Chapter 20
The first feel of the warm water in the bathtub hurt as it triggered the striking pain of her bruised body. Shutting her eyes, she let out soft groans as she absorbed the pain till it was slowly vanishing.
Her wet hair cascaded to one side of her face as she came out of the bathroom all trembly and sexy in her pink Minnie Mouse fashionably tied towel. After a brief gaze at Raiden who was engulfed in the video game he was playing, she walked to her makeup table, sat in front of the large framed mirror, and gasped.
She looked horrible with those bloodshot puffy eyes. Gently sliding her black polished long nails up and down her arms, she thought. She turned her face slightly to view the injury on her temple then her gaze lowered to her swollen lower lip with a deep cut on it.
It was still hard to believe that Cayden did all of these to her. He'd hurt her physically. For…for the first time he did. He laid his hands on her. Her whole body was red, sore, and swollen. Cayden had left a series of long burning marks on her while whipping her. And the fact that he doesn't even care hurts. It appears her presence triggers his rage.
Her eyes began to burn while gazing at her reflection. The tears stung so hard as they gathered. Upon her blurry sight, she blinked and tears spilled down her cheeks to her wrist. She sniffled severally.
***
After a long while of sobbing, slowly raising her excruciatingly aching head, she heaved a sigh of distress. Swallowing hard, she covered her face with her palms and exhaled.
***
Resting both elbows on his sleek desk on which a laptop and a few papers were, Cayden was cupping his face in his palm. Despite the ice-cold effect of the air conditioner in his luxurious office, he was all sweaty. Roughly, he slipped his fingers into his hair disheveling it.
The door opened slowly and a young gorgeous brown-haired lady in a shiny black gown on black heels emerged holding some files. "Sir," She said softly as she stood in front of him. He neither responded nor raised his head. Hesitantly, she said even in a more lowered tone, "Sir…I…"
"Get the f*ck outta my office!!" He grumbled and she blinked. His head was still down.
"P…please…s…sir" She stammered. "You…you asked me to…to bring…"
"I said get out!!" He exploded on her, slamming the table and she flinched so hard that the files flew out of her arms.
She was completely lost and confused. "I… I'm… sorry, sir" She shuddered at his red burning glare upon her and she dashed to pick up the scattered papers on the floor. She didn't dare to look at him a second time. Trembling, the files fell off severally again, she awkwardly picked them up and hurried out of his office.
All flushed with rage, he wiped his face with his palm and exhaled.
***
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*
Although she was dressed in a pink fluffy hoodie, and baggy pants and had her shades on, Elodre wasn't comfortable with how Jasmine stole gazes on her. What does she wanna know? Elodre's face was framed by her long stringy blond hair so the injuries were covered. "What are you seriously staring at?!" Elodre questioned Jasmine who was serving her breakfast in her room.
"Nothing, ma'am." Jasmine lowered her gaze. "I'm sorry." She said, bowed, and walked out of the room.
Damn, she needs some massage! Her whole body hurts. Elodre thought, taking off the shades. Should one of the girls do the massage? She sighed. Oh, no no no! She wasn't gonna give anyone the impression that something wasn't right in her marriage. A spa would do then.
***
Ding! Ding!
Cayden's phone chimed as two notifications popped up.
Ding!!
Ugh! Cayden sighed. What else would it be apart from random meetings? Oh! The project! Shit!! Damnit!
His hand clenched into a fist on his desk. He was just so f*ckin tired of every damn thing!!
The door opened and Cayden emerged from his office with his briefcase. Kate couldn't help but wonder what was eating him up today. He looked pretty wild and pissed. Sitting on her desk and her brown eyes fixed on the laptop screen she was observing him with her side eyes.
As he approached, she got up from her seat. She was so nervous.
"Are the documents ready?" He asked sternly, glancing at his wristwatch.
"Ye…yes, sir."
His guards bowed to him and one of them collected the briefcase. Without saying a word to her he walked past her.
"Sir?" She called and he turned to her. "The…the one I brought to you earlier contained the contracts for your review. Mr. Glen is coming for it soon."
"I'd call him." He said. "Bring it to me tomorrow." He walked off.
Not again! She just hopes her boss will be in the best of moods tomorrow cause she can't handle him like this. What even got him so mad?
She shook her head and continued typing.
***
He was going to grab some lunch at Nelly's. A guard opened the door and he got out Of the car and walked into the restaurant. Walking elegantly with a straight face to his favorite spot, he was the center of attraction as all eyes were fixed on him. The ladies couldn't help but blush with awe at how stunning he was.
"Mr. Brooks!" Mitchell said with her French accent, smiling up at him. "What shall we offer you today?!"
After a brief study of the menu, he said, "Pita sandwiches should do."
"Gotcha!" She said with a hearty smile. "Just gimme a sec."
She was so big, round, and hilarious. Cayden smiled and shook his head slightly.
***
"My apologies, ma'am, ain't you gonna take off your shades?" The cute masseur asked with a brow raised.
"My face isn't part of the massage. Is it?" She asked, lying flat on the massage table.
"Were you beaten or something?" He gasped.
"Do you usually embark on an interview with your customers?" She asked and the masseur couldn't help but gaze at her.
"Well, I'm just concerned about you." He shrugged.
"Well, thanks!"
He placed both hands on her shoulders to start and the feeling that came with it was outside this world. Can a lady be so soft?
"Hey, dude!" Elodre flicked her fingers at him. "What are you gawking at?!"
***
After Cayden had finished eating, he slipped out a serviette and wiped his lips. But as he raised his gaze his heart skipped a beat and his eyes widened. Wait. What?! Was he dreaming? "Heather?!" He gasped.
She was equally astonished and it felt like her legs were glued to the ground. Cayden Brooks! She remembered him. The memory still hurts badly. Her lips twisted severally but she couldn't say a word. Meeting his glowing ice-blue eyes, a tear slid down her cheek.
***