Chapter 16: Bossalicious Bad Boy: Chapter 16

I stifle a yawn as I make my way to the conference room for yet another meeting. The steady rhythm of my footsteps echoes through the empty hallway, creating a sense of urgency that both thrills and exhausts me. My thoughts drift to Clara, her recent behavior weighing heavily on my mind.

‘Morning, Alex.’ I hear the janitor greet me, his voice bouncing off the walls. I offer him a nod and a smile before continuing on my way. As the CEO of this company, I’m no stranger to stress, but something about Clara’s sudden withdrawal from me has my gut twisting with unease.

A specific instance comes to mind: just yesterday, in the break room. I had entered, my usual confident stride intact, only to find Clara hastily retreating out the back door. She didn’t even look at me, and for some reason, it stung. Her avoidance feels personal, and I can’t help but wonder what I’ve done to deserve it.

‘Alex!’ I hear her call from behind me, and my heart leaps. But as I turn to face her, she quickly diverts her eyes to the floor and mutters, ‘Sorry, I thought you were someone else.’

‘Clara, wait,’ I say, reaching out to grab her arm, desperate for some sort of connection. She winces, pulling away, and my hand hangs in the air awkwardly.

‘Sorry, Alex. I, um, I have to go.’ And with that, she disappears around the corner, leaving me standing there, utterly confused.

My head throbs with questions. Is it something I said? Something I did? The more I think about it, the more examples I come up with – times when Clara has purposefully avoided me.

‘Alex, are you okay?’ My assistant, Julie, asks as she walks past. I force a smile and nod, though I can’t shake the feeling that something is terribly wrong.

‘Fine, just tired,’ I manage to say, but my thoughts are still with Clara. What could have possibly caused her withdrawal? Did I offend her somehow? Or perhaps she’s just overwhelmed by the workload here.

As the day wears on, I find myself unable to concentrate. My mind keeps drifting back to Clara – her bright smile, her quick wit, the way she has of making everyone around her feel at ease. We used to be close, our unlikely friendship built on shared laughs and mutual respect. But now, it feels as though she’s slipping through my fingers like sand, and I’m powerless to stop it.

‘Alright, Alex. Time for action,’ I mutter under my breath, pushing away from my desk and striding towards the door.

‘Julie, hold my calls,’ I instruct as I pass her desk. ‘I need to talk to Clara.’

‘Of course, Alexander,’ she replies with a nod.

As I approach the break room, I catch sight of Clara pouring herself a cup of coffee. My heart races in anticipation of finally confronting her about her behavior. I stride into the room, determined to confront the issue head-on.

‘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.

I spend the rest of the day going through the motions, my thoughts continually circling back to Clara. What could be driving this wedge between us? And how can I fix it without making things worse? The questions prick at me like thorns, leaving me feeling raw and exposed.

By the end of the day, I’m emotionally drained – and no closer to finding an answer. As I stand up from my desk, I take one last look at Clara’s empty chair, my heart heavy with the weight of our fractured friendship.

The moment I step into the office the next morning, I’m on high alert. My gaze lands on Clara’s desk, and my gut churns at the sight of her familiar belongings: her laptop, her coffee mug, a few scattered papers. I tap my fingers on my own desk, willing myself to keep it together.

‘Morning, Alex,’ she says with a tight smile as she walks past me toward her desk. She avoids eye contact, her once-sparkling eyes now dull and guarded.

‘Clara, can we talk?’ I blurt out, unable to contain my urgency any longer. My voice is more insistent than I intended, but I can’t help it. I need answers.

‘Uh, sure. But I have to finish this report first,’ she replies, her voice strained. ‘Can it wait until lunch?’

‘Fine,’ I agree, trying to hide my disappointment and frustration. The hours drag by like molasses, and when lunchtime finally arrives, I waste no time in approaching her again.

‘Let’s go grab something to eat,’ I suggest, hoping the casual invitation will put her at ease. She hesitates for a moment before nodding and grabbing her purse.

We walk to a nearby deli in silence, the tension between us palpable. As we wait for our sandwiches, I rack my brain for the right words, desperate to mend the rift that’s grown between us.

‘Clara, I’ve noticed you’ve been… distant lately,’ I begin, my heart pounding in my chest. ‘Is everything okay? Did I do something to upset you?’

She glances at me, her eyes searching mine for a moment before she looks away. ‘No, it’s not you. It’s just… work has been really stressful, and I’ve been trying to juggle everything.’

‘Are you sure?’ I press, not entirely convinced. ‘You know you can talk to me about anything, right?’

‘Of course,’ she replies with a small, forced smile. ‘Really, it’s nothing.’

‘Okay,’ I say, though her words do little to quell my concern. We finish our meal in uncomfortable silence, the weight of unsaid words hanging heavy between us.

The next few days are more of the same: Clara avoiding my gaze, giving me terse answers, and shutting down any attempts at conversation. It’s like trying to hold onto water – the harder I grip, the faster she slips through my fingers.

I can’t take it anymore. One morning, after yet another stilted exchange, something inside me snaps.

I fling my door open, my eyes landing on Clara immediately. She’s already staring at me, and I cock an eyebrow. “I need to see you. In my office.”

Her eyes widen a little as she nods. She walks past me inside, and I shut the door behind her.

Clara spins toward me. “What did you want to talk about?”

‘Us,’ I say, my voice wavering. ‘I feel like there’s this…distance between us lately, and I want to understand why.’

‘Alex, I’m swamped with work right now.’ Her eyes dart toward the door. ‘Can we do this later?’

‘Clara, please,’ I plead, my desperation evident. ‘This is important.’

‘Fine,’ she sighs, finally turning to face me. Her eyes are distant, her arms crossed defensively. ‘What do you want to talk about?’

‘Look, I know something’s wrong,’ I say, willing my voice to stay steady. ‘You’ve been avoiding me for days, and I can’t figure out why. If I did something to upset you, please tell me so I can fix it.’

‘It’s not that simple.’ She looks down, avoiding my gaze. ‘Sometimes people just…drift apart.’

‘Is that what’s happening to us?’ I ask, the question laced with pain. ‘We’re drifting apart?’

‘Maybe,’ she admits, her voice so low I have to strain to hear her. ‘And maybe that’s for the best.’

‘Clara…’ My throat tightens, choking off the words I want to say. She turns back to her computer, signaling that the conversation is over.

I leave her office, feeling as if the floor has dropped out from beneath me. The once-solid ground of our friendship now feels like quicksand, sucking me down into a pit of confusion and despair. I lean against the wall for support, struggling to catch my breath.

‘Alex, are you okay?’ Julie’s concerned voice pulls me from my thoughts.

‘No,’ I admit, my voice cracking. ‘I just…I don’t know what to do anymore.’

‘Give it some time,’ she says gently, laying a hand on my shoulder. ‘Maybe things will work themselves out.’

‘Maybe,’ I echo, though I can’t help but feel defeated and unsure about the future. As I return to my office, I can’t shake the weight of loss that threatens to crush me. My once unbreakable bond with Clara hangs by a thread, leaving me grasping at the frayed edges, desperate for a way to save it.