"Tracy!"

Casey was having one of her unrealistically  dramatic outbursts.

Outbursts that usually sent her assistant flying into her office.

"Sir... I mean, ma'am! You called for me? "

And as usual, Tracy was a sweaty, cold and frightened mess.

"What the hell is this!?"Casey menacingly held up a white piece of paper, making Tracy, who was a safe few feet away from her squint her eyes.

Yep.

She had it coming.

All colour drained from her face.

"Okay, before you freak out-"She began explaining, but Casey cut into her words like an executioner through someone's neck.

Sorry. Wrong comparison.

"Am already freaked out! "Casey was actually fanning her face with her arms, nearly close to hyperventilation.

Tracy had all but hoped she would not be the one to deal with this, but yeah, here she was.

"Look, it was the only option we had. "

Casey shook her head.

"You know how much I hate spending money. "She said, clutching her chest in a devastating manner that all but suggested that spending her money was almost treason.

"I know, but the marketers and publicists had send a warning a few days ago that our sales were going to go down farther if we did not do something about it, and I couldn't reach you so I made the only sane decision I could think of. I mean, that's my job, right? As your personal assistant and manager? Besides, the sales are already down by twenty percent.

Casey put a hand over her forehead.

"But.. But this is a crazy huge sum. "

Tracy rolled her eyes.

"It's not, and trust me, that's the cheapest deal we could make. "

"What did you do now? "

"Since you've been a little, well,  stingy with the signing of cheques, most of our adverts and photoshoots have been kinda low quality and not exactly a huge impact on our target market, so the publicist suggested we go after a celebrity figure, just to make ourselves a little more relevant in the market again. "

Casey dead eyed her.

"What do you mean 'relevant again'? We're the best designers in town. "

"Yes. But if we don't do something in order to remain in that position, it's gonna go downhill. "

Casey knew she was doomed.

"So, we have to actually spend money. "

"Yap. "

"So, what's the plan? "

"Well, it's kind of already been set off, like we already contacted someone who was willing to accept your peanut-"

"Tracy. "

"Your cheap offer, and the best part, they have agreed to not only a photoshoot, but also a deal to larger audiences through what you call winning shopping vouchers"

Casey raised an eyebrow.

"Exactly how? "

"His customers stand a chance to win shopping vouchers if they bet correctly on his sports line. "

"Great. So more money spending. "

"Not exactly. Our profits will be much much higher than the money spend. See, the odds are two in every three hundred. "

"Okay, am interested. So, who is this alleged 'celebrity figure'?"

"Only the most famous one in the country. A little scandalous too, so he's perfect. "

Tracy smiled when she knew she had bend her employer's point of view.

Ah, what a simple lady. All she needs is less spending, more profit.

"Tracy? Who is this guy? "

Casey was getting really suspicious.

"Jack. Jack Chadwick. "

Oh, heavens.

**********************

Mia would have rather swallowed flaming blades than admit it, but wow.

Jace was good. Really good.

I mean, she had known a guy like him would be able to pull some strings, but she had not anticipated something this awesome, let alone this romantic, as some girls would say.

But definitely not her.

The word love did not exist in her vocabulary, unless it involved a man stuck in comatose or a woman who is literally nowhere to be found.

"Mia? "Jace snapped her out of the trance she was in, making her glance his way briefly before dropping her gaze back down to her dinner.

Shrimp. Yum

"So, are you impressed? "Jace asked with the nervousness of a teenage boy who just met his celebrity crush.

But Mia was impressed. Really impressed, only she did not know it, and thought that the heated vigorous blood pressure under her skin was a sign of a fever, especially since she was looming above the ocean.

That's right, they were having dinner in a freaking air balloon, most possibly the best food she'd ever had, but then again, she would rather be tied to an African anthill upside down than admit it, let alone show it to his face.

"I guess," she answered him, again, not looking directly at him, and wishing this would all just go away, and she'd be by her father's bed whispering about her day, and she'd have gotten her revenge, then her mom would walk into the room jolting her dad awake and they would all just walk off into the sunset and live happily ever after.

Yeah, reality sucks. Big time.

Jace watched her lift her fork for yet another pea sized bite, and couldn't help but wonder what was going one in her mind.

For one, she looked sad, like the soft breeze of the early night was giving her a headache, and she kept glancing down at her plate, as if the calm waves of the ocean below them were a burden to her.

His heart wanted one thing, to just reach out and touch her arm, stroke her hair and tell her everything is going to be just fine, but his mind was sending off all kinds of warning signs.

His gaze fell on the candles in the middle of the table, glowing inside their glasses, a perfect contrast to the dim feeling in both their hearts.

He raked his mind for a conversation starter, anything to get her talking, to hear her beautiful voice. She might not admit it, but Jace saw from the way she smiled and her empty eyes for once sparked when she first saw the surprise that she liked it, but why she couldn't say it was a bother to him.

Maybe it was all part of her seduction plan, to act like she didn't care, while inside she was practically dying for him.

He impatiently tapped his fork and was about to say something when she suddenly looked up smiling, her dark seductress alter ego back in place.

Jace subconsciously flinched.

"Actually, Jace, I'd say I'm pretty charmed." She smiled an eerie smile, and lifted her glass to take a sip of water, eyes intently fixed on him.

It was his turn to look down.

"I'm glad you like this. "

"How can I not love it, it was a good surprise, you know, the classic old sitting under the moonlight, sipping drinks and laughing while all the stars are watching us? It's charm. "

Wow, Jace thought to himself, She really does know how to make a guy feel completely flattered.

"Thanks. "He said, sipping his own drink.

"Tell me about yourself. "She straight out said, making him a little awkward.

"Really, what's there to know. I'm the son of Mr. Falcon, I'm the current CEO of Falcon Enterprises, and I'm having dinner in a romantic set on an air balloon with possibly most beautiful woman I've ever met in my entire life. "

He mentally slapped himself. That is not something you say out loud.

Mia smirked.

Yep. A goner.

"You said possibly, I'm offended. "Again with the act, she said, looking at reflection on the glass at hand.

Jace swallowed and started stammering.

"I. I.. I meant definitely. You're definitely the most beautiful woman I've ever met. "

Again, Jace. Way to play it cool.

"Don't worry, I already knew that, but I guess if I was like just any other woman, I would be throwing myself at you. "

The why don't you? Jace was asking himself.

"Because you did well, "she answered, as if reading his mind, "But not good enough. "

Wow. One moment she would have him feeling like the king of the world, then she'd proceed to pop his bubble with a clean, sharp death needle.

But then again, maybe it was time to finally heed his crazy dad's words.

If you love a woman, never show it out in the open. It becomes your weakness.

Maybe he had a point, maybe not.
But just the other day, hadn't Jack advised him to play cool?

And by cool, he meant pretend like he's not into her while he's secretly planting his charm on her.

Besides, everybody hates the sappy guy in telenovelas who always never makes a mistake, unless it's,you know, out of love.

"But Miss Monroe, how can I be good enough, when am obviously the best? "

She cocked her head and smiled.

Well, maybe not the best thing he could say at that moment, because he knew he was in for a long ride of cockiness, female ego and pretty much daily punches in the gut.

"You haven't told me about yourself. Yet. "He quickly said, in a bid to salvage the conversation before it went downhill.

"Oh, there are a lot of things you don't know about me, my love. "

Maybe it was just him, but her voice suddenly shifted from evil sexy to crazy dangerous.

He swallowed.

"Well, enlighten me then."

Mia gently picked her fork and pierced her food, her face surrealistically calm, but her hand shaking with a firm grip.

"Gladly. "

*******************
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