Page 41 of Bossalicious Bad Boy

"Alright, Alex," I whisper to myself, "it's now or never." I stand up, my legs feeling both solid and shaky at the same time. My hands dust off imaginary lint from my shirt as I prepare to face my emotions head-on.

"Hey, Alex!" James calls out to me as he passes by my office. I can see the satisfaction in his eyes – the knowledge that he's helped me find my way.

"Thanks again, James," I say, giving him a genuine smile. "I mean it."

"Go get 'em, Tiger," he says with a grin, offering a playful punch to my shoulder. "And remember, honesty and respect are your best friends right now."

"Got it," I nod, taking a deep breath.

"Good luck, brother," James says before heading towards the elevator.

19

CLARA

It's been days since I discovered those damning files, and my anger grows like wildfire with each passing minute. Alexander's father was involved in some shady business deals, and though the man is long dead, how could his son not know? The need to confront him boils inside me like a storm waiting to break.

"Clara, are you sure this is a good idea?" Ruby asks hesitantly, but I can't let this go. I've come too far and worked too hard for this internship, only to find out that there may be a twisted connection between our families.

"He needs to know what his father did." My voice trembles, barely containing my frustration. "I won't let the past ruin my future."

With that, I take a deep breath, square my shoulders, and march down the hallway toward Alexander's office. My heart pounds in my ears as I approach the door, and I remind myself that Alexander isn't his father, that he deserves a chance to explain himself.

"Alex!" I burst into the room, unable to keep my emotions in check any longer. His eyes widen at my sudden entrance, but I don't give him a chance to speak before launching into my tirade. "Your father was involved in some terrible things! Did you know? Were you trying to use me to make amends for his sins?"

My voice cracks, but I push on. It's not fair for me to hold Alexander responsible for his father's actions, and yet, I can't help but feel betrayed by the possible deception. Why would he hire me if he knew about the connection?

"Clara, wait-" Alex's tone is full of surprise, but I'm not willing to hear his excuses just yet.

"Tell me the truth, Alex," I demand, my eyes filling with tears. "Did you know about our fathers? Did you know what happened?"

"Clara, I swear I didn't know about any of this." Alex's face is a mixture of shock and concern. "I hired you because you're talented and driven, not because of some twisted connection to my father."

"Is that so?" My anger flares up once more, blocking out reason. "Or are you just lying to save your own skin?"

"Clara, I don't know what you're talking about," he replies, blinking rapidly, clearly taken aback by my sudden emotional eruption.

"Your father, Alex! What he did to mine!" The words burst from me, raw and unfiltered, as I continue to pace, feeling the heat of anger radiating off of me.

"Wait, what?" His face reflects genuine shock, his eyebrows furrowing as he tries to understand the source of my fury. "I honestly have no idea what you mean."

"Of course you don't," I scoff, my eyes narrowing as I glare at him. My heart races, and the room seems to close in around us, intensifying the tension that crackles like electricity in the air.

"Please, Clara, explain it to me," he pleads, leaning forward in his chair, his body tense and concerned.

"Explain? Explain how your father destroyed mine? How my entire life has been built on lies?" My voice rises, reaching a fever pitch, and I can't help but think that maybe this confrontation isn't helping anyone – not even me.

"Clara, I swear I had no idea," he insists, his voice softening, and for a moment, I see genuine pain in his eyes. "Please, let's sit down and talk about this."

"Talk?" I laugh bitterly, my pacing coming to a sudden halt as I face him. "What good will talking do now?"

"Clara, if you don't tell me what happened, how can I help you? How can we fix this?" His voice is gentle but firm, and I realize that he's right: without communication, there's no hope for understanding or resolution.

"Fine," I grumble, my body still rigid with anger, but I force myself to take a deep breath before I start spilling the ugly truth of our intertwined pasts.

My hands tremble as I clench them into fists at my sides. "You know what, Alex?" I say, my voice shaky but firm. "I think you brought me here to atone for your father's sins." The words hang in the air like a black cloud, casting a shadow over both of us.

"Clara, what are you talking about?" he asks, his voice laced with confusion and surprise.

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