I crashed his meeting

I yawned as I sat at my laptop, my cozy home office bathed in the soft morning light. After finally becoming xender's company's consultant virtual meetings had become a regular part of my routine, and today was no exception. I took a sip of my coffee, savoring its warmth as I prepared to join the meeting.

With a click of the mouse, the screen sprang to life, and I found myself greeted by the familiar faces of my colleagues in their respective virtual boxes. I adjusted the camera to capture my best angle and flashed a bright smile, ready to engage in another work-related discussion.

As the host began the meeting, I clicked on the "Join Meeting" button, eagerly anticipating the day's agenda. But the moment my camera activated, I noticed something unusual—Xender's face popped up on my screen. My heart skipped a beat in surprise, and I couldn't help but react.

"Hey, everyone!" I exclaimed, waving at the camera with a playful grin.

There was a moment of stunned silence, and then laughter erupted from the speakers. Confused, I looked at the grid of faces on the screen. Wait a minute. Was that Xender's surprised expression?

"Amelia?" he exclaimed, his voice laced with disbelief.

I blinked, my brain trying to process what had just happened. "Xender? What are you doing here?"

Suddenly, it hit me. I had accidentally joined his work meeting! My eyes widened in embarrassment as I realized that I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"Um, this is actually a work meeting, Amelia," Xender explained, his tone sounded both amusement and awkward.

I felt my cheeks heat up, and I covered my mouth in embarrassment. "Oh no! I'm so sorry, Xender. I must have clicked on something by accident."

Laughter continued to bubble from the speakers, and I couldn't help but join in, even though I was mortified. I waved sheepishly at the camera. "My bad, everyone! I'll see myself out. Good luck with your meeting!"

As I exited the video call, my face was still flushed with embarrassment. How had I managed to join the wrong meeting? It was one of those moments where I wished the ground would just swallow me whole.

My phone buzzed, and I saw a message from Xender. "Amelia, did you just crash my meeting?"

I cringed, typing out a quick response. "I am so sorry! That was a total accident."

His reply came soon after, and his words were tinged with amusement. "Well, you certainly are."

I chuckled, grateful that he was taking it in stride. "I can't believe I did that. Talk about embarrassing."

Xender's next message made me smile. "Don't worry, you're forgiven. Just make sure you're careful next time."

"Definitely," I replied with a wry grin. "I'll double-check the meeting ID next time before I click."

As I set my phone aside, continuing with whatever I had to do. Later, as I headed out to meet Agnes for lunch. Who would have thought that my attempt to join a virtual meeting would result in such a hilarious mishap?

As I left the house, I waved at Xender with a playful smile. He was busy with his work, but I knew he would be thinking about our little virtual meeting mishap as well. With a final wave and a promise to catch up later, I stepped out into the day.

***

The next day dawned with a sense of anticipation and nervous excitement. I found myself standing in front of the mirror, carefully selecting my outfit for the day. I wanted to make a good impression, even though I was headed to Xander's office for what felt like the hundredth time.

After a quick mental debate, I settled on a comfortable yet stylish outfit – a fitted white blouse paired with a knee-length skirt. I brushed my hair and applied a light touch of makeup, aiming for a look that was professional yet approachable.

As I stepped into Xander's office building, for some reason my heart raced with anxiety and eagerness. The receptionist greeted me with a warm smile, and I offered her a polite nod in return. Xander's office was on the top floor, and as I rode the elevator, I couldn't help but feel a growing sense of anticipation.

When I reached his floor and walked toward his office, I entered his office, my eyes met his, and a genuine smile curved my lips. "Hey there."

Xander looked up from his desk, his lips curving into a smile that reached his eyes. "Amelia, you're here again?"

I nodded, my nerves beginning to settle as I approached his desk. "I thought I'd drop by and maybe... brighten up your day a little."

His chuckle was low and melodic, a sound that instantly put me at ease. "Well, you've certainly succeeded in doing that."

I took a deep breath, feeling a sudden surge of courage. "I have an idea. How about we play a little game?"

Xander raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "A game? What kind of game?"

I grinned mischievously. "A guessing game. I call it the 'Guess the Food' game."

Xander's expression was full of amusement. "Guess the Food? Sounds interesting. How does it work?"

I reached into my bag and pulled out a silky scarf. "You'll be blindfolded, and I'll feed you different types of food. Your task is to guess what you're eating."

Xander's lips curled into a playful smirk. "So, you're trying to test my taste buds, huh?"

I handed him the blindfold with a wink. "Exactly. And it's all in good fun."

Xander hesitated for a moment, then took the blindfold from me. "Alright, I'm game. Let's see how well I can do."

I watched as he tied the blindfold around his eyes, his movements careful yet confident. With a deep breath, I picked up a piece of fruit from the tray I had brought with me. I approached him, holding the fruit near his lips.

"Open up," I said with a chuckle.

Xander complied, and I fed him a slice of apple. He chewed thoughtfully, his expression contemplative. "Apple."

I clapped my hands in delight. "Correct!"

We continued the game, with me feeding him a variety of foods – grapes, a piece of cheese, a cracker, and even a small slice of cake. Each time, Xander's guesses were a mix of accurate and amusingly off-the-mark.

When he mistook a strawberry for a cherry, I couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Close, but not quite!"

Xander's lips curled into a grin, even though he couldn't see it under the blindfold. "I was close, though."

When we finally wrapped up the game, Xander removed the blindfold, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Well, that was certainly a unique way to spend my lunch break."

I chuckled, feeling a sense of contentment that I hadn't felt in a while. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."

Xander leaned back in his chair, his gaze focused on me. "You know, I have to admit, you've managed to surprise me again."

I smiled, feeling a warmth spreading through my chest. "Surprises can be a good thing, right?"

He nodded, his gaze unwavering. "Definitely."

There was a moment of silence between us, a comfortable ease that hadn't been there before. I realized that this was the kind of connection I had been yearning for – one where we could be ourselves, free of pretenses and insecurities.

Xander's voice broke the silence, his tone soft yet sincere. "Amelia, I want you to know that I'm really glad you came here today."

I met his gaze, my heart skipping a beat at his words. "I'm glad too, Xander."

He stood up, his movements deliberate as he walked over to where I was standing. And then, without any hesitation, he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into a warm embrace.

"I want us to have more moments like this," he whispered against my hair, his breath brushing against my ear. "Moments where we can just be ourselves, enjoy each other's company, and let go of all the complications."

I nestled into his embrace, feeling a sense of safety and belonging that I hadn't felt in a long time. "I want that too, Xander."