The Email [Yandere Boss x Reader]

Chapter 37 - Embarrassing Truth

The wine bottle was halfway empty, and the atmosphere between Hayes and me had shifted into a comfortable, albeit charged, camaraderie. We sat close on the couch, the wine fueling our courage and loosening our tongues.

"Truth or dare?" he asked, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

"Truth," I said, feeling brave and a little tipsy.

His smile widened, and I immediately regretted my choice. "Alright, tell me about your most embarrassing moment at work."

I groaned, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. "Do I really have to?"

"Yes," he said, leaning back with a smug grin. "You chose truth."

"Fine," I sighed, taking a large gulp of wine. "It was my first month at the company. I was so eager to make a good impression that I worked late every night. One night, I was in the office alone, practicing a presentation. I decided to try out some power poses I read about online to boost my confidence. So, there I was, standing on a chair, doing the Wonder Woman pose..."

Hayes chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Please tell me someone walked in on you."

"Worse," I said, covering my face with my hands. "I lost my balance and fell off the chair. I landed on my butt with a loud thud, and my skirt ripped. To make matters worse, the cleaning crew had just walked in. They saw everything."

Hayes laughed, a deep, genuine laugh that made me want to both smile and disappear into the couch cushions. "Oh, that's priceless. I wish I could have seen that."

I glared at him, though I couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, well, it wasn't so funny at the time."

"I bet," he said, still chuckling. "But I have to say, I'm impressed. It takes guts to own up to something like that."

"Your turn," I said, eager to shift the focus. "Truth or dare?"

"Truth," he said, still grinning.

"What's your most embarrassing moment?" I asked, hoping to get some payback.

Hayes thought for a moment, then smirked. "I once walked into a glass wall during a meeting. I was distracted, looking at some documents, and didn't see it. The sound was so loud, everyone stopped and stared. I had a bruise on my forehead for a week."

I burst out laughing, the image of Hayes, always so composed and in control, walking into a glass wall was too much. "Oh, I wish I could have seen that!"

"Yeah, yeah," he said, rolling his eyes but smiling. "I guess we're even now."

"Not quite," I said, feeling bolder. "Truth or dare?"

"Dare," he said, his eyes narrowing playfully.

"I dare you to... do a dramatic reading of a Shakespeare sonnet."

He raised an eyebrow. "Which one?"

"Sonnet 18," I said, handing him my phone with the text pulled up.

He cleared his throat, and in an exaggerated, theatrical voice, began to recite: "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate..."

I couldn't stop giggling as he continued, adding dramatic pauses and over-the-top gestures. When he finished, he took a bow, and I applauded.

"Bravo," I said, still laughing. "You missed your calling as a Shakespearean actor."

"Maybe in another life," he said, sitting back down. "Truth or dare?"

"Truth," I said, still catching my breath from laughing.

"Do you have any secret talents?" he asked, leaning in closer.

I hesitated, not sure if I should share this particular truth. "I... can sing a little," I admitted.

"Really?" he said, his interest piqued. "I'd love to hear you sing sometime."

"Maybe," I said, feeling shy all of a sudden.

"Oh, come on, don't be coy," he teased. "You can't just drop that bomb and not follow through."

"Maybe if I have enough wine," I said, smiling despite myself.

"Then we better keep drinking," he said, refilling our glasses.

As we continued our game, sharing more truths and dares, I felt a warmth spreading through me that had nothing to do with the wine. Despite everything that had happened, there was a growing connection between us, a sense of understanding and mutual respect.

But even as I laughed and teased, a part of me remained cautious, wary of getting too close. The night in the bar still lingered in my mind, a dark reminder of the complexities of our relationship. He seemed genuine now, but could I trust this version of him? Or was this just another layer of the enigma that was Hayes?

"Your turn," he said, pulling me back to the present. "Truth or dare?"

"Dare," I said, feeling a surge of bravery.

He smiled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I dare you to sing for me."

I took a deep breath, feeling a mix of fear and excitement. "Alright," I said, setting my glass down. "But don't laugh."

"I wouldn't dream of it," he said, his gaze steady and encouraging.

I began to sing, my voice trembling at first but growing stronger as I continued. Hayes watched me intently, his expression softening with each note. When I finished, he applauded, a genuine smile on his face.

"That was beautiful," he said, his voice full of sincerity.

"Thanks," I said, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks. I couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking. Was he impressed? Or just being polite?

"Truth or dare?" he asked, his tone gentle.

"Truth," I said, my heart still racing from the performance. My mind was spinning. Had I just made a fool of myself? Or had I just revealed another piece of myself to him?

"Do you think you'll ever be able to fully trust me?" His question was simple, but it cut to the core.

I looked at him, seeing the vulnerability in his eyes. "I don't know," I said honestly. "But I'm willing to try."

"That's all I need to hear," he said, his smile returning. His words were reassuring, but I couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of a much longer journey.

As the night wore on, we continued to share more of ourselves, breaking down the walls that had been built between us. It wasn't perfect, and the road ahead was still uncertain, but for the first time in a long while, I felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, we could find a way to move forward together.

But even as hope flickered, doubt still lingered.

Was this newfound connection genuine?

Or just another illusion?

I wanted to believe in him, in us, but only time would tell if this was the start of something real or just another chapter in a complicated story.