Page 32 of Bossalicious Bad Boy

"Uh, no, not yet," I stammer, cursing myself for being caught off-guard. "I'll check it out later."

"Would you like me to email it to you?" she offers, completely oblivious to the way my heart hammers in my chest.

"Sure, thanks," I reply curtly, desperate to end this conversation before anyone catches on. I can feel Julie watching us, her gaze sharp and calculating.

"Okay, I'll send it right over," Clara says, sensing my tension but misinterpreting it as stress from work. With a sympathetic smile, she turns to leave.

"Wait!" I call out without thinking, causing her to pause in her tracks. My heart leaps into my throat as I realize what I've just done. "I mean...uh, could you also forward the report to Julie? She might have some input."

"Sure thing, Alex," Clara nods, giving me a puzzled look before walking away.

"Nice save," Julie smirks, leaning against my office door frame. "But seriously, if there's something going on between you two, I won't judge. We all need a little happiness in our lives."

"Nothing's going on," I insist through gritted teeth. Her words hit too close to home, and I can't let her suspicions grow any further.

"Alright, alright," she concedes, holding up her hands defensively. "Just remember, I'm here if you ever need to talk."

"Thanks," I mutter, knowing full well that I'll never be able to confide in her about this.

As Julie leaves my office, I sink into my chair, my body trembling with adrenaline. It's becoming increasingly difficult to keep our relationship hidden. And with people like Julie watching our every move, I know we're playing a dangerous game - one that could cost us everything.

I stare at the door, my jaw clenched so tight it feels like it might crack. I can't keep up this fucking charade much longer. My hands grip the edge of the desk until my knuckles turn white. I force myself to take a deep breath and try to regain some semblance of composure.

I don’t have long before I have to go to a meeting, one where Clara is presenting her ideas. I take my seat at the opposite end of the table, nodding to her.

I listen intently as she goes over everything, my eyes tracking along her face the entire time. She is so beautiful and all I can think about is the night I took her in my office and how badly I want to do that again…

"Alexander," Clara's voice cuts through my thoughts, snapping me back to reality. "Did you have any questions?"

"Uh, no," I say, trying to gather my thoughts. "It all looked good to me."

"Good," she says with a bright smile, oblivious to the turmoil raging inside me.

As others jump in to discuss the presentation, I can't help but watch her face, her soft eyes, and the way her lips curve when she smiles. It's all too much, and I find myself eager to get back to my office.

After the meeting wraps, I’m up and out of my chair as fast as possible. I start toward the door when I feel a hand on my arm.

"Is everything okay?" Clara asks, concern evident in her voice.

"Everything's fine," I lie through gritted teeth. "Just a lot on my mind."

"Okay," she replies hesitantly.

As I return to my office, I realize that something has to give. This constant vigilance, the fear of being discovered, the gnawing guilt – it's eating away at me, leaving me raw and exposed.

I can't keep doing this forever.

15

CLARA

The familiar aroma of dust and old paper greets me as I crack open the door to the records room. This place always reminds me of my childhood days spent in my father's office, sifting through piles of papers and imagining myself as an archaeologist unearthing ancient treasures.

But that was then, and this is now. I'm no longer a wide-eyed child with big dreams. I am Clara Williams, recent college graduate and new employee at Alexander Blaese's billion-dollar company.

"Alright, Clara, focus," I mutter under my breath, my sneakers squeaking on the linoleum floor. I glance around the dimly lit room, squinting at the rows upon rows of metal shelves towering over me like silent sentinels. I know there has to be something valuable hidden away in here, some old marketing program that can breathe new life into the company and prove my worth to Alexander.

"Let's see what we have here," I murmur, running my fingers along the spines of dusty file folders. With every passing moment, I feel the weight of expectation pressing down on me. I can't afford to let Alexander down - I need to make my mark on this company and show him that I deserve a second chance.

---