6:03 PM
"Do you need anything else?", Pam asked Sophia.
"No.", Sophia responded.
"Are you sure?", Pam wanted to confirm.
"Yes, I am fine. Thank you, Pam."
Sophia observed Pam for few seconds before asking: "Why do I have a feeling that you are avoiding something? Or someone?"
Pam pursed her lips. She knows that Sophia saw through her, but she still denied it: "I'm not avoiding Leah."
"Are you sure? From my point of view, you would do anything, just to avoid her. Even pretend that I need you to do something while attending Sarah's wedding."
Pam sighed in defeat. "It's just that she is… weird."
"Do you know why?"
Pam nodded. "Leah told me about… Isabella."
Sophia was confused. "And you are avoiding her after she told you?"
Pam shrugged helplessly. "That is something she needs to figure out. Right? What can I do? She is all stiff and edgy and it's making me nervous as well."
Sophia nodded in agreement. "True. She should deal with that but knowing that she has your support can help. Isi was Leah's first longer relationship and she never dealt with breakups before. I can understand that Leah's current behavior is uncomfortable for you, but that is part of her as well. You told me that you like her, and that you want your relationship to work. That means accepting every part of her. And she needs extra support now when she is feeling insecure."
Pam exhaled in defeat. "I know… I know… And I am more than willing to be there for her. But the fact that this is about her ex, it's making the whole situation awkward. I wish that I can get some time to myself just to cool off and empty my mind…"
"How about this? My heels are killing me. Can you get me flats from my suite?", Sophia handed Pam her room key. "While looking for my flats which are in the closet on the right, take your time and cool off."
"Thank you."
…
Pam is on the third floor, walking slowly while looking at the room numbers. 315, 316, 317… Sophia's and Felix's room is 322. Almost there.
Pam's and Leah's room is 327. Pam can go there and chill also, but if Leah comes, how is she going to explain what she is doing? By going to Sophia's room, she will have an excuse that she was fetching the shoes and she does not need to admit to Leah that she is irked by her weak behavior. Actually, Pam does not think that Leah is weak, but she is upset that Leah is allowing some nobody ex to impact her mood so much.
"Excuse me…"
Female voice made Pam turn around and she could not believe that the woman who called after her is Isabella.
"Do you have a minute?", Isabella asked.
Pam sighed inwardly while wondering, what Isabella wants? This can't be a coincidence, right? Did she follow her up here?
Pam forced a smile. "Sure. How can I help you?"
"I am Isabella. I heard that you are Sophia's new assistant."
"I don't know if I would call myself the 'new assistant', I am working for her for more than four months."
"I see…", Isabella mumbled and fidgeted.
Pam took the initiative to ask: "Do you need an appointment with Sophia?"
"No, no. Sophia is my mentor and when I need something I contact her directly."
Pam cringed internally. It seems that this is about Leah. "Then?"
Isabella cautiously looked up and down the hallway, to make sure no one else is there before asking: "I was hoping you can tell me something about Leah. I see that the two of you are close."
"Yes. We are close. But if you want to know something about Leah, you should ask her." Seeing that Isabella is not saying anything, Pam continued probing: "Is there a reason you are talking to me and not with Leah?"
"It is not that simple.", Isabella said sheepishly.
"Are you saying that it's complicated? You can come and talk to me by stopping me in the hallway. Why can't you talk to her?"
Isabella looked up and down the hallway again before saying to Pam in a whisper: "You see… Leah and I share some history."
"I know about your history. I know that the two of you were lovers…"
"Shh!", Isabella interrupted Pam with panic on her face. "Lower your voice, please."
Pam snorted. "Why would I? Are you ashamed of people finding out? If you are, what gives you the right to go and ask about her? Go back to your guy-date and pretend that she does not exist."
"When you say it like that it sounds easy.", Isabella said sarcastically.
"But it is easy.", Pam said in a mocking tone and continued: "Why are you trying to find out about Leah by talking to random people? You don't know me. I AM random people. What if I go and tell your date that you are snooping to find out about your lover who is a woman? You didn't think about that, did you?"
Isabella's eyes widened in horror. "You would not tell him, would you?"
Isabella held her breath while waiting for Pam to respond. It's not that she is afraid of Brandon finding out how much she fears that he will tell her father.
Pam enjoyed Isabella's desperate look. It made her feel in control.
"I would do whatever I see fit when someone gets in my way."
Isabella didn't understand. "How am I in your way?"
"You see, Leah and I are not only close friends. We are lovers. We are sharing a room just few doors down this hallway. So, you showing up and asking me about Leah is getting on my nerves."
"Lovers?", Isabella whispered in disbelief. She saw Leah and Pam next to each other and there was a fleeting thought that the two of them are more than friends, but she rejected it when she put it in a context that Leah was absolutely in love with her, and that it's too soon for Leah to find another lover.
Pam sneered. "Why are you shocked? Did you think that she will wait for you? You are the one who kept your relationship hidden while publicly going out with guys so that you can maintain your image of a perfect daughter, a perfect businesswoman, and Leah was spoiling your perfection. You pushed Leah away. Well, she is not in your way and you can go out with your date or with any other man without any feeling of guilt. But stop making Leah feel guilty for your shortcomings. You make me sick." Pam half-turned to walk away and paused. "If you disturb Leah, I will make sure your date finds out who Leah is to you. And maybe your father finds out as well."
"You would not dare!", Isabella hissed.
Pam lifted her chin smugly. "Try me. As Sophia's assistant, I have access to all of her contacts. And that includes yours as well, Isabella Dillen."
Isabella swallowed her non-existent saliva while watching Pam walk down the hallway and enter a suite. She exhaled the breath she was holding only when Pam was out of sight.
She was not sure what shocked her more. The fact that Leah moved on, or that Pam is her lover, or that Pam knows her. She called her 'Isabella Dillen', proving that she knew from the start who she is because Isabella never told her the last name.
No. Isabella could not accept that Leah moved on. But she didn't have much time to think about it. She needs to return to Brandon's side before he suspects something and starts asking questions.
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