The journal's profits soared as the workload increased. The company was finally back on its feet, receiving jobs from outside Clearville and gaining recognition in Dillsville and other countries. Mirabel's quest for a fresh start had been achieved.
The next day, Mirabel arrived at the office and asked Lucy if Vicky had arrived. Lucy replied, "Yes," and Mirabel smiled, calling for a board meeting. She instructed Lucy to inform the others, and soon, everyone gathered in the boardroom.
As Mirabel entered the room, she bumped into Vicky by the door. He apologized and entered the room without looking at her. Mirabel stood before her employees, cleared her throat, and said, "Good morning, everyone." They responded, but Mirabel noticed Vicky's absent-mindedness.
"Good morning, Vicky," Mirabel said, trying to engage him. Vicky looked up, slightly confused, and replied, "Sorry, are you referring to me?" Mirabel smiled and said, "Yes, good morning, Vicky." Vicky responded with a hesitant "Good morning."
Mirabel continued, "I know we've all been busy, so I've decided we'll close early today and take Monday off to relieve some stress. Does that sound okay?" The employees expressed their gratitude, with Dianne saying, "Yes, thanks a lot," and Mason adding, "It's a nice idea, thanks a lot."
As the meeting concluded, Lucy began to stand up, but Vicky held her back. "Lucy, I want to talk to you," he said, gently sitting her down. Lucy inquired, "Why?" her eyes avoiding his gaze. Vicky asked her to look at him, and when she did, he said, "I'm extremely sorry about the other night. I was devastated and not in the right frame of mind. I didn't mean to push you away."
Lucy's voice filled with pain and anguish as she replied, "You didn't mean to push me away? Vicky, I confessed my love to you, and you pushed me away without even looking back. You left me on the floor, feeling useless and worthless. Is that what you think of me, Vicky?"
Vicky remained speechless, unsure of how to respond. After a moment, he said, "Look, I'm sorry...I really am." Lucy interrupted, "If you're sorry, you would have apologized the day after, but you didn't. You just left me hanging."
Vicky tried to interrupt again, but Lucy continued, "So, what's your response, Vicky? I love you; do you feel the same way?" Vicky's response was firm but gentle. "No, Lucy, I don't love you, and I can't. I'm so sorry."
Lucy's expression didn't change, but her voice was laced with sadness. "That's all I wanted to hear." With that, she stood up and left the boardroom. Vicky called out her name, but she didn't turn back. He shook his head and headed to his office.
Later, Mirabel sat in her office, deliberating about the best approach to take. She wondered if she should go to Vicky's office or call him to hers. After a few moments of contemplation, she picked up the phone and dialed Dianne's extension.
"Hi Dianne, could you please ask Vicky to come to my office?" Mirabel requested, trying to sound composed. As she waited, Mirabel's nerves began to show. She couldn't help but smile, and her heart started racing with anticipation.
Within three minutes, Vicky walked into her office. "You called for me?" he inquired. Mirabel nodded and asked him to take a seat. As Vicky sat down, Mirabel's heartbeat intensified. She wondered what to say to start the conversation.
After two minutes of silence, Mirabel finally spoke. "Vicky, I wanted to talk to you about the other day. I'm really sorry for shouting at you. I was out of line, and I realize now that I hurt you." Vicky looked up, his eyes still cautious.
"You were right," he said softly. "You are my boss, and I shouldn't have crossed those boundaries. I just...I couldn't help how I feel." Mirabel's heart ached at his words. "Vicky, no, that's not what I meant. You have every right to express your feelings, and I appreciate your honesty. It's just...I wasn't expecting it, and I didn't handle it well."
Vicky's gaze drifted away, and Mirabel could see the pain still lingering in his eyes. "I understand," he said quietly. "I just wish...I wish you could see me the way I see you. I wish you could feel the same way."
Mirabel's emotions swirled, and she felt an overwhelming urge to confess her feelings. But her fear held her back.
Mirabel's voice was barely above a whisper. "Vicky, I...I value our working relationship, and I don't want this to affect our team. Can we...can we just move forward from this? Forget about what happened and focus on our work?"
Vicky's face fell, and Mirabel could see the shattering of his hopes. "Yeah, sure," he said, his voice laced with disappointment. "I understand. I'll just...I'll get back to work. Try to pretend like nothing happened."
Mirabel felt a pang of regret, knowing she had missed an opportunity to be honest with him. "Vicky, wait—" she said, her voice cracking.
But Vicky was already standing up, his eyes avoiding hers. "No, it's fine. I think I've taken up enough of your time. You have a lot on your plate, and I don't want to distract you further."
Mirabel's heart sank as she watched him turn to leave. She wanted to call out to him, to tell him to stay, to confess her feelings. But the words stuck in her throat.
"Vicky," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
He paused at the door, looking back at her with a mix of sadness and longing. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the tension between them palpable.
Then, without a word, Vicky turned and walked out of her office, leaving Mirabel feeling lost and uncertain. She slumped back in her chair, wondering what could have been if she had found the courage to speak her truth.
Here's the continuation:
As Vicky walked into his office, he was greeted by his colleagues, Jimmy, Frank, and Jessica. "Hey, Vicky! We're planning to grab lunch together on Monday. Want to join us?" Jimmy asked, and Frank chimed in, "Yeah, it'll be a great opportunity to catch up , since it's a free day.. "
Vicky hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Sure, sounds good. I'll join you guys."
Jessica smiled. "Awesome! We'll finalize the plans later today.... "
As his colleagues chatted and made plans, Vicky's thoughts drifted back to the conversation in Mirabel's office. He replayed every word, every glance, and every moment of tension between them. His heart ached with longing, and he couldn't shake off