Can an offer stir up Mr. CEO?

As Xavier fumbled for his phone, he dialed Brielle's number, hoping that she would answer. But the call went straight to voicemail, and he cursed under his breath. He left a message, explaining what had happened and apologizing profusely. He hung up the phone, feeling even more frustrated and upset than before. He knew that he had to find a way to make things right, but he didn't know how.

With a burst of energy, Xavier got out of the car and ran towards the building, his mind racing with thoughts of Brielle. He burst through the door, panting and out of breath, his eyes scanning the lobby for any sign of her. He went up to the receptionist, asking if they had seen a woman matching Brielle's description. The receptionist shook their head, and Xavier felt his heart sink.

Xavier got back into his car, his shoulders slumped with defeat. He knew he had messed up, and he felt terrible about leaving Brielle behind. He drove home, his mind swirling with thoughts of what he could have done differently. He couldn't stop thinking about her, and he wondered if he would ever have the chance to apologize to her. He felt like he had ruined any chance of a future with her, and he was filled with regret.

Xavier knew that it was inappropriate to have such strong feelings for his secretary, but he couldn't deny the connection he felt with her. And he knew that the situation with Clara had been painful for her. He felt like he had only added to her hurt, and he hated himself for it. He didn't know how to make things right, and he didn't know if he could ever fix this. He felt lost and confused, his mind full of doubts and questions.

***

Brielle arrived at work early the next day, determined to put on a brave face and act like nothing had happened. She went to her desk, which was just outside Xavier's office, and got to work.

Xavier arrived a few minutes later, his usual impeccable appearance giving no hint of the turmoil he was feeling inside. He walked towards his office, but stopped when he saw Brielle standing outside his door. He took a deep breath and put on his most professional demeanor.

"Good morning sir" Brielle greeted, her voice soft.

"Xavier" he said, correcting her to not call him sir but by his name.

"Oh_right" Brielle smiled, her eyes wanting to do otherwise.

"How are you doing today?" Xavier asked, trying to sound as normal as possible.

Brielle merely nodded in response, not wanting to give Xavier the satisfaction of a verbal answer. She knew that she would have to be professional and polite, but she didn't want to give him the impression that everything was okay. She felt like she had to keep her distance, both physically and emotionally, to protect herself from further hurt.

Xavier noticed Brielle's cold demeanor, and it stung him more than he expected. He opened the door to his office and went inside, but then he turned around and walked back out. He stood in front of Brielle, looking at her with a pleading expression on his face.

"Look, Brielle," Xavier said, his voice tight with desperation. "I'm so sorry for what happened yesterday. I know I was out of line, and I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you. I just...I just got so frustrated and I didn't know what to do. I know it's not an excuse, but please understand that I didn't mean to leave you behind out there." He looked at her, hoping that she would be able to see the sincerity in his eyes.

"I'm just a secretary, and as a secretary, I shouldn't expect an apology from the CEO. I know my place, and I don't expect anything more than that."

Xavier knew that he wouldn't be able to change Brielle's mind, so he decided to retreat to his office. As he walked away, he called out over his shoulder, "And while you're at it, bring me a cup of coffee - black, two sugars!"

Brielle sighed, knowing that she had to follow his orders. She headed to the break room to make his coffee, feeling a mix of frustration and resignation.

Xavier spent the rest of the day locked away in his office, busy with work. He read through files and reports, making notes and sending out emails. Brielle was left to her own devices, catching up on her administrative tasks and fielding phone calls.

As lunchtime rolled around, Brielle got up from her desk and made her way to Xavier's office. She knocked on the door, her hand trembling slightly. She heard a gruff "Come in!" from the other side of the door, and she took a deep breath before entering. She saw Xavier sitting at his desk, his eyes focused on his computer screen.

Brielle spoke up, her voice professional but hesitant, "Sir, it's lunchtime. Would you like me to order something for you, or would you prefer to go out to eat?"

Xavier glanced up from his computer, a look of annoyance on his face. He let out a sigh, his response was short and to the point.

"You can go on without me. I'll be working through lunch."

Brielle nodded and turned to leave, but before she could reach the door, Xavier spoke up again, "And make sure you get yourself something to eat as well. I don't want you starving yourself on my account."

Brielle paused, surprised by his concern, then gave him a quick "Yes, sir," before heading to the break room.

For the next month, Xavier would tell Brielle the same thing whenever she asked him about lunch - "You can go on without me." And she would nod and head to the break room to get her own lunch. But despite his insistence that she should go on without him, Brielle noticed that he would often end up eating alone in his office. She felt a pang of guilt, knowing that he must be lonely.

Brielle had noticed that xavier didn't seem to have many friends or colleagues that he was close to. he mostly kept to himself, rarely venturing out of his office. she wondered if something was going on in his life that was causing him to withdraw like this, but she didn't feel comfortable asking him about it. after all, he was her boss, and she did not want to pry.

"Sir, would you like to join me for lunch today?" Brielle asked Xavier one day, trying to break the monotony of their routine. She was hoping that maybe he would say yes this time, but to her disappointment, he gave her the same response as before.

"You can go on without me, Brielle. I'll be fine here." Brielle felt a twinge of sadness, but she didn't let it show on her face.

Xavier had expected Brielle to leave after he told her to go on without him, but he was surprised to see her still standing in his office, looking at him expectantly. He cleared his throat, feeling a bit uncomfortable under her gaze.

"Is there something else you need, Brielle?" he asked, trying to sound casual. But there was an underlying tension in his voice, and Brielle noticed it.

Brielle took a deep breath, mustering up the courage to say what was on her mind.

"I know you said you'd prefer to eat alone, but I'd really like you to join me for lunch today. I think it would be nice to take a break and stay away from the work load you always delve into constantly" Her words were tentative, but her tone was sincere. She hoped that he would take her up on her offer.

Xavier sat frozen in his chair, unsure of what to say or do. He could feel Brielle's gaze boring into him, and it made him feel both uncomfortable and intrigued. He knew he should say something, but he didn't know what. He looked down at the pen he had dropped, his mind racing.

Xavier gave her a small smile, the first one she had seen from him since she started working for him.

"Okay" he said, his voice a little softer than before. "I guess I can spare some time for lunch."

Brielle smiled back at him, feeling relieved and a bit hopeful. Maybe they could start to build a better relationship after all. "Great!" she said, her voice bubbling with excitement. "Let's head to the cafeteria then."

As they walked to the cafeteria, Brielle could sense that Xavier was a bit out of his element. He had probably never set foot in the cafeteria since he became CEO, and he seemed to be relying on her to lead the way.

When they arrived at the cafeteria, they were disappointed to see that the lunch hour was over and the food was gone.

"Oh no" Brielle said, a look of dismay on her face. "I'm so sorry, I didn't realize we were running late."

Xavier shrugged, not seeming too bothered by the situation. "It's no problem," he said. "We can always get something from the vending machines or the break room." Brielle looked at him, a bit surprised by his easygoing attitude.

She led them to the break room, where there were indeed some biscuits and coffee available. "This will have to do," she said, grabbing a couple of biscuits.

Brielle offered to make the coffee for both of them, and Xavier was pleasantly surprised by her gesture. He watched as she expertly measured the grounds and poured the water, her movements confident and efficient.

As Brielle worked on making the coffee, she felt a presence behind her, and she turned to see Xavier standing just inches away from her. She could feel his breath on her face, and her heart skipped a beat. She couldn't stop her mind from racing, wondering what had prompted Xavier to get so close to her.

Brielle's voice was quiet but firm as she said,

"Sir, you're too close." She didn't want to offend him, but she also didn't want him to get any closer. There was something about his presence that made her feel both nervous and excited, and she wasn't sure how to handle it.

Xavier's actions were unexpected, and Brielle felt a shiver of apprehension run through her. His hands were resting on the counter, effectively trapping her in the small space between him and the coffee machine. She could feel the heat radiating from his body, and she wasn't sure what to do next. She felt frozen in place, not knowing how to react.

"Brielle" Xavier called, his voice low and soft. "Please, call me Xavier. I feel like we're past the point of formalities." he moved even closer, and she could feel the warmth of his breath on her cheek. she closed her eyes, unable to look at him. her heart was pounding in her chest, and she didn't know what to say.

"I..." she began, but the words died on her lips.

Brielle could feel his lips almost brushing against her cheek, and she held her breath, unsure of what to do. Should she lean away, or would that only make things more awkward? Should she say something, or would that just make the situation even more uncomfortable? She felt frozen in place, unable to move or speak. All she could do was wait and see what would happen next.

Just as Xavier was about to close the distance between them, Brielle suddenly felt a wave of nausea wash over her. She quickly covered her mouth with her hand, trying to hold back the contents of her stomach.

"Oh no" she gasped, looking around frantically for a place to run to. She could feel her face turning red with embarrassment, and she wished she could just disappear. Xavier looked at her with a mixture of confusion and concern.