***
Ace's POV:
I went to Christina's office. I knew why she was calling me.
"Yes, Christina?" I said, entering her office and taking a seat.
She stared at me.
"You owe me something."
"I know."
"Then what are you waiting for?"
"This weekend. At my place."
Guess mother witch had to go through the same process as her daughter. But this time, I would contact Jake. I didn't give a fuck about her dignity. She didn't even have one, did she?
She smiled.
"Okay, Ace. This weekend."
I stared at her.
"Can I leave now?"
I hate your face.
"Yes, you can, Ace."
I gave her a fake smile and left her office.
***
The next day, I went to Heather's office. She blushed immediately I walked in. I decided to act normal, to show her that I just wanted to be her friend.
"Hey Heather, what's up?" I said casually with a smile.
She was surprised for some seconds but then smiled back.
"I'm fine, Ace," she replied in a more comfortable manner.
I sat down.
"If I've done anything to annoy you, please forgive me. Friends aren't supposed to avoid each other, are they?" I asked playfully. She smiled again.
"You're right. Sorry if I've been acting strange recently. I thought you were angry with me."
"Me?? No. Ever since I got the post, I've been quite busy. Don't think we got a problem. Okay?" I smiled and she giggled.
"Okay, sir," she replied playfully.
There, we were back to normal. I hated awkwardness between us.
"Now that things are clear, I wanna ask you something."
"Yeah?"
"There's this girl I like and I asked her out on a first date. But I'm confused on where to take her. As my friend and a girl, what would be perfect for a first date?" I was lying of course, about a new girl and the date. I just wanted Heather to be more free with me by making her think that I liked someone else.
"Really?" she asked with a smile. I'd just destroyed that awkwardness between us.
"Yeah."
"Hm, someone's in love," she teased with a laugh.
With you.
"I wouldn't say love. That's too fast. For the moment I only appreciate her," I lied.
"Well, I wish you the best."
"Thank you. So where can I take her?"
"To a chic restaurant with a romantic atmosphere. That'll be nice."
"Okay, beautiful. Thank you," I smiled and she smiled back. Her cheeks reddening.
***
The weekend did arrive and you can guess what happened.
Christina had been fooled as easily as Sawyer. Jake had had a good time. At least now I was free from all their perverse nonsense– for a while.
Sunday morning, after Christina left my house, Keith came to me.
"We need to talk, Ace," he said seriously, sitting next to me.
I looked at him.
"What's wrong, buddy?"
He stared at me with such seriousness that I flinched.
"I have a feeling that I don't know you," he suddenly said.
"What??"
"Who are you? Really?"
Huh?
"Wh– what do you mean?" I asked, confused.
"What I mean is, are you really called Ace??"
I felt my heart beat speed up. Why was he asking me that question?
"Of course I'm called Ace."
He was silent but then spoke.
"The night after I slept with Sawyer, I realised that I'd forgotten one of the rings I had on my fingers that night,"
I stared at him.
"So?"
"The day before yesterday, I decided to come look for it. And while searching I found this," he took a picture out of his pocket and gave it to me.
I took it. It was a picture of my father and I, when I was ten.
I turned to him.
"It's just a childhood picture of my father and I."
Keith frowned.
"I thought your father was Mr. Victor."
Oh...
I'd forgotten that detail. Everyone had always known me as Victor's son.
I opened my mouth to say something but nothing came out.
Keith nodded.
"Just what I thought. You're speechless. And that's not all," he pointed at my dad on the picture, "I read an article once, about the dead owner of PW company. Paul Wesley. What the fuck is he doing on this picture?"
I was silent.
"Who are you? Who have I been friends with all this while?" he asked, hurt. Oh gawd, I felt horrible. I didn't know what to say.
"Answer me."
When I looked at him silently, without talking, he stood up angrily to leave.
Was I gonna lose a friend?No.
"Sheridan Wesley," I stated.
Keith stopped in his tracks and looked at me.
"What?"
"I was born Sheridan Wesley,"
He stared at me speechless and shocked.
"Sit down, Keith. I have a lot to tell you."
*
I told Keith everything. Every single thing. He deserved to know the whole truth.
"Now I understand why you don't appreciate Sawyer and her mother."
"I hate them," I corrected.
"I understand you. After all these years. They have to end up in jail or dead!" he exclaimed.
"And I'm personally gonna take care of that."
"And Heather? She's taken right?"
"For the moment. I want to get my company back. Then I'll try to get her back. But that'll be easy."
"How? You'll tell her about your real identity?"
"No," I told him about Kevin and Sawyer. He was shocked.
"You owe me. Very much."
"Why?"
"I slept with a witch. If I'd known about Sawyer earlier, I wouldn't have slept with her man. Now I feel disgusted."
I looked at him.
"Yes, I owe you. Though you regret it now, it's thanks to your help that I'm head of department. Trouble has just begun for the welds."
I meant what I said. From the next day, I would start changing a lot of things that would slowly lead to her destruction. No more games.
I owed them nothing anymore.
Their worst nightmare was about to take place.