Page 44 of Bossalicious Bad Boy

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I stride into the Italian restaurant on Fifth Avenue, my eyes scanning the room for James. I spot him sitting at a table by the window, his tall frame hunched over a menu. The aroma of fresh garlic and tomato sauce hits my nostrils as I make my way through the crowded dining area. The lunch hour rush is in full swing, and I can feel the energy buzzing around me.

"Hey," I say as I slide into the seat opposite James. He looks up from his menu, concern etched on his face.

"Alright, what's going on?" he asks, jumping straight to the point. I take a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm despite the frustration roiling inside me.

"Clara came to my office today with some serious accusations," I start, recounting the events that unfolded just hours earlier. "She believes our family is responsible for her father's downfall."

A waiter approaches us with a smile, offering menus and taking our drink orders.

"Red wine for me," I say, trying to maintain a sense of normalcy despite the whirlwind of emotions inside me. "And a beer for my brother."

"Of course," the waiter replies, swiftly disappearing into the crowded restaurant.

"Alright, Alex, spill it," James urges, leaning forward with an intensity that matches my own. "What's going on with Clara and her family?"

"Apparently," I begin, choosing my words carefully as my fingers fidget with the silverware, "our father had some kind of business deal with her father, Michael Williams, years ago. It went south, and her family lost everything because of it."

"Damn," James breathes, his brow furrowing. "I had no idea."

"Neither did I," I admit, my frustration evident. "Clara accused me of ruining her life, and I didn't even know her last name until she told me."

"Wait, so you're telling me you had no clue who she was when you hired her?" James asks, incredulous.

"None whatsoever," I confirm, shaking my head. "It's just... one hell of a coincidence."

"Or fate," James muses, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "You know how these things work in novels."

"Very funny," I retort, smirking despite the gravity of the situation. "But seriously, do you know anything more about our father's dealings with the Williams family?"

James leans back in his chair, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Now that you mention it, I do remember Dad mentioning something about a business partner named Williams. It was around the time you were off at college, so I guess that's why you never heard about it. But I didn't know things had ended so badly."

"Neither did I," I say again, my voice heavy with guilt. "And now Clara's here, working for me, and she thinks I've been purposely keeping her down because of some vendetta against her family."

"Wow, that's..." James trails off, his gaze sympathetic. "That's rough, Alex." He shakes his head. "I had no idea she was involved in any of this. If I'd known, I would've mentioned it sooner."

"Neither of us could've known," I say, my shoulders slumping as I realize just how deep these misunderstandings run between our families. "But now that we do, we need to find a way to make things right."

"Absolutely," James agrees, his voice firm and resolute. "And the only way for Clara to move on is for her to get closure on this whole situation."

"Right," I nod, my determination returning as I take a deep breath. "Then let's give her that closure."

We continue discussing potential solutions over lunch, the weight of the conversation leaving little room for laughter or small talk. Despite that, there's a comforting sense of camaraderie between us that makes the discussion feel more like a team effort than a burden.

As we finish our meal, I reach for my wallet and quickly pay the bill. There's a sense of urgency buzzing beneath my skin, fueled by the need to help Clara and resolve the tension before it causes any more damage.

"Thanks for your help, James," I say sincerely as we make our way back outside. The bustle of Fifth Avenue greets us with open arms as we join the throng of people weaving their way through the city.

"Anytime, Alex," he replies, clapping me on the shoulder. "You know I'm always here for you. And for Clara too – she seems like a good person, caught up in something she didn't ask for."

"I know," I admit, my thoughts once again drifting back to Clara's hurt expression when she stormed out of my office. "I just hope she can see that I never meant for any of this to happen."

"Give her a chance, Alex," James advises with a knowing smile. "People can surprise you sometimes."

With that, we part ways – James heading back to his own office and me returning to mine, my thoughts consumed by Clara and the hope for forgiveness.

"Alright, Clara," I whisper to myself as I stride purposefully down the avenue, the sun casting a golden glow on the city around me. "It's time to make things right."

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