Chapter 4 : Jace

As I walked inside the house, a man greeted me with a fake smile plastered on his face. 

"Jace! you look handsome as always! did you come here to pick up my daughter?" Mr. Glendale asked, I smiled and nodded before opening my lips to say something but was interrupted by a squeal coming from the top of the stairs. 

I looked up to see her wearing such lavish dress and make-up that doesn't even suit her. I sighed mentally but continued to plaster a fake smile just for her. 

'I don't want that kid to get disappointed or else my father would kill me if Mr. Glendale reported it to him.'

"Jace! you're rather early! where should we go for today?" She ran down the stairs almost immediately, "Iris, do not run like that! It's embarrassing to act like that in front of a man!" Another shout came from the top of the stairs and I looked up to see Alice's mother wearing such a... slutty dress for the morning. 

"Mother! why are you wearing that kind of clothes!? Jace would think that you're trying to seduce him." Alice shouted as her father just laughed but stole a rather ice-cold glance in my direction. 

"I can't dress up now? My daughter's fiance is right here, so I must make myself presentable too." She waved a hand at her daughter as if it were a fly, buzzing on her ears. 

'Have I ever told you that both of these women are only lusting for me? they want my body and of course, my money.' 

"Ah, we must go now, I am planning on buying her a dress and taking her to a famous restaurant at a place where I am most familiar with." I smiled at them and I saw the satisfaction from Mr. Glendale's eyes while at the corner of my eyes, I saw his wife clench her jaw in annoyance. 

If you ask me why am I still clinging to this family, it is rather simple... I am using these women to get my revenge. I know it sounds wrong to even use these women, but can you blame me? when my mother was sick, Alice's mother started to spread rumors of my mother cheating on my father, which made him spend a lot of time on his work and shout at my mother every time he saw her. and because of Alice, My life as a college student was filled with rumors of me--leaching off of her money, and many other things. They made my life a living hell, it's their turn to suffer. 

After a lot more discussions, Alice and I went to the car to go to the mall. Yes. The mall, I'm not gonna spend a lot of money on this girl and I know she's gonna lie to her parents just to save her pride. On the way there, I caught a glance of a man who's walking with two girls. At first, he looked rather familiar, but they immediately disappeared when they were surrounded by a bunch of crowds. Reporters rather. I sighed knowing that my father would see this. I turned my gaze to my driver and he nodded at me as the car went to the parking lot secretly. 

"We've arrived, Sir. Jace." My driver announced. I nodded and smiled at him, he helped her step out of the car while I immediately went in without really waiting for her.

"U-uhmm, Jace? Isn't this place a bit too crowded?" she asked while looking around with disgust written on her face. I smiled at her a bit but I didn't respond to her question since her attention was already on the dress that's displayed in a store. 

[Hours later]

"Hon, look! Isn't this pretty? How do I look?"

"Good."

From the corner of my eyes, I saw her smile in satisfaction, I didn't even glance at her when she asked me about the dress.

'Boring.'

I pulled out my phone and decided to scroll through my Newsfeed on social media. I continued to scroll when suddenly I heard a shout. A very VERY loud shout from a woman who's spoiled by her parents. Yeah, I'm talking about my girlfriend.

"Hey! Watch where you're going!" she shouted.

'Haa... Can someone please tell her to shut up?'

"Hon! Look! They ruined my dress!" she cried.

I sighed and looked at her, but someone caught my attention. A man who's looking down at his feet while a woman beside him is rubbing his back as she rolled her eyes at my brat of a fiance.

'Who is he? He seems quite familiar...'

I stood up and walked towards them while staring at the guy who's looking down at his feet, for a moment there my heart started to beat fastly inside my chest and I couldn't understand why.

"What happened?" I asked and placed my hand inside my pocket. I tried to hide my smile when he slowly looks up at me. "Your girlfriend bumped into my friend and she's not even apologizing." his friend answered.

"T-that's not true!! They're lying!" she shouted.

'Ahh... Please, can someone tape up her mouth?'

"We're done here, I'm sorry on her behalf but would it be alright if... I asked the two of you out for lunch?" I asked with a smile on my face. He looked at his friend and she nodded then looked back at me.

'Yep, I know I sound like an asshole...'

I looked at his lips when he opened it to say something, "We would love to... But she's busy right now and she's gonna be late for her work."

"That's fine, I'm also okay with just the two of us." I smiled at him, but I was suddenly caught off guard when I saw a faint blush on his cheek.

"I-i'm going on a date with my-" he was cut off by his friend, "He's free today!" his eyes widened and I saw him pinch his friend on her waist.

I laughed with amusement in my eyes and nodded, as I was about to open my mouth to say something. but she suddenly cut in.

"B-but, hon! I thought we're gonna go on a lunch date today?" she asked in a very annoying way. I don't know why but everything she's doing right now is annoying for me.

I turned to face her, "I'm afraid that you're the only one who planned that 'lunch date'."

I watched as her face turned flush with embarrassment as she huffs and walked out of the store. I turned back to them and I didn't even notice that his friend already left as we're both left together.

"Shall we?" I asked him politely. He sighed in response and nodded. as a smirk slowly crept up to my face. 

'he's so cute..' 

We both walked towards a fast-food chain and I immediately saw his eyes brighten up when we entered the fast-food chain.

"I'll order for us, what would you like to eat?" I asked him.

He's hesitant at first but decided to tell me anyways, "A big burger and fries along with coke and ice cream." I chuckled then nodded, "Alright. You can go find us a seat."

He nodded in response and starts finding a seat, I continued to watch him as he slowly makes his way to the vacant table at the corner of the room.

I started to order our food and grabbed the tray that they gave me while the food is in it, I walked up to the table, then I saw him typing on his phone. I tried to steal a glance but he immediately closed his phone when he saw me placing the tray on the table. I smiled at him then sat on the chair across from him, as he started to eat which made me chuckle.

"So? Tell me about you." I said. Making him stop from taking another bite from his burger. I stopped the chuckle that could escape from my lips because of his cute face.

He takes his coke and drinks it slowly then placed it back on the table as he stared at it before opening his mouth to say something.

"I don't know what to tell you since my life isn't that interesting but, I'm a junior architect at this company and I'm also about to get promoted," He paused and smiled, "Being an architect has been my life long dream. I like designing so, It works well for me."

I chuckled then takes a fries from my food then eats it before talking, "You haven't told me your name yet." He smiled apologetically, "Oh, sorry about that... My name is Alex-" his phone started ringing.

"H-hello?... Y-yes, sir! I'll be there in a few minutes!" he stopped up and smiled at me apologetically, "Sorry, I have to go now, may I know your name? I'll treat you to lunch next time!"

I smiled and grabbed a calling card from my pocket and handed it to him I paused for a second when our hands touched. I felt a spark. A spark that I've never felt with anyone before, "The name's Jace... Jace Donovan."

He smiled then nodded, "See you again soon, Jace! I had a great time!" he waved his hand then runs out of the fast-food chain.

"Alex... That's not too bad." I stared at my hand and smirked, "I'll be waiting for you, Alex."