Chapter 24 Dave Wilton
He whispered something to Joan and they started walking towards me.
I quickly put on a small smile and composed myself.
“So…” he stopped in front of me and said, sliding one of his hands into his pocket.
“You are the architect they keep mentioning,” he added.
“I’m sorry?” I blinked.
“The one who has been fixing problems before they become disasters,” he continued, his voice calm.
I didn’t reply, I just looked at him, then at Joan.
He noticed the look on my face and cleared his throat.
“Joan here is also good at her job. I love what I’m seeing here,” he stated, clearly amused.
“What? Joan? When did they become so close for him to call her Joan?” I thought to myself, trying so hard not to let my disgust show.
“Yes, that’s why she’s here,” I replied with a little bit of sassiness.
He nodded but his gaze didn’t shift.
He studied me intently in a way that made my skin prickle.
Then he turned to Joan.
“I like people who are composed… Keep this up and I look forward to seeing you on more of my projects,” he said.
“Thank you, sir,” Joan replied with a polite smile.
“There is no need for formalities. My name is Dave,” he corrected Joan.
“Wow,” I mumbled, my jaw tightening.
“She’s one of my team,” I said.
I knew that I was off-topic but I just wanted to say something to get his attention off Joan.
He nodded, clearly unbothered as his gaze was still fixed on Joan.
“Isn’t it refreshing to see someone like her on-site?” he asked, now looking at me.
“Someone like her? What does that mean? He is clearly doing this on purpose,” I thought to myself.
His gaze stayed on me longer than necessary.
Then… again, he turned to face Joan.
“Try not to disappear. I would love to really see more of your work,” he said and turned to walk away.
“Huh,” I scoffed, glanced at Joan, and turned back to continue my work.
JOAN COLE’S POV
I noticed a weird tension between Dave and Alex but I didn’t know what that was about.
Dave seemed to be patronizing Alex on purpose while Alex had this scornful look throughout their conversation.
When Dave left, I looked at Alex and he had this look on his face. I really couldn’t place that look, but his shoulders were stiff and his jaw was so tight that they looked like they would hand anytime soon.
“What could this be?” I asked myself.
They didn’t look like they knew each other. So whatever that was… it had to be in my head.
“You are reading too much into it,” I told myself.
Then I went back to work.
While I was checking some materials out, my mind drifted back to what happened at the back of the building.
I remembered the way I had snapped at Alex, to the look on his face when he told me he was only giving me what I asked for.
“Gosh! I’m so stupid!” I muttered, lowering my head into my hands.
“I feel like slapping myself,” I added.
I don’t know why I always say things when emotions are raw.
The rest of the day passed in a flash.
By closing time, I saw Alex talking to one of the supervisors. I looked in his direction and our eyes met, his expression serious.
I knew that look and I knew he was going to stop me for our unfinished conversation.
“No…” I whispered, praying that he would look away.
Just as if God heard my prayer, the supervisor called his attention to something on the blueprint. Before he could turn in my direction again, he grabbed my bag and headed straight to my car.
I didn’t look back, nor did I slow down. I just wanted to be out of that place before I would be cornered with a conversation I wasn’t ready for.
The drive home was almost quiet, but my thoughts weren’t.
On getting home, I saw Lena in the living room, talking to her camera with some makeup products in her hands.
“You got an influencing deal?” I asked, my face lighting up immediately.
“Yes girl!” she said with a bright smile.
“I pitched to the company, I got a reply last night and they sent their products today. I was so happy,” she added.
“I’m so happy for you,” I said genuinely.
“I know, girl… you can call me influencer baby now,” she said as she stood up and twirled.
“Influencer baby,” I teased.
“No more small promo ads,” I added.
“Yasss! And that’s on period,” she smirked, snapping her fingers slightly.
“Clock it,” I said playfully and dropped my bag on the couch.
“I got gist anyway,” I added.
Lena’s eyes lit up and she immediately turned to me.
“What’s the gist?” she asked curiously.
“Where is Theo by the way?” I asked, looking around the house.
“He said he was going to play video games… I haven’t seen him since then,” she replied.
“So what’s the gist?”
“You remember the man who bumped into my car?” I started.
“Oh yeah! The one that sent more than the money you needed for repair,” she replied.
“Yes!”
I told her everything.
The way Dave showed up, the murmurs, the way he examined the site as he commanded authority, how calm he was, and how he smirked when he said the money was not a mistake.
“But he seems rude,” I said.
“Why did you say that?” Lena asked.
“When I said the money was too much, he said maybe for you, not for me,” I scoffed, mimicking his words.
Lena laughed.
“Wait… did you say Dave Wilton?” she asked.
“Yes,” I replied.
“That name sounds familiar,” she muttered, tapping slightly on her jaw as if she was trying to remember something.
Then she reached for her phone.
She tapped it rapidly for a while, then stopped, her eyes widening.
“I said it!” she exclaimed.
“What? Let me see,” I said, suddenly uneasy.
She turned the phone’s screen toward me and I looked closely at it.
“What!” I gasped.