Page 35 of Bossalicious Bad Boy

"Clara, we need to talk," I say firmly, crossing my arms over my chest. She visibly tenses but doesn't meet my gaze.

"Can it wait? I'm really swamped right now," she mumbles, avoiding eye contact. Her fingers grip the coffee mug tightly, betraying her anxiety.

"Actually, no, it can't wait," I insist, frustration creeping into my voice. "You've been avoiding me, and I want to know why."

"Look, I'm sorry if you feel that way, but I have work to do." With that, she spins on her heel and marches out of the room, leaving me standing there, dumbfounded.

"Damn it," I curse under my breath, running a hand through my hair.

"Everything alright?" I hear someone ask, and I turn to see Mark, one of our managers, leaning against the counter. He looks genuinely concerned, which only adds to my growing frustration.

"Mark, has Clara been acting differently around anyone else?" I inquire, hoping he might provide some insight into her behavior.

"Actually, now that you mention it, she's been a little distant with everyone," he answers thoughtfully. "But it seems to be more pronounced with you."

"Great," I mutter, my frustration mounting. What have I done to cause Clara to push me away like this? My mind races, trying to pinpoint any instances where I might have upset her.

"Maybe she's just going through something personal," Mark suggests, attempting to ease my concern. "Why don't you give her some space and try again later?"

"Maybe," I concede, though my gut tells me there's more to it than that. "Thanks, Mark."

"Anytime, boss," he replies, giving me a reassuring pat on the back before leaving the room.

I lean against the counter, taking deep breaths to calm my racing thoughts. I need to figure out what's going on with Clara, but pushing her further away won't help. For now, I'll give her space and hope that whatever is causing her to act this way will pass. But my heart aches at the thought of losing our friendship.

* * *

The moment I step into my office, my gaze unconsciously drifts to Clara's empty desk. My chest tightens as I recall our increasingly sparse interactions. What could I have done to make her withdraw from me like this? I rack my brain for any clue.

"Morning, Alex," Julie greets me, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Did you need anything right away?"

"Uh, no, thank you," I reply distractedly, trying to shake off my unease. "Actually, could you just remind me of today's schedule?"

"Sure thing," she says with a smile, handing me a printout of my appointments.

I force myself to focus on the papers in front of me, but my mind keeps drifting back to Clara. Was it something I said during that meeting last week? I had been a bit harsh with the team, expecting perfection from everyone. But Clara had always seemed to appreciate my dedication to excellence – or so I thought. Maybe I had finally pushed her too far.

"Alex?" Julie’s voice cuts through my thoughts once more. "Are you okay?"

"Fine, just..." I sigh heavily, running a hand through my hair. "Clara just seems off lately, and I don’t know why."

"Maybe she's going through something," Julie suggests gently. "Have you tried talking to her?"

"Believe me, I've tried," I admit, frustration seeping into my tone. "But she avoids me every chance she gets."

"Give it time," Julie advises, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "People go through rough patches. Whatever's going on, I'm sure it'll work itself out."

"Thanks," I say, managing a weak smile. But deep down, I can't help feeling like I've lost something precious.

As the day progresses, my mood continues to spiral downward. I snap at a junior employee for a minor mistake, something I'd usually handle with more patience. My appetite vanishes, leaving the salad I'd ordered untouched in the office fridge. Even my regular pick-me-up coffee fails to do the trick.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Julie asks during a rare quiet moment in the afternoon. Her concern is evident, but I can't bring myself to confide in her further. Instead, I plaster on a fake smile and try to reassure her.

"Really, I'm fine," I insist, though the words feel hollow. "Just a bit off today, that's all."

"Alright," she says hesitantly, clearly unconvinced. "But if you need to talk, I'm here."

"Thank you," I reply, grateful for her support even as I remain consumed by my own turmoil.

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