I like to tell myself that I've relatively—relatively, I repeat—good luck as compared to the majority of human beings out there.

But have you ever told a lie to yourself?

Well—today has proved itself to be the perfect example of how I, Ace Salander, have been lying to myself for the apparent twenty-something years of my life.

I do not have good luck.

Fate had its way with the souls that it did not like. In fact, it would've been more accurate to say that Fate despised me. For some reason, I was wrongfully (or, rightfully) classified under the 'trash' section of humans and chucked somewhere in the foul sewers of the human world and life in general.

I say this because having experienced blow after blow of Fate's ugly fist into my (not really) precious face for half a day, I found that Fate decided to take pity on my wasted soul by giving me a penny in exchange for it.

I know—I mean, that's all I'm worth...probably.

A penny.

Seems legit.

"It was a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Salander. We will contact you regarding the results of the interview in the coming week," The nice female, Janna, stood up with a stiff smile as she held out a hand.

The penny from Fate had come in the form of a meagre, boring interview accompanied by equally boring replies from stupid Ace which overall, made everything boring. I'm boring, yes.

At least it didn't go bad.

Boring isn't bad, it's just...boring.

...which was why I said Fate took pity on me.

I shook her offered hand in a feeble manner.

"Uh, yeah...sure..." And under my breath, "don't need to waste phone bills, I know I'm not hired..."

Janna blinked. "Pardon?"

"Oh nothingnothing it's just me talking to...no one."

She laughed, and hot Blake Mason just looked one-hundred-percent done with me.

Ah, how I wish he actually did me in the first place—

"Sure thing Salander. See you, then." She nodded, gathering her files. "You may leave."

I flashed a quick smile, bowing quickly before taking my leave. In the very least, I was able to maintain some form of respect in that tiny brain of my own. Even if there were no achievements that came along with it.

After all, I did have enough of everyone telling me how rude my sister could be.

It was tough showing others that just because we were related didn't mean we shared the same values.

Dragging my feet out of the elevator and into the carpark, I fished for my car keys whilst trying to recall where I had parked it.

It didn't take too long—though in the end, I wasn't quite able to recall—because it was the only car that had the most obvious dent in its bumper. I swear, anyone would spot it a mile away.

I could only pray that Blake's Mercedes wasn't in that bad a shape as mine.

...who am I kidding? Of course it is.

To top it off, being broke wasn't the best thing to be when I had to pay for his repairs.

I sighed, pulling the car door open only to realize that I had yet to unlock it. Wow, clever Ace. So clever.

Intelligently hitting my head against the frame as I was trying to get into the driver's seat, I decided to head home immediately before anything else could happen in this horrid day. Fate was especially sadistic at this moment and I don't think anyone would risk inviting more danger.

Unless they were a masochist—which I clearly...wasn't.

I drove out of the carpark, forgetting to set my GPS to the car rental garage that I was supposed to return this beautifully dented Subaru to.

Let's not forget that I have two car repairs to pay for.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Oh, it's you."

I looked up from the screen of my laptop, catching a glimpse of my sister in her air stewardess uniform. "Um yup. Wait, you have a flight today? I thought it was next week."

Vicky shrugged.

"Someone's ill. I was called in," she said while struggling to get her luggage down the stairs. I helped her with it.

"Alright, good luck then."

She rolled her eyes. "Whatever. How did the interview go? Bet you didn't get it."

"...yeah, I probably wouldn't," I sighed admittedly, gaze wandering back to the screen of my laptop where I had more than twenty tabs opened regarding part and full-time jobs. The moment I reached home, it had been an instinct to start looking for more places that were hiring.

Yes, I've given up on the one with hot Blake.

He'd never hire me anyway—who'd hire the person who caused a dent in his baby?

"Figures. Blame yourself for being gay," Vicky shrugged once more, tying her pin straight blonde hair into a high ponytail.

"What's this got to do with being gay?" I asked, a little hurt. Why was I, though? It's been twenty years, I should have gotten used to it by now.

"Everything?" My sister said as though pointing out the obvious, "no one asked you to be gay."

I sighed. "We're not having this again..."

"Totally," Vicky agreed. "I'm going to take the train to the airport. Bye."

"Stay safe," I waved, watching as she pulled her luggage out of the front door.

"Be nice, okay?"

"Whatever."

"Don't pick a fight with others." I followed her out of the door.

"Tsk."

"Be kind!" I called after her back.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Having settled my profile on a job-searching site that I had found earlier (and stating my apparent availability/desperate need for a job), I hopped onto my trusty scooter and made my way to the nearest supermarket. Which wasn't really near, so that's where scooter comes in.

But in all honesty, the supermarket was just an excuse. The lamest, dumbest excuse for going on my last ride with Danny (yes, my scooter has a name). After calculating my expenses and the miserable state of debt that I was in, I had decided to sell Danny and apply for jobs near the area instead.

At least it meant that I wouldn't have to be stuck in traffic jams half the time, get into more stupid accidents, pay for more repairs, and drown myself in debt. Basically, I hoped that whatever I was doing would escape Fate.

Hopefully.

I could have gotten eggs from the convenience store nearby, but my two-year attachment to Danny got the better of me. So I arrived at the supermarket in a matter of minutes, worshipping the wind that flew in my face and the loud, rickety sound that my scooter produced every once in a while. As if he was dying—well, Danny's old, what can I say?

I got the eggs, paid for them, and left the store to bring Danny to the car rental garage where I rented my first Subaru. All because that didn't go well, the owner suggested I sell Danny to him and pay off half the repairs first.

So I made my way there; a little hopeless, and a little disheartened.

No—no, I didn't cry.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

After saying farewell to Danny, I walked home with the carton of eggs in a plastic bag—wondering just what I should put in the omelette I was planning to make for dinner.

It was then when my 4-year-old mobile began to ring, indicating that I had some kind of call. Excited, I flipped it open—expecting an unknown number since I had just keyed in my details in the job-searching profile. I had assumed that the caller was someone who thought I was worthy enough to be hired.

But the caller ID paralyzed my mind for a brief second before I somehow regained my intelligence to pick up the call.

It wasn't an unknown number.

"Um...h-hello?" I couldn't help but speak like a...a snowman. How did snowmen speak, anyway?

"You're hired," I heard through the receiver and almost dropped my eggs and my phone. Two things people wouldn't normally like to drop, ever. "Conditionally."

Holding the phone a distance away just to check the caller ID once again and to somehow confirm that this wasn't a hallucination, I further lost my ability to speak.

Well, not that I had much in the first place.

"Uh—wha."

There was a laugh from the other end. It sounded strangely pleasant. I didn't know he could laugh like that. "I said you're hired, Ace."

"Yeah but, uh, Sir, I mean...I. Crushed. Your. Merce," I pointed out; sounding highly intellectual indeed. "Why would you—"

"Exactly. You're going to be my secretary for free until you pay off your debt, good?" Blake's voice was actually decently hot on the phone—shut up Ace. "That's the condition."

"What?" I repeated, thinking that this was a little too good to be true. Still, that probably meant that I would have zero income but I'll figure something out about that later. This job paid better than the ones I found online.

Blake sighed on the other end. "You need a job, right? During the interview you mentioned that your house was rented. And judging from your past achievements—"

He had emphasized the word in a sarcastic manner.

"—I assume that you don't have much savings? You barely had ten bucks in your wallet; no credit card; a freaking phone that looks like it belonged to your grandma—just how are you going to pay for my repairs?"

...as painful as it seemed, he had a point.

I went through my options on the spot, deciding quickly that I could always have another part-time job at night as a bartender or something to cover up my living expenses. Clever Ace didn't consider how tired he would be (or perhaps he did, but didn't quite care), and agreed immediately over the phone.

"Wow. Um, okay—I'll...I'll take it? I guess."

"You sure as hell better," Blake mused. "You're starting work at half-past nine tomorrow morning. Find Janna at the meeting room where we had our interview, and pay attention to whatever she says."

Wait wait wait wait—

"Wait, hold on, I...I don't understand, like. Why would you hire someone so incompetent? I suck at organization and stuff, and well, I don't exactly have people skills—or any luck with humans at all, actually—"

"You're hardworking."

I blinked.

"That's a good quality."

For some reason, my mind seemed unable to comprehend or even register this compliment.

It was sort of—foreign.

"Um. Uh, thank you, Sir—"

"At least that's what Janna and I think, since we agree that it would be easy to order you around and you seem like the type to listen to authority."

"..."

Wow. So much for compliments.

"See you tomorrow, Ace."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

[Blake]

"I need to talk to you."

"No thanks, I'm not in the mood," Came his reply through the receiver.

I snorted.

"What? It didn't go well?"

I heard him groan on the other end.

Xander's my best friend. But In all honesty, half of me wished that Chip would turn into an angsty devil that crushed everything in sight just so it would teach him a good lesson.

Still, I knew best how Xander had been preparing for this day for more than three years.

To return.

"It did. That's the problem."

I felt like punching Xander and slapping some sense into Chip along the way. "How is he?"

"...broken?"

"Obviously, you fucktard."

"Shut up asshole."

I walked out of the office building, praying that there would be available cabs still roaming the main road at this time.

"I need to borrow one of your cars."

Xander sighed. "Don't you already have one? Some Merce you were so proud of."

"Some dude dented it."

"...you're kidding right?"

"No."

"He's paying for the repairs?"

"He's broke A-F."

"Good job."

Spotting a cab, I paused to hail it down—only to realize that it was occupied.

"Fucking worst day ever."

"Not sure if I could say the same," Xander faked a laugh. "Fortunately I took four pills before I went to see him."

"Are you even supposed to take that many?" I asked; of course, concerned.

"I don't think I really care."

"Right..." Several occupied cabs zipped past.

"If you need a car you can have the Audi. Come over at eight."

"Thanks, I'm saved," Finally, an available one. "Is it the black car?"

"All my cars are black, dumbass."

"Uh...right." I forgot how many he had.

"Gotta go. Giselle's having trouble with packing and we're moving the day after tomorrow."

"Oh right. Call me if you need any help though. Moving's tough."

"Nah, 'm fine. See you tomorrow."

"Yeah. Bye," I nodded, ending the call as I got into the taxi.

Long day.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A/N: 

Thank you so much for reading, and I hope you've enjoyed Blake and Ace so far. Uwa thank you again.

-Cuppie