E.S. Chapter 2

Charlotte pushed her phone under her mattress, sitting on it so she won’t have the urge to call Nicholas and accept his offer. It had been a week since their talk, and she achieved nothing. Browsing through her Facebook page, she checked the status of her classmates. Business partners, receptionists, managers, insurance agents, all sorts of positions were held by them right now, and here she is, wearing a thigh short sleeveless PJs with her hair balled up on top of her head. Being a stripper seems more legit right now.

 She reviewed her résumé a hundred times and wondered where did she go wrong during interviews. Maybe she shouldn’t wear a low V blouse or a slut short tight skirt. Well maybe not especially the interviewers were ladies. She tossed the IPad aside and hugged the unicorn stuffy Seth bought her during her 21st birthday. “What should I do, Corny?” She ran her hand along the horn and squishing it from time to time. Picturing her on top of Seth, breathing hard, it’s their first night together and she was wearing her newly bought leopard print lingerie. His hand felt warm on her breast, she bent down and pressed her lips against his, shuffling his hair with her fingers, she never felt so blessed.

A wave of vibration passed through her body and she jumped up from her fading memory. Frantically trying to reach for her cell phone, she tumbled off her bed head first. With one hand holding the huge bump on her forehead, she reached in under the mattress to retrieve it. An unknown number, she doesn’t want to get her hopes up that one of the potential employers might call, especially at 9.40pm.

“Good evening, Charlotte speaking.” She poised with her most elegant look even though the caller couldn’t see her. 

“Hey Charl, you sound great!” The guy from the other end sounded enthusiastic.

“Oh my God, Seth?” Charlotte could not believe her luck; there she was fascinating over him just moments away from touching herself and now, he calls.

“Yeah, couldn’t recognize my voice already?” Seth sounds disappointed.

“Oh no, it’s just…uh surprising to hear from you, you know, after all these years.” Charlotte sat herself on the bed, not wanting to get jelly from the overwhelmed sensation. She knew she’s supposed to hate him for the betrayal. But he’s a really nice guy and as much as she tried to deny it, she still loved him.

“Well, sorry for not contacting you, I was busy with work and uh, yeah, so uh are you available? I mean do you wanna get a drink?” Seth cursed himself for being so unstable.

“Yea sure, what time?” Charlotte started locating her purse which she threw somewhere on her work table.

“Seeing that the ice cream I’m holding is melting, I figure now should be the right time?”

“What? You mean…” Charlotte rushed to the door, seeing Seth for the first time in 2 years through the peek hole made her heart race. She swung open the door and flashed a huge smile at him. Seth’s gaze made her feel uneasy, especially the way he looked at her from top to bottom with a confused expression. Seth shoved her in her apartment as soon as he heard footsteps by the hallway, closing the door behind them, he let go of her just as quick as he got hold of her.

“So umm, this is what you wear to receive your guests?” He gestured to what she had on. Her protruding nipples could easily be seen from her semi transparent PJs, and her laced panties are starting to turn him on.

“Oh gosh, I’m so sorry!” Charlotte completely forgotten about her PJs/lingerie, she wore them because her proper PJs had been sent to the laundry. She grabbed a bathrobe from her couch and covered her body, just enough to shield her ass.

Seth held up two pints of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream: Cookie Dough and New York Super Fudge Chunk. There goes her diet plan. Charlotte snatched over Cookie Dough, her sinfully favorite ice cream selection. She headed over to her kitchenette to fish out 2 table spoons from the drawer, and why table spoons? They believed ice cream should be enjoyed with a mouthful, not tinnie winnie portions.

“I thought you wanted to get some drink.” Charlotte commented as she digs in.

“Well I was hoping you would have some leftover wine.” Seth sat right next to her, so close she could feel his heartbeat.

Charlotte got up and inspects the content of her refrigerator, “Nope, no wine, but I do have some leftover bitter gourd juice, celery cucumber and chilled H₂O.” She looked over her shoulder to find him gazing after her. “Seth? Are you okay?” She closed the refrigerator door and approached him.

“What? Oh yes I’m fine, come sit with me Charl.” He patted the seat next to him. Charlotte sat down slowly, fearing what comes next.

“Are you…” Charlotte swallowed hard, trying to choose the right words. “Are you inviting me to your engagement party?” She looked away, afraid that she might break down then and there.

“What? No. No Charl, we’re still far away from that subject babe.” Seth moved closer to her and turned her head around so she could look him directly in the eyes. She hated it. She hate how he address him and Molly as ‘we’, how he still calls her babe. She’s confused. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry about the way I treated you, you are a very nice girl Charl, and you are the best girl I ever had.” Seth said it like he meant it.

“Then why, Seth? Why must you leave me? Why...” Before she could finish her sentence, Seth leaned in and kissed her. Charlotte hugged his neck, pulling him so close that his muscular body is pressing against her breasts. Seth’s warm hands wandered along her inner thigh, she spread her legs slightly, allowing him to move up closer. Charlotte moved away from his lips, gently kissing and nibbling his neck. Seth starts undoing her bathrobe, revealing her sexy PJs that failed to cover any part at all. He then slowly moved his hands under it and got hold of her right breast. He gently rubbed and squeezed and eventually pulled his lips close enough to get a taste of it. Charlotte moaned softly, she melted under his caress and tingling sensation of his tongue. She was kneeling on him, making it easier for him to play with her breasts. Seth fingered her wet crotch, pushing aside her wet panties; he made way into her passage to heaven. Charlotte grabbed his hair, scratched her nails on the leather couch, it felt so good having him inside of her again. Seth pulled out his finger and undid his pants. He laid her down on the couch and just when they were about to begin, the door swung open.

“Guess what I bought baby cakes! Your favorite taco! Well I bought the vegetarian version since…” Nicholas’s eyes fell upon them, who were shocked and too stunned to move.

“What are you doing here?” Nicholas demanded. He was so angry you can see the flames in his eyes. He threw the keys and tacos on the side table next to the door and stomped over. Charlotte got up as quick as she can to stand between the two men. They never liked each other; they compete in every single subject and project in college, and she knew this might end up in a huge mess.

Seth slowly pulled up his pants and buckled on, he looked at Nicholas straight in the eyes, tempting him for a fight. They were of the same height, same muscular body, both were unbelievably attractive, but Nicholas had a white scar on his neck, a painful souvenir from his fight with Seth 2 years ago, when Seth decided to dump Charlotte. She will never let that happen again.

“Babe I’m sorry, just let me handle this alright? 5 minutes, let me talk with him for 5 more minutes.” Charlotte pleaded.

“You’re with him?” Seth asked, “You’re his girlfriend?!”

“No.” “Yes!” Charlotte and Nicholas answered at the same time.

“Baby, wait for me in my bedroom please, 5 minutes, just…5 minutes…please.” Nicholas softened; he knew this talk with Seth meant a lot to her.

“Alright, 5 more minutes and I will be coming out with my fist ready, and no hanky panky!” Nicholas directed the threat to Seth, who doesn’t look interested in any of it. He slammed the room door behind him and shouted “5 minutes!”

Charlotte was speechless. She doesn’t know how to break the awkwardness. “I’m sorry Seth, he has my key cause I’m living alone and it’s for emergency purposes. He’s never my boyfriend and there was never any love between us.” She blurted out.

“No Charl, I’m the one who should be sorry, I’m not supposed to do this. I’m a jerk Charl. I went after Molly because she promised a better future, a better career. This means everything to me. I need this job Charl, I’m so sorry.” Seth hugged her tight, he had a feeling this would be the last time Charlotte would be this close to him.

“I’m sorry too.” Charlotte muttered. She looked up at the ceiling, holding back her tears as long as she could. “Well I guess you’d better be going.” She let go of him, moving slowly towards the door.

“Actually, I came here with a job offer. It’s not from me, don’t worry. My friend’s secretary left her job for her marriage, and he needs someone to replace her as soon as possible. I know you Charl, and I know you’re the right person for this job, it’s gonna be tough, but you’ll manage it.” Seth handed a sleek silver name card and she accepted it. Seth cupped her face in his hands, “I love you Charl, I always do.” He planted a kiss on her lips, opened the door and left.

Charlotte stood there for what seemed like an eternity, until Nicholas hugged her from behind. “You okay?” he asked as he nuzzles her neck. Charlotte sighed, turned around and hugged him. He could feel his shirt getting damped, but he remained silent and soothed her hair with his left hand. When he felt Charlotte is slipping down his arm, he swiftly lifted her the way he would carry his bride one day. He rest her down on her queen sized bed, covered her with her Donald duck blanket, off the lights and slept next to her.