Third times the charm

3

Not edited

     It was after the third ring that Julia managed to slide one hand from beneath the blanket. Her long slim hand, tapped all over the surface of her bed stool until she found her phone.

"Hello?"

    "For goodness sake Jules, it's 10 in the morning!"

    She looked up to the clock that hung on the wall opposite her bed, "Is it?" She asked lifting a hand to cover her yawn.

"Yes, it is."

     "Well, I'm on leave, " Julia held the phone in place with her head and shoulders and started to drag herself off the bed.

    "That was what I called you about, Julia."

    Julia sighed and headed towards the bathroom. She had known that this would happen. There was no way they'll let her enjoy her break in peace. She had expected it but not just on the first day, "What is it, Uncle Cameron?"

    Mr Cameron Bullion was the owner of Bullion constructions, a large big man with a happy face. When she had just graduated her brothers had given her his contact to try her luck. After he looked at her works during her interview, he accepted her into his company. She was shocked as she barely had any experience, he said he knew she wouldn't let him down.

And I wouldn't she told herself firmly. She was indebted to him for giving her a chance.

    "I have a big contract for you, a mansion and an estate. But you have to start with the mansion first, it's more important."

"Uncle Cam-

    "You don't have to work from the office. My nephew already has lots in mind. He isn't clueless..."

   "Your nephew?"

    "Yes, very nice lad. He wouldn't be giving you much trouble."

   "But-

    "Come on Julia, you have to help me. I promised him as a kid that I'll help him get the house of his dreams. He saw your work and personally choose you to do it. He likes your style."

    This time Julia spoke quickly so he wouldn't interrupt her again, "But I'm supposed to be on leave, uncle. You said I needed a break."

    "I know, you don't have to come to the office for this as I said. And I promise you that after this you'll get two months all to yourself which is even more than you are having now. And just imagine the recognition you'll get, you could finally go on your dre-

   Julia started laughing as she put some toothpaste on her brush, "It's okay, I do it."

    She could practically see his smile as she said those words.

    "Phew Jules, my brain was running out of ways to convince you. There is a meeting with twelve, my office."

   "But you said no office stuff, " Julia cried, her hand freezing just before her lips.

    "You have don't meet him to get and sign the contract, don't you?"

   She proceeded in brushing her teeth, "Well I guess."

   "Alright sweetie, see you there!"

    "The things I do for love, " Julia said before he ended the call making him laugh.

    She then put the toothbrush in her mouth and took it up and down. Julia had accepted the offer, not because of the benefits she would get. She loved her job, it was a hobby that she got paid while doing. She knew that even if he had not called her, she'd have gone back to help with mini-projects. And there was her promise never to let him down, something she hadn't forgotten

    Wistfully, Julia stopped at the door to her workplace. She did not have it in mind to work for anyone. One of the reasons she had chosen the profession was because it had plenty of work opportunities. In the two years she has been there, she was sure she had accomplished something. She had begun to satisfy her curiosity when it came to designing and proven to the male population that she was good at what she did.

    She stepped inside and took the elevator up. She had managed to avoid the other workers on the first floor as she had worn her flats today. No office work, Mr Cameron had said, so what was the use of being overly professional. Julia had tugged on her blue jeans with a grey T-shirt, her black overcoat she held in one hand, her backpack in the other. That was another thing she loved about her job. She never had to be in a pencil skirt and heels except she wanted to. And Julia Brooks would never be dressed professionally if she had an option. She was bare of any jewellery except the slim black leather wristwatch she had forced herself to put on and the little gold pins she used as earrings. Nora had teased her saying that, if those earrings don't become her family heirloom it'll be a miracle.

      Julia chuckled. She stepped out of the elevator, escaped Elizabeth, Mac and all her other colleagues and headed straight to her bosses door. She would see them later, she decided and knocked on the door. After some seconds, she let herself in. She knew he wouldn't mind, after all, she was early by 30 minutes. They still had time to discuss the details before his nephew arrived.

     "Punctual as usual, Julia!" Cameron's voice rang out.

    Julia had her back turned to the room as she closed the door, "Morning, boss."

    It was then that she saw him, sitting relaxed at her boss's table. She wasn't as surprised as she had thought she would have been. She had known that she was going to see him again and made it her mission to be prepared when she did. She was grateful to Elizabeth as she had tactfully saved her from going to dinner with him. But somehow she had known that that wasn't the end. He wore a grey sweatshirt that complimented his black hair and, a faded pair of black sweatpants. Isn't he a businessman, what sort of style is this? Julia wondered. Unknown to her, the Jace she knew and the Jace she saw still didn't give a damn what the dress code was.

     "You, " she said pointedly, " What are you doing here?"

    "Ahh, I see you have already met my nephew?" He said smiling

   "Of course, we've met, " Julia said in a pleasant calculated voice before pausing, hoping she had heard him wrong "Your nephew?"

    Jace grinned at her expression and said easily, "His sister is my mother, so that makes him my Uncle and I, his nephew. "

    "Of course." Julia said quietly, biting back her angry words when she saw the way Cameron smiled proudly at his 'nice ' nephew who had just defined the word to her.

     Julia barely noticed that she was still standing at the door. Until

    "Have a seat, Julia," Cameron said gesturing to the one beside Jace.

     She took the seat beside him, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing her refusing to seat. Julia prepared the short speech she was to deliver for Cameron to let her off. There was no way she was going to work with him.

     "Here is the file, Jules, " Cameron passed a brown file to her, "It contains everything about the project."

    She made the mistake of turning to look at Jace and found him smirking. She quickly took her eyes from him and reached for the file. She flipped through it for a moment then put it back on the table.

    "It's beyond what I've ever drafted, Sir, " she began unable to look him in the eye.

   Cameron's eyes widened in shock. Never has Julia Brooks declined a project. She had always taken great delight in what she did. Why wouldn't she accept this one? He wondered. "You have drafted estates, Julia, how can a mansion be beyond your expertise?"

    She kept her back up and refused to look at Jace but lifted her head to respond to his uncle. I'm sorry, she said in her head as if he could hear her, I just can't do this.

      "I have plans, Sir."

"Very important plans." She added when she saw that he just stared at her confused.

    Julia could see that he was disappointed and she instantly felt bad. He pulled another file from his cabinet and read,

     "I may have forgotten to mention that the award you received came with this project. Architects from the same company with the recipients will have to plan two buildings for Miller's biggest investors which happened to be Anderson's."

     Julia groaned and internally facepalmed herself. If only she was careful enough to read the criteria that came with the award, all this wouldn't have happened.

     "And they've decided to utilize the offer." Cameron continued, smiling when he knew he had trapped her into a spot.

     "There's Max, " she reasoned, "Dimitri and Hayward. Even Elizabeth can do it, it'll be a great experience for her. It said Architects from the company, it didn't specifically say me."

    "I chose you to do it, " Jace said solemnly, " If you read the criteria, you'll see that I have a choice to pick the architect I want for the job. I chose you." He said again daring her to contradict him.

    Interesting, Cameron thought as he looked between them, "Why don't you want it?"

He directed the question to her.

    Why don't I want it? Why don't I want it? Julia asked herself. You're afraid, her heart told her. You're afraid that you would fall in love with him again. You are afraid that you'll find out you never stopped loving him. She held her breath as realization finally hit her.

     Unable to voice out the real reason, she had to lie. "I'm b...busy."

    "Busy doing what? Planning your nonexistent wedding?" Jace teased her, lifting his eyes to grin into hers.

     His grin grew even wider when she blushed. After their little meeting at the function, he couldn't help but be curious as to what kind of man had caught her eyes. Curiosity, he told himself, was what made him do it. He had gone ahead and done some research. He discovered that Pretty Julia Brooks wasn't engaged. Again he felt something tug at his heart.

    Julia had forgotten that she'd told him that she was engaged. She was a terrible liar. It must have slipped her mind that he could discover the truth from a lie that stupid.

    "You are getting married, Julia!" Cameron bellowed in shock, "How?"

     Jace thought it was funny that he didn't ask When or Where. Asking how made it seem impossible that Julia was getting married. He grinned happily.

     Julia at that point found out that she couldn't lie to him, either as her boss or as Cameron Bullion. If Jace had already found out the truth, no need to keeping up the act. She sighed heavily and admitted, "I'm not getting married, Sir."

     Julia gave up her diplomatic tone and hit the nail on the head, "Mr Anderson and I are long-time enemies-

     "Not, " Jace added under his breath causing Julia to stop them begin again.

   "We are long-time enemies, there won't be peace if we work together."

    "Afraid Julia?, " he teased, "Still writing your love stories?"

    Julia froze, a thousand old memories coming to her head. She wasn't going to let him win this time. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of refusing. She knew to accept had more to do than just the project. There was an unstated offer that also came with it and oh yes, Julia thought, she wasn't backing down.

     Eyeing Jace stonily, she muttered to her boss, "I'll do it, Sir."

     Cameron clapped his hands in delight, "Great!" He stressed out.

     She watched Jace smirk knowing he had won. For now, she told herself.