Chapter 3

JACE

The sound of laughter rang out from my left and I hummed in disapproval.

Why the hell was I here again?

Myra giggled beside me and I turned to look at my friend’s grinning face.

“God, you’re such a grouch.” She teased, the corners of her eyes crinkling.

“Myra, the only words I want to hear from your mouth are ‘Oh Jace my savior, thank you for accompanying me to this party instead of working all night like my husband’ anything else, zip it.”

I had at least three contracts to review with my secretary, let’s not forget Michael’s proposal for the quarterly convention. Last year’s was bad and I had to make sure everything went smoothly this time around. I knew there was something else I was forgetting.

So far I’d run the company for a full year, without burning it to the ground, but me and everyone who knew me thought there was still time for that. No one would be surprised if I screwed up.

“Jace.”

“What?” I asked, sounding irritated. I noticed a pair of girls whispering to themselves as they glanced my way. One of them smiled in my direction but I turned to Myra, dismissing them.

My second problem. Since I was so “volatile”, the board had decided having a wife would somehow make me stable. I was all too aware of my title as an eligible bachelor.

What that meant for me was a bunch of women I had to turn down. Old Jace would never turn a good time down. And I had plenty.

I sighed and tried to focus my attention on the present.

“You know, Pierce actually wanted you to come here today. He says you’re overworked.”

That fucker.

“He’s working right now and that’s not an issue.” I argued.

“He’s working now because he spent the whole week with us.”

’Us’ being their three kids, strange grandmother and her sister. The reason I was at this party.

“Where’s your sister?” I didn’t like saying her name, the way it rolled off my tongue like a praise made my brain itch in a bad way.

“I texted her a few minutes ago.”

“Great. The sooner she gives her ring to her boyfriend, the less time I have to spend here.”

“It’s a promise bracelet.”

I shot her another irritated look.

“Jeez, what is it about the job that makes you all so cranky?” She rolled her eyes and focused on the party. ”Oh look, there she is.”

Myra grabbed my shoulder and pointed at the far right, towards the entrance. I heard my name being whispered.

Fun. More people were noticing me. Or was it Myra? The woman had managed to tame the city’s meanest and richest man. Four years after their wedding, and they were still the talk of the town.

Her sister stood, dark hair loose around her shoulders in a black dress that showed her silhouette. Her eyes were towards the group of girls giving their bracelets.

I don’t know what it was but something felt off.

I followed Myra silently, steeling myself for the meeting with Lily. She and I never got along. Not after what I did to her, but I preferred it that way. I would break someone like her.

Myra shouted her name and it surprisingly carried through in the loud room. It was then that I noticed her boyfriend next to her. The guy who was dumb enough to date her and not want to be public with her. Lily didn’t deserve a fucker like him. But she wanted him. So much that she got Myra to talk to me about placing him as an intern in the firm.

Lily smiled, a spark in her eye. She grinned at Myra and hugged her. A look quite different from what she had when we first saw her, on her face.

“Mr Whitmore, it is such an honor to meet you in person, I can’t wait to officially be a part of the company after my internship.” Dumb boyfriend started.

I grunted, my eyes still on Lily. The question of his employment was based on his performance. If he thought Lily was an easy in, he was wrong.

She separated from her sister and looked at me. But instead of the usual disdain, there was something else…

And she was smiling at me. Cheek dimples and all. I ignored the foreign feeling in my chest and narrowed my eyes at her.

Lily only rolled her eyes before she came closer and wrapped her arms around me.

Wait, this was a hug.

I looked down at the top of her head, my body completely rigid, then glanced at her sister who looked just as surprised.

“What the fuc-“

“Jace…” she whispered breathily, and fuck if that didn’t fry my brain further. She pulled back slightly, one hand still halfway around me and the other on my arm. “I just want to let you know that I’ve thought about your offer.”

“Lily, what are you doing?” Her boyfriend hissed, looking around us. I became aware that we had attracted a lot more attention.

It was on my tongue to ask Lily why the hell she was still holding on, when I feel her short nails dig into my arm.

Painfully.

I look down again, and find a plea in her eyes. Is she begging? Begging for what?

my offer…

“Uhh… and what do you think about my offer?”

She laughed giddily like she was excited to reveal the news and I wondered about the decisions that led me here.

“Yes!” She said loudly. I’m sure the room was completely silent. “I will be your girlfriend!”

Hwhat?

“Now hold on-“ Myra started to speak but Lily grabbed her hand quickly.

“I’m so sorry, I never told you, but Jace had asked me out a while ago. And he’s been incessant about it. I told him I would give him an answer tonight so, there it is. I think I want to give us a chance.” She didn’t say it loud enough for everyone to hear, but her boyfriend and a couple others must’ve heard.

I was sure Myra is also in a death grip, because she said, “oh…darling that’s…that’s wonderful.” I guess being actors in the past was paying off for both of us.

Lily released our arms and dug into her purse for something. Seconds later, she was armed with a bracelet.

The murmurs around us increased as she slipped the little bracelet onto my wrist. Was this her elaborate way of breaking up with him? I knew Lily was dramatic but to rope us into it. So childish. I imagined dealing with the press after this.

“There” she said when she was done and everyone erupted into cheers and clapping.

Her boyfriend grabbed her hand and pulled her, and I fought the urge to punch him.

“What are you doing? What do you mean by you’re his girlfriend?! We were supposed to-“

“Timothy, would you like to do this here, or somewhere more private.” She whispered back.

His eyes darted to mine briefly. And whatever he saw made him drop his arm. He cleared his throat and straightened his suit. “Private.”

Lily hugged her sister and me at the same time, awkwardly. “I’m so sorry, I promise I’ll explain later. But we should leave soon, I’ll meet you in the lot.”

“Lily-“ Myra started but she was gone. “I guess we should do as she says.

“You should go to the car, I’ll be there with Lily.” Myra nodded once, before I started weaving through the crowd in the direction Lily had gone.