The Last Laugh

Chapter 17 - The Welds

***

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?" Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

"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.