Tim returned to NextGen the following Monday with a good mood. There were blinding lights from the aura he is giving out, like what they often call the after-sex glow. He was didn't notice how he is randomly smiling.
Some senior executive joked on him, "looks like something good happened over the weekend Connor!"
He laughed, "it wasn't just something good, it was the best!" He the winked with mischievous smile.
The glow on Tim's face triggered the gossip that he is probably getting promoted or married anytime soon. This went out like a wildfire; the gossip intensifies as it gets passed on.
"OMG you won't believe what I heard, the news of Timothy getting promoted or married is spreading like wildfire."
Jim immediately cast an inquisitive look at Ronna and said, "would you mind not contributing to it?"
Pam undisturbed knew this is coming, Dindin told her about it last time they went out. She knew this could happen, even if it wasn't confirmed yet her heart felt heavy once again.
"Pam which do you think is causing the glow in the Chinese Greek God's face?" She loves to compare Tim to a Greek God, the face, the body and the status are godly!
"Maybe both..."
"Is there anyone luckier than him if that happens?"
"I'd be lucky to complete what I need to complete before lunch time IF you stop this nonsense!" Jim irritatingly commented.
"Here we go again Jim the Virgin!" Ronna didn't know what entered her mind and mindlessly created this label for Jim.
"Do you want me to show you some virgin act?"
"OMG, we have a pervert here!"
"And don't you think what you are doing is not harassment?"
Jim will always find a way to fight back Ronna with words. She is really beginning to think this guy is gay!
Thinking about the conversation, Pam started to feel blue once more. Could she be the lucky one, had she opened her mind about Tim? Despite staying strong up to this date, one can only control feelings up to a certain level. No matter how positive she wanted to be, the sadness she feels from time to time betrays her. She tried her best to focus on something else, find happiness on other things. She accepted what happened but deep in her heart there seems to be no closure to this.
The past days Pam was just getting by like a machine that must run daily, life became a routine. However, even machine needs oil as its food to function well. For Pam, she just takes in something based on time of the day as to how much she no longer pays attention.
The 'official news' of Tim getting engaged broke out when Lissy returned to NextGen. Although they retained their conduct in the office, people are celebrating that two beautiful people will be tying the knot soon.
For Pam the good news is the First Consulting engagement with NextGen is coming to an end to in a month's time. They are trying to get the implementation done before the December period when system freeze happens. The struggle to keep it sane is coming to an end. This is the consolation she had in her mind.
One lunch time, the team of Pam, Ronna and Jim decided to grab something together downstairs. "Should we go have some steak today?" Ronna suggested.
"I am good with it!" Jim for once agreed immediately to what Ronna suggested.
"I love it when you agree immediately like that." She winked at him and walked inside the elevator followed by Jim and Pam. Unknown to her Jim curled his lips enjoying what he just heard. When Pam entered the elevator, the doors reopened.
Tim has entered the elevator. He was a bit shocked with what he saw. Seems like Pam's cheeks and jawline had become prominent. 'Is she losing weight still?' She is originally fit with right amount of meat in her body, now looked a little more mature in her slender bordering thin figure. Although it was a short glance what caught Tim's eyes is the lack of glow in her eyes. Back in the days he loves how her eyes sparkled, the bright smile and the youthful puffiness on her cheeks. As he missed two Steering Committee meetings, he just noticed this.
Pam smiled to acknowledge his presence, same goes with Ronna and Jim. The elevator opened once more. Lissy entered, her eyes glisten at the sight of Tim and smiled to them as courtesy. They all smiled back in courtesy. At that point, something in Pam's abdomen seemed to have reacted as well. She took and deep breath. Noticing that the people inside side glanced at her, she faked a cough.
Ronna could clearly see from the bank that they held each other's hand. She is mesmerized with the couple. 'How great it is to hold hands with he one you love discreetly in the office.' The couple alighted the elevator first and headed left side of the building, while Pam's group went the other side heading towards restaurant that serves steak.
Since its lunch time, there was a queue to be seated on the restaurant. As they wait, standing just behind another group of 4 in the line, Ronna reminded Pam. "You need to eat the full serving of what ever you are having today."
Pam just wrinkled her brows, "Ronna I am almost 30, it's not like I need to grow or what."
"I know slim never gets out of style BUT you are getting skinny by the day. I don't know if your man will love hugging bones."
"I am perfectly fine; my mom has always been skinny back then. I probably need a dog then and offer my bones."
"Are you seeing a dog now?" This question got the two ladies chuckling.
The group is clueless that the couple they share the elevator with is just behind them. From the back one could really notice how skinny Pam is. She was wearing a sleeveless chiffon blouse in emerald green paired with black cigarette style fit pants. Her 3 inches pumps in emerald green suede too making her look tall, few inches short to look like those runway models.
Compared to the full bodied lady whose hand he is holding now, Lissy is more on the sexy side. She wears more of dresses than pants. It's true he prefers holding to women with 'body'. Right now, he is more concerned why Pam is into losing weight.
The group only realized that the couple dined on the same restaurant when they were seated. Unfortunately, Pam is seated in an angle where she could not avoid seeing the couple. For some reasons, the twisting pain in her abdomen is occurring erratically. This caused her to be uncomfortable and unable to focus on finishing if not enjoying her food.
"Hey are you okay?" Ronna asked noticing her.
"Yeah, this tummy is a bit upset. Not sure if its because of the food." She stuffed the steak in to dismiss their concern. There is a battle inside her and she is fighting it.