building itself was another impressive feat of modern architecture, the transparant walls of glass that made up the exterior of the building gave it a light and airy look which blended in perfectly with its immediate environment.
The entrance to the restaurant was accessible by a large metallic set of stairs on the side of the building where a long line of customers were waiting to be let in. A velvet rope parted the stairs neatly in two, creating a path on one side that gave direct admittance to the establishment.
Caimie's words suddenly echoed in Luffy's mind and he turned to Ace. "How did you manage to have reservations on such short notice?"
Ace pursed his lips, but didn't answer, instead walking up the steps on the empty side of the velvet rope. Luffy could only follow, making sure not to catch the looks of envy and downright exasperation some of those waiting in line gave them.
"Goodevening, Mr Portgas," the blue haired hostess behind the counter in the lobby greeted them. "We've prepared a lounge for you this evening."
Ace gave her his company expense card and nodded once in acknowledgement. "Thank you."
The girl smiled friendly at them before grabbing two menus from her counter. "Please follow me," she then said, turning around in her tight, revealing black dress and black stiletto's while pushing in the button for the elevator behind her. She ushered them inside and took place after them, pushing in the button to close the doors.
With a melodious chime and the sound of the metallic elevator doors sliding open, they arrived on the seventh floor just moments later.
The room they saw was unlike anything Luffy had ever seen before.
"Welcome to the Nasugasira."
On the left side of the main dining room stood the teppanyaki cooking island, with its skillful cooks preparing meat, fish and other delectables on the heated iron plates for the customer who requested it. Sounds of wonderment and surprise often rose from that side of the restaurant, as the chefs made a show of slicing and cooking the ingredients with great dexterity.
On the other side of the restaurant was the sushi preparation island. Sushi chefs created the most stylized sushi pieces from the freshest ingredients, displaying their impressive craftmanship to the lovers of the art. Rounds of applause were frequently heard from that side in a wordless form of appreciation.
In the middle of the room, right in between the two islands and amidst the dining tables, stood the bar with its professional mixologists and wide collection of liquors and beers.
The restaurant had a traditional asian look and feel to it with lots of golds and reds, and incorporated elements from modern, minimalistic interior design. From the walls, to the furniture and even to the kimono themed, closely fitted uniform with the open back of their young hostess.
Luffy noticed Ace admiring her well formed frame with an appreciative smile, which made him smile in slight wonder.
The entire right side of the restaurant offered a magnificent 180° view of the Sabao Harbor and part of Sabaody city's lit up skyline in the distance.
"This place is amazing..." Luffy commented as they walked past the cooking islands and to a set of stairs leading to the first floor, where the private lounges were located.
The girl preceded them on the balcony-like floor and they walked past different rooms that were shielded by gold translucent drapes and all equipped with a round table, a comfy u-shaped couch with plenty of pillows and a different asian wallpainting against the wall above the couch.
She stopped next to the fifth lounge and pulled the drape up by a set of strings to let them in. She then placed the menus on the table before them and handed them a small device with which they could call for a waiter when they were ready to order.
"Thank you," Luffy said as she bowed her head and moved to let the drapes fall back in place. She then walked away again after she'd taken their first drinking orders, her beautiful figure dissappearing from sight. Even from up here they had a gorgeous view of the city.
"Oh wow..." Luffy whispered, smiling.
"Order whatver you like, Luffy," Ace said, taking a menu in a hand.
"You're going to regret saying that," Luffy laughed. "I'm absolutely famished."
Ace grinned, "Me too. Why do you think I gave her my expense card?"
They both laughed heartedly and then settled into a comfortable silence in which they both looked into their menus to figure out what to eat.
Luffy had to admit that he was starting to see the young Director of Marketing in a whole different light.
According to Marco, Ace hadn't expected the promotion because he'd never considered himself a contender for the job. He'd refused it at first, and it took some convincing from Edward Newgate himself, the CEO of Mugiwara Group to have him accept the position.
A humble man at heart, Ace has never been one to vy for big positions even though he has all the qualities of a great leader, something Newgate had recognised in him early on and helped nourish and develop.
"How long have you been working for Mugiwara, Ace?" Luffy asked after they'd ordered their dinner.
"Almost 7 years now," Ace answered, sitting back in the couch and resting his arms on its back rail. "I started as Rayleigh's assistant who was then, next to being Director of Sales, also head of the 5 man crew that was the Marketing department."
"Oh whoa so you've really seen the Marketing department expand."
Ace smiled and nodded, reminiscing about those first few years. "Yeah, and they've had to expand it as the company grew. I was fresh out of college with a business management degree in my pocket, eager to prove myself. It's really thanks to Rayleigh that I was even considered for the position that I have now. "
Luffy grinned. "He taught you everything he knew, so you were the most logical choice for him to choose."
Ace smiled. "I guess so."
"That's so cool... Rayleigh is considered to be a marketing genius." Luffy stated. "I can't wait to meet him."
"That's certainly bound to happen," Ace said, looking up and seeing a waiter arrive with their drinks. "So, I was wondering something," he said, changing the subject. He moved his body to the side to look at Luffy better, head resting against his left hand.
Luffy raised a questionning eyebrow, reaching for his wineglass on the table. "I'm all ears," he replied, looking into his drink with a small smile.
"One would think you'd follow into your father's footsteps and work for his company," Ace said, crossing his right leg over his left as he made himself more comfortable. "How come you seem to keep the fact that you're Monkey D. Dragon's son a secret.?"
Luffy took a sip of his wine and placed his glass back on the table. "It's not a secret," he calmly said, shrugging. "I'm just not broadcasting it out there," he added with a derisive smirk. "It's my dad who's the media mogul, not me. When I tell people my dad is the CEO of Dragon Television Networks, they only see me as the son of Monkey D. Dragon and forget that I'm my own person."
Ace smiled at that and nodded in comprehension. "I can understand how that can be frustrating."
"I'm doing my own thing. Living my own life," Luffy whispered, sitting back and staring at the scenery outside their lounge. "Loving who I want, making my own mistakes and reaching goals that I've set for myself. Just living by doing what I love, with no regrets." He then shifted his gaze back on Ace. "That's not too much to ask for, is it?"
Ace quietly looked at him before shaking his head. "Not at all," he whispered, voice gone soft. "I can actually relate."
Luffy observed him in turn, enjoying their conversation a bit more. "Did your parents expect for you to follow into their footsteps too?"
A bitter smile appeared on Ace's lips and he looked down at the space in between them. "Not many people know this," he began, reaching for his own glass of wine. "When I was ten, I was adopted by Edward Newgate. I'm legally his son."
Luffy stared at him, blinking wordlessly. "Your adoptive father is Edward Newgate?" he asked, surprised. "Who else knows?"
"The upper managment, Marco of course and now you," Ace replied, his eyes now resting on his. "It's thanks to Newgate that I was able to find out who my real father was."
"You never knew your father?" Luffy wondered, frowning.
"Until I was ten, I lived with my mother on Baterilla, a remote island in the South Blue," Ace clarified. "For all intense and purposes I grew up not knowing that I was supposed to have a father; my mother was the only parent I ever needed back then.
That is, until she died shortly after my birthday."
Luffy remained silent, sympathising when Ace smiled sadly at the memory.
Their food arrived on two food trolleys pushed by two waiters. They watched how the two men redied their table for a moment before Ace resumed his story.
"Newgate took me in after her funeral and my quiet island life had to be adapted to the hectic rhythm of the big city life and all that came with it. I suddenly got the best clothes, the best education and people expected things from me, making me change my view on how I wanted to live my life.
It's around that time that the need to know who my birth father was arose. I was questionning the connection between Newgate and my mother and how he came to be a friend of the family as he called himself. I grew more rebellious and arrogant as the years passed and I felt like the answers kept eluding me; skipping school and hanging out with the wrong crowd, getting into shitloads of problems on a nearly daily basis."
"You were trying to find out who you are," Luffy commented, completely taken in by Ace's story.
"In all the wrong places," Ace added, watching the waiters placing the last plates of sushi and teppanyaki on the already packed table. He gave them an acknowledging nod as the walked away.
"What about Newgate? Didn't he try and stop you? Why didn't he just tell you who your father was?" Luffy asked, growing more and more curious.
Ace smirked at him, enjoying Luffy's interest. He gestured for them to start eating and began piling food on his plate. "Newgate was too busy with the company to be an influential factor. Dadan, the woman with the curly red hair you saw yesterday, is the one who tried to keep me under control. 'Tried' being the operative word here. She was Newgate's secretary at the time, but she still found time to check up on me next to her busy work schedule." He shook his head in shame,"I was so far gone and believed that no one else could tell me what to do or how to live my life but me. She was relentless though and never gave up on me. And thank God she didn't. I needed her more than I realized."
Luffy smiled warmly as he confessed that, discovering yet another side to his superior he did not expect. "What happened then?" he whispered, reaching for a steamed dumpling.
"I turned 18," Ace stated before eating a crispy sushi roll. He took the time to finish eating and then continued. "I found a folder on my desk that contained all the details that I had been looking for on my birth father." He paused and closed his eyes. "Roger Gold was my father."
Luffy's eyes grew wide, his mouth falling open and the dumpling he'd been holding stuck in mid air. "You're kidding me."
Ace chuckled. "I wish, believe me."
"'Golden Roger' was your father?!" Luffy whispered, a tad too loud. "Big shoes..."
Ace nodded, glancing up to see Luffy take a huge bite out of his dumpling. "Edward Newgate was his best friend and co-owner of Mugiwara Group, which they founded together. As you may, or may not know, before he died of cancer 28 years ago, he fathered a child with his secretary which caused a whirlwind of world renowned scandals, especially because at the time, Business Mogul Roger was married and already had a daughter from that marriage."
"Boa Hancock, the actress..." Luffy said, completely awed by what he just learned. "She's... she's your half-sister...!"
Ace nodded. "Yeah..."
Luffy couldn't do anything else but stare at him for a few moments. "How the fuck did you manage to escape the media circus that ensued from that scandal? It exploded like a bomb 28 years ago!"
Ace smiled wryly. "Rayleigh, Newgate and Jinbei."
Luffy cocked his head to the side, looking at him questionningly.
"Before he died, my father asked his best friends to protect my mother and me and keep my existence a secret," Ace explained. "They took my then pregnant mother and hid her on Baterilla. His will stated that Newgate would become my legal guardian if my mother were to die."
"But he did more than that and adopted you," Luffy whispered, sitting back again.
Ace closed his eyes and smiled. "He did."
"All of them... they really cared about you," Luffy stated, moved. "By keeping the information about your father until your 18th birthday, they protected you from harmful attention."
"That they did," Ace agreed. "And, of course, I didn't have a right to my heritance until I turned 18."
Luffy grinned. "So, you're loaded."
"You have no idea."
They laughed hard at that and in the midst of it, Luffy's hand landed on Ace's right thigh, unaware that they'd gotten more and more closer to each other as the conversation advanced.
Luffy stilled when he realized it and was about to move it, when Ace placed his own on top of it. "What is it about you that makes me lower my guard so? I just told you my entire life's story and I've only known you for 48 hours."
"Well it's one way to redeem yourself after you made me look like an idiot yesterday," Luffy replied, turning his hand underneath Ace's so their palms connected.
Luffy wondered if it was because of Ace's hand that was so warm, but did it just get hotter in their room?
Ace chuckled and lowered his gaze to Luffy's lips before looking him in the eyes again, stating his intention without using words. He smiled and began his approach when he saw Luffy's breath catch in his throat and his cheeks turn a cute pink.
The first kiss was electric, their lips tentatively touching before their tongues timidly connected, the kiss soon growing more needy and desperate as their breathing turned into soundless gasps as silent whimpers mingled in between.
"I'm pretty sure... that we..." Luffy gasped and moaned as Ace planted his lips in his neck and pulled him closer by his hip, growling possessively. "We're supposed to... do... something else...!"
Ace chuckled throatily, face still burried in Luffy's neck. "I have a proposition for that," he murmured, sitting back and letting Luffy climb on top of him, straddling his hips. "You're not hungry at all, anymore, are you?" he remarked interjectingly with a smirk, letting Luffy shower his lips with butterfly kisses.
Luffy grunted, smirking against his lips. "I'm always hungry," he whispered, kissing the black haired director wantonly. "I'm all ears..." he panted. "Fuck, you taste good..."
Ace laughed and wrapped his arms around Luffy, to make him slow down in his kisses. "Do the presentation in the morning, during breakfast."
"A breakfast meeting?" Luffy questionned, reaching behind him for a sushi roll when Ace kissed the side of his neck.
"Yeah, at my place," Ace said, opening his mouth when Luffy brought the roll to his lips. He chewed on the tasty food, smiling when Luffy stilled and gave him a calculating look.
"Are you asking me to spend the night?"
"What if I am?" Ace replied, eyes burning with want.
"You're my boss," Luffy stated.
"And you're straddling the hips of said boss," Ace whispered, squeezing Luffy's hips with his hands. "Plus, you're fucking hot."
Luffy grinned, "Yet you couldn't keep your eyes from our hostess."
"She's also hot," Ace admitted, giving him a testing smile, giving him the time to figure out the meaning behind those words.
Luffy raised an eyebrow. "You go both ways."
"I can appreciate both the female and the male form," Ace confirmed, strengthening his hold on him. "But right now, this body of yours is what's working for me."
Luffy kept telling himself that he didn't care. That it didn't matter. Ace could do whatever and whomever he wanted as long as he didn't jeopardize his professional ambitions. He didn't seem to be bothered about letting Luffy know that he was bisexual, so why should it annoy him?
"And your body is doing it for me too," he murmured, locking his lips with Ace's again. "But how do I know you don't plan on screwing me over?"
"Oh I'm fully planning on screwing you," Ace throatily admitted, sending a lightning bolt down Luffy's spine. He then pulled his face down with his hands and kissed him until Luffy moaned for air. "Just not over."
Luffy looked at him, trying to catch his breath. "I'm serious."
"I know," Ace whispered back. "I meant what I said, I truly believe that I need you in my team. I don't want to imperil your position, or mine."
Luffy's expression softened and he slid his fingers through Ace's smooth hair, smiling gently. "So, do you want to take this dinner to go?"
Ace smirked, biting his lower lip as he thought it over.
They would need some help carrying all of the food to his car.
To be continued...
In 4: The three of Swords - The Lovers
-BDP-