Chapter 20: Chapter 20

***

I parked in front of the huge building at exactly three. I got out of my car and looked up at the top of the building. I suddenly thought of my father. Bitterness rose from within me. I cleared my throat and shook all awful thoughts from my mind.

I went into the building. For the first time in my life I'd seen my father's company with both eyes. Its inside was big and beautiful.

I went straight to the woman in the lobby.

"Excuse me."

"Yes, sir?"

"I'm here for the job offer."

"Oh, okay. Take the elevator sir, to the last floor. Then the fourth door to your left."

I thanked her and headed for the elevator.

*

I reached the last floor and took the fourth door on my left.

On entering, I discovered it was a waiting room full of formally dressed people. They surely wanted the same job.

I sat down and waited.

Time flew and people were called one by one. I got tired and bored.

After about fifty minutes of waiting, the man who called people over told me I was next. Finally. I stood up and adjusted my tie. I followed him to the office.

We reached a door and he opened it for me.

"You can go in."

I went into the office and closed the door behind me. It was a big, spacious and beautiful office with large glass windows and an amazing view on the city.

Surprisingly, there was no one in it.

"Hold on I'm coming!" a female voice said from another room in the office which happened to be the toilets. I recognised her voice. I unknowingly clenched my jaw. I needed her not to recognise me. She couldn't even do that in the first place.

"Have a seat! I won't be long." she said.

Without a word, I moved to the table and took a seat.

Some minutes later, I heard the door open as she stepped into the office with her heels. I turned to look at her. I froze.



"Hello" she said with a smirk. She hadn't changed very much. Though she was now forty two. She wasn't at all different from the last time I saw her. The only difference was that she'd left her hair in it's natural reddish state instead of dyeing it blonde. I felt hatred rise but I couldn't let it spoil everything. I acted as normal and formal as possible.

I stood up and greeted her.

"Good evening, Mrs. Welds."

"Good evening." she shook my hand before regaining her seat behind the office table. A seat that had belonged to my father. I sat down too.

"How are you?" she asked slowly.

"Fine." I replied firmly.

"Your documents, please."

I took my documents out of my briefcase and handed them over.

"Here."

She collected them and began to go through.

After about five minutes, she looked up at me.

"Ace, right?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Such a nice and unusual name for a young man." she said with a little smirk. I didn't react.

"From what I read here, you are quite well experienced."

"Yes, ma'am. I went to the best schools."

"That's impressive. And you had the chance to work for Four wheels. For such a young man of twenty four like yourself, to have so much experience, is very impressive."

"Thank you." I replied formally.

"With all your exploits you could've very well decided to build your own company."

'I know.'

"I don't have the means." I lied.

She looked at me for some time.

"That's not what you look like." she said with another smirk, "Anyway, why do you want to work as a secretary here?"

I gave her concrete reasons and from her expression, I knew I'd convinced her.

Christina's POV:

I listened to him give me good reasons. He was a very handsome young man. Handsome but mysterious. Unlike other people I'd interviewed so far, he was careful with what he said. He was straight to the point and formal. He avoided releasing personal information on his life, unlike others who had done so.

His seriousness intrigued me. He hadn't smile even once since he'd entered the office, even when I'd complimented him.

He was quite charismatic. He was perfect. He was gonna get that post of secretary.

I continued to listen to him with interest.

Ace's POV:

Christina was clearly eating from my hand. I was going to get the place. This was just a start.

While I spoke to her, someone came into the office in heels. I turned to see who it was.

A beautiful young woman.

She had long, deep brown hair and she wore a fitting short gown which matched her heels. She had files in her hand. I felt my tummy turn upside down? When I saw her eyes, I felt a bit of relief. She had beautiful green eyes. It couldn't be Heather or her sister. They both had brown eyes.

She approached the table and greeted me with a slight smirk.

"Good evening."

"Good evening."

Suddenly, I felt a heavy lump in my throat. I'd recognised that provocative smirk on her lips.

"Hey, mom."

"Sawyer, you just interrupted this interview." Christina replied.

My tummy went upside down again.

It was Sawyer. I hadn't recognised her. She'd surely put on green eye contacts.



"Well, sorry. I just came to pass these for you to read them." she dropped the files on the table, "Apparently the new cheese products aren't selling very well."

Christina collected the files.

"Okay."

Sawyer then left the office. I was still in some sort of shock after seeing her. But of course, I remained impassive in my expression.

"Your first daughter?" I asked, pretending to be ignorant.

"No, my second and stubborn last. That's my first." she pointed at some pictures on her wall. I saw two of Sawyer's pictures and on the other side, I saw two pics of Heather. I felt my heartbeat increase. She was so beautiful. She looked like a top model.

"She's a part time model and she works here too. But she isn't present for the moment."

I nodded.

"Okay."

"I think we're done, Mr Stonewall. We'll give you a call by the weekend to let you know if you're taken or not."

"Okay. Have a good evening." I stood up and left the office.

***

That night I returned to the house after a few drinks at a bar. I went up to my room and lay down.

It had been quite a strange day. Having seen Christina, brought back a lot of memories from the past. Bad and traumatising ones. It reminded me of how much I'd been humiliated and maltreated. Christina had to pay. And if Sawyer was still the same annoying person, she would pay for her own part.

As for Heather, I still had to meet her face to face. I needed to see her. Would she recognise me? Was it risky to tell her who I really was when I'd meet her?

I thought and thought.

"I have to get that job offer." I told myself.

***

Sawyer's POV

Once home, mom and I went to our rooms to change into more comfortable clothes. The chef had cooked a delicious meal. Couldn't wait to eat.

I changed into a pair of tiny shorts and a T-shirt before going downstairs.

Mom was already seated at the table. I joined her.

"What did the chef cook?"

"I don't know but it looks delicious. Probably one of his secret specialities." mom replied, taking the cover off the dish. True that the meal looked delicious.

"Do you know at what time Heather will be back?" she asked

"Well–"

I was interrupted when Heather came into the living room.

"Hi, ma." she kissed my mother and then turned to me, "Hey, cutie" she hugged me.

"Hey." I smiled.

"How was your day, dear?" mom asked when she took a seat.

"It was okay. Hmm, this looks delicious." she referred to the food.

We served ourselves and began eating. Then I remembered all the hot guys that came earlier for the interview. I wondered which mom would chose.

"So ma, who's got the competence to become secretary amongst all those who came?" I asked

"Oh, it was today?" Heather asked.

"Yeah."

"Nice. So mom, have you made your choice?" she asked.

"Um, quite."

"Who?" I asked

"You'll see. I'll tell you tomorrow after I've called the person I chose."

"Oh, okay."

**

ACE'S POV

I got up from sleep due to the loud ring of my phone. Exhausted, I stretched out and picked my phone. It was an unknown number. I picked it up.

"Hello?" I asked tired.

"Yes, hello. Ace stonewall?"

"Present." I was still sleepy and didn't realise a lot about the moment.

"You start work on Monday Mr. Stonewall."

"Whut?"

"You've been given the job at P.W. See you Monday."

"Really? Thanks." I hung up and went back to sleep. Because of tiredness and sleep, I hadn't realised that the news I'd just received was a very good one.

*

I woke up some hours later. I got out of bed and went straight to the bathroom to clean up.

After a fresh bath, I wore my boxers and jeans the hung my shirt over my shoulder.

I went downstairs and got myself some coffee.

The day seemed to be a beautiful one. I sipped some coffee and walked to the kitchen's window to admire the outside.



And that's when I remembered the morning call by Christina's personal assistant. I had the job. I was too sleepy to realise it in the early morning.

A smirk formed on my lips.

"To your downfall, Christina Welds." I said to myself before taking another sip of my coffee.

*

Christina's POV"

"I chose Ace stonewall." I told my daughters the next day.

"Who's That?" Heather asked.

"Is it that hot blonde guy?" Sawyer asked.

"No. It's the guy you met in my office."

"Oh, that one. I knew it!" Sawyer exclaimed, "He is charismatic with beautiful eyes. He's the youngest among all those who came for the offer."

"How old?" Heather asked.

"Twenty four. And he's smart too. Quiet, serious and he doesn't smile much." I told them.

Sawyer turned to her sister and wriggled her brows.

"He's hot." she stated.

"Surely your type." Heather replied. I rolled my eyes.

"Don't start." I told them firmly.