Chapter 74: Chapter 74

I wake up feeling a little bit brighter. Coach is right, I have to focus on why I am here and not on my personal relationships. I call Michael needing to hear his voice. He answers the phone with a distracted tone, like he’s looking at something while talking, “How did the party go last night? Did all the athletes show? I haven’t gone through the tapes yet.”

“They did, and it went well. We gave everyone a day to go over their contracts and ask any questions they might have before signing. Are we still going with the skate off idea? Have them compete with each other, the coaches will pick who stays and who goes?”

“I think that will work well,” he advises.

“Will they be doing jumps or perform their long programs they used last year for this skate-off?” he asks.

“Definitely their programs.”

“You have my approval. Did you run it by Global yet?” “I wanted to run it by you first.”

“Thanks Isabella, I’m going to try to fly out to see you this week. I’ll keep you posted if I can have my secretary free up some time for me.”

“That’s great.” I smile to myself. “I’ll run it by Global when we get off the phone. If I have a problem and it’s not approved I’ll call you back. If I get the green light I’ll start working on it immediately and you won’t hear from me. I’d love the visit by the way.”

“Ciao for now.”

“Bye, Michael, I love you.” “I love you too.”

I hang up and call Global. I discussed my idea over the telephone and they were immediately on board. They thought it would increase the tension of the show immediately, all the while drawing in viewers. I texted Scott immediately because we had to get moving on this if it was going to happen:

ISABELLA: Can we talk?

SCOTT: Sure, text or in person?

ISABELLA: In person would be better.

SCOTT: Come to my room.

I don’t bother texting him back, it’s faster to just go there. I knock once and he answers right away, “How are you feeling?”

I remember the lie Coach came up with, “Better today, thanks.”

“I spoke with Global and Michael about an idea I had, and it’s been approved.”

“What’s that?”

“We give the athletes forty-eight-hour access to the arena and then begin the commercials with a skate-off. We will collectively decide who the two weakest skaters are and send them home. The next weakest skaters will be forced two to become a pairs team and we’ll leave the best two female and male skaters alone.”

Suddenly it strikes me, who better to coach the pairs team then me and Scott? “So, the camp will be left with a total of six skaters, two males, two females, and one pairs team that we will coach together. Tammy, will be busy coaching the top individual skaters, so that leaves us to coach the pairs. That small little detail, I did fail to run by Michael, but I’m sure it will be fine.”

Scott sits on his bed, “You and me coach? We can hardly stand to be in the same room together. Do you really think we can work with each other that closely?”

I explain meekly, “Can’t we?”

“My skates aren’t even here,” he informs me.

I get excited, because he is actually considering the proposal.

“We’ll send for them! Mine aren’t here either.”

Hiding my jealousy and probing like a pro I added, “You can run it by Nelly if you’d like.”

“I don’t ‘need’ to run it by anyone.”

I shrug. “Well, I saw you together last night and I just assumed.”

“Don’t assume anything,” he advises. “Let me take care of my business and you take care of yours. My answer is yes.”

“Great!” I’m hardly able to contain my excitement. “So can you help me round up all the coaches for a meeting to discuss the skate-off? We’ll need a second meeting to inform the skaters of this new challenge.”

“No,” Scott disagrees. “Just do it in one meeting. Round up everyone and break the news to them at the same time. I’ll do the talking.”

“That will be great,” I respond. “We need to televise it. I’ll make the necessary arrangements. We’ll use the boardroom. We’ll sit with the judges at the table and have the skaters stand before it. Pictures of the athletes can be taken from the lounge and posted in the boardroom.”

“Let's go around and tell everyone about the meeting,” He says walking to the door.

“Wait, I have to talk to Global Television first! They have to film the reactions of the competitors and coaches receiving the news,” I remind him.

He smiles at me. “Okay, I’ll wait.” An awkward moment passes between us.

I don’t really want to break it. “I guess I’ll get back to work.” My eyes are screaming stop me, stop me, but I head for the door to avoid being too obvious. I can feel Scott close behind, really close. The heat of his body spikes my temperature. I imagine his arm wrapping around my waist as he is behind me. I can picture myself reaching for the door and Scott rubbing up against me in the heat of the moment. “Text me when everything is arranged," he startles me back to reality. "I’ll help you round up everyone for taping.” He opens the door for me and I realize how ridiculous I am carrying a torch for two men.

“Sure,” I say as I walk passed him. I know if I didn’t leave soon I will do something I would regret. I just need Michael to come, then those silly feelings for Scott will go away.

Justin is my go-to man in Owerri. He works for Global Television. We discuss my plan and he says, "Great. I'll need a few hours to prep the boardroom."

I text Scott:

ISABELLA: It’s all set up. Do you want to come to my room?

SCOTT: We have to stop meeting like this:-( Be there in a few minutes. ISABELLA: I have to take a shower and dress though.

SCOTT: Still coming.

ISABELLA: I’ll leave something in the door jamb so you can come in and wait.

I call Mrs. Abigail asking her to ship mine and Scott’s skates to Owerri for coaching purposes. I leave the phone on my bed, grab my clothes and jump in the shower. I step out of the shower and towel dry my hair. It doesn’t take long since I had it restyled so short. I get dressed in the bathroom and then open the door before I start putting on my makeup. Scott has taken liberties and is lying across my bed.

“Make yourself at home.” I comment sarcastically.

His eyes penetrate me as I focus on my face in the mirror. I study his reflection, and feel his gaze on me, so I know he is watching my every move. “You’re staring at me!” I say with unfamiliar discomfort.

“I’m not used to your hair yet.” He smiles. “Can I touch it?” “You’re silly!” I admonish.

His eyes glow with a playfulness I haven’t seen in a long time. He gets off my bed and comes over to me in the bathroom. His fingers comb gently through my hair. I close my eyes and let myself get lost in the feeling, opening them once to find his closed. He does the same motion with his fingers in my hair again, but this time his hand goes into a fist securing my hair between his fingers.

“I miss showing you, what you do to me,” he gasps.

“I miss feeling what you do to me,” I flirt with sincerity. “We should round up the gang,” I try resisting the intense feelings I’m having right now. Where are they coming from?

“Just a minute,” he pauses. “I want to give you something Michael can’t.” “What’s that?” I don’t know where he is going with this.

His arm brings my hips to his, and his other hand guides my face to him. He kisses me ever so tenderly on the lips, making it clear to me that he is filled with desire for me. “Look into my eyes and tell me you don’t want me anymore, then I’ll leave you alone forever, Isabella.”

“I can’t do that,” I whisper breathlessly. He kisses me again. His tongue explores my mouth as if the first time we kissed.

“I’m still in love with you,” he confesses.

“I’m marrying Michael Scott. This equation still doesn’t work for us, we are better off as friends.”

For a second, okay maybe way longer than a second, I wish Scott will not listen to me and take me with reckless abandon until a cold splash of reality rears it’s ugly head and I remember the ridiculous amount of camera’s we just planted all over the place. One of them is bound to be aimed directly at us! “The Cameras!” I whisper hoping it’s not too late and no footage of us will land on Michael’s desk.

We separate and start gathering the people in the boardroom. Nelly takes a seat next to Scott. I try ignoring it because it still bothers me. I sit on Scott’s other side and Tammy takes the chair next to me. The coaches are shooting looks of curiosity at Scott and me wondering what the meeting was about. Justin lines up the skaters with the men in the back row and the ladies in front. We have the skaters come dressed in matching outfits with their skates on. The clothing was made for the camp. The cameras start rolling when Scott stands to speak. Scott introduces the panel and explains the show to the viewers at home.

“By invitation only, we have chosen the top four male and female Nigerian Figure Skating competitors and invited them to a televised training camp." Scott introduces the athletes one by one. Scott informs the audience how they placed last year. "There will be twenty-four-hour access to an Olympic sized skating arena and gym facilities. The athletes are aware that they can, and will, be filmed at any time. The top male and female athlete who does the best at the end of the year will become a hundred thousand dollars richer.”

“What our athletes and even our coaches don’t know is that we are going to give forty-eight hours to practice before we have a skate-off. The skaters will perform last year’s long program before the panel, and the lowest scoring male and female will be sent home immediately. The next two skaters with the lowest scores will be allowed to stay but must compete in all competitions as pair skaters. Ms. Brandon and I will personally coach them.” Oh my God, I can’t believe he said that on national television. I haven’t run it by Michael yet. It will mean that we will have to work together a lot and I don’t know how to take it. I flash back to the last stunt Michael pulled and the fact that we sat next to each other on the plane ride home, and a small portion of me thinks, maybe he will be okay with this.

The camera pans the skaters' reactions and they are completely shocked. When the filming is done we dismissed the skaters and talked among ourselves.

Miles says, “That’s a wicked twist.”

Nelly adds, “A wicked, but a good one. Is there anyone we should be voting off, and should we be coaching?”

“We will be fair and discuss everything after we’ve seen all the programs who should and shouldn’t stay,” says Scott. “There will be no coaching during the first forty-eight hours. You are simply expected to watch and share your input for final decisions.”

Nelly adds, “Sounds like fun to me.”

“Totally,” I agree. “I want to go to the rink and watch these kids practice.

Does anyone want to come?”

Not a single coach declines. We walk as a group to the arena that is approximately half a mile from the Village. It is a quiet night with a full moon and the distant sounds of cars in the background.

We watch the practice session until I notice the skaters getting tired. That’s when I call an end to it. I leave the coaches and go down to the skaters for a second. I summon them and they huddle in a semicircle around me while I speak.

“Some of you are starting to look tired. If you are, its wise to call it a night and start again tomorrow. Skating when you’re fatigued just leads to injury. We don’t want any of you walking back to the Village alone either. You guys did a great job out there on the ice.” As an afterthought, I look over at Rick and ask, “How’s the ice for your jumps? Is it soft enough?” He is, by far, the most talented jumper.

“Its perfect,” he answers. "Thanks for asking.”

I asked Coach if he will walk me back to my room so I don’t have to go alone in the dark. Scott jumps from his seat. “I’ll take her.” Nelly looks displeased. I smile at her smugly, flattered by Scott’s enthusiasm to spend a little bit of extra time with me. He almost reaches for my hand but stops himself as he leads me back to the village. I notice his pace is very slow.

I unlock my door and turned to look at him. He surprises me by pinning me against it. He rubs against me, revealing his desire, upping his game. I’m open to his advances unable to exercise self-control. Scott drops his head to mine and slowly runs his tongue across my lips tantalizing me, kissing me seductively before releasing my shoulders and walking away. I’m left ungratified and full of need. It takes a really long time for me to fall asleep that night.