Isabelle
"Thanks for coming out with me today." I smiled as I sat across from Noami.
I decided to spend the afternoon visiting with Noami. We decided to come to one of the local restaurants to have some lunch together. I finally had a moment away from the office and as much as I love Sterling, it's always nice to talk to another girl.
"Thanks for the invite. I can say I'm a little surprised, I figured all your free time was going towards sitting on a certain man's lap." She smirked as the joke came out of her mouth.
"Oh whatever." I chuckled.
Truthfully I didn't get that much free time. Sterling worked long hours to help ease the burden off of his father. Especially with Kaydence pregnant it was understandable. Damon was on high alert about anything that may go wrong because of how things turned out with Scarlett's birth.
I didn't mind myself. I liked when the office got quiet. I could focus a little better myself and it helped that my literal job was checking in on Sterling. Sometimes I would just go in there and sit with him. I was guilty of teasing him a couple times as well, not that he minded.
"Any new developments with your situation?" Noami asked before taking a sip of water from the glass in front of her.
"Not really." I answered.
I was still waiting for Alexandra to reach out to me. I was being patient as I didn't want to force this poor girl into talking to me. She already had a bully as a boss. I didn't want her to shy away from coming out with me because she felt pressured.
"Lame." She pursed her lips together as she thought for a moment. "I may have actually heard something in the bar last night that could help."
She had my complete attention. "Well, spill it. Don't just sit on it."
"Well, as a bartender it's easy for me to listen in on conversations, I do it all the time." She spoke. "Last night there was a group of guys, they had been waiting for one guy in particular to come in. When he finally did he spent the entire time gloating about how he just finished fucking some rich girl."
A small smirk grew as I had a feeling where this was going. "Go on." I encouraged her.
"He wouldn't say who at first." She continued giving the details. "He gave little hints here that matched the same description of Ms. Cunt, sorry I mean Tunt."
I couldn't help the chuckle that escaped from me. I then looked up at Noami as I collected myself. "Go on."
"Well his friends were too buzzed to figure it out, so they made him tell them." She leaned in a little. "I don't know how true it is, he could just be bullshitting his friends but he told them he had just finished up with Elise."
"Interesting." I responded.
That raised some new questions. If Elise was off under someone else why did Sterling matter to her? Maybe she was taking it that hard that she needed a rebound. Whatever the reason was I felt like this may confirm that she wasn't out for Sterling because she loved him.
"Is the guy a regular?" I questioned Noami.
I wanted to know if she had any details on this man. I wanted to know if he was a new victim or if this had been something going on for a while. Regardless, this may be something Sterling wanted to know. Like he said, any little detail counts right now.
"Personally I haven't seen him myself." Noami answered. "However, one of the guys in his group comes in at least twice a week."
"Do you know what days?" If this guy could give us any information about his friend that might lead us to having these new questions answered.
"I think Tuesdays or Thursdays." She seemed to think for a moment. "I can make some small talk with him. See if he has anything good to say."
"That would be perfect." I smiled slightly. "If he refuses to talk to you though let me know. I can always send in Killian."
Killian had a way with not only the ladies, but with men as well. Not in the same way of course. It's just that he could put on his charm and have some guy acting like they're best friends by the end of the night. If I needed him to get details from this guy I was confident he wouldn't disappoint.
"Really?" Noami raised a brow. "Izzy, I'm a bartender. If he isn't talking when he sits down he will be before he leaves the bar. Especially with alcohol."
"Valid point." I nodded.
Noami and I talked a little more as we finished up our lunch. We moved off the topic of Elise and onto some small talk. I told her about how things had been going with adjusting to life here again. I had only really been back for over a month, a lot has happened since then.
It didn't help that I came in right around the holidays. There was that awkward Thanksgiving and then Christmas. New years had been a few days ago. Everything has just been busy and to add the Elise stuff on top of it. It's just been a lot to take in and adjust to.
Noami on the other hand didn't have much going on. She spent a lot of her time running the bar or with her family. She told me she went on a date recently but that it didn't really go anywhere as she just didn't feel like she fit well with the guy.
"Thanks again for coming out with me." I hugged her goodbye once we were outside.
I may not see her a whole lot between schedules but she has become one of my closest friends here. We text all the time and it's just nice to have someone else to talk to. She was a great listener too. I guess that's probably why she makes a fantastic bartender.
"No problem." She smiled. "I'll see you later. And please text me, the bar's gonna be slow for at least another few hours."
"Of course." I nodded.
We parted ways after that. She headed for the bar and I went in the direction of the orphanage. Sterling was supposed to meet me there later to help Mrs. Strahm and Emily out. Considering they both haven't seen much of him I had a feeling things would get interesting.
My phone began to ring in my purse and I took it out. A number I didn't recognize was on the screen. Regardless, I had a feeling I better answer it. Especially since all the calls for Sterling were forwarded to my phone on the weekends.
"Hello?" I spoke once the phone was up to my ear.
"Hey, is this Isabelle?" A female voice asked.
"This is her, who's this?" I questioned.
"It's Alexandra." The voice answered. "I was hoping to take you up on your offer."