Love's Deception

Chapter 5 - Jace Dyer

First impressions are everything. When you first meet someone, your first impression of them is typically how you will always view them as. And no matter what, you can always go back to remember that first impression. That's why they're so important. First impressions last, and you never get a second chance at a first impression. Trust can be build on first impressions.

Backstories of people are also important in terms of first impressions. When you first meet a person, you have no idea what their day, week, or even life has been like leading up to that moment. Who knows if they just won the lottery so they're in a good mood, or if they just came from a funeral so they're upset.

You never know why someone acts the way they do, that's why sometimes, first impressions can be unreliable. Because there's always a reason for everything and you should know the reason before you lock in how you truly feel about someone.

****

I was feeling confident, I still am, it's just something about the way Jace stares at me makes me nervous. The way his deep blue eyes burn into mine and they way they look me up and down a few times before resting again on my eyes. But he doesn't look me up and down like Cooper does — not like he's interested in me, but trying to figure me out.

I steal a glance around the office and finally realize how big it really is. The floors are covered in marble and the ceiling is incredibly high. In the middle of the large office is a large brown desk, which Jace is currently sitting at. Off to the side is a cabinet with bottles of whiskey and wine with glasses next to it. Next to that is a large grey couch and matching chair. The room is decorated by many paintings done by legendary artist Declan Frederick.

Jace looks back down and continues to work, "Hello."

Paige pipes up through my earpiece, "Be friendly."

"Hi. I'm very excited to be working for you, Mr. Dyer." I say with a fake smile on my face.

No response. He just continues to work with his head down, not even looking at me. Cooper rocks back and forth on his feet while I fidget with my fingers.

"Grab me a black coffee," Jace says and places a stack of files on his desk, "Then, files these after."

I hear Cooper snicker next to me as Jace speaks. Jace doesn't even look at me when he talks, it's like I'm not worthy of his gaze. I cautiously walk up to Jace's desk and grab the large stack of files off of it. I try my best not to drop any of them as I grab them.

"Yes, sir." I say as I roll my eyes.

Turning on my heel, I walk out of the office with the stack of papers in my arms. What a jerk, he doesn't even seem to acknowledge me as a person. It's like I'm just some thing that isn't even important enough to look at. I'm sure that his work can't be that interesting that he wouldn't even take a minute to meet his new personal assistant.

Paige speaks to me through the earpiece, "He is so rude but so freakin' hot."

I chuckle to myself and shake my head as I walk through the office. Jace Dyer may be hot, but any attraction I had towards him went away when he opened his mouth. Or should I say the lack of him opening his mouth.

****

Jace's Point of View:

Everyday is the same. Work, work and more endless work. Is this all my life will ever be? Every single day the exact same as the last?

My mom and sister say that I need to 'put myself back out there'. But if I do, it just opens me up to more heartbreak — more than I've suffered. And there's no fucking way I ever will let that happen.