Six

Then he roughly pushed her so she was out of his lap. "Go take a seat there, Melissa."

He pointed at one of the chairs opposite him. She was quite pissed but still went to seat where he had directed her too. How dare he manhandle her like that? What had she done that was so wrong?

"Come in." He called invitingly to whoever that was behind the door.

The door opened to reveal Isak. He walked in, understanding the tensed atmosphere in the room. One could literally smell and anger and annoyance in the air, but he said nothing. Whatever his boss had chosen to do with his life was not of concern to him.

Though he had always said that the greatest mistake his boss had ever made was allowing Paula leave his life. She was a nice woman. Carefree and wonderful. She was a huge contrast to this one currently sulking silently as a toddler who was denied sweets just before bed would do.

"Yes, Isak." Len prompted.

From his peripheral vision, Isak saw the glare Melissa shot at him as though she was blaming him for whatever that was making them argue before he walked in. He merely ignored her presence and focused on his boss.

"Yes. I got two men tailing him and they promised to get back to me." He informed.

"Are you sure they'll do a good job?" He wanted to be sure.

"I give you my word, sir." Isak promised. "Also, I've gotten the outfits sir."

"What outfits?" Melissa who had been listening in all along forgot about her anger and widened her eyes in excited enthusiasm. "Is it for the masquerade ball?"

"Yes." Len replied when he noticed Isak was not going to reply. He could not stand another of her tantrums and sulks.

"Oh yes!" She squealed in excitement. Yes! Her plans were working. This masquerade ball was going to be an avenue to reveal and make formal her relationship with Len.

After this ball, no one would question or doubt her place in Len's life anymore. She had been hearing rumors of people saying Len was not serious with her. That he was not interested in her. Whenever she saw or heard things like that, it made her boil with anger.

Now, no one would question her after the masquerade ball. That ball was for every elite in the state and a lot of wealthy magnates would be in attendance. She was not going to allow Len miss it for anything in world.

Which was the reason she had told his mother about it. Once Len's mother knew, he would not be able to refuse. She knew how to play her cards right.

Len had something to tell her, though. In private. "That will be all in the meantime, Isak. I'll let you know if I need anything else." 

"Okay, sir." He nodded politely and turned to leave. He spared Melissa a glance and walked out of the office.

"Isak?" Melissa called quite rudely.

The door was yet to be closed so he heard her. He turned, wondering why she was calling him. Even Len was also frowning his curiosity. 

"Yes?" He stepped feet into the office and gently closed the door behind him. 

"Where are the outfits?" She did not really like this Len's secretary all that much. Left to her, Isak should be sacked. 

She knew of his fondness for Paula when she was still here. She had not appreciated it one bit. 

"It's where my boss would want it, ma'am." Isak could not believe this woman. She had called him back simply because she wanted to know where the outfits were. 

"Show me. I want to know what my darling Len is wearing to this very important masquerade ball." She crooked a fake smile at Isak who merely shook his head.

"Do you want me to bring the outfits, sir?" He politely asked his boss. No woman, especially one like Melissa, would come in here and order him around. He was not working for her. He was working for Len.

"How dare you? Are you saying I can not…"

"Sit down, Melissa." Len's voice rang with stern warning. "You can go, Isak. Thank you."

"How…no, come back here!" She hollered angrily.

But Isak was not paying mind to her. Without even a glance back, he shut the door behind him. The footsteps receding into the hallway, he had other productive things to do.

"What was the meaning of that, Melissa? You just embarrassed me before Isak." He was angry and this time, he was not controlling it. 

"I only asked a question and from my point of view, you embarrassed me. You practically told him to shun me and disregard my words. How could you? Don't I mean something to you?" 

Her lips trembled. There she was, Len thought bitterly. Always falling apart and crying. He was tired of all of this but for the sake of his mother, he had to hang on. But he did not want to hang on.

"Can we talk?" This was the reason he had dismissed Isak so he could talk to her.

"What about?" She sniffled. He was not even going to apologize. Well, she would get all the apology she needed at the masquerade ball tonight. She believed Len was still into her, she just needed to figure out what was making him tick that bad.

"Why do you make plans that involves me with my mother and then simply tell me as though it's been decided?" He was going to make sure thus conversation went as diplomatic as he wanted.

No fights. Huge quarrels. And a crying, selfish woman trying to claw through his conscience. 

"What do you mean?" She blinked surprisingly at Len. Why was he talking about things like this?

"You know what I mean." She was not going to play the game of ignorance with him. He was not going to allow it.

"She's your mom, Len. Not a stranger. Why do you suddenly have issues with me being fond of your mom?"

The game Is ignorance did not work. Now, she was trying to outsmart me with words. Why would mother choose to be close to her? If not for mother, a lot of things would not be happening, particularly not with Melissa.

"I don't have issues with your relationship with my mom. I just don't like when you both discuss and conclude on plans that includes me without breathing a word of it to me." He gritted his teeth, his hands were fisted but hidden from her sight.

"It's same thing. You'll still hear of it. What does it matter if you were included in the conversation or not?" She responded. But to his surprise, instead of the usual tantrum he was becoming used to, she seemed to be hurt.

"How would you feel if your life was been directed by everyone except you?" He threw her the question harshly. He was not going to be falling for her sad, pouty expression.

"Okay fine. I'm sorry. It won't happen again." An apology would solve everything. Moreover, she just wanted to pull this masquerade ball off. She had his mother by her side. The woman really liked her and was even projecting marriage on them both.

He exhaled. Now that was better. He felt relieved and smiled at her. "What will you be wearing tonight?"