The Hourglass (UNEDITED)

Chapter 2

In his office, Jace sat staring at the wall. His mind started to play around with idea of having it painted to blue, maybe to bring out his eyes. But it was mainly to calm him, blue was a calming color. He would know since he was the creative director of the advertising firm he’d been working in since he graduated from college. He got up from his desk and walked to the window and looked at the view of the city. Chicago was so beautiful, in his eyes it could give new York a run for its money. Sure New York was the city in the whole world, but Chicago suited him just fine. It was also beautiful, very metropolitan, diverse, had lots of restaurants and clubs and other fun things to do. He was born and raised here, attended college here. He was alumnus from the University of Chicago for crying out loud. His whole life was here, his memories were here. All his best experiences were here, he had never had anything to regret.

He was truly happy…so he always got what he wanted, big deal. He was not spoiled, it was not his fault he knew how to make things work in his favor, how to get people to do what he wanted. Jace always got what he wanted. Always. He remembered when he first saw Katherine. He was attending a party with a mutual friend.

At the party, Jace realized that there was someone staring at him constantly and when he caught out that it had been Katherine, he gave her his winning smile. Katherine had smiled back shyly and then looked away. By this time his friend, peter, had joined him with two opened bottles of beer in his hand. He gave one to Jace, who gulped it.

“thanks man,” Jace said, slapping peter on the shoulder.

“don’t mention it,” peter smiled, nodding greetings to other guests in the party. Jace smiled at other admiring females sending signals his way, his confidence never in want. He would look around and pick a girl to take home with him since most of them were gorgeous anyway. However, for now, the girl across the room with the back-length braids caught his attention. She was medium height, slender in sape, although peter figured she could perhaps eat more. A well rounded behind and a face of an angel, graced in a blue sundress. He decided he wanted her.

The girl looked back in his direction and her face lit up. She moved from her spot and rushed to him. Jace wondered what happened to make her bold enough to move towards him. When she got closer, Jace smirked, ready to hear what she would say to him. He wondered what her pick-up line would be. But he realized later that she wasn’t even looking at him, she was at somebody else.

“Katherine!” shouted peter. Jace looked at his friend and winced when he pulled the girl with braids to him, lifting her up and embracing her like they hadn’t seen each other in some time .peter put the girl down and place his hands on her waist. Jace frowned as he watched them. Well, well, it appeared his friend and this girl knew each other.

“Peter, I didn’t think you would make it,” the girl said, her hands squeezing both sides of peter’s shoulders.

“come on Kathy-anne, I always make it. Especially for you,” peter chuckled.  As Jace drank his beer, he ignored the slight pang of jealousy that hit him in his gut. But it wasn’t a lot, just a little, he reminded himself. He stood by, while peter and this girl continued talking like he wasn’t even around. He frowned at the situation, this was unusual, no girl forgets his presence. It seemed she read his thoughts because she tore herself away from peter a little bit and smiled at Jace.

“hi,” she greeted softly, her voice was so coy compared to the excited one she projected when her attention was on peter. Jace smiled his signature killer smile and was pleased to see her flush.

“hi, there,” he greeted back, slowly sipping his beer. They remained that way for some time, just standing there and staring at each other.

“Katherine, this is my friend Jace Swinton. Jace this is Katherine Coleman. We went to college together,” peter introduced them. Funny, peter voice sounded a bit weird, Jace noted. Jace stuck out his hand to Katherine and she accepted it by placing hers in his. They shook hands.

“Nice to meet you,” Katherine said, her eyes still staring at him, all smitten. Jace was the same.

“Nice to meet you too, Katherine,” he said her name slowly and rolled of his tongue. He felt her shiver and he smiled again, happy that he was impressing her. The two them had their trance interrupted when they heard someone clearing their throat. They both turned around and looked at peter. Jace swung his arm around peter shoulders and gave him a light punch on the chest.

“Peter man, how come Katherine and I have never met each other before?” Jace asked, almost accusingly. Katherine giggled and watched peter, waiting for his reply. Peter’s face hardened as he stared at his friend.

“Because Katherine is a sweet girl and too good for you,” he said. He turned back to Katherine and his face softened.

“It was for your own good. This guy’s loads of fun, but he really is a schmuck.” Peter wince when the punch to stomach was hard. He turned to look at Jace with grimace on his face, and Jace gave him a warning look.

“hey, I’m trying to be the good guy and protect the innocent females from you wild and insatiable ways—” peter found that he could not properly finish his words for Jace’s hand covered his mouth. Jace grinned at Katherine, a hint of sheepishness on his face.

“Don’t listen to this guy. He just can’t stand that girls like me, more than him.” Katherine laughed at Jace’s humor and his antics with peter. He had let go of peter’s mouth and the two men tried not to hit each, swipe each other and bump each other. Peter rolled his eyes and gave up even thinking about an attempt.

“Can I get you a drink” Jace offered, wanting anything to keep her right where he could see her. Katherine smiled at him and nodded.

“Yeah, sure.” Jace couldn’t help smiling and…blushing. Dammit! Why the hell did he just blush! He never blushes, ever! As he walked to the bar and ordered the drinks, he found he was already thinking way too much about Katherine, even if she was just right across the room.

Jace smiled at the memory and returned to his desk to busy himself with work. When there was a knock on his door, he gave the person permission to enter without looking up.

“Jace, I wanted to run some designs of the background with you along with the type. Do you have a moment to look at the samples,” a woman said. When Jace looked up he realized it was the leggy Whitney, one of the graphic designers. Jace gave her his smile and pointed to his seat.

“Sure, please sit down and let’s take a look.” Whitney sat down and began laying out the samples.

“This might take longer than I thought. It seems I’ll need to stay overnight again,” she commented, looking through the designs. Jace noted what she’d said and nodded. He hoped he would not have to do the same as well, or he would have to disappoint Katherine and not show up. He didn’t want to do that, but then again, for now, work came first.