Is this destiny?

At the bar…

Leah, Pam, Caleb, and Fane are sampling drinks in a good mood.

After who knows how many cocktails, Leah excused herself. "I need to use ladies' room."

"Do you need company?", Pam offered.

Leah waved that it's not needed. "No, I am fine. I will be back in a minute."

The cocktails are served in small doses, and both Lean and Pam are slightly tipsy, but still having good control over their limbs and presence of mind.

On the way out of the ladies' room, Leah was surprised to see Isabella in the hallway. Was she waiting for her? It looks like it.

"Can we talk?", Isabella asked while gesturing to the door on the side which is for the staff to reach the kitchen and service elevator.

As soon as Isabella's voice reached her, Leah's body stiffened, and she felt that all her tipsiness and good mood disappeared in an instant.

"If you have something to say, say it here.", Leah responded coldly.

Isabella nervously glanced down the hallway. "Please?"

Leah sighed. She realized that Isabella is set on talking to her and that she will not give up easily. Well, at least they should get some things out of the way. "Make it quick."

"What do you want?", Leah asked when the door closed behind them.

"Did you really… move on?", Isabella answered with a question.

Leah knows that many people saw her and Pam kissing on the dancefloor, and she guessed that is how Isabella knows that Leah found someone else.

Leah frowned while thinking how after several months of not seeing each other, Isabella's first question is about Leah finding someone else. This rubbed Leah the wrong way. Why didn't she ask her how she is doing? Why didn't she ask how her life is since they parted ways? But Isabella was always self-centered, so Leah should see it coming.

"Did you think that my life in on pause while I hope that you will come around? Don't tell me that is why you called me here."

Isabella can see that Leah is upset and she decided to defuse the situation. But how can she do that? "No… Uhm… Are you happy?"

Leah smiled sadly. "If you asked me that question six months ago, I would be happy."

"I am sorry for neglecting you and putting you in front of my selfish needs."

Leah was surprised to hear this. Isabella never acknowledged that she is selfish or that she noticed Leah's unhappiness. Every time Leah brought it up, Isabella would brush it off like something that is not important. "Why are you telling me that?"

Isabella balled her hands into fists and took a deep breath before answering: "Because you are the first person I think of in the morning and your face is the last one I see before I fall asleep. I dream about you, and I can feel your touch, and hear your laughter. You are all around me in everything I do. Even after all this time, your presence lingers in my apartment..."

"Stop!", Leah interrupted Isabella. "Stop saying that! I am with someone else, and so are you."

Isabella reached to hold Leah's hand, but Leah stepped back and avoided her.

Isabella looked at Leah dejectedly. "I need you Leah, more than I need the air. You can't love someone else, you love me."

Leah could not believe her ears. "Brandon Craig. Is he mistreating you? Are you with him out of your own free will, or just to appease your father?"

Isabella frowned. Why is Leah mentioning him? And how does she know his name? Brandon obviously didn't recognize Leah as Isabella's ex-assistant. "Why does he matter?"

"Because he visited our… I mean, YOUR apartment three times while I stayed in my room after serving you snacks and beverages. Do you know how I felt while your laughter reached me through the closed door?", Leah saw that Isabella is confused and continued: "Don't tell me that you need me. Don't tell me that you think about me, because I needed you to think about me then. But you didn't. I spent a lot of time hiding in that room while you thought of making your father happy and your business partners and guys like Brandon. You treated me like a thing, like one of your toys which you can hide in the drawer and use it when no one is watching. I am not a toy, and I refuse to hide in your drawer and wait when it's convenient for you to use me."

Isabella looked at Leah with a troubled expression. She didn't see it that way. Why is Leah exaggerating? Even if she is, that is how Leah feels. And Leah refuses to return to that Isabella… "What if I change? I will break up with Brandon and tell my father about us and quit the company. We can travel together, and I will focus on my art and on you…"

Leah wondered, is Isabella lying to her or to herself? That story about them traveling and Isabella working on her art was their plan when the two of them got together… and then it was 'just few weeks at the company and then we can travel'… before it turned into 'we can travel when I take vacations'. And then there were no vacations either, only business trips where Isabella is mingling with others while Leah watches from the side.

Knowing Isabella, she probably believes in those words, but as soon as things are settled she will return to her behavior where she is compromising and pleasing everyone. Maybe Isabella can manage such a life, but Leah is not willing to sacrifice her happiness and her dreams in order to please (for her) random people.

"Isi, what we had is damaged beyond repair. I am not angry at you. I pity you. And pity is not a reason strong enough for me to be with someone. I hope that you find your happiness."

Leah walked out without turning back. She didn't want to turn back because no matter what Isabella's appearance is, she is unable to comfort her. Her heart ached, but she felt a relief as well. 

Leah returned to the bar and found Pam laughing hysterically. "Did I miss a good joke?"

Pam's eyes lit up when she saw Leah. "Caleb and Fane have a proposition for us.", Pam said playfully and winked.

"Oh?", Leah was interested.

"They want… the four of us… together…", Pam looked at Leah suggestively.

"Oh…", Leah understood right away. "What did you say?"

"Nothing. I want to hear what you have to say to their… generous proposal."

"Hmm…", Leah turned to Caleb and Fane who looked at Leah expectantly. "That depends… what do you have to offer?"

Caleb and Fane exchanged confused looks and fidgeted uncomfortably. This is the first time they asked two ladies for a foursome, but they are quite sure that it should not sound like they are at the job interview.

"Can you clarify your question?", Fane asked.

Leah smiled and looked at both of them lecherously while speaking: "Are you interested in watching, or you want to get in the action as well? How long can you last? How big is…"

"Are all those necessary questions?", Caleb grimaced and interrupted Leah.

"Yes. Because if you can't last at least one hour without breaks, there is no point in starting anything."

Caleb was not sure he heard her right. "One hour? No breaks?"

Leah confirmed with a hum. "Mhm… You see… Girls don't need breaks."

Fane swallowed hard. "Can we watch?"

Leah and Pam laughed seeing that Caleb's and Fane's confidence plunged from offering their services boldly to 'can we watch'.

Well, teasing them is one thing, but deciding on something like this is another.

Pam looked at Leah. "What do you think?"

"I don't know.", Leah responded honestly. "I never considered anything like that, but I am always interested in trying new things. I will leave it to you."

"That is mean… leaving it up to me…", Pam pouted while trying to hide the fact that her heart is pounding like crazy. "How about this? Let's drink some more, the night is still young…"

She was not sure if she is delaying rejecting Caleb and Fane, or she hopes that few more drinks will loosen her up enough to agree to it. Normally, she would not consider such an offer, but this is with Leah… Pam could not deny that at this point her answer is 'maybe'.

Leah heard Pam mention more drinks and she remembered her talk with Isabella... she definitely needs a drink. Or two... She summoned the bartender. "Give us something hard... whiskey. Leave the bottle here..."

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