Page 48 of Bossalicious Bad Boy

"Good idea." I pick up the phone, my heart pounding as I dial the number of one of the key players from my father's old business dealings - someone who might just hold the answers I desperately need.

"Hello?" The voice on the other end is cautious, guarded.

"Hi, this is Alexander Blaese. I'm calling about my father and Michael Williams. I was hoping you could help me understand what happened between them."

There's a long pause before the response comes. "You really want to dig up those skeletons, huh? Alright, kid. Meet me at the coffee shop on Main Street tomorrow at noon. And come alone."

"Thank you." Relief floods through me, followed by a sharp pang of fear. What secrets will this meeting reveal? Can I really handle the truth?

"Who's that?" James asks when I hang up.

"Someone who might know more about my father's betrayal. They agreed to meet me tomorrow." Desperation colors my tone, and James studies me for a moment before nodding.

"Alright. But don't go in there blind." He shuffles through the documents, pulling out a handful of legal files. "Take these with you - court cases that were related to our father's business. It might help you connect the dots."

"Thanks, James." I clutch the files to my chest, feeling their weight as a reminder of the burden I now carry. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Hey, that's what brothers are for, right?" He gives me a small, comforting smile.

"Right," I echo, steeling myself for what's to come. Tomorrow, I'll face the ghosts of my family's past and, hopefully, find a way to heal the wounds they left behind.

23

CLARA

The weight of anxiety presses against my chest as I sit across from Alexander in his office. The sun has long since dipped below the horizon, and we're the only souls left in the building. Everyone else has gone home, but he asked to speak to me before I left.

"Clara," Alex begins, his eyes an impenetrable ocean of blue. "I wanted to talk to you about something important."

My heart races in anticipation. A cold shiver runs down my spine as I wrap my arms around myself, trying to ward off the chill that seems to have permeated the room. I force a small smile and nod, urging him to continue.

"From the moment you joined our team, I knew there was something special about you," he says, leaning forward with intensity. "You're incredibly intelligent, hardworking, and passionate about what you do."

"Thank you, Alex," I manage to mumble, feeling a slight flush rise to my cheeks.

"Here's the thing..." he trails off, and I can see a hint of vulnerability in his eyes.

As he speaks, I try to keep my emotions in check, focusing on his words rather than the storm brewing inside me. His voice is steady and measured, but I sense the pain hidden beneath the surface.

"Your accusations... they made me take a closer look at certain things," he continues. "And you were right. My father was involved in some shady business deals, but I had no knowledge of them until recently."

My stomach clenches, and I fight the urge to bolt out of the room. It's difficult to reconcile the feelings I have for Alex with the knowledge that his family has caused mine so much suffering. How am I supposed to trust someone who comes from a world so different from my own?

"Clara, I am truly sorry for everything my family has put you through," Alex says, his voice cracking with emotion. "I never wanted any of this to happen."

"Thank you for telling me, but... I don't know what to say," I admit, staring down at the floor.

"Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?" he asks, a desperate plea in his eyes.

As much as I want to trust him, I'm not sure if I can ever truly forgive and forget. There's too much pain, too much history between us. And yet, something inside me still wants to try.

"Alex," I begin, my voice wavering. "I need some time. Time to process all of this."

"Take all the time you need, Clara. I'll be here when you're ready to talk," he assures me, his eyes full of warmth and understanding.

"Thank you," I whisper, standing up to leave the office. As I step into the empty hallway, I can't help but wonder how we'll find our way back to each other amidst this tangled mess of secrets and lies.

I lean my head against his closed door and breathe.

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