***
Heather's POV:
"I'm just kidding, Shirley!" I laughed at her.
"Hum!"
"But he's a real darling," I looked at the pictures we took. Shirley looked at them too.
"He's a hottie, too. Wow. Seems like y'all really had a good time. Oh gosh, look at your smile! I feel jealous!" she pouted and I giggled.
"You look forward to hanging out with him again?"
"I don't know yet. But we'll surely hang out again."
"I know right."
*
Ace's POV:
"The smile on your face is priceless, dude!" Keith told me that night.
"I know. We really had a good time."
"You really love Heather, huh?"
"I've always had! The more I spend time with her the more she drives me crazy!" I said, running my fingers through my hair, "Just look at this picture."
I showed him the picture I'd clicked of her.
"Boy, she's hot."
"I know. And plus this, she has a great personality. I might not resist for long."
Keith smirked.
"She's got you trapped," he mused.
"Completely trapped. I need her love and I'll get it. For the moment, she doesn't want any relationship. That might make things a little hard for me."
He put a hand on my shoulder.
"Hard? It won't be for you. You are Sheridan, pal."
"But she isn't supposed to know that until I'm done with my revenge."
"She doesn't need to know. She will find herself automatically falling for you, bro. Y'all are meant for each other. You just have to use the right approaches."
I looked at him.
"You're right."
"Voilà."
***
Heather's POV:
On Monday, I reached the office on time. I headed for the elevator and waited. When it got open, there were a lot of people inside. It was a little congested.
I noticed a distracted Ace at the back, manipulating his phone. I got in and went to stand in front of him.
Ace's POV:
Someone stood in front of me and I recognised the sweet perfume. Heather. I looked at her, though she had her back to me.
I leaned in and whispered in her ear, so the other employees wouldn't try to listen. I did that discreetly.
"Good morning, baby girl."
I could tell she smiled.
"Good morning, daddy," she teased.
"Daddy, huh?"
"Yup."
I leaned back and smiled to myself.
We were silent and all patiently waited to reach our floors.
At a point, the elevator door opened and two more people came in. It reminded of the first time Heather and I were in that same situation.
Heather's POV:
As two more people came in, to my surprise, Ace held my waist and pulled me to him.
"You might wanna step back a little to make space for those two," he whispered in my ear.
My mouth dropped open in amusement and I playful hit his hands off my waist.
"Yeah, right. Smart guy," I teased and took a step ahead. I heard a low chuckle from him.
"Can't blame me for trying."
*
Ace's POV:
The sales of the company's products were slowly and gradually declining. Mother witch hadn't noticed it yet though. Everything was going as planned. She was going to be absent for a week. Apparently she had to travel for some sort of business.
As for Sawyer, I think she was too ashamed of herself to even come to my office again. Good. That gave me a break from her nonsense.
Lunch time arrived. I was planning to go out. I grabbed my car keys and left the office. Guess who I met in the hallway.
Sawyer.
"Good morning, Ace," she said slowly. She now made herself rare because the news had gone round about she and Kevin.
"Hi, Sawyer."
"How are you?" she asked nervously.
"I'm okay."
"Um, okay. I–" she was to about say something else when Heather showed up, totally ignoring her.
"You going for lunch, Ace?" she asked.
"Yeah, princess."
"And you were leaving without telling me?" she folded her arms.
"Hello, Heather," Sawyer greeted.
Heather gave her a cold stare before turning on her heel and walking away. I looked at Sawyer.
"Gotta go," I told her and before she could answer, I walked away.
I caught up with an annoyed Heather.
"Hey. Where you going?"
"Back to my office," she replied dryly.
"Won't you have lunch with me?"
I asked.
"Sawyer just spoiled my mood. Lost my appetite," she walked past me. I caught up with her again, grabbing her arm and making her stop in her tracks.
"Look at me," I told her. She did.
"You're gonna follow me for lunch. Okay?"
"Ace, I–"
"Please. I won't take no for an answer. Okay? Accept."
"Well, okay."
"And make that frown disappear. Or else."
"Else what?" she raised a brow at me.
"I would have to kiss you."
"Oh," she stared at me, "And what would your girlfriend think?"
I smiled at her.
"Who said I had one?"
Her eyes widened a little.
"You– you're single?"
"No," I chuckled and she punched me playfully.
"Idiot," she smiled.
"Let's go."
We went for lunch and everything went on well.
***
Heather's POV:
The more days flew by, the more I got fond of Ace. I couldn't stay a day without talking or seeing him.
He always looked for me and I always looked for him.
One night, we were texting each other. I was smiling like a fool at my phone's screen.
"Hm, things are getting serious between you and Ace," Shirley teased.
"He's such a sweetheart."
She sat down by me.
"Heather?" she called seriously. I looked at her, "Do you like him."
"Of course I do."
"No. Do you have feelings for him? Answer me honestly."
I looked at Shirley silently, thinking.
Anytime I was around Ace, I would smile, feel comfortable and much more.
"I don't know, Shirl."
"I think you do."
"What makes you think so?"
"Seriously? It's too obvious. You always brighten when he calls you. For the past weeks now, y'all are even closer. Tell me something."
"Yeah?"
"When around him, do you find yourself doing sexy stuff but unintentionally?"
"What?"
"Do you find yourself flirting with him unintentionally? Think."
I thought silently. Maybe Shirley was right. Sometimes I acted in a flirty way but unintentionally. Like that day we went to stroll at the beach, when I leaned over to watch the sunset. I didn't that on purpose. And also, that night I sent him a picture from my photoshoot, or even when I stood in front of him in the elevator.
"Maybe."
"Honey, what are you waiting for? Let him know you like him."
"Shirley, I don't want my heart broken again. I want to avoid relationships."
"But you can't avoid your feelings. Can you?"
"He's taken."
"From the way he's all over you, I can bet you come first to him."
I looked at her.
"I don't wanna get in between him and that girl."
She smirked.
"Let's see if you last."
"You're crazy!" I laughed, pushing her playfully.