Love's Deception

Chapter 19 - The Gala (Part 1)

Spending time with that one person can feel amazing. That one person that can make you smile when you're sad, who can make you warm when you're cold, and who can make you feel like you're walking on cloud nine when you're as close to the ground as you can get. It's almost amazing that someone can give you that feeling.

But that feeling can vanish quickly when someone else tells you how you should feel about that person. They try to pull you away but they don't know truly how you feel. You can't help your feelings. Everyone can think you're crazy, they can think you're being stupid, but you know you're not. Because you know exactly why you feel that way.

Who can stop you from being with who you want to? Your feelings may be strong enough to know what you want. Sometimes you feel so strongly for a person in a matter of as little time as a month. And no matter how many people try to draw you away from that person, you will always run back to them.

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It's been two weeks. Two weeks that Cam has been working as the manager of the Dyer Hotel and he's already screwing things up. The first thing he did as manager was he made it clear that there would be no office relationships. Jace couldn't say anything about it because it would give our relationship away that isn't even official yet. I told Jace that I wanted to keep our relationship private for now so that I don't get on 'Mr. Pratt's' bad side. Of course, Jace is the boss and he can do whatever he wants and overrule this policy, but he also agreed that it would be best to keep this between us.

For the past two weeks, Cam has been keeping a close eye on Jace and me. He's always interrupting our moments together and checking in on us when we're alone. He also has been giving me lots of work to do so that I don't have as much time with Jace. It's fucking annoying and of course, Cam reports everything back to Billings. So even if I laugh with Jace, Billings knows. I've been reminded several times by Billings about the new rule for the assignment. No one trusts me at the moment.

Jace and I now have to sneak around to each other's places to get our alone time. Sometimes, Jace will come over to my place, and sometimes I'll just stay late at the Dyer Hotel and then go up to Jace's penthouse suite when I'm finished so we can be together. It sucks, but it's what we have to do.

These two weeks with Jace have been amazing. He's so kind and sweet and honestly, this is the kind of relationship I'd dream of when I was little. Someone who just wants to spend time with me, who'll listen to me and support me on everything.

Sometimes, Jace will show up to my place with a bouquet of tulips, like he had delivered to me when everything with Cooper happened. It's kind of our thing now. And on our dates, we'll go to the Dyer Bistro or another restaurant out of town to get away from others.

I know I can't be doing this. But I can't help it, I'm falling so hard for this man and I'm so happy that he's in my life. We just mesh so well together and there's never a single dull moment during the times we spend together.

I've been working with him a lot on getting ready for the gala his family throws every year. The gala is happening in just a few short hours. This year, since it's getting closer to Halloween, the gala has turned from a regular gala to a masquerade.

I won't lie, I'm nervous to walk in on Jace's arm. We agreed that he would introduce me to people as his personal assistant and friend, except his mom and sister won't buy it.

One downside to tonight: the FBI is going to be there. And by the FBI I mean myself, Cam and Paige. Cam secured an invite from Jace since he's the new manager and Paige was assigned to join him as his 'wife'. Additionally, there will be a few agents waiting outside, in case anything goes wrong. But what could go wrong, right?