The Last Laugh

Chapter 33

***

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!"

"Yes! Yes! And so bloody what?!" Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

I was silent and shocked. I looked at her, tears in my eyes. My mother looked at me and her expression

softened. She slowly realised how much she'd just hurt and shocked me.

"Heather, I–" she began softly but I raised a hand to shut her up.

At that moment, Shirley came walking into the dining room. She stopped halfway when she saw

everyone's expression.

"You! It's because of you, bitch, that she's packing out!" Sawyer lashed out at her.

"Sawyer, shut up!" I screamed furiously. She looked at me without another word. I turned to Shirley.

"Thank god, you're here. Let's go get my bags. I can't wait to leave this house." I walked past her and

she silently followed me to my room where we got all my stuff and came down with them. Before

heading out, I stopped by the dining room where my mother and sawyer still were.

"See you at work on Monday. Goodnight." I said simply and without waiting for them to reply, I left that

house for good.

*

Ace's POV:

After work Friday night, I'd gotten back to the mansion to get my bags. Keith had come over to help. I

was quite happy I wasn't gonna be all isolated anymore.

We were fast and soon we were out of the house.

I settled in my new apartment, all satisfied and happy. The view of the lighted city at night from the

large windows was breathtaking.

"This place is beautiful." I said with a smile.

"Yup. But you can't have sex in the living room without the whole city knowing." Keith stated and we

both laughed.

"Don't worry. I brought curtains that I'll putting tomorrow. So that when I need privacy, I just close them."

I replied.

"I won't bother putting curtains. Who wants to see, sees."

"Exactly." we laughed, " Now go get some strong drink. I wanna get drunk tonight." I added with a

smile.

"Now you're talking. Give me a minute." he replied and left the apartment. I was so in a good mood.

*

Heather's POV:

By the time I reached my apartment, I'd forgotten all about the quarrels with my mom. I didn't even

care.

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.