Love's Deception

Chapter 18 - New Manager

Having to choose between listening to your head and your heart is difficult, especially when they're leading you in two opposite directions. One direction may be good for your life and your career, and the other may be good for you emotionally. So which one do you follow?

It may seem like a struggle, but eventually, you'll know. You'll know because this choice keeps lingering in your mind and it won't stop. You'll know because you're suddenly choosing one over the other, and doing everything you can to keep that one thing.  And at that moment it becomes clear.

You're trying to save either your head or your heart, and you're not paying as much attention to the other. That tells you what you want, it tells you what you need. If you're choosing between your head and your heart, and you're doing everything you can to keep the direction that your heart is taking you on, and you're stretching yourself thin for your heart, but not as much as for your head choice. It's clear. Follow your heart.

****

Monday, it's time for work, unfortunately. Jace dropped me off at my apartment around 11 PM last night, only because he wanted me to get a good night's sleep after two nights of staying up late. I missed him. The last two nights I was sleeping in his arms and I already missed the cocky bastard.

Once I manage to get out of bed, I throw on my makeup, do my hair, put on a nice dress that appropriates for work but still attractive, grab a banana, and I get my purse together. I put one of my FBI badges inside my purse, just in case. I debate on whether or not to bring my gun. I'm really not supposed to have my gun on me during this assignment, but then again anything can happen. I decide against it and lock it in my nightstand.

As I eat my banana, I leave my apartment and head down to the parking garage. I set my purse in my car and I'm about to get inside when I hear someone call my name. Looking behind me, I see Paige getting out of her car and heading towards me.

"Hey," I say as I finish the last of my banana, "What are you doing here?"

Paige gives me a shocked look, "What am I doing here? You've been dodging my calls all weekend."

"I know, I know. I'm so sorry. I just was feeling really sick."

"You missed something important, the assignment changed. You need to come to the field office right now." Paige begins to walk off back towards her car.

"Paige! I have work, like work at the Dyer Hotel. Look," I climb into my car, "I'll call you later and you can explain then."

I close my car door and drive away, leaving Paige there staring at me in shock. I know that was a shitty thing to do, but I just had to getaway. I can find out about the assignment tomorrow. During my drive to the Dyer Hotel, I begin to feel excited to see Jace again. It's like we're in our honeymoon period, even though we aren't dating. And even though it's just a testing phase, I'm happy to be with him. He makes me happy, he makes me feel free. I haven't felt like this in a while.

Suddenly I remember that today we have another interview for the manager position. We need to find a new manager soon or else things are going to get even tougher on Jace, especially with the gala coming up in two weeks.

I pause at that word, 'we'. It's as if Jace is really my boss and I'm really his PA. Well, he is. But not entirely. One day he won't be my boss and he'll figure out he never was. That scares me.

****

When I arrive at the Dyer Hotel, I make my way up the elevator and past security. Entering the office, I see Lily at her desk and she looks up and smiles at me.

The office is already booming with people making copies, working on assignments on their computers, talking on the phone, typing away, each one wanting to do a good job to impress Mr. Dyer.