The Last Laugh novel Chapter 21

***

We reached the last floor without me saying another word to Heather. We left the elevator and I followed up behind her until, immediately we left the building, there was this guy in a black suit Leaning on a black Lamborghini, waiting for someone.

I watched Heather walk up to him and hug him.

"Hey." she said.

"Hey. No kiss for your boyfriend?"

'Boyfriend??'

"Kevin, please." she said slowly, getting out of his grip and getting into his car. He shrugged and got in himself before driving off.

So Heather had a boyfriend? Okay.

I crossed the street to the pizza hut.

*

After good lunch with Aiden and some other colleagues, we all returned to the office.

On my way down the hallway, I met Sawyer. I stood in her way.

"Hey."

She looked at me.

"Yeah?"

"Is Heather dating?"

She raised a brow and folded her arms.

"Why?"

"There's this friend of mine that's quite her fan. He'd like to know if she's single."

"Hahahaha, oh. Since you work with her, he thinks he can have a chance?"

"Yeah."

"Smile. And I'll give you an answer."

I looked at her.

"Seriously?"

"Yes."

Fine. I smiled.

"Nice smile. You just gave me goosebumps." she laughed.

"My answer."

"Fine, Mr killjoy. She has a boyfriend."

"Okay."

I tried to walk past her but she stopped me.

"And what about you?" she asked.

"Me what?"

"Do you see anyone you could be interested in?" she asked with a smirk.

I looked at her without saying a word. Then, putting both hands in my pockets, I replied firmly,

"No."

"Okay." she replied with another smirk. Clearly unaffected by my answer.

"Okay. Can I go now?" I asked.

"For the moment."

I looked at her one last time before walking away.

***

That night when I got home, I got rid of my clothes and went into the bathroom to shower. I needed to feel water on my skin.

I stood under the cold water, thinking. Heather had a boyfriend? Wow. I wasn't really affected though. What was I thinking? She was big enough to get into a relationship. We were both adults on our sides.

I smiled to myself. That still couldn't stop me. I was partly back for her. And I didn't have to worry about that guy. He wasn't a competition, I believed.

After my bath, I wiped the water off my body and tied the towel around my waist before leaving the bathroom.

I got dressed and sat on my bed. I had to start executing my plan. And I realised I couldn't with the way I was behaving.

I had to change. If I had to get information from Christina or the welds as a whole, I had to gain their trust. And that was going to be something very easy for me.

I was gonna start the next day.

*

At seven the next morning I was at work.

I picked up the printed documents I'd finished typing in just a day and made my way to Christina's office.

"Good morning, ma'am." I said, coming into the office and dropping the documents on her table. "Finished."

"So fast?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"You already leave a good impression on me." she smiled at me. I smiled back. For the first time. There was clear surprise in her expression.

"No! It's okay. I'm just– not in my mood. Wh– what did you get me?"

He came over and dropped the things on my table.

"Just a cappuccino and cinnamon biscuits."

I looked at him. Cinnamon biscuits were my favorites since I was a kid. Late uncle Paul always bought them for me whenever he came visiting.

"Everything okay?" he asked slowly with a little smile, "You look surprised."

"Um, well, cinnamon biscuits are my favorites."

"I know." his reply was casual.

"You know? Who told you?"

"No one, Heather."

My heartbeat strangely increased when he called my name. He didn't say miss. He'd called my name like he knew me.

"It's miss Heather or Miss Welds." I managed to act tough.

"No such formalities between us."

'What??'

"Excuse me?? Who do you think you are?"

"Ace."

"Huh?"

"Hey, girl!" Shirley barged into my office happily, interrupting me. She was my very close friend. She stopped in her tracks when she saw Ace.

"Oh. Sorry. Didn't know you were occupied."

"No it's okay. I was leaving." Ace replied, "Have a good day, miss–" he looked at me straight in the eyes and added, "...Heather."

He turned to leave and looked at Shirley.

"Have a good day too." he smiled at her. Shirley looked at him speechlessly, her mouth slightly open until he left.

Once he was gone, she turned to me.

"Girl, who the fuck is that??" she asked, quickly taking a seat.

"I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know?"

"I only know that he works here now and calls himself Ace."

"Hum. Well, Ace is a hottie! I guess I'll be visiting you often now." she laughed. I was still too disturbed to reply.