Chapter eight

"Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle." — Napoleon Hill.

ACE'S P.O.V

Struggle is the pre-condition for growth. Without going through extended periods of hard-work, sweat and difficulty, we can not move beyond our current level of performance. I always have this quote in mind each time am going through difficult times. Struggle, the struggle I am making to be able to win Ashley's heart, I believe it'd pay off one day ....though I'm not sure when. I don't back off easily once I put my mind to something. Don't downgrade your dream just to fit your reality, upgrade your conviction to match your destiny.Everything negative - pressure, challenges - is all an opportunity for me to rise. It wasn't a piece of cake to have made it to where I am right now. Yes I admit that I was adopted into a wealthy family, but I strived for my own way. I I strived to make a name for myself, not that I was mistreated but a choice and decision I made by myself and I was happy that my mum agreed to it. At Eighteen, I made my first debut in a concert which got me my first popularity, and ever since then I got signed at a well know music company. I even collaborated with many famous singers at such a young age.

I met this girl....Tasha, she attended the same concert with me, we hooked up for a while and started dating . Our relationship was the talk of the town for many weeks as it topped the headlines. We went on many dates, did many things, shared secrets, ate dinners together, joked, talked about our future plans and so many more, but it went downhill. Tasha got signed entire me though and everything changed. It felt like she only dated me cause she wanted the popularity and once she got, she vanished. Tasha was my first girlfriend and first love, it's best to be a last love than a first one. I still thank Tasha for vanishing from my life cause I just met the perfect gem for me.....My Cara Mia. If Tasha hadn't gone out of my life, I wouldn't have met Ashley, the woman on my mind, the one and only woman I can't seem to take my eyes off , the woman I can't stop but think about her, the woman who graced my sight with her beauty, the woman who revealed a part of me that has been in extinction for so long. Does she really know how special she is to me? no! I don't think so.

The love I have for her flows like an ocean, She is one who is more than nations, She shines brightly like a star and for her sake I'm willing to fight. That is how much she means to me now. She has become an important part of my life and one which I can't bear to loose.

I stood before a mirror, dressed in a black vintage shirt and a jeans, checking myself out. I put on my watch, necklace, perfume and some other things I might need and went downstairs.

"I can see you're all dressed for the blind date" Mr Noah my chef asked. Mr Noah was a fifty nine years old man who defied nature as he looked younger than his age

"You know I love looking neat" I said as I took a seat at the dinning.

"you're looking as handsome as always" He said dishing out the food, a grilled cheese sandwich and a coffee. Mr Noah has always had the habit of teasing me of how handsome I was....well of course I know how handsome I am too.

"Thank you" I thanked him as I began eating. "this sandwich is top-notch, I"

"hmm hmm....No eating and talking" he warned as usual. "you might get choked" he said and I nodded and continued eating. I thanked him once again as I stood up and left the house.

I had agreed to meet the blind date girl at a coffee shop, so I was heading there. My intention was to make it clear to get that I wasn't even a bit interested in her, and that I had someone I love and ask her kindly not to bother me. I just pray she would be considerate and comply. I got to the coffee shop, I searched around for a girl on red gown and spotted one so I made my way towards her. From behind, her stature looked familiar, but I didn't mind. I got to the table the girl was and went to her front. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, it felt like I was dreaming as I saw who sat down on the chair looking up to me as she got up from the chair. I quickly turned my back to leave but was held back by the girl.

"Please wait.... can we just have a talk.... it's been so long " She begged and I reluctantly agreed.

"go on Tasha, was this your plan all along? is my mother on this? did you threaten her? answer me Tasha" I yelled at her but luckily, we were the only ones at the shop. Tasha kept mute and I was more than angry at the fact she was acting like the victim

"your mother doesn't know about it, I came in replace of my friend. She talked about a blind date and showed me your picture, I persuaded her to come in her behalf. I really missed you, I missed all that we had, and I'm here to make go for it....I know I came a little bit late but not too late Ace, I still love you, I really do" she said as a drop of tears rolled down her eyes down to her checks. What does she really take me for? a toy she can toss around? someone without a heart? God I was beginning to feel irritated at that, I can't seem to figure out what she was scheming this time and I won't fall for it. Even at this moment, Ashley is still on my mind.

"Stop this foolish acts of yours Tasha cause guess what? it doesn't work on me anymore. I even forgot about you, if you really do exist in this world then I don't know, I don't need your apologies nor your love Tasha cause they're all meaningless to me now. Once upon a time, I was madly in love with you and sadly, it didn't end well, End of Story. You go your way and I go mine. We've got nothing in common except that we are both singers"

" Ace please.... I had it the hardest Ace, I didn't want this to happen either. I..I... never wanted any of this to ..to happen Ace, I know you still love me cause if you don't then you won't be dating multiple girls" Tasha blurted out which outraged me

"Well that was all in the past now, I broke up with each and every single one of the girls I was dating and do you know why? because I'm in love with someone else. She is my life at the moment, my everything, someone I can't trade for anything, If you still think I love you then you must be hallucinating, then it's just an illusion, you have to come back before it's too late and you will regret it" i said angrily and striped out of the shop. Tasha stood still as she watched me storm out of the shop and into my car. I started my car and drive off, not knowing where to go, all I wanted to do at the moment was just to go as far away as possible from Tasha. And finally I knew the right place to go to.