Page 56 of Bossalicious Bad Boy

"Amends?" I scoff, suddenly feeling the anger bubble over. "You think you can just apologize and everything will be fine?"

"Clara," James interjects, his tone firm yet gentle. "No one is saying this fixes everything, or that we should forget about the past. But it's a start."

"Easy for you to say," I mutter, crossing my arms defensively. "Your father didn't get his life destroyed by someone he trusted."

"We know it's not going to be easy, but we have to find a way to move forward. For Michael, for ourselves," Jessica says, giving me a meaningful look.

"Forgiveness doesn't come easily," I admit, my anger slowly dissipating, replaced by a swirling mix of sadness and confusion. "But I'll... I'll try. For Dad."

"Thank you," Daniel whispers, his face etched with remorse. "I know it might not mean much now, but I will do everything in my power to make things right. Including admitting what I’ve done publicly, and taking whatever charges may come. I can never atone for what I’ve done, but I want you to know that I’m taking responsibility."

"Okay, let's just put it out there," Alexander says, his voice cold and sharp like ice. "I'm not happy with what you did to Michael, Dad. You destroyed his life, and in turn, affected the lives of Clara and Jessica."

"Alex..." James tries to interject, but his brother cuts him off.

"No, James. It needs to be said." Alexander turns his attention back to Daniel. "But I also understand that people make mistakes, even huge ones. And if Clara and Jessica are willing to try and forgive you, then maybe I should too."

A heavy silence settles over the table as everyone takes in Alexander's words. I glance over at Jessica, whose eyes are filled with compassion. She reaches out to touch Alexander's arm gently.

"None of us are perfect, Alex," she says, her voice soft yet steady. "And we all deserve a chance at redemption."

"Jessica's right," I chime in, pushing aside my lingering anger. "If we keep holding onto the past, we'll never be able to move on. We're here now, trying to build bridges – and that's what matters."

As I speak, I see a glimmer of relief in Daniel's eyes, though they still hold an undeniable weight. James nods in agreement, placing a hand on his father's shoulder.

"Let's not forget the good times we had with Michael," he says, forcing a small smile. "He wouldn't want us to dwell on the pain."

"Here's to second chances," Alexander adds, raising his glass. We all follow suit, clinking our glasses together in a toast to newfound hope.

As the dinner comes to an end, we stand up from the table, our stomachs full but our hearts heavy. Daniel approaches Jessica and me, his eyes brimming with sincerity.

"Thank you for this evening," he says, his voice cracking slightly. "I know it wasn't easy, but I'm truly grateful for the opportunity to make amends."

"We appreciate your honesty," Jessica replies, offering him a small, albeit genuine smile. I nod, echoing her sentiment, though the words still feel foreign on my tongue.

"Let's all move forward from here," James suggests, his hand resting on Alexander's back. "For Michael, and for ourselves."

"Agreed," Alexander says, his gaze meeting mine. I see the determination in his eyes – the same determination that made me admire him as my boss.

"Thank you for coming tonight," I say, forcing a smile. "It was good to talk about everything."

"Clara's right," Jessica chimes in, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "We needed this. To clear the air."

Daniel nods solemnly, his gaze lingering on each of ours for a moment. "We did. I hope we can continue to move forward together, as friends."

"Me too," Alexander says, his voice steady and firm. My heart thuds in my chest as our eyes meet briefly before he continues, "I think we owe it to Michael's memory to try our best."

"Absolutely," James agrees, running a hand through his hair. "We'll always be here if you need anything, Clara, Jessica."

"Same goes for us," Jessica adds, reaching out to give James a reassuring pat on the arm.

"Thank you," I whisper, touched by their words. We all stand, ready to leave the confines of the restaurant and face the world outside. As we gather our things, the room seems to shrink around us, the weight of our shared history pressing in from all sides. But within that pressure, there's also a newfound sense of unity.

"Take care," Daniel says, his voice barely audible as he hugs Jessica and then me. I can feel the strength behind his embrace, the sincerity of his apology still lingering in the air.

"Goodbye," I murmur, pulling away from Daniel. I watch as James goes to his father, motioning for Daniel, but Alexander lingers behind.

Jessica looks from him to me and then offers me a smile. “I’ll see you later.” She gives me a little side hug before smiling at him with a half wave.

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