The beginning
1849 Words
Samuel couldn't believe what he is seeing, he looked at Maya and then at the person standing before him.
"Hi Samuel, how are you?"
Samuel stayed mute as no words came out of his mouth.
"I... f**k man! How... How? How did this happen?" Samuel finally spoke looking at Ace.
Maya chuckled shaking her head as she looked at Samuel and Ace.
"Three years ago, he isn't the same person anymore," Maya said patting Samuel's back.
"Yeah... I can clearly see that," Samuel replied while Ace shook his head.
"Are you the same Ace I have known?" Samuel questioned wandering over to where Ace stood.
"I guess so," Ace replied hugging Samuel.
Samuel hugged Ace tightly as he felt all the emotions surfacing. He truly missed Ace and seeing him after all these years is taking a toll on him.
"But how did this happen?! You look so fit and hot!" Samuel said pulling away from the hug and looking at Ace's body.
Samuel checked Ace from top to bottom. "You changed a lot man! I just... I just can't believe it," Samuel said squeezing Ace's bicep.
"Hmm, I will leave you two to talk. See you two later," Maya said.
Ace shifted his gaze to Maya. "No, I will take him to the cottage. The kids will be here, I will talk with him over there," Ace said.
"Okay, see you two in a couple of hours then," Maya said.
"Okay."
"Yup."
Ace looked at Samuel signalling him to follow him. Samuel nods his head and starts following Ace.
Samuel still can't believe the healthy and the most handsome man walking before him is the Ace he has known for years.
"Ace... Just tell me how did this happen? I can't wait for long," Samuel said.
Ace chuckled, "there came a point where I wanted to change and I had no option left other than to exercise and stay healthy."
Ace pushed open the back door, Samuel stepped out and looked around.
"No option left?" Samuel asked in confusion.
"Had health issues and obesity could have been the reason for my death," Ace said turning around and looking at Samuel.
Samuel's eyes widen, "death? What happened?"
"Calm down, nothing happened. Before it could happen, I took care of my health and body. As you can see now, I'm on the healthy side I guess."
Ace opened the door to his cottage, "get inside."
Samuel stepped inside and looked around the cosy wooden cottage.
"That's good Ace. It's good to see you like this, I'm so happy for you," Samuel replied.
Ace smiled closing the door, "have a seat."
Ace placed the keys, book and his phone on the table before taking a seat.
"How many years it took for you to become like this?" Samuel questioned in curiosity.
"Three years."
"The only thing that didn't change is your name. Even you started growing hair. It looks so different, I just..." Samuel said.
Ace chuckled closing his eyes. "Had to... For a change."
"Why didn't you meet us all these years? You could've just called us or met us. I missed you so much. Without you... Everything wasn't the same."
Ace took a deep breath as he stared at the wooden picker outside the cottage.
"Everything isn't the same. It was for the betterment of everyone. I didn't want to anyone after what has happened... And mainly I didn't want to hurt myself and my feelings," Ace spoke.
"Hmm true, your happiness is the main priority," Samuel said.
"How are you now? Is everything okay?" Samuel carefully asked.
"Hmm, yes. Everything is okay now. That's the reason why I have called you to discuss the important matters," Ace spoke looking at Samuel.
"How are you? How is Barbara?"
"I'm good, Barbara is good. And our kids are also good."
Ace looked at Samuel in surprise. "What are their names."
"Bailey, Bryson and we are waiting for our third child," Samuel replied.
"Happy to hear that Samuel, you always wanted to have a big family."
Samuel smiled brightly, "yes, happy that Barbara agreed to that. She didn't want to have kids."
"Oh, did you made her change her mind?" Ace asked getting comfortable in his seat.
"No, I was okay with it. I told her it's fine if she doesn't want to have kids. After our second marriage anniversary, she said she wants to have kids."
"That's nice."
"Hmm."
"Getting into the serious matters, where is the file?" Ace asked.
"Just a minute." Samuel took the bag that he placed down and unzipped the bag.
He pulled the file, laptop and other photographs from the bag.
"Here, I have gone through the details of everyone you have asked for and made a detailed report on it."
Ace nodded his head, took the file from Samuel. He opened the file, opened the first page of the file.
"You have contacted each one of them?" Ace asked.
"Yes, as you said."
"What were their answers?"
"They agreed to the contract. I have taken the interviews and went through their streaming videos. They are good but training is quite important," Samuel said looking at Ace in all seriousness.
"Greyson... Greyson Alonso, where did you find the guy?" Samuel asked.
Ace stopped reading the file, lifted his head to see Samuel.
"His moves, tecnic and everything is perfect. I didn't understand why he was not selected by the companies when his gameplay is topping the sheets," Samuel added.
Ace leaned back in his seat, "he rejected the contracts. He wasn't treated equally or they gave value to his talent. He didn't take up the chance from the gaming companies," Ace explained.
"How did you find him?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
Samuel nodded his head immediately in understanding. He knows that if Ace is not comfortable with sharing the information he doesn't like to talk about it.
"How long they will be going through the training?"
"Hmm, they have to go through the interview first. I will personally see their gameplay and tactics. They will be going under training for one year here in India," Ace said.
"They will be staying in Mcleodganj?" Samuel questioned.
"No, I have my base in Mukteshwar. There is the problem of internet signals and no disturbance."
"When you are going to call them here?"
"I will see their performance online, that will happen this week and I will make the decision. By next month they have to be here if they are ready to be a part of this company."
"You are seriously coming back?" Samuel asked.
Ace took a deep breath nodding his head. "I have moved on. I need to focus on my dreams. I took a break... It truly helped me and this is the only chance I have left with if I want to make a comeback in the eSports world."
"You can join the group again. Why create a new group?" Samuel asked in confusion.
Ace shook his head. "I don't want to be a part of the group. These boys are going to be my weapons and armour. I'm going to make a group with them and make a comeback."
Samuel nodded his head in understanding. "Good, I know you will only make the right decisions."
"Hope so."
"Are you going to tell Ruth and others about your comeback?" Samuel questioned intertwining his fingers.
"No, this matter will be confidential. I'm not going to reveal about this to the world yet."
"Then what about the registration of the company? Did you register yourself as a CEO?"
Ace nodded his head, "Sawyer and Maya took care of the legal matters and permissions. I got the legal papers and government permission," Ace explained.
"That's amazing news Ace! If the registration and permission is a success, the only thing that is left is to train these boys."
Ace smiled a little, "yes, I'm serious about this Samuel. I have taken five years of break to get back on track. Right now I'm at a place where I'm at peace and I know what I have to do."
Ace took a deep breath leaning back in his seat crossing his arms.
"It wasn't easy Samuel... It wasn't easy to get out of the past. I have stayed over different monasteries, learned yoga to make my body healthy, meditations, walks, weights, everything possible to get on the healthier side. Now, I decided that it's the time I get back on track of my goals and aims."
Samuel slowly nodded his head understanding what Ace is trying to say. He has missed Ace but he knew how much pain Ace has gone through.
"Hmm Ace, do you still get those nightmares?" Samuel asked carefully.
"No, they have stopped a year ago. As I said I started doing meditation. I didn't want to take the risk so I have waited for a year before making decisions."
"But why did you choose ten of the boys when you only need five?" Samuel asked as he is confused about the decision.
"I'm going to make two teams. Team Alaknanda and team Bhagirathi. Both the teams are going to perform in the tournaments. After going through their gameplay and strategies I will divide them into teams," Ace explained.
"I have a question," Samuel said.
"Yes."
"Is Maya and Sawyer are the investors of your company?"
Samuel knew that starting an eSports company is not an easy task. It needs a lot of capital and investment.
"No," Ace replied calmly. Ace looked at Samuel and he knew what's going on in Samuel's mind.
"Then?"
"I'm the investor of my own company," Ace answered.
Samuel narrowed his eyes at Ace, not understanding.
"It's a lot of money, Ace. How you were able to save the money?" Samuel asked.
Ace didn't answer the question. He stayed quiet. No one except Blake, Maya and Sawyer knows about Ace's art.
He has been continuously painting and taking orders from all around the world. That is the only option left to save the money to open his own company.
Maya and Sawyer helped him start his art gallery where people can buy his work.
He opened his gallery last year in January.
"Fine, I won't ask the question."
Ace opened the file, went through the gaming performance of Logan Hall.
"We will take interviews of Logan Hall and Zeke Clarke together," Ace told.
"At what time?"
Ace looked at his wristwatch. "At 1:00 pm, tell them to be ready."
"Others?" Samuel asked.
"Myles Allen, Daman Cooper and Kayden Baker at 2:00 pm."
"Brooks Harris, Carl Martin and Rhett Carter at 3:00 pm."
"Greyson Alonso and Grant Wright at 4:00 pm," Ace said and Samuel wrote it down in his notebook.
"I'm not going to show my face. I will be sitting beside you, I will watch their gameplay and talk with them," Ace said.
"Noted."
"Did you text them?" Ace asked arranging Logan and Zeke files together.
"Yes, they have replied. They will be joining the room in ten minutes," Samuel replied looking at the screen.
- Writer
