Whispers In The Boardroom

Chapter 31: Trust Issues

Emma's trust in Alexander was teetering as she tried to navigate the emotional fallout of his recent betrayal. Their once-solid connection felt fragile, and she couldn't help but question if she had made the right choice in forgiving him. The weight of everything in her life seemed to be crashing down at once, making her wonder if adding a relationship to the chaos was worth it.

After Alexander apologized to her downstairs, Emma entered her apartment feeling a surge of frustration. Why was he so quick to blame her when he had asked for her help? The thought gnawed at her as she paced across the room. She had agreed to assist him because she believed he trusted her with something so sensitive. So why was he the first to doubt her?

Regret began creeping into her thoughts. Maybe she shouldn't have taken him back so quickly. Her anxiety about dating him resurfaced like an old wound, reopening with each new issue they faced. She couldn't shake the feeling of unease as she tried to balance her emotions with the mountain of stress she was dealing with at work. There was still the guy from the business meeting who kept calling her—she didn't know why he wouldn't leave her alone. She was determined to keep things professional and had been avoiding him, yet the unwanted attention was relentless.

On top of that, there were her family issues. She was constantly worrying about her brother, who was on the verge of losing his job after a fight with a customer. How would he support his pregnant girlfriend if he was fired? The thought consumed her. Then, there was her mother—always distant, never fully present—while her father continued to struggle with alcoholism, relapsing more often than not. It felt like everything in her life was spiraling out of control, and the stress was already taking its toll on her.

"Do I even have room for a relationship in my life?" she muttered to herself, the doubt looming large in her mind.

Suddenly, she screamed out in frustration. Her outburst echoed through her apartment until a voice from above interrupted, "Would you shut up already?!"

Emma froze, shocked by her own behavior. She rarely let her emotions get the best of her like that. Was everything finally catching up to her?

She tried to calm herself by taking a long, hot shower, hoping the water would wash away some of the day's tension. But when she stepped out, the weight of it all still pressed on her. She reached for the bottle of wine she had bought a few days ago, pouring herself a glass. As she held it in her hand, swirling the deep red liquid, she whispered under her breath, "Life always has to be so pathetic, doesn't it?"

Before she knew it, she had finished the bottle. She fell asleep on the couch, the empty wine bottle sprawled on the floor beside her, the half-drunk glass resting precariously on the edge of the coffee table.

The next morning, a knock on her door startled her awake. Disoriented, Emma stumbled toward the door to find Alexander standing there. Before she could shut it in his face, he blocked it gently, asking with sincerity, "Emma, please, forgive me. I was wrong. I'll never do that again. Let me take you to work today?"

Emma was groggy and hadn't even realized she was running late. She glanced at the time and rushed into the bathroom to take a quick shower, her thoughts still a blur. She chose a tight red dress and curled her hair, opting for the vanilla fragrance perfume she knew Alexander couldn't resist. She needed to feel in control today, even if everything around her felt chaotic.

As they hurried out of the apartment building, Alexander couldn't tear his eyes away from Emma. Her beauty was undeniable, but today, there was something different about her—a glow that he couldn't quite explain. The way her curls fell perfectly and the vanilla fragrance she wore, his favorite, did something to him that he'd rather keep to himself. He kept stealing glances, unable to handle how captivating she looked. But before he could say anything, Emma tugged at his arm, pulling him out the door.

"Come on, let's go! I'm late!" she said, her tone urgent as she motioned him toward the car.

Alexander quickly followed her, slipping into the driver's seat as Emma settled in beside him, taking quick bites of her apple. He found it both funny and cute, the way she tried to eat in a rush. He couldn't help but smile at her frantic energy, even though the stress of the morning was clearly written on her face.

As they reached her office building, Emma wasted no time. She sped out of the car before Alexander could even get a word in, determined to make it inside before she was any later. He watched her dart through the doors, laughing softly to himself. If he had tried to say anything, he was sure she would've scolded him for making her even later.

As he sat there, Alexander knew he needed to do more than just apologize. He had to win back her trust and show her that he truly cared. He decided to order Emma's favorite meal—a spinach croissant sandwich with fries and a Diet Coke—and have it delivered to her office. Along with it, he left a note:

"Emma, I hope you feel a lot more relaxed despite getting to work late. I know you're probably busy, but I hope you enjoy the food. I truly am sorry. Call me when you're about to leave work—I want to take you somewhere."

When the meal arrived, Emma was stunned. She hadn't expected anything like this, and when she saw the note, a warm feeling spread through her. He remembered her favorite meal. That small gesture made her heart soften. She felt a flicker of forgiveness, and for the first time, she realized she couldn't stay mad at him forever. The thought of him wanting to take her out filled her with a quiet joy she couldn't hide. One of her co-workers noticed her smile and asked, "What's got you so happy?"

Emma quickly masked her emotions. She didn't want people involved in her relationship again. She had learned from past mistakes, and this time, she felt in control. Her smile lingered, though, knowing that this happiness was her own, not shaped by others' opinions.

By the end of the day, Alexander was already waiting for her downstairs. As she called him, like he had asked, he told her to come down because he was already there. The idea that he had been waiting for her ignited a fire inside Emma.

Alexander drove them to a park filled with flowers. The setting was perfect for a peaceful evening, and as they walked hand in hand, he bought them ice cream from a street vendor. It reminded Emma of her childhood, and for a moment, she felt carefree. These were the moments that made her see Alexander differently, that made her fall for him all over again.

Suddenly, she stopped him, grabbing his arm. "Alexander, I love you. But sometimes I'm scared of how much I feel for you. I don't know if I can handle being hurt again. You can't just toy with my emotions."

Her words struck Alexander hard. He realized that if he hurt her again, he would lose her for good. This time, he had to make things right.