Page 54 of Bossalicious Bad Boy

"Ah, yes, Clara," he smirks, trying to deflect yet again. "How is she, anyway? Still fetching your coffee?"

"Knock it off!" I snap, heat surging to my face. My heart races as I demand, "Did you betray her father? Did you ruin their lives?"

His silence speaks volumes, but I refuse to let him off the hook. My hands tremble with anger as I slam them down on the coffee table, leaning in close. "You owe it to Clara and her family to own up to what you did."

"Alright, Alex." Daniel's voice cracks, and for the first time, I see a flicker of remorse in his eyes. "I'll tell you everything. But remember, you asked for this."

He huffs, dragging a hand down his face.

"Fine, I did it." Daniel's voice is barely a whisper as he finally admits to his betrayal. "I embezzled money from the Williams family business."

My fists clench at my sides as the weight of his confession crashes down on me. The air in the room feels thick and suffocating, and I struggle to catch my breath. How could my own father have done something so callous and destructive?

"Alex," he continues, his words heavy with regret, "I never meant for it to go this far. It started small, an opportunity that seemed too good to pass up. But it spiraled out of control."

"Out of control?" I scoff, shaking my head in disbelief. "You destroyed their lives, Dad! Clara had to drop out of college, her sister lost her scholarship, her mother—"

"Enough!" He cuts me off sharply, his face flushing with shame. "I know what I've done. You don't need to remind me."

"Damn right, I don't," I spit, my fury boiling over. "And now it's time for you to make things right. For all of us."

"Alex, what do you expect me to do?" he pleads, desperation seeping through his carefully constructed facade.

I stand in the living room, my hands clenched into fists at my side as I look at Dad. He's slumped in his armchair, defeated and resigned to the consequences. "I need to meet with the Williams family," I say, my voice resolute. "I want to apologize on behalf of our family, and start making things right."

"Are you sure about this, Alexander?" he asks hesitantly, brown eyes filled with unease. "There's no telling how they'll react."

"None of us can predict that," I reply, my heart pounding in my chest. "But it's a risk I'm willing to take"

I see the uncertainty flicker across his face, but then he nods slowly, determination settling over him like a cloak. "Alright, I'll support you in this. Just promise me you'll be careful."

"Of course," I assure him, letting out an exhale I hadn't realized I'd been holding.

As I leave the house, the weight of the situation presses down on me, but it only serves to fuel my resolve. The cold wind nips at my skin as I make my way to my car, the autumn leaves rustling beneath my feet.

My fingers tap restlessly on the steering wheel as I navigate the familiar streets, heading towards the Williams residence. My thoughts race with what I'm going to say, how I'll even begin to explain everything. How do you apologize for something so monumental?

The modest suburban house comes into view, and my stomach churns with a mix of fear and determination. I park the car and take a deep breath, gripping the keys tightly in my hand as if they're a lifeline.

"Here goes nothing," I mutter to myself as I step out of the car, my pulse escalating with every step towards the front door.

I can't help but think of the friendship that has slowly blossomed between Clara and me, despite the unlikely circumstances. The memory of her laughter and easy banter in the office brings a small smile to my face. I only hope that this revelation won't destroy what we've built.

27

CLARA

"Wait, is that Alexander's dad?" I mutter to Jessica as we sit down at the elaborately set dining table. I knew Alexander invited Jessica and I here to talk but I didn’t realize it would be more than just him. My gaze fixes on the man sitting across the white linen tablecloth in a private room of an upscale restaurant, his eyes obscured by the flickering candlelight.

"Yep, looks like it," Jessica replies with a slight grin, her brows arching upward. "I image-searched him,” she whispers to me. “This should be interesting."

The room is elegant, with floor-to-ceiling windows revealing the city skyline outside, and soft classical music playing in the background. The warmth from the glowing chandeliers above our heads casts a golden hue on the polished silverware before me. It's the kind of place where even the water tastes expensive.

"Clara, Jessica, so good to see you both again," Daniel Blaese says with a practiced smile, rising from his seat to greet us. He's impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, exuding wealth and power, which makes me feel even more out of place in my thrift-store outfit. “The last time I saw you, Jessica, you were up to my knee.”

"Good to see you too, Mr. Blaese," I reply, forcing a polite smile as I slide into the chair next to him.

"Please, call me Daniel," he insists, reclaiming his seat. His two sons, Alexander and James, exchange glances at the end of the table, and I can already sense the tension brewing beneath the surface.

---