(AUTHOR'S NOTE: This novel is original and a pure work of fiction. Every character in here is completely fictitious and is born of my imagination. Any resemblance to real name, person, or event is purely coincidental. Enjoy reading!)
...
At the CH Advertising and Design:
It was a monday morning. All the employees were busy doing their work there. But the girl who was sitting inside her cubicle, seemed to be lost in her own world. She was an intern graphic designer here. Though she was good at her work, no one really appreciated her for her hard work. But it was her fault that no one wished to sit or talk with her. She deserved it. No one ever talked to her except for when her opinion was needed. But there was one person who used to talk, laugh and eat with her and considered her as her friend. And that person was Jasmine Winter, who was her only friend in the work place. Though other than work place, she had no friends. So, she really cherished her friendship with her.
"Hey, earth to Cali." The voice of her friend, Jasmine, brought her back to reality. She gave her a tight smile. That was all she could do, because every time she smiled, it never reached her eyes. Because she was not happy with her life, and she deserved it.
"What were you thinking missy?" Jas asked her but all she could do was to utter a nothing. But Jas was excited about something. So she said, "Okay, if you say so. Anyway, I am here to give you a big news and to congratulate you as well."
"What big news and why would you congratulate me?" Asked Cali with a frown on her face. To that, Jas replied, "Cali, your design has been selected by the R Industry and they are going to give a big pay check to our company." She announced making the frown on her face to be replaced by a full blown smile.
"What? Wait, you are not kidding, right?" It was hard for her to believe that her design had been selected by the R Industry, which was the biggest diverse business company in the state. For God's sake, she was just an intern.
"I am not kidding, Cali. It is true. So, today we are going to celebrate. Be ready during the lunch time, okay? Cain will be joining too." As soon as that name escaped her lips, the smile on Cali's lips faltered. She could not help but ask, "Are you sure? I don't want to be the third wheel there."
"Oh, come on, you won't be a third wheel and besides. This celebration is possible because of you. So you are coming. See ya later." With that she went out of the door not giving her any chance to refuse. But it was quite difficult for her. Cain Hutton, their boss, the CEO of CH Advertising and Design, would be there too and she was not wishing to face him yet. He already hated her guts. He was Jasmine's boyfriend and everyone in the company knew it. But she always felt uneasy around them and why won't she? After all he was her….
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
It was time for their lunch and after contemplating for more than an hour, she decided to go there. Only for her friend, Jas and no one else. Yes, no one else. But who was she lying to? Only to herself. She knew it from the core of her heart that she was going there for him. Just to get a glimpse of him. She ran inside the washroom to fix her look. She re-applied her cherry red lipstick on her plump heart shaped lips, that complimented her heart shaped face well and applied a little foundation on her face. All these she was doing only to look beautiful in the eyes of her...boss. Yes, that was whom he was to her, atleast infront of everyone here. She got out and headed towards the cafeteria where Jas was waiting for her already. But he was not there yet. She felt relieved and anxious at the same time.
Not long after, a man dressed up in a charcoal suit, holding his blazer in his hand, entered into the cafeteria. He was looking exquisite in his attire. And her heart started beating at an irregular pace, only at the sight of him. Looking at him after so many days, she felt calm and restless simultaneously. She was staring at his face, memorising every feature of him, from his raven hair gelled to the side to the small stubble that he had grown. Because she would not be seeing him after this for many days again. She knew it. He halted in his track and started looking everywhere around him. Just then, Jas called his name out loud so as to get his attention to where they were sitting,
"Babe. Here." Yes, that was what she called him, after all he was her boyfriend, that too official. Then who was she? Her heart dropped seeing them getting all cozy infront of her. That was the reason she didn't want to come here. As soon as he came to them, he claimed Jas' lips giving her a lingering kiss. Jas giggled and stopped him from going any further.
"Stop, babe. Cali is here as well." As soon as those words left her mouth, his head snapped towards her direction. When his eyes landed on her, they were the same cold, emotionless. While Cali was praying to God to make her invisible so that he could not see her. But it was not going to happen obviously. Slowly, she lifted her eyes from the ground to look at him. When his deep ocean blue ones met her hazel ones, they softened. But that was just for a split second, as they once again turned icy cold. No hint of warmth could be found in them. He was always like this, even when he was with Jasmine. But Jasmine didn't mind as he was just another rich handsome guy for her who was ready to spend his money on her.
"Good afternoon, sir." She said in a monotonous voice though her insides were screamimg longingness, yearning for him, for his love. But would she ever get it? Haa!! She wanted to laugh at herself. He just gave her a curt nod in reply. Arrogant much!
"So, Cali, what would you like to have?" Asked Jas as they settled on the chairs to have their lunch. "I..uh." She stuttered but didn't say anything. It was much difficult for her when her...boss was sitting right opposite to her with his eyes fixed on her. But as soon as her gaze met his, he averted his eyes.
"oh, don't be shy Cali. We are celebrating today just because of you. So, just tell what you want to eat. Okay?" Said Jas.
"Okay." Said Cali timidly. Then they all ordered for themselves. Jas had strawberry cheesecake, strawberry muffins and red wine. Cain had his usual rice cake with peanut butter and banana and ginger ale. While Cali had her favorite choco berry tart and creamy chocolate smoothie. After they finished eating, Cain received a call and went to receive it.
"So, did you enjoy the lunch, Cali?" Asked Jas. To which Cali nodded her head with a tight smile. Though she enjoyed her food, the intense gaze that she felt on her almost the whole time made her a bit uncomfortable. When Cain returned, he had a toothy grin plastered on his face. "You would not believe what just happened." He said looking at Jasmine, who was giving him a questioning look. He continued, "I just got a call from the manager of R industry. He said that they are coming to have a meeting with us because the CEO wants our company to have a lifetime membership as his industry's advertising agent. God, I can't believe it." He said dreamily. Jas stood up and hugged him while he hugged her back.
"Oh my God, babe. I can't tell you how happy I am." Said Jas and they both leaned in for a kiss. Cain started kissing her desperately like his life was dependent on it. Cali felt disheartened. She was jealous obviously, it should be her in place of Jas. No doubt she loved her friend but it was just too much to take in for her. She felt her eyes burning. No, she could not cry infront of them. She could not let them know how vulnerable she was right then. That was why she decided to go to the washroom. She stood up making the chair she was sitting on screech a bit loudly and the two people who were making out infront of her, pulled away due to the sudden noise, startled. They both frowned looking at her. But she could not wait anymore, she had to go away from them, from him.
"Excuse me." Her voice was raspy as she was holding her emotions in check. And then she was gone. As soon as she reached the washroom, she could not hold herself anymore. She cried her heart out. Her tears were falling furiously. She was even more disheartened when she realized that she didn't have anyone by her side to give their shoulder to cry.
.
.
.
On the other side, Cain excused himself from Jasmine and went to the washroom. But he didn't go to the gents' washroom, he entered the ladies washroom instead. When he spotted Cali leaning against the wash basin, his heart broke, which he didn't know could happen. But looking at her disheveled state, something dropped at the core of his cold heart. As of sensing his presence, she opened her eyes, which were bloodshot from all the crying, and looked at him in the eyes, telling him how much he had hurt her in their relationship. But as always, he decided to ignore that despite the heaviness he was feeling in his heart. He stepped closer to her while she glared at him with so much hurt and anger.
"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to go to the gents' washroom? Or stay with your girlfriend? Oh, did I disturb you and your girlfriend in between your make out session?" She said bitterly showing her anger and hurt in her voice. He almost felt guilty. Almost. Then in no time, he composed himself and stepped even closer to her and held her by her arms in a firm grip.
"What was with that attitude of yours back there? Do you want everyone to start doubting about our relationship? Jasmine was asking about what was wrong with you. Don't give her any thought about 'us'." He said stressing more on the word 'us'. He didn't give her a chance to speak, "Listen to me and listen very carefully, Miss Cali Ruth. You mean nothing to me and that night, that night was just a mistake and it means nothing to me. I have already forgotten about it. You better forget it too. It will be better for you. So, be careful with your attitude out there from the next time." With that, he released her from his grip abruptly, making her stumble a bit. She could not take it anymore and yelled, tears streaming down her eyes,
"But you are my husband." Yes, he was her husband. But to him, she was nothing? Then what about their passionate night when they made love for the first time and consumated their marriage? Was it really nothing to him? His expression became dangerous. He then said, "Never ever say that again. Not to me, not to anyone. Do you understand?" He was gritting his teeth that made her shudder. She didn't say anything anymore and looked at the ground as if it enticed her more than her husband, well so-called husband standing infront of her. She wanted to cry badly, but she won't, atleast not infront of him. She won't show him how weak she was. She knew it. She knew it from the beginning that her husband didn't love her, but her naive heart wanted to give their marriage a chance. But it was useless.
Once he was gone, she slid down to the floor and cried cursing her ill fate. No one loved her, no one wanted her. Everyone just left her alone in this evil world and let her thrive on her own. But it was her fault. She deserved it, didn't she? After all she was an 'orphan'. So, she deserved all the pain and suffering that she was getting in her life, didn't she? She was a bad omen, right?