No Filter

Chapter XXXVI (36) (Part I)

Ally's POV

I turn the steering wheel to a dirt road. I lower the radio and adjust the earpiece in my ear. "Where are you heading?" Dinah asks on the other end.

I said. "Today's my interview. If I'm late, the child's father might not accept me." The address seemed familiar, but I couldn't recall where it was from.

"Good luck," she says. "Hey, maybe, his dad might be cute. I smell a new relationship." She sang the last bit.

I shake my head and scoff. "Dinah, for all I know, he could be a forty-year-old man. Not that it's wrong, but I want to go for guys around my age."

"True, but he could be a young man. Super cute. Just imagine you dating a daddy. You guys will be super cute,"

I laugh at her nonsense. "Dinah, there is not a high chance his father would be young and cute."

Dinah points out, "Oh, so you're saying if he was young and cute, you would go for him."

I shake my head once more. "Dinah, I wouldn't, and that's not the point. He's going to be my boss. It would be weird."

"Alright then," she says, "I have to go. Louis just came back, and I haven't set up lunch yet."

I nod my head. "Okay, see you." In a short second, Dinah hangs up.

I paid attention to the road ahead and make another turn into another dirt road but familiarity was pulsing in my veins. It feels like years since I've seen this road. I pass through similar fields. In a couple of seconds, I see a house, large as a mansion. As I came closer, I realized that this house was part of my childhood. It is Liam's family's farm. Or was.

I park a few feet away from the front of the house and grab my files. I exit the car and climb the stairs to the front porch. There were a lot of new modifications. The porch, instead of being made out of wood, was made out of smooth cement. The house looks a little rusty, though. There were some webs on the windows, and some things growing on the house that I didn't want to look at. I shiver a little. The windows were dusty as well. The field was half cut and half not. Whoever the owner is is not taking good care of it.

I knock on the front door, and after a couple of seconds, a beautiful brunette girl stood in front of me. "Hi," she greeted with a sweet accent. She holds out her hand. "Allyson, right?"

"You can call me Ally," I said, shaking her head. "My name is Jade, Mr. Payne's secretary."

Goosebumps rise on my skin, hearing Payne coming out of her mouth. Could it potentially be a new a resident with the same name? Maybe a family member? Zayn told me once that Liam's family passed the house to him, but Liam didn't want it. I guess, he must've sold it to a relative.

"Hi," I greet.

"Mr. Payne, Bear's father, will be in his office. He wants to talk to you," Jade says.

"Okay," I said. She steps aside, and I walk through the door.

"I'll lead you to his office," she offers.

"Thank you," I said.

She walks through the living room - with one glance, I saw the new arrangements in there - and up the stairs. We turn to the left and walk to the end of the hallway. Jade stops in front of the last door on the left and opens the door to the very last door on the left.

I walk inside and see two chairs facing the table and one chair empty behind the table. There was no one in this room except Jade and me. I turn around and see Jade furrowing her bows.