The Last Laugh novel Chapter 33

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Heather's POV:

I was the last to leave the office Friday night. I called Shirley.

"I'm on my way home. I'll have dinner with them before letting them know. Come so you help my with my bags."

"Okay."

I left and locked the doors behind me. I got into my car and headed home.

On reaching, I didn't change but just joined them at the table for dinner.

"Good evening." I greeted. They replied. I served myself and started to eat.

"How was your day, honey? We work in the same building but you never come to my office." my mom complained.

"My day was alright, mom. The thing is, I don't see any reason why I should come to your office."

"Just to hi. It hurts me."

True that my mom was a selfish and manipulative woman, and some even called her evil, but she was still my mother and I still had a soft spot for her. 

"I'm sorry. I promise that from tomorrow, I'll always pass by your office, at least once a day."

"Thank you." she smiled at me and I forced a smile back.

"So dear, what's this issue of you packing your bags in the name of rearranging stuff?" she asked. I looked at Sawyer. She couldn't keep her mouth shut.

"Well mom, since Sawyer can't shut up, let me be honest with you."

"Yes?"

"I bought an apartment some months ago. I'm packing into it tonight."

"WHAT??"

"I knew it!" Sawyer exclaimed.

"Heather?? Why??"

"Mom, I'm twenty two. I need to learn to live alone."

"But– but this is your home!" she said. She was clearly not happy with my choice.

"You know it isn't."

"Who gave you the idea? Huh??" Sawyer asked angrily, "Is it that bitch you consider a sister over me?"

"Hey, keep Shirley out of this!" I retorted.

While Sawyer and I quarrelled, my mother was still a little shocked. She was unable to believe what I'd just told her.

"Heather, why do you keep running away from me? Why??" she asked angrily.

"I'm not running away from you, mom."

"Ever since we came to los Angeles you've changed! You were my princess but you changed! Because of the past??"

"It's more than that, ma. This house isn't ours! That company neither!"

"Sheridan is dead! Paul died too! It's legally ours!"

"Are you sure it is?? You might have rights to all this now but remember when you maltreated Sheridan and tricked him into giving you his property? I was a kid but I wasn't blind or stupid!"

"Heather, don't you dare defend that dead bastard!" she growled angrily, standing up, "He and his stupid father deserved their deaths!"

"Mom!" I exclaimed in shock.

Her true colors were beginning to appear again. Her old self as from when I was a kid began to resurface. My mother had never and would never change!

She was still the bad woman she'd always been. She only pretended around me but now at the moment, she didn't care apparently.

"Mom, what! Huh? Don't you mom me! If I hadn't done what I'd done, would we have these riches? Would you even have the opportunity of becoming the so-called top model you are today??"

I stood up angrily too.

"You will never change! You're the same selfish and wicked woman you've always been!"

"Have I ever been wicked to you?? Have I?!"

"That's cuz I'm your daughter. You're evil to everyone else!"

Shirley helped me settle and soon everything was okay.

We watched movies, drank, ate, chatted and laughed. I felt so free and happy. I was at ease. I felt free. Plus, after drinking a few glasses of wine, I was tipsy. Shirley and I just kept on laughing and chatting.

"Shirley, guess what."

"What?"

"I'm now friends with your Sheridan the second." I laughed. The alcohol had gone up to my head a little.

"Ace??" Shirley gasped happily.

"Uh, huh. He's nice though. And cute. And hot. Too bad I'm taken." I giggled continuously like I was being tickled.

"OMG! Eeek! Y'all talk often??"

"Nah! You know I'm some sort of dumbass at times. I can't speak to him. He's odd."

"Odd??"

"Yeah. He has this black magic, I'm sure. Some sort of power. He's the only employee I stutter around. The only employee I can't look straight into the eyes, the only employee I try to run from."

"Hahahaha! What if he tries to flirt with you?? You know most new employees always try flirt with you."

"Honestly, I'm not interested at all. And plus, I have Kevin. True that my feelings for him were not serious at the start, but I'm beginning to love him."

Shirley's eyes widened.

"Seriously? But you don't trust him!"

"I know. And I can't ever trust him. But honestly, Shirley, I'm beginning to fall, like seriously." I became serious.

"For Kevin."

"I'm afraid so."

The change of topic had suddenly made the atmosphere cold and had destroyed the fun.

Shirley and I silently stared at each other.