The resort was indeed a refreshing sight to behold. Everyone was in awe how it was intricately landscaped. It does look and feel luxurious. The people in bus alighted one by one enjoying the surrounding.
They were instructed to gather near the resort lobby for the distribution of keys for the room assignment. Each villa had 4 to 6 rooms. Executives were place in villa for 4 while staff and supervisors were in villa for 6. Each were assigned with their own rooms.
A group of people was currently crowing the reception. Pam notice a familiar figure amongst the crowd. The person who is now standing beside the familiar figure is no less than the guy she shared seat earlier.
"The leadership from Meridian staying under NextGen Management had their planning session here since yesterday. They are probably checking out" Ronna was quick to supply information as she stood with Vince, Jim and Pam.
'No wonder she is here, as Country Director of Meridian, she must have been re-hired to head this subsidiary.' Pam was quick to analyze the situation.
In gossipy and low tone Ronna added, "that lady happened to be the girlfriend of Demi God Tim."
"Is that even a secret?" Jim asked in ridiculing tone.
Pam pretended to be disinterested, at the corner of her eyes she saw how discreet the couple were. Far from the intimate couple she saw from the mall. This is typical of Tim, inside the office, he treated her like any other colleague other than frequently talking to her. He only held her hands when they are outside the prying eyes of their office mates.
Despite the beautiful ambiance in the resort, Pam continued to feel blue inside. After she dreamt about the accidentally hearing Tim's conversation with friends the piercing pain that she felt resurfaced. The bitterness is choking her inside.
As the Meridian leadership was about to leave the resort, Tim who is walking ng side by side Lissy sending her off, was distracted by a high-pitched greeting from a certain someone.
"Sister Pam!!!! What are you doing here?" The girl excitedly runs towards Pam.
"Dindin?"
"How are you? "The young lady hugged her. She was almost like a distant relative to her. They were neighbors, they seldom see each other but their families were close back then. Her mom who is an OB is friend to Pam's mom. She knew how her mom saved Pam from near death situation.
"Are you part of Meridian?" Pam asked.
"Yes Sis, I worked as secretary to Miss Lissy." Dindin smiled brightly to her.
'What a small world…'
"Are you working for NextGen?"
"I am in project with them, external partner." Pam was brief in her answers.
"Let's meet up when you are back to the city, we need to leave now. We just finished our planning session. Take care Sis!" She is still concerned about Pam knowing that she is already an orphan. "I will tell mom I met you."
"Take care! Say hi to Auntie Sue, let's visit her one of these days."
The team received their room assignments. Jim and Ronna were assigned in the same villa along with 2 other management rep from NextGen. Pam on the other hand was assigned with Vince and two other Next Gen executives.
Pam was not in the mood to know who they are sharing their villa with. She just wanted to rest and immediately go to her room assignment to rest. She at least wanted to socialize with everyone later but now loneliness is eating her up and it is making her feel tired and weak.
"Din have you met a friend?" Lissy asked her secretary noticing she came back from another group.
"Yes Miss Lissy, she is like a distant relative. She happens to work for the project management team of NextGen project."
"What a coincidence!" Lissy was truly happy for Din.
"You met her last time at the Luxent Mall." Tim reminded her of the weekend lunch when they met Pam, Ronna and Jim.
"Oh! Too bad I could not recognize her from this far." When everyone has walked towards the shuttle back to the city, Lissy who was left adoringly rubbed Tim's back and whispered, "I'll see you when you are back honey."
Tim kissed her hair, "take care on you way back Honey."
Tim and Lissy has maintained their professional relationship when they are with colleagues or if they chance upon each other during meetings and conferences. They were never clingy with each other being mature adults.
Having so much experience with relationships, Tim was very respectful towards Lissy. He knew that she is someone who worked hard to be where she is. They were in a relationship for almost 2 years, but they never went anything far more than kissing. Tim was content with this, Lissy to his mind, is the girl he will proudly wait to walk towards the altar.
Tim went back to the reception only to find their group dispersed to their room assignment. He reached out to one of the marshals.
"Can you let me know if my room assignment?"
"Sir Tim, yes of course. You assigned in one of the best villas it's at 1C. Your key is with your housemates."
Following the marshal's gesture as to where his villa is, Tim headed at 1C. He saw Vince in the seated in the balcony.
"Hey Tim, here is your card." The rooms had key cards instead of the traditional keys.
"Thanks, is everyone in?"
"Yeah its pretty much the three of us, I heard the Change Management Head from your team begged off last minute due to an emergency."
"That's right, Bridgette's daughter is hospitalized. Who is the other one with us?"
"Pam," Vince smiled feeling triumphant for sharing the same villa with Pam. "She is probably resting, she said she felt a little tired."
'What a joke! Threesome!' Tim was shaking his head from the inside.
"Alright, catch up with you. I'd make some calls." He looked at his key card, 1C-1 is indicated.
"See you around." Vince returned the courtesy back.
Inside the villa was a kitchen in the middle and the four rooms surrounding the kitchen was properly marked from 1C-1 to 1C-4. There is a small hallway connecting the kitchen to the living room with a mock fireplace. The villa is modernly equipped while maintaining its homey feel.
'I wonder which room is she staying.'
The room is arranged counterclockwise, 1C-1 is right most corner and 1C-4 is left most corner. Pam is staying at 1C-4. Originally, she is to stay 1C-2 and Bridgette at 1C-3. As Pam was inattentive, Vince shuffled the assignment such that the empty room is between them and Tim.
For some reasons the room lay out is reminiscent of his old pad. The only thing missing is the lazy boy he used to have in his room. This had side sofa. The villa was meant for big groups and families. This type of room can be shared by a small family or a couple.