After collapsing on the job and taking some time to recover, I was finally ready to return to work. As I made my way towards the office building, I couldn't help but feel a sense of apprehension.
What if my colleagues were talking about my fainting incident behind my back? Would they think less of me now?
But as I stepped through the door, a wave of relief washed over me as I realized that no one seemed to be paying me any particular attention. Quietly, I made my way towards Dante's office and my desk, grateful for the lack of scrutiny.
I settled into my routine, however, a nagging feeling tugged at the back of my mind. Something was off. Mr. Dante, my boss, was typically the first one to arrive at the office, yet he was nowhere to be found.
I wondered if he was running late or if he had called in sick. Glancing around, I noticed that the piles of files that had been scattered on my desk were missing.
Perhaps Mr. Dante had given me some extra time to catch up on my tasks. Taking a deep breath, I felt grateful for the break and settled in to start my work.
I moved around my desk to take a seat, Dante unexpectedly strode into the office. Caught off guard, I found myself admiring him. His tall, broad-shouldered frame commanded attention, and his piercing eyes and chiseled features were the envy of everyone in the office.
Despite knowing I shouldn't be, I couldn't help but indulge in my admiration. Dante exuded confidence and charm, every bit the handsome and capable leader that he was.
My heart skipped a beat as I saw him approaching my desk, his eyes fixed on me with an intensity that made my knees go weak. I immediately stood up to greet him, but he held up a hand to stop me.
"Good morning, Mr. Harrison." I addressed him formally.
"Good morning, Faith," he said in a low, smooth voice that sent shivers down my spine. "Please, you don't have to stand on my account. And call me Dante." He said surprising me as he handed me a cup of coffee.
"A-are you sure? It seems a bit too casual. I think it would be best if I call you Mr.–"
"I insist," Dante cut me off, and I nodded, accepting his preference.
I couldn't help but smile politely at him, feeling a flush rise to my cheeks. "Of course, Dante," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "Thank you for the coffee."
Just as I took the cup from him, our fingers brushed against each other, igniting a sudden jolt of electricity that raced through my body.
Breathing in his intoxicating scent, I couldn't help but feel the heat radiating off his body, adding to the tension between us.
For a moment, I forgot about everything else - my work, my colleagues, even my own name - as I lost myself in his intriguing gaze. Dante eventually broke the intense eye contact, returning to his desk.
Sipping on the coffee that Dante had kindly brought me, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. His curious gaze caught mine, and he spoke with genuine concern in his voice. "I hope you've gotten enough rest and are feeling much better?" he asked, his words carrying a warmth that eased my nerves.
I felt a giddy sense of happiness as I responded, "Yes, I have. Thank you for asking, Mr- I mean Dante." My heart was pounding in my chest, and I could feel my cheeks flushing as I looked into his eyes.
"Good," He replied, his intense gaze never leaving mine. "Just make sure not to overwork yourself. If you feel overwhelmed or anything, please let me know."
I nodded, feeling grateful for his concern. "Of course, Dante," I said, a hint of shyness creeping into my voice.
He seemed completely different compared to just a few days ago.
Before my fainting spell, he had been aggressive and almost cold towards me, but now he was acting completely sweet and caring.
Did my mere fainting spell cause his demeanor to change so suddenly or was he just in a bad mood that particular day? Either way, I couldn't deny the thrill that ran through me at the thought of his attention.
I watched Dante move across the room, a voice in my head screamed at me to snap out of it.
'Damnit, Faith!' I scolded myself internally. 'Get your head back in the game. This is not the time to be fawning after someone you're not supposed to, especially since that someone is the same person who hurt you in the past by cheating!'
I shook my head, trying to clear my mind. I couldn't afford to let myself get distracted like this, not when there was so much work to be done.
I needed to focus on my job and leave my personal feelings for Dante aside. It was easier said than done, though - every time I looked at him, I felt a flutter in my stomach and a longing in my heart.
But I knew that I had to be strong. I couldn't let myself fall for Dante again, not when I knew how much it had hurt me in the past.
I took another deep breath, steeling myself for the day ahead. It was time to get back to work and prove to myself that I could be professional and strong, even in the face of temptation.
Once I settled into my work, I could not help but feel a sense of unease creeping over me. Something about the day felt off, and I couldn't quite put my finger on it.
Maybe it was the lingering effects of my fainting spell, or maybe it was just my nerves acting up again. Whatever the reason, I couldn't shake the feeling of apprehension that settled over me like a heavy blanket.
A few hours into my work, I noticed a new email in my inbox. As I opened it, I saw that it was from Dante, asking me to attend a board meeting with him later that day.
I felt a wave of confusion wash over me- why was this board meeting being called, especially since Dante had met with the board members just a few days ago?
I couldn't help but wonder what was going on. Was there some sort of emergency that had come up? Or was there something else going on behind the scenes that I wasn't aware of?
I tried to push the thoughts out of my head, focusing instead on the work at hand. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to happen, something that would change everything.
As the minutes ticked by, I found myself growing increasingly anxious about the upcoming board meeting.
Finally, the moment came, and I followed Dante into the boardroom. As we entered, I couldn't help but feel a sense of surprise.
Sitting at the table was Mark and next to him, in the seat was Mark's father that I had met at the ball, it was only the two to which I had thought was rather strange.
I gave a small smile to the two men, trying to hide my discomfort. I didn't know what their presence at this meeting meant, but I had a feeling it wasn't going to be good.
Dante took his seat at the head of the table and motioned for me to take the seat next to him. I felt a blush rise to my cheeks as I complied, trying to keep my composure.
"Let's begin, shall we?" Dante said, breaking the silence. His voice was calm and measured, but I could detect a hint of tension lurking beneath the surface.
Whatever was going to happen at this meeting, it was clear that Dante seemed determined.
"I'm pleased to see you. My presence here is likely because of my son's remarkable performance, is it not?" Ralph, Mark's father, queried with a hint of pride in his voice.
"Actually, I called this meeting to discuss your son's unsatisfactory work performance at our company," Dante replied, causing my eyes to widen and Mark's eyes in surprise.
"You must be joking," Ralph scoffed, while Mark looked taken aback.
"I'm afraid not. I've called you here today to inform you that your son is currently on a two-week probationary period. If he doesn't improve his performance during this time, I'll have to terminate his employment. As a board member of this company, I thought you should be notified before I take any further action," Dante explained, handing an envelope to Ralph.
"But this can't be true! I've been doing exceptionally well," Mark protested, still reeling from the news.
"Unfortunately, the evidence I've provided to your father suggests otherwise. Your inability to focus and prioritize actual work has resulted in subpar work quality," Dante pointed out, addressing Mark directly.
As I opened my mouth to speak, I was left speechless with astonishment. Mark had always been exceptional, so it was deeply disturbing to hear Dante's accusations directed at him.
Ralph looked absolutely furious at his son Mark.
It all made sense now - my gut feeling was right all along. Mark was on the verge of losing his inheritance, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for him. Despite everything, he had always tried to be there for me.
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