Page 9 of My Billionaire Boss Crush

When I arrive at Alexander’s floor, Freya rises to her feet and attempts to stop me, but I shove the box into her arms and rush past her before she can stop me.

My heart pounds in my chest as I gather the last remnants of courage within me. I can't let it end like this. I can't walk away without fighting for a second chance. I need to make him understand that I am capable of so much more and that I can do better.

Taking a deep breath, I knock gently on his office door. The familiar sound reverberates through the room, and my nerves heighten as I wait for his response. After what feels like an eternity, he calls out, his voice tinged with impatience, "Come in."

I push open the door, steeling myself for what lies ahead. His eyes meet mine, a mix of surprise and something else I can't quite decipher. I take a step forward, my voice steady but filled with desperation. "Please, you have to give me another chance. I know I've made mistakes, but I can do better. I'm willing to learn, improve, and prove myself to you."

He studies me intently, his gaze searching for sincerity in my eyes. “You aren’t particularly in any position to make demands, Miss Osbourne.” There’s steel in his voice that almost makes me turn around and walk away, but I refuse to back down.

I continue, my words flowing forth with a fervor that surprises even me. "I know I let you down, and I can't apologize enough for the consequences of my actions. But I've learned from those mistakes, and I'm determined to make amends. Please, allow me the opportunity to show you what I'm truly capable of."

His brows furrow, and I can sense the internal struggle within him. The silence between us stretches, making me fear that my plea has fallen on deaf ears. But then, he sighs and leans back in his chair, his expression softening ever so slightly.

"I can't deny that you have potential," he begins, his voice cautious. "But I can't ignore the risks your mistakes have posed to the company. It's not just about trust. It's about ensuring the success and stability of my business, my company."

I nod, understanding the weight of his concerns. I knew it wouldn't be easy to regain his trust, but I'm willing to work twice as hard to earn it back. "I'm aware of the risks, and I assure you, I won't take them lightly. I will be meticulous and proactive and strive for excellence in everything I do. I won't let you down again."

There's a flicker of doubt in his eyes but also a glimmer of something else, an acknowledgment of the effort and determination in my words. After a moment of contemplation, he finally speaks, his voice softer than before. "All right. I'll give you one more chance. But know this, the margin for error is slim. You must prove yourself, not just to me, but to the entire team."

Relief floods through me, but I'm aware that this is only the beginning. I step forward, my voice filled with gratitude. "Thank you, thank you, thank you so much. I won't let you down. I'll work tirelessly to regain your trust and prove that I deserve this second chance."

His gaze lingers on mine, and there's a glimmer of something more, a hint of the emotions he's been trying to conceal. But I dare not delve into those complexities just yet. I take a step back, ready to face the challenges that lie ahead.

“You won’t regret this,” I add as I turn around and open the door, shutting it softly behind me. I think I see a hint of a smile on his face just before I leave, but I’m too excited to dwell on it.

As I leave his office, a renewed determination courses through my veins. This second chance is a gift - one that I won't squander. I will seize it with both hands, working tirelessly to show him that I am capable, reliable, and worthy of his trust.

This is my opportunity to grow, rise above my previous shortcomings, and prove that hard work and determination can conquer even the most daunting obstacles.

I grab my box from a fuming Freya and head into the elevator.

When I return to my desk with a smile on my face, no one dares to question my reappearance. I can already hear the gossip, but I don’t care about them anymore. No one here knows who I am, and I’ll be damned if I let their opinions of me color my experience here.

My smile grows as I return my belongings back to their former positions on my desk. I caress the frame containing a picture of me and my father at my college graduation. “I’m going to make you proud, Dad,” I whisper.

Then I switch on my computer and get to work.

Deep within me, a part of me rejoices not because I got my job back but because, once again, I’m closer to Alexander Graves.

Chapter six

The Meeting-Alex

I wave goodbye to my daughter, watching her leave with a frown on her face. Today has been no different than the other days. Summer had barely said a word to me the entire morning, no matter how much I tried to start a conversation between us.

It had been because of my desire to restore the bond between my daughter and me that I refused to allow the driver to drop her off at school every morning in the first place. I can still remember the broad smile on my sixteen-year-old daughter’s face when I announced that I would be the one taking on that role. It had been right after my divorce from her mother.

But as the days passed by, that smile slowly faded until it took so much effort to pull it out of her.

With a sigh, I drive off and head toward my company. The events of the previous week swirl through my mind, and I find myself smiling, alone in the car. I still find it hard to believe that Blair had been brave enough to saunter back into my office after firing her to beg for her job back.

I had watched her closely that day from my window upstairs as she trudged toward her car with a box containing her stuff in her hand and her back bowed with visible silence. I even contemplated calling her back to reinstate her, but I forced myself not to.

I told myself over and over that it was for the best, even as my fingers dug painfully into my palm, my entire body resisting the decision I made. But she had made too many mistakes for me to give her a third chance.

I have no doubt that everyone at the office was watching closely to see what I would do after Blair failed to book the appointment that could elevate the company further. If I had kept her on despite that, the rumors about her and I would have gotten more brutal and unbearable.

Since I’ve tried to keep those rumors at bay, there’s very little I can do as the CEO to hundreds of employees to keep them from spreading. People will always talk.

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