The Last Laugh novel Chapter 32

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Heather's POV:

The days slowly went by and Ace and I greeted each other often. He was nice but I still kept a little distance. He was quite courageous and would approach me when I didn't approach him. I could say we were sort of friends? I didn't really know yet. Maybe just colleagues.

"You're kinda funny." I giggled after he'd had told me a little joke. We were drinking our espressos close to the machine down the hallway of our floor.

"Kinda funny? That's it?" he asked playfully.

It was the Thursday of that same week.

"Okay, okay. You're funny." I looked at him and when he stared back, I felt my cheeks go red and I looked away. But he didn't look away. He was still staring at me.

"Always so shy, miss Heather." he said slowly, taking a sip of his espresso.

I smiled shyly but still didn't look at him.

"Have always been." I said.

"Do people often complain about it?" he asked. I finally looked at him.

"Yeah. But I can't help it."

"Even your boyfriend?" he asked. I stared at him.

"How do you know I have a boyfriend?"

"I work here now. Of course I know."

True. I drank from my mug.

"He does complain at times." I admitted.

Ace was silent for some time, just staring at me.

"What? You want my picture?" I teased him. I was shy but a little sassy at times. My question surprise him.

"Oh, not so shy after all." he stated and I laughed.

"I find shy girls very attractive." he added with a smirk.

I felt goosebumps take over my skin. I was more than nervous but I tried to play tough and not show it. People shouldn't take my shyness for weakness.

"Good for you." I teased again with a smile too. He smiled back.

We continued sipping the hot drinks and that was when Sawyer passed by.

"Hey Heather, hey Ace."

"Hey." we both replied. She then turned to me.

"Mom said we should leave work by five PM to go and prepare some food. Visitors might be coming tonight."

I rolled my eyes.

"Okay, okay. I've heard ya."

She walked away and I dropped my mug.

"Now that I have to leave the office earlier, let me go finish my work." I told Ace.

He looked at me.

"You're twenty two, beautiful and independent. Why are you still living with your mother?"

"Oh, I'm packing this Friday into my own apartment."

"Oh, nice."

"Yup. I can't stay in a house that does not belong to us and pretend it's ours."

Ace frowned a little.

"What do you mean not yours?"

I shook my head.

"Forget what I just said. Bye." I walked away.

Ace's POV:

Heather was clearly not comfortable staying in my father's house. She had the conscience that it wasn't right. She did not want to profit from what wasn't hers. Her clothes, money, and expensive things she had, she'd bought with her own money from her pay as a top model. She didn't want to have anything to do with what was not hers.

The fact that she was packing into her own apartment, pleased me. She would be free from her mother and Sawyer. Good. That kept her out of the way. I still had to win Sawyer's and Christina's trusts.

I finished my drink and made my way back to my office. On the way, I met with Sawyer.

"Hey, handsome." she stopped in front of me.

"Hey, beautiful." I smirked and pocketed my hands.

"What were you and my sister talking about? She seemed to be laughing with you."

I raised a brow.

"Why? Jealous?" I teased. She smiled and stepped closer to me.

"Ace, she's no competition for me."