Building My Life

Chapter 53 - The Deal was Modified

Pamela narrowed her eyes. Fabrício was trying to play the domineering macho again, but the leash of fear had snapped. Instead of trembling, Pamela felt a growing wave of nausea and hatred. Every minute that passed was a minute she spent weaving a strategy for revenge.

Fabrício would pay for what he had done to her.

Without Melissa noticing — she was too busy arguing with Dora about Josias — Pamela slipped out of the house to confront Fabrício on the street.

“What do you want now?” she demanded.

Fabrício’s gaze raked over Pamela’s body, the red dress clinging to every curve. His eyes didn’t look like those of a lover; they looked like a knife meant for stabbing.

Pamela didn’t flinch. She reached out and slapped him — not hard enough to leave a mark, but enough to snap him out of his trance. She would no longer allow him to covet her. Besides, they were right in front of the Campos’ home; any one of them could look out the window at any second.

“Stop staring at my chest and say what you want!” Pamela hissed.

“I want to know what’s going on!” Fabrício’s lust pivoted instantly to rage. “You promised you were going to bridge the gap between Melissa and me!”

“The lunch was your idea,” she scoffed, crossing her arms.

“And was that sexy dress your idea too? Why are you teasing me?” He smirks, stepping closer. “Did you actually like yesterday? Do you want to pick up where we left off?”

“I told you, I don’t want you anywhere near my best friend as a husband, not after seeing what an abject creature you are. However,” she added, her voice turning cold, “I still don’t want Melissa ending up with that ‘hot’ Josias either.”

Fabrício looked genuinely baffled. “What? Woman, you’re making no sense!”

“Melissa isn’t going to marry you, and she isn’t going to marry Josias. Understand?”

“And why is that?”

“Because I know you have no intention of marrying her. You made that very clear yesterday.”

The statement left Fabrício momentarily speechless. Marriage had never been in his plans; he just wanted to use Melissa and discard her when he grew bored.

“I... I...” He fumbled for an excuse.

Pamela smiled with pure contempt. “Let’s make one thing very clear, Fabrício: I want to marry Josias. I want to be Mrs. Rocha. Something tells me he won’t be a bricklayer’s assistant forever. He’s capable, hardworking, the kind of man who fights for success and actually achieves it.”

“And what about me?!” Fabrício pouted, feeling his ego bruised.

“You are the tool I’m going to use to keep Melissa away from Josias while I make my move,” Pamela said, completely indifferent to her friend’s feelings.

“What? You get a wedding and I get nothing?” Fabrício reacted as if he were the victim. “Forget it, Pamela. I’m staying with Melissa. I might not want to marry her now, but maybe things will change.”

Pamela let out a sharp, disdainful laugh. “You aren’t marrying her. If you even try, I will tell her everything that happened at your house.”

“She won’t believe you!” Fabrício countered instantly, though a flicker of desperation danced in his eyes.

“Oh, she will. When I got back, I tripped and fell right here in the street — everyone saw me. Melissa knows I was in a state, but I still haven’t told her where I was or why I was running like a maniac. Even my parents are still in the dark. One word from me, and you’re finished.”

Fabrício clenched his fists, his heart hammering against his ribs in a mix of anger and frustration. Damn her. The “lamb” had grown teeth and decided to bite back. If this was war, so be it!

Unable to control his impulses, Fabrício lunged forward and grabbed Pamela by the waist, taking her by surprise. “Since I can’t have Melissa, then you’ll have to do! Let’s go to my house right now!”

With a burst of strength she didn’t know she possessed, Pamela wrenched herself out of his clutches. She brushed off her waist with her hands as if cleaning away filth, her expression one of utter loathing.

“Get your filthy paws off me!” she whispered harshly.

“Then explain the dress, Pamela! Why put on this fancy thing if not for me?” Fabrício was losing his mind.

Pamela offered a mocking smile. “It’s just so you can enjoy the view. You can look, Fabrício, but you can never touch again. Now, excuse me before they notice I’m gone.”

She turned her back on him and sauntered toward the house, purposefully swaying her hips one last time just to taunt him. Behind her, Fabrício kicked a nearby trash can to vent his fury. The tables hadn’t just turned; Pamela had flipped the whole board.

Inside, Pamela found Melissa in the kitchen, drying the dishes Dora had just washed.

“You girls excuse me; I’m going to take a nap with my husband,” Dora said with a smile, leaving the two friends alone to gossip.

Pamela walked over and began helping Melissa put away the dishes. “What made your mother so happy?”

“I told her the truth about Josias.”

Pamela’s hand slipped, and she nearly dropped a plate. It only survived because she was crouched down near the low cabinet under the sink. The Campos family didn’t have high cupboards, which saved the ceramic from shattering.

But the reaction was too much to ignore. Melissa straightened up, her eyes narrowing as she studied her friend. Pamela was acting like a lunatic again.

“Pamela,” Melissa said, her voice dropping to a serious tone. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on once and for all? You can start by telling me why you were running through the streets yesterday like your life depended on it.”