The One

Caught Part 2

 As they walked, Christian babbled cheerfully, stealing glances at his mate, who nodded along, maintaining her quiet demeanour. But as they approached the meeting room door, his playful spirit shifted instantly to a stoic business facade. Karol mirrored his transformation, both adopting the serious expressions expected of them.

Upon entering, all eyes turned to them, startled by the sight of their intertwined hands. Whispers of confusion rippled through the room, with Blair's irritation palpable as she observed from her corner.

"Let's begin," Christian announced as they sat down side by side.

Fifty minutes into the meeting, to everyone's surprise, Karol was fully engaged, while Christian's thoughts remained fixated on her. He openly stared, his focus unwavering.

'Do you even listen to the meeting?' she wrote on a slip of paper, sliding it towards him.

'I do,' he responded, trying to maintain his nonchalant mask.

'I highly doubt that,' she shot back.

'Truthfully speaking, I didn't focus at all,' he admitted, wearing his infamous blank face while pretending to pay attention to the presenters.

"Sir?" one of them ventured, breaking his concentration.

"Hmm? What?" Christian replied, tearing his gaze away from his mate.

"Is the proposal a go, Sir?"

Caught off-guard, Christian turned back to his mate. "What do you think?" he asked, catching her off balance as the room held its breath.

She raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smirk playing on her lips. "Let's hear your thoughts first, shall we? After all, your subordinate asked you first."

A quiet shock rippled through the attendees as they awaited Christian's response, who stood momentarily speechless.

"Cheeky lady," he muttered, narrowing his eyes at her playful demeanour. "I'm still curious about your opinion on this matter."

"It's a good presentation and proposal, but you need to gather more detailed information about the project and then re-present your proposal," she advised confidently.

Following her feedback, another presenter took the floor, armed with a more meticulously organised and detailed slide. Thanks to her insights, the meeting concluded on a positive note, leaving a brief period of brainstorming for the next session.

As everyone filed out, only one person lingered behind—Blair. She approached Christian, determination in her voice. "I need to talk to you, Christian," she said, her gaze steady even as he remained obliviously focused on his mate.

Karol exchanged glances with the departing colleagues, who offered Blair looks of annoyance yet acknowledged her with polite smiles. As the last person exited, Blair pressed on, her tone firm. "I need to talk to you alone," she emphasised, her eyes narrowing slightly.

She was fully aware of the tension crackling in the air. She stood, determination etched into her features. "Okay then, you both talk while I wait in your office."

Her words hung unanswered, abruptly halted as Christian's hand encircled her wrist with a gentle but firm grip. He looked up at her, a swirl of emotion—affection mixed with desperation—in his gaze. "Just talk, Blair. I want Karol to stay." His stare lingered on her, resolute and pleading.

Karol's brow arched, and she turned her gaze to Blair, who was visibly bristling with repressed anger. With a huff that echoed in the charged silence, Blair took her seat, reluctantly obeying her mate's request. "I need to talk to you privately," she insisted, eyes darting towards Karol with a clear 'get out' message.

Annoyance bubbled within Karol, caught between the stubbornness of one and the insistence of the other. Opting for maturity, she declared, "You know what, since this is about your business, I'll just wait for you in the office, shall I?" Her tone was steady as she looked to Christian for affirmation.

He returned her gaze with a mixture of half-puppy eyes and barely-contained betrayal as if the mere thought of her leaving ignited a panic within him. "No, you stay," he said in a voice tinged with childish timidity, causing Blair to shoot him a sharp, bewildered look.

"Fine," she said, a hint of mischief in her voice. "If you don't want me to leave, I'll just pop to the loo. I won't be long—five to ten minutes, tops." She glanced at Christian, who sat vacillating between her and Blair before eventually nodding in reluctant agreement.

With a smirk aimed at Blair and a sweet smile for her mate, she cooed openly, inciting a fresh wave of simmering irritation in Blair. She leaned in, patting Christian's hand, her voice low and serious. "I trust you, so don't break that trust," she warned before rising.

A look of confusion clouded Christian's features as he watched her smile before walking away, leaving the two of them in silence. As she exited the meeting room, she cast a fleeting glance back at Christian, who was wholly absorbed in a business-like façade, his expression cold and unreadable.

Moving away from the confrontation, she wandered the corridors, aimlessly searching for the restroom. Spotting an employee at the end of the floor, she approached. "Excuse me, could you tell me where the loo is?"

"Head towards the meeting room, then turn right and walk straight. You'll find it," the employee replied.

"Thank you," she said, grateful for the directions.

Once she took care of her business, she hurried back to the meeting room, the promise to Christian echoing in her mind. Without knocking, she swung the door open—only to freeze in shock at the sight before her: Christian and Blair locked in an intimate embrace at the corner of the room.

"Oh shit! Sorry!" Karol exclaimed, panic rushing her words as she slammed the door shut and bolted towards the lift, her heart racing.

Her mind spiralled into chaos, grappling with the unexpected scene that had just unfolded. 'She's been the girlfriend since the last party event,' she thought, her legs carrying her to the lift. 'They've kissed twice now. Clearly, they're in some kind of relationship, and I'm the outsider. Why the lovey-dovey moments we've had? Is it just for show, some façade for his parents? Am I just a cover for them? Damn it!'

Frustration bubbled over as she felt the sting of betrayal wash over her. 'Why is this happening to me? It feels like a bad film plot!'

She arrived at Christian's office, sinking into the sofa that faced the door, fingers tapping furiously on her phone. Moments later, the door burst open, and Christian rushed in, his expression frantic.

"I can explain! It's not what it seems!" he blurted, but the urgency of his words was cut short by her, who stood, hands raised in a gesture of halt.

"There's no need to explain."

"No, I need to clarify. It's just a misunderstanding," he protested, but again, she interrupted.

"No, you don't. We are nothing but friends—barely even that—so there's nothing to clarify. You have your life, I have mine. This doesn't need clarification. I won't tell anyone your secret if that's what you're worried about."

Her gaze pierced through him, daring him to continue. She took a breath, then declared, "Okay, Christian, I'm hungry now. Let's go out for lunch, or do you already have plans?" She reached for her handbag, ready to move on.

"No, I don't have other plans," he admitted, desperation etching his features.

"Then let's go."

With that said, she strode towards the door with an air of confidence, hardly pausing for her mate to catch up.