Beautiful Trauma

10

Caitlin's POV

"I told you we aren't anything like that. Shut up, Yuri," I was still laughing while my hand reached for the doorknob.

"b***h, if I didn't know better, you're just pretending to be drunk, so you can all out eat his face, you flirt," she teased, and I wanted to curse the lady as I open the right door I usually despise entering with - our office.

And I hope I didn't because it wasn't two steps when I felt the eerie atmosphere surrounding the dreaded room of doom.

Well, it usually's silent in the room anyways, especially when the b***h Ciara is around, but this is a different kind of silent.

It was uncomfortable, suffocating and I don't need to put two and two together on why the room was eerily depressing.

It's the devil, Seth Richards.

My eyes scanned the room, and it didn't take me long as the place isn't that big anyway.

There he was, happily chatting with the person seated on the newly situated work station right beside mine.

He was laughing, probably at what the other person says and I was so sure my other team members simply agonized at their chair. We had never been close to Seth.

After all these years, this is the first time he decided to stay in the company because he is always in the US, so having him like this is awkward.

What irks me, even more, is how he was sitting on my chair, his feet resting on the corner of my table, his hands animatedly moving as he agrees with whatever the guy was talking about.

He looked arrogant, bossy and intimidating from where I was standing but there's one thing I can't easily deny, he's still sure to look hot as f**k.

I can't perfectly see his whole body but seeing him wearing just his slacks earlier when I woke up, and I don't think whatever he wears even matters because he looks hella fine even without wearing a single thing.

Ugh, Caitlin! Keep your head together.

My eyebrow raised for a moment when I realized how comfortable they talk with each other like they were some best friends.

Opposite of how Seth projects himself from the employees, the man was all smiles and seemed to be so fun.

I wonder who he is.

"Hey, move forward, you fat-ass!" a loud yelp escaped my mouth when my body was pushed hard from the back, causing me to stumble forward. Thank God for my reflexes; my face didn't end up hitting the tiled floor beneath us.

"Ugh!" I turned around and glared at the girl before me, but the fucker had the guts to smile cheekily.

"Oops," she giggled, giving me a peace sign.

"You and your manners," I chuckled, shaking my head at her actions.

However, the loud sound of someone clearing his throat caught me off-guard, and my eyes widened after remembering the situation.

I closed my eyes for a moment.

Stupid, Caitlin.

Yuri, who happened to realized what kind of situation we are currently in, was so quick to turn into serious mode and bowed ninety degrees to Seth's direction greeting our boss.

"Good afternoon sir,"

That b***h. How is she able to change so fast like that as is there was a switch installed into her or something.

"Yuri..." Seth smirked, but then his eyes were on me.

His eyes were playful, and the way he stared at me made my heart flutter even more.

Unconsciously, my hands automatically reached for my chest, the wild beating of my heart, distracting me a little.

It felt like it was in a race, and I have this weird feeling that it won't slow down nor get back to normal any minute.

Suddenly, the memory of what I did to him last night flashes before me. At first, I thought it was just part of my dream but seeing the video on Justin's phone; I am now sure it happened.

And judging from the smirk showing on his face right now, I know I will never hear the end of this.

His eyes, why does it screams thousands of emotions every time I look at them?

The sound of Yuri's soft giggles woke me up from my trance and to my surprise, Seth was staring at me intently, his eyebrow raised and that's when I realized that everyone had been staring at the both of us.

Shit. Did I stare at him for too long?

My cheeks blushed real hard with the thought.

Last night wasn't enough Caitlin. You really have to embarrass yourself even today, huh?

I groan internally.

Once again, Seth cleared his throat.

"Good afternoon, Miss Caitlin, I hope you're feeling better since they said you were not feeling good this morning. I wonder what happened last night," he greeted, his voice laced with mischievousness, and I was having a hard deciding if I hate it or not.

My eyes caught Yuri's, who was having the best day of her life.

You're dead after this.

"Good afternoon, sir," I greeted back and bowed a little. My eyes watch as he stood up from his seat and turned to lean on my table instead.

"Come closer, Caitlin. I don't bite, do I?" he asked, his arms crossed over his chest, and I started coughing at his words.

"Huh?" I asked, confused.

A smile escaped his lips, and I was even more captivated.

By this time, I was already aware of the eyes that are watching us. Even Lucas seemed shocked.

"I said I need you closer," he stated. "Closer to me, or do you want me to come at you instead?" he asked, and I had never walked faster all my life. In just a minute, I was already standing a few feet away from him. Not too close, but far enough for me to be able to breathe.

"Good. I don't really like this much distance, but it'll work," he whispered, but I was sure even Yuri and the man beside him heard, and my ears are probably red in embarrassment already. "Okay, since Caitlin and Yuri are back, I want to introduce your new team member formally," my eyes wandered to the man who had been smiling nonstop ever since Yuri, and I entered the room.

"I know your department is doing good, but I realized we need some changes on how you guys manage work because as I see it, some things aren't working well," he stated, authority laced over his stern voice. At times like this, I can't help but respect the man.

Of course, even though the company was once his father's, Seth managing it made the company even bigger.

He's not just all face after all.

"Hi, I am Hope. Let's work hard this coming day," he greeted, and I guess it was the warmth on the tone of his voice made me smile at him sincerely.

He sounded like a very good man.

We all bowed to him and greeted him kindly. And after I introduced myself, his eyes widened a little while he turned his gaze to Seth, who was scratching his cheek, avoiding the other man's gaze.

And then he turned his gaze back to me and smiled. "You're the "Caitlin"?" he asked as if my name meant something else and I nodded.

His eyes widened, and I wasn't sure what the glint displayed on it meant, but it was weird.

"Oh my God, nice to finally meet you. Se-" he was about to move forward, and I don't know if it was just my imagination, but it was as if he was about to hug me until Seth covered his lips and pulled him back.

"We need to go. Oki and the rest were waiting for you," Seth looked panicked, and I wonder why.

"One second, I still want to talk to Caitlin," he exclaimed, but Seth was already dragging the man away.

It was funny, actually. The way they fight like some brother and even the others at the office looked amused at the two.

"Hey!" he exclaimed as he stops Seth from pulling him out.

"Caitlin, I will see you later, okay?" he mouthed one last time, and Seth looked so done with him until the two were out.

"Wow. What was that?" Hani asked, confused, and Yuri was laughing.

"I don't know honestly, but I like how fun that guy Hope seemed," Lucas exclaimed.

"But isn't it weird? It's like he heard about you before. Do you know him?" Yuri asked, and I shake my head in answer.

I know Seth had friends apart from Oki, Justin, and Joon. I was also sure he is friends with my brother too.

I shrugged my shoulder before I turn to sit on my chair, and as soon as I did. My eyes noticed something under my table.

It was a paper bag, and a note was posted on it.

My brows furrowed as I reach for the note.

"I was supposed to greet you yesterday, but you were mad at me. And I see you forgot, but please do accept my gift.

By the way, I care for you, Caitlin. I always have. I hope you remember that."

My hand trembled after reading his note.

He remembers.

I bit my lower lip, overwhelmed by the sudden emotion. In an instant, everything dawned into me.

All the loneliness, the pain, the longing I had to overcome over these past years.

Who does he think he is?

And why the f**k is he acting like this now anyway?

It wasn't real Seth. So don't act the part, especially when there is just one year left.

It was just a contract, a f*****g deal.

Nothing more.