Jace Weston sat comfortably and with eager anticipation, awaiting the president of the board to announce him as the newest partner of J. K Group, one of the biggest companies in the country.

He had worked his ass off for this moment, ensuring to meet their requirements of earning over two million profits within three months.

"CEO Jace Weston ranked second place with a profit of two million.”

Second place? Was this a joke?

Jace's mind reeled with anger, the confidence, and patience he had maintained earlier dissipating in an instant, but he managed to control himself in order to hear the rest of the President's announcement.

"And ranking in first place is CEO James Williams, with three million benefits. Congratulations, Mr. James. Newest partner of J. K Group.”

Jace was seethed with rage, fighting the urge to unleash his anger on everyone in the room as they showered James with applause and praise. He managed to force a smile, not wanting to appear bitter and defeated before the board members, and James, who was now on his feet, shaking hands with the President.

Jace stood up, faking an exterior and walking briskly over to James and the President.

“Congratulations, James. Well-deserved.” Jace saluted, but deep down he wasn't pleased that James had won him, and took his place as the new partner of J. K Group. He was perfectly masking his disappointment with a charming smile etched on his face, he nodded.“I'll be taking my leave now.”

The President nodded back, and with that, Jace walked out of the office with his personal assistant Andrew by his side.

“Three f*cking months, and this is what I get? A f*cking second rank!?" Jace fumed in the car, livid and unable to contain his frustrations.

Andrew and the chauffeur remained quiet. They wouldn't dare interfere, knowing fully well Jace was hot-tempered and violent when he was angry.

“I thought you f*cking checked the ranks last night, Andrew?” Jace asked, his voice strained with anger. Andrew stammered, “I-I did, Sir. Your performance was ranked first."

“Then what the f*ck happened? How did it change overnight?”

“I-I”

“Cut it!” Jace bellowed, cutting off Andrew's explanation. Jace groaned,

“I'll make them pay. For wasting my f*cking time, they'll pay! The President will come back crawling and begging me for a second chance! They'll pay! f*ck!” He fumed, beating his fists against the passenger's seat blatantly, not caring if it affected Andrew who was seated on it.

When Jace returned to the company, on his way to his office, he met his secretary, Alison Mendes, eating. Jace paused, staring at her as she ate her sandwich calmly, without her noticing his presence. She seemed to be lost in her thoughts and oblivious to her environment.

Jace eyed her, his irritation growing even more as he observed her dull countenance as usual. He couldn't see much of her face as her gaze was directed towards the ground.

Her fiery red hair was tied in a messy bun complimenting the old-fashioned suit she wore, exuding the appearance of an elderly woman when she was merely twenty-five.

Gosh! He hated boring and uninteresting women! Staring at her only made his day worse. He let out a long hiss, still staring at her with an annoyed expression.

The sound of his bitter hiss reached Alison's ears, causing her to lift her head. She was petrified when she saw him standing there.

Without hesitation, she rose to her feet, lowering her head as a sign of respect and for the other reason that she dreaded his presence.

“Good afternoon, Sir.” She greeted, delicately placing the sandwich she had been chewing on, on the desk.

Ignoring her greetings, Jace angrily stormed towards her, snatching the sandwich from the plate and crushing it with his fist before tossing it into the trash bin.

Alison remained quiet, as these actions from him weren't new to her. He had a thing for bullying and taunting her even though she did nothing wrong.

Jace exhaled a deep breath, loosening his tie a bit and when he made to drop his hand, he fingers grazed a sticky substance on his posh black suit.

He raised his finger, examining it. Staring at the red sauce, which he sniffed to be ketchup.

“The f*ck?”

Alison lifted her head, looking up at him. She noticed the stain on his suit, her eyes widening in realization.

Jace pulled off his suit jacket impatiently, dumping it on her. “Clean it!”

Alison glared at him, reluctant to do what he had asked as she was not his maid, but his secretary.

Without sparing her a response, Jace barked, “This is your f*cking job! Don't f*cking look at me that way!”

Alison picked up the jacket from the desk, pushing her glasses up her nose a bit. She remained calm.

"I want my lunch ready right away. And make me an urgent appointment with the headhunter, Kile. Pronto.”

“Yes Sir.” She managed to reply. And with that, her jerk boss left her office to his, which was just a few steps away from hers.

She glared daggers at him as he walked away, sinking back on her seat after she heard the door slammed shut, announcing his exit.

She hated him. She hated him so much. She hated the way he treated her like a piece of shit, and the way he always bullied her, for no reason. She hated every encounter with him. The only reason she was still hanging around in the company as his secretary was because she needed the income to settle her mother's medical bills.

Fifteen minutes later, Alison returned to Jace's office with his lunch. She dropped it on the desk, lowering her head and feigning ignorance to the way he was staring at her derisively.

"Here's your lunch. Your suit jacket will be delivered to you in thirteen minutes, and I've gotten a response email from the headhunter. He's ready for your call, Sir.”

Though Jace was impressed by her speed and precision, he didn't praise her. Instead, he murmured, dismissing her.

Jace went outside almost immediately. When he opened the door, he met Alison hovering by the doorway.

Alison turned when she noticed his presence behind her. She was startled. She lost her balance, causing her to fall, but Jace was quick to catch her in his arms.

For the first time ever, Jace saw beneath her glasses that the color of her eyes were not green, but hazel, as their eyes were both locked in an intense stare.

Alison met his gaze weakly, still in his arms, his face just inches away from hers.

For the first time, Alison saw glimpses of a charming and captivating man behind her jerk of a boss. But she was surprised when his expression slowly changed, and was quickly replaced by a smirk creeping onto his face.

Still holding her, he told her in a taunting tone, “You don't have to put on a soap opera before you can get my attention, you know. I'm used to the ogling from ladies like you."

Aggrieved, She got away from his arms quickly, straightening her stance and pushing her glasses up her nose a bit.

Jace sneered, “Relax. You're not even my type. You've got nothing on me. I have zero thing for boring women like you.” He told her viciously.

Alison didn't argue because she knew her boss' character. Her retaliating, would only make him annoyed, and she needed her job for her ill mom's hospital bills.

Jace scrutinized her, her head still lowered. “Why are you still here even after I had dismissed you?” He demanded abruptly.

Alison contemplated whether she should tell him the reason or not.

“Are you deaf?”

She cleared her throat, speaking cautiously, “Uh- I need your permission. I have an appointment with my doctor today concerning my mom's health condition. I need to go there right now, please.”

Jace eyed her skeptically, “Is there something you haven't finished in the office?”

“No, Sir. Every task for the day are done. I've sorted and arranged the files, including shuffling your schedule for the week.”

He gave it a thought. “Alright. You can go, but I want you back here in no time!”

He didn't even know why he said that, but he left her, feeling an unfamiliar tightness in his chest.