บท 4: Jace: Perks Of Being A Billionaire

As I hurried down the lobby, Ethan was ahead of me clearing the path to make sure that no one got close to me. Private security flanked me on all sides, keeping unwanted admirers away from my person. There was paparazzi right outside the hotel but I simply smiled at them all as I walked out. Beside me, Lucy was keeping pace with me while tapping furiously on the tablet in her hand.

When we got outside, my shiny black SUV was waiting for us. A guard hurried ahead and opened it so that I jumped in at once, Lucy hurried in after me, adjusting her glasses.

"Let's go," Ethan told the driver as he climbed into the passenger seat.

As we pulled out of the hotel's driveway, Lucy pursed her lips as she shook her head.

"Come on," I told her, "give it to me straight."

"You have quite a lot set for today," she shook her head.

"Why? You're the one in charge of my day, why did you give me a lot?"

"It wasn't meant to be a lot. If I had known you would be spending these days at the hotel, I would have made things easier. Now, we have to be shuffling between the hotel and the head office. That takes time that we don't have. I've already rescheduled some of the meetings, but others can't wait."

"Yeah…" I muttered as I looked out the window. "This just looked too good to pass on. Staying at the hotel looked like good press and so far, it's been working out."

"Yeah… you're always on the news now. Anyway, your itinerary for the day is packed. Your first meeting is with Cindy Starr."

Cindy was an accomplished artiste and actress. I had been in talks with her to headline a movie franchise that my creative team and I were working on. The script was ready and the crew was also ready to begin casting. However, my conversation with Cindy today would determine how everything would go down.

"You can only spend thirty minutes with her though, at most," Lucy told me. "Because you'll have to see Justin later on. The last time he came, he mentioned that he was going to place ads on Chillz for one full year."

I scoffed, "He wants to buy out our banner for a year. Well, I'll see how that goes."

So, I listened to everything she said as she rattled off the names of the people I had to meet. By the time we got to my head office, she was still speaking.

"And finally, by seven we have to return to the hotel for the rehearsal dinner. The Mayor and Chief of Police already said they would be there. So, you have to be there early."

Once the SUV was parked, we stepped into the lot and hurried into the building. The place was filled with workers who were busy in one form of activity or the other. I used my private elevator and went right to the topmost floor where my office was.

"I have to make sure no other meetings are planned for tonight," Lucy said as she hurried over to her office.

Ethan walked with me into my office and closed the door shut behind us. The office was soundproof, locking out all the noise of the workplace. My office was a sprawling edifice overlooking the busiest city in the state. It was wide and spacious, and some couches and facilities enabled me to relax when I was sick and tired of all the perks of being the CEO.

I watched as he stared at me, he didn't look happy and I could guess why.

"Seriously, Jace… what are you doing?"

"Come on, is this still about the hickey?" I asked as I looked away from him. I picked up the remote and turned on the TV. It was on a gossip channel and videos of me leaving the hotel were plastered all over the TV screen. "I thought we already left that in the past."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Ethan said as he took the seat before me. "Come on, you and I know what is at stake here, this is not the time for you to be playing around. And even worse, in the fucking hotel where your future in-laws are staying! Can you imagine what would have happened if you were seen?"

"I was careful, okay?" I told him irritably, "Besides, it's not as if anything happened."

"Well, the hickey on your neck would suggest otherwise. Also, your ruined suit would do just as much. See Jace, I know you're not in love with Kira, but you shouldn't embarrass her either. You have to be careful."

"You think I don't know all this?" I cried as I got to my feet and stormed away from my desk, "Kira is a sweet girl, I know that. She's smart, she's beautiful and everything. She's going to take Beacon Studios to the moon, I'm sure of it. But Ethan, I can never love her the way I love…" my voice faltered as I was about to mention Casey's name. I shook my head and went on, "I just can't love her that way.

"So, how do I live the rest of my life, huh? Stuck with someone I would never love?"

"You don't know that," Ethan said.

"Actually, I do." I retorted. "One way or another, I'm gonna have to find my happiness, and I won't stop Kira from finding hers as well. We might be married, but we don't have to be miserable together. As long as we're willing to overlook certain things."

"My God… you've thought it all through haven't you?"

I nodded, "what remains now is to convince Kira." This was important because I couldn't keep sneaking around to see Cindy, eventually she was going to find out.

Ethan was about to say something else but there was a knock on the door, my secretary's head popped in, "Cindy Starr is here."

"Let her in," I said.

"We'll talk about this later," Ethan said decisively before getting to his feet and walking out of the office just as Cindy walked in. As they walked past each other, she gave him a high-five and then dropped herself into the chair he had just vacated. Behind her were her manager, and her personal make-up artist who stuck to her like glue. She also had security and a personal photographer, but those were outside.

Cindy had an explosive personality. Her hair had all the colors of the rainbow and she had piercings in her ears, nose, and tongue. She grinned as she saw me, she was just a naturally happy person. Full of energy that was contagious.

"if it isn't everyone's favorite fiancé!" She said with a wide smile. "So, are we about to make some money?"