19

"This is perfect," Maureen murmured to herself, her voice tinged with excitement. "Yes! Xavier must see this video." She chuckled softly, her mind already racing with the possibilities of what this could mean. The thought of Xavier's reaction to seeing Anna so vulnerable, so broken, brought a surge of satisfaction to her.

Maureen's smile widened as she ended the recording, her thumb brushing over the screen as if caressing a precious secret. She savored the moment, imagining how this small clip could unravel so much. With a mischievous glint in her eye, she began crafting a message to Xavier, her mind spinning with wicked thoughts.

****

Xavier sat in his office, the steady tick of the clock on the wall barely registering in his mind. His focus was entirely on the Rubik's cube in his hands, his fingers moving with practiced precision as he twisted and turned the colorful squares into alignment. Despite the puzzle occupying his hands, his thoughts were elsewhere—caught up in a whirlwind of emotions and unresolved feelings.

Just as he was about to complete the last row, the door to his office creaked open, and Dan stepped in with a file tucked under his arm. "Here's the report you asked for," Dan said, placing the file on Xavier's desk.

Xavier glanced up, his expression unreadable as he nodded. "Thanks," he muttered, reaching for a pen. As he flipped open the file to sign it, a thought suddenly crossed his mind, one that had been gnawing at him for days.

"You're a lady man right, Dan?" He asked and Dan nodded. " I guess you could say that sir. Why do you ask?" Dan asked.

"I need some advice, for a friend." Xavier said and Dan nodded again trying not to laugh.

Without looking up, he casually asked, "He wants to confess his feelings for a girl, but he's not really sure how to approach it. Dan. How would you… hypothetically, confess feelings to a girl? Basically, asking for a friend."

Dan blinked, caught off guard by the question. He stared at Xavier for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Are you serious, boss? Hypothetically asking for a friend, huh? Or are we actually talking about you?"

Xavier shot him a sharp look, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Cut the crap, Dan," he said, his tone carrying a hint of warning. "Or do you not want to receive this month's bonus?"

Dan straightened immediately, his laughter fading into a sheepish grin. "No need for threats, boss. Alright, if this… 'friend' of yours is looking for advice, I'd say the best way to confess is to keep it simple. Maybe book a movie night date with the girl. It's casual, relaxed, and it gives him the perfect opportunity to tell her how he feels."

Xavier paused, considering the suggestion as he clicked the pen, his gaze returning to the Rubik's cube. "A movie night, huh?" he muttered to himself, the idea slowly taking root in his mind. He set the cube down on his desk, the unfinished puzzle reflecting the thoughts swirling in his head.

"Isn't that some kinda lame?" Xavier asked not sure and furring his eyebrows.

"Yeah. But it works for me though." Dan bragged proudly. Xavier chuckled softly "But you're still single, right?" Dan swallowed hard and scratched his hair. "Ughhhhh…it's gonna work for you sir." 

Dan, sensing that his advice might actually be taken seriously, added with a grin, "Trust me, boss. It's foolproof. A good movie, a little popcorn, and the right moment—it's all you need to make a move."

Xavier gave a small nod, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I'll keep that in mind, okay, let's book an entire theater, filled with flowers and have it catered by a three Star Michelin restaurant." he said, signing the file with a swift motion before handing it back to Dan. 

"On it, sir."Dan said and left. Xavier leaned back in his chair, his mind already working on how to put the plan into action.

As Dan left the office, closing the door behind him, Xavier sighed in relief, ready to return to his thoughts. But his moment of peace was short-lived. The door creaked open once more, and Maureen walked in, her presence immediately disrupting the calm. 

Xavier rolled his eyes as soon as he saw her, already weary of whatever she had planned. Maureen, oblivious to his annoyance, sauntered over to his desk, her steps deliberate and slow. Without invitation, she perched herself seductively on the edge of his table, crossing her legs as she leaned slightly forward.

Xavier raised an eyebrow, his patience wearing thin. "What are you doing here, Maureen? If you need something, just get to the point."

Instead of answering immediately, Maureen smiled mischievously, her eyes gleaming with a hint of malice. "Oh, I'm not here for anything in particular," she purred. "I just have some news that I think you'll find… fascinating and interesting."

Xavier kept quiet, his expression unreadable as he watched her with a mixture of suspicion and irritation. He didn't trust that smile of hers, and he had no intention of playing whatever game she was setting up. 

Seeing that she had his attention, Maureen reached into her bag and pulled out her phone. With a slow, deliberate movement, she swiped across the screen until she found the video she was looking for. "You might want to see this," she said, her voice dripping with satisfaction as she turned the screen toward Xavier.

Xavier took the phone from her, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the video. The screen showed Anna and Michael standing in her restaurant and Michael holding her hands. The atmosphere went thick with tension. As the clip played, it became clear that this wasn't just any encounter—it was filmed on Valentine's Day.

Maureen's voice cut through the silence like a knife. "Your little hussy went on a date with her ex-husband on Valentine's Day," she sneered, her tone full of venom.

Xavier's grip on the phone tightened as he stared at the video in disbelief. His heart pounded in his chest, a mixture of anger and confusion swirling within him. The sight of Anna with Michael, the way she seemed so distraught and vulnerable, hit him like a punch to the gut.

For a moment, Xavier couldn't tear his eyes away from the screen. Everything he had been thinking, everything he had planned—it all seemed to unravel in that instant.