***
Heather's POV:
Shirley convinced me to leave the office and follow her to the mall for a shopping session. I couldn't even refuse in the first place.
"Fine, Shirley. You win."
"Yes! I always do."
I smiled and stood up.
"Yeah, right. Let's go." I got my handbag and we left the office.
"Where are you going?" Sawyer asked, folding her arms, when we met her on the corridor.
"None of your business, Sawyer. Get out of the way." I said, irritated.
"I'm not going anywhere, Heather. Mom said you should never leave work before time. Especially for useless things."
I looked at her.
"And what makes you think I'm going to do something useless?"
"Her." she referred to Shirley.
"Excuse me?? What are you trying to mean?" Shirley asked irritated.
Sawyer smiled provocatively.
"Simply that useless people encourage useless things."
"What?" Shirley made a move for Sawyer but I stepped in the way and angrily stared at Sawyer.
"Sawyer, stop. I respect you enough as my little sister but don't take my leniency for granted."
She frowned.
"So you think I'm taking you for granted, huh?"
"You've always had. And I forgave you every time. Even when you caused me a lot of pain."
Sawyer's brows shot up.
"Great. I guess you're referring to what happened in the past."
"Yes."
She rolled her eyes.
"Get over it. If I didn't report every time, we would never have had all of this." she referred to the company.
I felt my little fists close up tight. I turned to Shirley.
"Shirley, please go to the car. I'm coming."
Confused, Shirley did as she was told. I turned to Sawyer.
"None of this is ours."
"It is now. Sheridan is dead. You're all grown up now. Get over it, Heather."
I looked at her. Sawyer was a real pain at times. She scarcely had respect for me. And that, since we were kids. She never took me seriously because I was always quiet and didn't speak up.
"Sawyer?" I called, feeling a lump in my throat.
"What?"
"There's a day I won't forgive you. And there's a day when justice will be done. I would love to see you after we'd lose everything."
"Are you trying to scare me?"
"I'm trying to warn you. I'm not only asking you to respect me, I'm asking you to be careful."
"Say that to my hand, big sis."
I looked at her. I smiled. I was slow to anger and wouldn't let her get me.
"Fine." I walked past her.
"Heather!" she called, "Heather! I'll tell mom!"
"If she wants, she fires me! I'm not her sidekick nor partner in nonsense like you are!" I replied as I walked away.
"Heather!"
"Fuck off!"
*
Ace's POV:
I'd just heard a quarrel between Heather and Sawyer. I was on my way to another office when I saw them and had decided to hide and listen.
I wasn't surprised. Sawyer had remained the same after all these years. It was crazy the level of disrespect she had for Heather. Just because Heather was quiet and tolerating like always? I had a lot to discover or find out.
Heather called Sawyer her mother's sidekick and partner in nonsense. I had to discover why? Getting closer to Heather would not only help me regain her heart, it would also help me discover a lot.
As for Sawyer, I now shared the hatred I had for her mother with her. I was stupid for having thought Sawyer had maybe changed. She was the same. She and her mother would regret a lot.
Christina especially.
While growing up, I'd began to think like an adult. I had the strong feeling Christina might have answers to my father's disappearance and uncle Ken's death. I had to be careful and discrete. I would do whatever it took to know the truth. Even if I had to be friends with Sawyer and her mother .
*
Heather's POV:
I got into my car, trying my best not to crack and cry.
"You okay?" Shirley asked.
"I'll be fine."
"Well, okay..."
I started the car and drove off. Maybe if I shopped a little, my mind would go off Sawyer and her bad habits.
*
Christina's POV:
Sawyer reported everything Heather said to her. I was silent.
"Mom?? Hello?? You're not saying anything?" she asked angrily.
"What do you want me to say, Sawyer? I don't know what's come over your sister? Ever since we came to California, she's changed."
Sawyer rolled her eyes.
"That's all you've got to say?? Gosh!" she exclaimed angrily.
"What do you want me to do exactly??" I asked, confused.
"Do what you would've done if it were me!"
"And what would I have done?"
"You would've fired me, mom."
"Sawyer, you-"
She groaned.
"You know what? Forget it! Heather has always been your favorite. Why am I even bothering myself?"
I got angry.
"Sawyer, shut up."
"Mom, I've always supported you! Heather decided to love you less after that boy escaped the ranch. Because of that boy, she changed towards you. She became cold. Yet you prefer her to me?"
"You're being ridiculous, Sawyer."
She folded her arms and smirked.
"Yeah, right." she laughed in an odd manner, "I know why you don't love me as much as Heather."
"What is wrong with you??"
"It is because I resemble you." was her firm reply.
"Sawyer!" I yelled angrily, hitting the table hard with a hand, "ENOUGH!" she shook, " If I hear one more word..."
She stared at me.
"I'm- I'm sorry."
"You better be. Never you speak to me that way. I love you and your sister equally! You want me to prove it?? Fine! I will! I'll suspend Heather from working for a whole month. Now get out of my office before I lose my fucking cool!"
She stepped back.
"Yes, mom. I'm sorry."
"You better be. Now get out. Get out!"
"Calm down already." she managed to grumble before leaving the office.
I leaned into my chair. Sawyer was a headache.