[NOT EDITED]

Five days later..

Katherine's POV

Ashton is coming today.

Yay !

Well not exactly today , i mean his flight is today , and it will take i don't know how many effin hours to arrive but still, i am so happy and excited that for the first time in my life i woke up really early.

Can you see how much i miss him !

God , this week was a disaster , it felt like a year with him away.

Sleeping alone , waking up alone , with him not beside me is so hard.

Even though we talk everyday, and we talk a lot , but still , i want to touch him , hug him , kiss him and do many many many other things.

I let out a sigh as i checked my phone, he hadn't called since yesterday noon and his phone was turned off after that time , I wonder if there is something wrong.

But he said he is really busy and he will call me before he get on the plane so he will probably call me soon.

The moment i placed my phone away , it started ringing. Butterflies erupted in my stomach as I directly grabbed it but they faded instantly when i saw an unsaved number calling me.

With a frown on my face i hit the answer button , "Hello." I said but no one answered.

"Um hello ?" I said again then looked at my phone, "Anybody there ?"

I heard someone taking a breath , then his voice came low , and almost pained , "Katherine."

I closed my eyes for a second and clenched my jaw , without saying a word i removed the phone from my ear and hanged up.

He called again and i declined it again , he called another time and i also declined but he seems to be so damn stubborn because he kept on calling.

When he will stop messing with my life ? With my and Ashton's life ?

Feeling anger build inside me , i answered this time , "What do you want Caleb ?" I asked , my tone harsh.

"Katherine please .. Please listen to me." He said , his voice pleading , "Can i see you ?"

"No." Was all i said.

"Please Katherine... i need you." He said again , i noticed how his voice is pained , he sounded really tired.

"No Caleb , no." I said , "Stop calling me."

"No no don't hang up , just one last time , please listen to me." He said again , his voice is so weak as he talked.

"I will do anything, but please." He added when i kept silent, "I promise i will leave Ashton alone , I won't interfere in his business anymore , i will go out of your life ... But let me see you , just one last time." His voice cracked as he muttered the last sentence.

For unknown reason my chest tightened at how vulnerable he sounds.

"For old times sake Katherine." He added. "Is this a part of your plan or something ?" I said , i still don't trust him.

"No no , i swear it's nothing like that." He directly said , "We can meet in a public place , you even choose it , but please let me see you."

"I don't trust you." I added , i heard him taking a breath ,"I promise it's nothing, I promise i will leave you alone after that."

Something in his tone was so sincere , he sounded honest , he sounded like the old Caleb.

"Will you stop working against Ashton ?" I asked , "Yeah , i will , i would never interfere in his business again."

That was the only part that motivated me to think about meeting Caleb.

"What if you are lying , what if you're planning something behind this meeting ?" I asked.

"Please believe me , there is nothing like that." He said , his voice cracking my heart , what is wrong with him ?

"You can leave whenever you want , just five minutes is all what i am asking for , you also choose the place."

I let out a sigh , "Okay."

"But if you made me regret this , my reaction won't be so pleasant." I added in a warning tone.

"I won't do anything, i swear , where do you want to meet ?" He asked , he sounded a bit relieved.

"Meet me in an hour at the cafe we used to go before." I said , "Okay , I'll be waiting you." He answered.

"Thank you." He added.

"Just don't make me regret this Caleb." I said again.

"I won't." He said.

I hanged up after that , for some reason i believed what he said , but i wonder what's wrong , why he wants to see me ?

I pushed that thought when my phone started ringing again , I thought it would be Caleb but when i saw Ashton's name I directly answered.

"Hello beautiful." He was the first to say making me involuntary smile.

"Hey." I said , "I was calling you since yesterday , where have you been ?"

He kept silent at first , I thought he didn't hear me , but he then answered proving me wrong,"I was busy."

His tone changed as he muttered that sentence but i ignored that as i talked again , "So when is your flight ?"

He also kept silent.

What is wrong with him today ?

"In two hours." He answered after a while , "It will be really late when i arrive so there is no need for you to come to the airport , i will directly come home."

I frowned , "No it's okay , even if it is late i will come."

"Katherine no , I'll directly come straight to home." He said, more like ordered.

Why he doesn't want me to go ?

"Okay." I said , I didn't want to argue further.

"I miss you so much." He said with a sigh .

"I miss you too."

There is something off about his tone today but i ignored that , maybe it's just my imagination.

"What are you doing ?" He asked , "Nothing." I said , "I may go out later."

I know i kind of lied but I can't tell him i am going to see Caleb , he won't let me for sure.

But i am doing this for him.

Caleb will stop working against him and that's all i want.

"Where will you go ?" He asked and i swallowed the lump in my throat before answering ,"I don't know , maybe i'll hang out with Cara."

Oh my god , i hate lying to him.

"Yeah that's good , go and have fun baby." He said and feeling really guilty was an understatement.

"I can't wait to see you." I said trying to change the subject.

"Me too." He said and I can't shake how his tone is different today.

"I have to go now." He said ,"I'll see you later."

"Okay bye." I said and hanged up after that feeling sad and guilty as well.

We barely even talked and there was this tension as we talked , but maybe it's just me feeling bad because i lied to him about Caleb.

But it's better if he didn't know.

I took a breath and started to get ready hoping that Caleb is not lying or I don't know what i will do.

After getting ready , i drove toward the cafe , when i arrived there I directly spotted Caleb inside.

I walked toward him and when i reached him , he snapped his head toward my direction.

He directly stood up , he looked at me with his tired green eyes , his face looked pale , his hair is messy , even his clothes are wrinkled.

There is something wrong.

He looks like that day when i saw him in the hospital.

My heart ached seeing him like this , I don't know the reason but still , he was my friend , and as much as i hate to admit it , but i still care about him.

"Thank you for coming." He said , his tone the same as on the phone , weak and pained.

"No problem." I said , "I came here because you promised me Caleb."

He nodded ," And I'll keep my promise."

I seated myself on the chair facing him and he sat down as well , his eyes not leaving mine that I started to feel uncomfortable under his gaze.

"How are you ?" He asked.

"I am fine." I said , "I can't say the same about you though." I added not liking seeing him like this.

He bowed his head and nodded, he looked up again , "Do you want to drink something ?"

"Caleb we both know i am not here to drink anything, so tell me what's wrong ?"

His hand suddenly went and held mine , "I need you."

I directly removed his hand away , I don't want him to touch me. After knowing his feelings toward me , i hate him touching me , it just feels like i am doing something wrong.

"Why you wanted to see me ?" I asked starting to regret coming here , regret lying to Ashton.

"Because i need you." He said again. "I need you beside me."

I gritted my teeth. I should've not came here from the first place.

The guilt that was eating me from the moment i lied to Ashton rose even more by seeing Caleb so I directly stood up , "I didn't come here to hear this."

With that i walked away , he called me but I didn't turn , i heard his steps behind me , he was following but i kept on walking till i reached the parking lot.

"Katherine." He said , i stopped this time and turned around and snapped "Enough Caleb , it's enough."

I turned around ready to get into my car but what he said next froze me in my spot.

"She died."

With my eyes wide , i turned around. Who died ? I didn't ask but he answered.

"My mother." He said a tear escaping his eye as he muttered that sentence, "She died Katherine." His voice broke breaking my heart with it.

A gasp escaped my mouth , I placed my hand over it feeling all the oxygen leaving my lung.

I rushed toward him , my eyes still wide , my breathing heavy as i tried to register his words.

I knew his mother , she was really nice , I've visited her many times.

"When ? " I asked , my voice low , "A week ago."

A tear scrolled down my cheek and without thinking about it , i felt my arms wrapping themselves around him.

He hugged me back, he buried his face in my neck , i can feel the wetness of his tears on my back making more tears scroll down my face.

I felt sad and really bad not just because i knew his mother but also for him ,because i know how does it feel to lose a mother , i know that damn pain.

I know how much it hurts.

I didn't say anything, i don't think i should , words won't make him feel better , saying sorry won't erase his pain , maybe that's why i hugged him , he needed it , he needs to know he is not alone.

"Will it stop hurting ?" He asked ,his voice muffled with tears. My hold over him tightened as he muttered that sentence.

It's hard to answer it.

I don't want to lie.

"It will hurt less." I said , I can't tell him it will stop because it won't, whenever they will cross your mind , you will always feel that stung in your heart , that emptiness in your soul.

It will hurt less , that's for sure.

But it will still hurt , there is no damn cure.

I pulled away , looking at his face i felt more pain , "Everyone home is breaking Katherine , my brother , my sister , even my dad, and i .. I don't know what to do !"

"You have to be strong." I said , "You have to be strong for them."

He shook his head, "I can't."

"Yes you can." I said with a confident tone , "You taught me that Caleb , don't forget."

I can't forget how he stayed by my side when Chase died, i know i won't be there with him every moment but i will do what i am capable of, because he can't lose hope.

"I won't tell you that it will magically stop hurting, I won't tell you that tomorrow is going to be okay.. but what i know is , that you will be able to move on from that , it is not impossible." I said , "It will take time , but it will happen."

"You can be strong Caleb." I added , "You are strong."

He nodded his head. I just hope my words convinced him somehow.

"I was trying to hold on from the beginning, i was trying to not break down." He said , "But with you..with you i can be who i am , you're the closest person to me Katherine."

"I didn't even shed a tear , for the last week I felt numb , that's why i needed to see you, i have many friends but none of them can be compared to you ." He said , "I know you don't want to be here so thank you , thank you for coming."

I shook my head , in the moment i felt really bad.

I am not a good friend , i was pushing him away when he needed me the most.

But , he tried to hurt Ashton , and by that he had hurt me as well.

As if he was reading my mind , he said ," I will keep my promise, i will leave him alone."

"When she died.." He paused for a moment,he is still digesting the idea ,"I realized that everything i was doing was for no reason, I was thinking , 'what i will gain if i destroyed him ? ' " he asked but he wasn't waiting for an answer.

"I will gain nothing." He answered his own question, "Destroying him won't magically make you love me."

I swallowed the lump in my throat , i was both relieved and in the same time sad for a reason.

"I was taking it way too far , I wasn't doing it just for Chase." He said then shook his head looking unsatisfied by his own actions , "I was doing it because you loved him, because he took you away from me.. Not that you were mine at the first place."

I turned my head away unable to meet his eyes , i know i was breaking his heart but i can do nothing to stop it.

His only fault was loving me.

"Life is too short to waste it like this." He added and he had a point.

Life is really too short.

"I will call Rebecca immediately and tell her to stop everything and quit." He said , his words were enough to make me snap my head toward him.

"Rebecca still works for Ashton ?" I asked ,unable to hide the surprise in my tone.

He nodded ,"I was the one who sent her there , she was filling me with everything for the last few months."

But Ashton told me he fired her.

I remember one time when i wanted to ask him about that kiss but the moment i said Rebecca's name he said he fired her and there is no need to talk about it.

Is Caleb lying ?

"But don't worry , I won't do anything with all the informations i have , i promised you and i will keep that promise." He said , "I just want her to answer the phone and I'll tell her to end it all and never step inside that company ever again."

He said removing his phone from his pocket checking it while i was too busy trying to register the fact that Ashton lied.

"She is not answering." He said with an annoyed tone ,"She told me they arrived two hours ago , where the hell is she !"

Wait what ?

"Ah , um she was with him in Australia as well , right ?" I asked trying not to look too shocked ,I don't want Caleb to suspect anything.

He nodded ,then looked back at his phone typing something.

But hold on ,he said they arrived two hours ago , what does he mean by that ?

Ashton told me his flight is in two hours and he will arrive late at night.

I am so confused, what is happening ?

Is Caleb lying ? Or is it Ashton the one who is lying ?

"She is still not answering." He said with a sigh, "I will talk with her later, maybe she is in the company now that's why she is not answering my call."

I want to know if Ashton here ,i want to ask Caleb but in indirect way.

"Yeah maybe Ashton is beside her that's why she is not answering." I said hoping my sentence will get my answer.

"Yeah maybe you're right." He said.

Ashton is here !

But he just called me and said he is still in Australia.

My mind was going wild with all the thoughts roaming it , my chest tightened at the thought of them together.

He lied . Ashton , he is lying.

But why ?

"I have to go now." I said suddenly,Caleb nodded.

"Thank you for coming again." He said offering me a small smile.

"No problem." I said , "Take care of yourself Caleb."

His smile grew wider ,"You too." His eyes traveled to my baby bump ,"Take care."

"Bye." I said as i turned around and hopped inside my car, my mind still trying to wrap itself around what i just knew.

She is still working for him , she was with him in Australia.

There is one reason for him to lie.

I closed my eyes trying to compose myself. There is no need to cry Katherine , maybe it's nothing like that.

But then why he lied , why he told me he is in Australia when he is just few miles away from me.

Roaring the engine back to life , i drove toward the company. He better have an explanation. I need answers.

I wasn't that far , so it didn't take me long to arrive. I directly went down and within seconds i was inside the building.

I directly walked toward the elevator, feeling hurt for some reason.

But on my way i saw Alex , he saw me as well , with a smile on his face , he walked toward me.

"Hey sweetheart." He said. "You came to see your lover boy ?"

So he is here.

"Alex , can i ask you something." I said , he nodded confused.

"Is Rebecca still working for Ashton ?" I asked , his brows knitted together showing his confusion.

"Wait , Rebecca is that blondie b*tch , right ?" He asked and i nodded.

Well , i know she is blonde.

And there is no doubts concerning the b*tch part.

"Umm yeah." He answered, "She've been working here for a while."

My hand curled into a fist , my nails digging into my palm trying my best to control myself.

"When did Ashton come back ?" I asked again , Alex looked really confused with me asking all these questions out of nowhere.

"I think like two hours ago." He answered ,"He didn't tell you ? I thought he went home first."

I shook my head feeling the tears form in my eyes but tried my best to hold them tight.

"Is there something wrong ?" He asked looking at me concerned.

"We'll talk later." I said as i walked away toward the elevator.

I have a bad feeling about this.

The moment the elevator arrived , I directly stepped out and made my way toward his office.

I stopped for a while before i reached , the personal assistant desk is empty.

A weird feeling started to rise at the pit of my stomach , my heart was racing in my chest afraid of what i may see or what i may know.

I tried to concentrate on the task in front of me so I continued walking.

The door was slightly opened , i placed my hand over it ready to push it open when i heard a voice coming from the inside , a feminine voice to be precise.

"I won't give you what you want , unless you give me what i want first." She said , her tone seductive somehow and I don't need to be genius to know that she is Rebecca.

I heard a chuckle , Ashton's chuckle ,"You will get what you want in the right time Rebecca."

"Maybe that time is now." She said.

My hand over the door started to shake , with my heart pounding hard in my chest i pushed it open.

She was leaning on the desk across from Ashton , her face close to his.

They weren't kissing , but if I didn't open the door they would be.

Their eyes snapped to the door , Ashton's eyes met mine , they widened at the sight of me.

He shot up from his seat and called my name.

I shook my head , turned my body and walked away.

No tears came out of my eyes , maybe i am shocked.

I am so dump , i am so stupid.

"Katherine wait." Ashton said but I ignored him as I continued walking.

Before , i couldn't wait to see him again , but now , i can't even handle looking at his face.

He grabbed my arm from behind stopping me.

"Leave me." I said ,my tone surprisingly calm.

Still no tears.

Weird.

He turned me around so i can face him , "Katherine i can explain , it is not.."

"It is not what it looks like." I continued the sentence on his behalf , "Of course it is not." I said sarcastically, my tone still calm for a reason.

It is like my mind is not capable of thinking straight or reacting normal.

"Go finish what she wants you to give her." I said recalling her words at the beginning, "Before you miss your fake flight in an hour."

I removed his hand from around mine and walked away as the first tear escaped my eye, this time he didn't follow me.

I wanted him to.

I wanted him to stop me.

But he didn't.

**********************************

Soo , Caleb is back , Rebecca is back 😂 I f*cked up everything again lol😂

Why you think Ashton was lying ?🤔

Btw , sometimes i feel bad for Caleb but then I remember what he is going to do after few chapters so i just go back and hate him again.

Don't forget , comment and vote 😊

Love ya❤️