Beautiful Trauma

2

Caitlin’s POV

"Are you sure you're not coming?"

I lifted my glance from the pile of paper works my head had been buried to since earlier this morning, my knuckles shaking the moment I saw him giving me a wink.

Calm down, Caitlin. Breathe in, breathe out. I whispered to myself, my eyes glancing at the clock hanging on the wall before turning back my attention to the person who called me earlier.

As my sharp eyes noticed the impatient expression visible on his face, I quickly shake my head before giving him the fakest smile I can muster.

Jackass, I thought to myself.

I hated how people pretend to be good and do things they hate just to show people that they aren’t really much of a bad person.

I get it - we're living in a world where generations of hypocrites are scattered all over but putting in such a pretence for me is just a waste of time.

As if you don't do the same, I told to myself.

"You can go. Lucas. I'm fine," I told him, a half-hearted smile plastered all over my face but I knew he saw through my fake expression but didn't utter a word. Instead, he smirked at me and spattering his usual remark, which, as always, I just laugh over with, "Caitlin, just remember to call me in case you change your mind. I'm all up to take you out on a date. Just say the word baby," he chuckled before pulling the door closed.

A long sigh escaped my lips.

When will he realize that never once will I even consider going out with him?

I mean, I know he looks decent but he is such a jackass.

"And it's not like you can date right now Caitlin," I whispered to myself before shaking my head.

My eyes scanned the room. It's just me that's left. And it's not a very unusual sight actually since it normally happens every day.

Most of my office mates had already given up in asking me to come with them during lunch or even those days when they want to hang out after work hours.

Aside from the fact that I don't have much time spare to go around and have fun, I normally am already exhausted with work so I tend to just sleep once I reach home.

Probably half of the people here in the office doesn't really talk to me. To them, I'm just a stuck-up b***h who doesn't have anything in mind but work. A workaholic b***h who thinks so highly of herself as what those two girls had been talking about when I heard them one time in the comfort room.

They had been talking about how I always do everything because I think I'm better than most of them.

Little did they know, my evil supervisor makes me do everything so she wouldn't have to lay a finger on her job. A typical definition of a b***h. On my first year, I have been the most submissive employee under her bucket. Once, she had an emergency which leads me to do her report but the moment she found out that I can perfectly do her job, I ended up doing it ever since

Now, the employees here thought I was just trying to look so busy when I don't really have so much to do. If I wasn't tied on a f*****g contract for five years, I wouldn't have let them treat me that way.

If they only knew.

I'd be happy to go and play with them if I wasn't in this stuck up situation.

Don't worry Caitlin, it's just a year and you can leave this hell hole.

The sound of my grumbling stomach made me reach for my tummy.

I wanted to stand up and take my lunch but I know I might end up doing extra hours afterwards since I still have a lot of things to do and I don't like that.

Just then, I heard the sound of my ringtone blaring within the silent room. After massaging my temple, I reached for my phone without checking who the caller was.

"He-" before I was able to do my greeting, the sound of my cousin's annoying voice greeted before.

"Get your lazy ass in here Caitlin if you don't want me to carry you from your office!" His voice growling from the next line. I sigh in exasperation.

"Oki, I have lots to do," I told him and I heard him grunt. Of course, my cousin would know I had been skipping lunch since we work at the same office. He and Justin manage the security department, while Joon handles the finance.

Yeah, they are all managers except me. So I normally don't hang out with them here in the office to avoid rumours.

One time, Oki barged in here in my office pulling me for a coffee break and the number of hateful stares that I've gotten was enough to have my name listed on a hall of hatred if there was something like that.

Of course, a lot of girls had been swooning over them. If I didn't tell them Oki was my cousin, one lady might have already pulled out my hair, all the more reason why I don't associate myself with the three of them here at the office.

But of course, Oki is Oki. No amount of reason will stop him from pestering me.

"Your office mates are all here having fun in the cafeteria and there you are skipping lunch for nothing. Be here in five minutes or I assure you, you won't be liking what I'll do next," he stated before the call ended.

"Aaahhhh," I screamed in frustration.

Why did I end up having a cousin like him?

In defeat, I slowly stood from my chair and fixed my table. After grabbing my pouch and my phone with me, I quickly headed straight to the cafeteria. It's better to be there as early as possible before Oki changes his mind and do something really weird.

As soon as I reach the cafeteria, my heart dropped at the sight of my team members having fun in the middle of the area. Trying to make myself go unnoticed, I slowly walked on the farther side of the corner in an attempt to reach my cousin without grabbing my team member's attention, but I should have known better.

The moment, Justin's sharp eyes saw my form, he whispered it to Oki and, of course, the fucker just has to scream my name.

"Caitlin, boo! Here!" he shouted grabbing the attention of everyone from the cafeteria since most girls actually stay there just so they can check them out.

A loud groan escaped my lips before I started massaging my temple, not minding the people who were looking at my direction. In a flash, I reached their table and Justin along with Joon smiled at me which I returned.

"This will be the last time you are going to bother me or I'll ban you in the house," I told him as he was flashing me a huge smile. As soon as I sat down on the empty chair beside him, Justin and Joon looked at Oki as if telling him to say something.

"Oh, there is someone sea-" before Oki can even finish his sentence, I was startled when a hand landed on my right side, leaning over the table before I heard someone speak just right behind my ears. .

"That seat is already taken, Caitlin" a hoarse voice echoed a few inches behind my ears and I almost screamed at how sexily it sounded.

Holy s**t.

Oki you little b***h.

I put a mental note to remind myself to beat the crap out of my cousin for not telling me sooner.

My eyes went wide because the moment my face turned to my right, I was greeted by a pair of beautiful eyes. And if that wasn't enough, my lips automatically landed on his perfectly plump lips.

My cheeks blushed in an instant, the close proximity of our face eating every cell that is functioning in my system.

From the corner of my eyes, I knew every single employee were eyeing my direction and I knew for a fact that it wasn't just because of the three but due to the person who just spoke to me.

Just then, he leaned closer until I felt his lips nibbling my right earlobe, my eyes landing on his shirt's collar and my jaw dropping at his action.

This f**k, he made sure to do it so cheekily that the people from the other side doesn't actually see what he's really doing. Well. apart from the three who were sitting close to us and of course, they can see everything.   

"Unless you actually want to sit on my lap, babe, I won't really mind," he stated and all the hair at the back of my neck stood up, my body freezing on the spot, my hand clutching over my chest as my heart rate starts to fasten.

"Seth..." I whispered, my voice cracking the moment his name went out of my lips.

Why is he here?

"Miss Caitlin!" I was startled when I heard a female voice condemning my behaviour.

And my body bolted up immediately after my eyes locked with my supervisor's.

"How dare you call our CEO by his first name?" she stated with an annoying voice but the moment her eyes landed back on Seth, her smile widened as if he's the only person worthy of her attention.

I almost forgot, my supervisor openly tells everyone that she has the hots for our boss. However, she never had the chance to flirt with him because Seth manages the main company which is in New York. He has people like these three and a few more to handle the company.

"Mr Richards, we didn't know you're arriving today," she stated, her jaw about to lock at how wide and creepy her smile is.

By this time, I noticed how almost everyone was looking at us.

Of course, the f*****g CEO just arrive, in casual clothes if I may add.

"Well Miss, ahhm, whoever you are, I didn't know I have to tell you when I will be arriving since the last time I check, I own this f*****g company," he muttered, his voice full of authority and I was startled when I heard Justin and Oki chuckling at the side.

I noticed how red Ciara’s cheeks had turned.

"That's not what I meant Mr. Richards, I'm sorry," she stated, her eyes were wide and her voice a little shaky. For a moment, I felt pity towards my supervisor.

"It's okay. You can return on your seat and carry on with your lunch. I'm not yet officially back and I'm just here to eat," he stated before turning his back on her.

My eyes caught her rushing back to my team members and as I was about to move away from him, someone suddenly grabs me by the arm and the next second, my body slammed right on his toned chest, his face towering mine.

"Where are you going?" he asked and I stared at him in shock.

It has been so long since I last talked to him and Seth being close friends with the three does make all the difference.

"Ahm, I'm going, ah, yeah, I'm going back to the office," I said, and I hate the fact that I did stammer in front of him.

Seth, like always, makes me feel so anxious and I'm not liking it. Not after all that has happened..

I shouldn't be feeling like this when everything should have changed after all these years.

"I heard you're skipping meals, Caitlin," his eyes were hooded and for a moment, I thought he cared about me.

But that's impossible.

"Take your lunch or I'm going to tell your immediate supervisor to send you home," he stated and my eyes gawked at him.

"No!" I said startled and his eyebrows raised. "I mean, I'm not hungry," but right after I said those words, the loud rumbling of my stomach soon followed and I had to close my eyes in embarrassment as the three maggots started laughing while Seth was looking at me amused.

"Sit down and eat Caitlin, or I will feed you on my lap - your choice," he stated and in a flash, I was sitting on another empty chair before grabbing Justin’s food.

I heard him whine at my action but I no longer care. Because right now, I'm sure I am now topping the list of the most hated person here at the office.

Right now, every girl who witnessed my conversation with Seth is now looking at me with full hatred.

Thank God they didn't hear a word Seth had said, though I doubt them not hearing it will make a difference.

My eyes glued on the food before me.

Seth Richards, why did you ever come back?