My Billionaire Ex Beg For A Second Chance-Chapter 44: Brewing Nerves

The sunlight was doing its best to make the office look peaceful. It wasn’t. Not with Felix pacing the corner office like the floor might give out.

Felix walked to the window, then back again. Then to the door. Then back again. It was his fourth lap across the room, his polished shoes tapping anxiously against the floor. His eyes kept darting toward the glass wall overlooking the main office area.

Still no sign of Katherine.

He checked the time on his watch again.

8:27 AM.

She was never late. Never. Katherine was the type who arrived ten minutes early, coffee in hand, blazer perfectly ironed, already checking her emails before most of the floor even clocked in. But today, her desk was empty.

Felix bit his lower lip and ran a hand through his hair, thoroughly messing up the neat style he had painstakingly combed this morning.

Was it what he said last night?

He slumped onto the plush leather couch in the corner of his office, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. A groan escaped him. Then he did what any dignified CEO would absolutely not do in a time of internal crisis:

He punched the cushion repeatedly.

"Idiot. Idiot. Idiot," he muttered to himself, each punch a beat to the chant. "Why did I say it like that? On her couch? With her kids right down the hall? God, you could’ve taken her out to dinner, lit some candles, maybe a violinist—but no, you blurt it out like you’re in some melodramatic drama."

He collapsed backward, covering his face with his hands. While he was busy tearing himself apart, a silver lining peeked through.

He hadn’t said those three words yet.

"And maybe she didn’t get what I was saying," he muttered aloud, voice hoarse from the silence.

But then, a bitter laugh escaped him. "Come on. She’s not stupid. She’s one of the smartest people I’ve ever met. There’s no way she didn’t pick up on what I meant, right?"

So technically, he could still make it better. He still had the chance to say it right. Properly.

He sat up again with newfound resolve.

Then peeked through the glass again.

Still no Katherine.

He frowned, eyes flickering to the two paper cups of coffee sitting on his desk. One for him. One for her. Normally, she brought his coffee, but today... he wanted to make hers. A small, unspoken gesture.

He sighed.

His fingers trembled slightly as he picked up his phone and unlocked it. He hovered over her contact. His thumb wavered above the call button.

Was she avoiding him? What if his confession made her uncomfortable? What if she decided to resign because of it?

"Get a grip, Felix," he muttered to himself and slapped his own cheek lightly. "You’re being ridiculous."

But the what-ifs were hard to shake. What if she thought it was inappropriate? What if she thought he was overstepping their professional boundaries?

He paced again. His suit jacket swayed with each stride, and his brows were knit so tightly together that a permanent crease had settled between them.

Then—movement.

From the corner of his eye, he saw the elevator doors part.

There she was.

Katherine walked in, hair pinned neatly, blouse tucked into her skirt, though slightly wrinkled at the bottom, perhaps from a rushed morning. She looked tired, a little distracted. Her bag hung from her shoulder, and she clutched her phone in one hand.

Felix didn’t hesitate.

He all but flew out of his office.

"Katherine!"

Startled, Katherine turned to him just as she was setting her bag down at her desk.

"Good morning?" she said slowly, brows raised in confusion. "Why are you—?"

"You came," Felix blurted.

She blinked. "Of course I came. I work here."

He scratched the back of his neck, suddenly aware of how overeager he sounded. "Right. Of course. It’s just... you’re usually early, and when I didn’t see you—"

"I’m sorry. I got caught up in something unpleasant," Katherine replied, avoiding specifics with a small wave of her hand. "Nothing major, just... annoying."

Felix stared at her a moment longer, searching for more in her tone, but she didn’t elaborate. She simply turned back to her computer and began to log in.

There was a beat of silence. Then he turned and retreated to his office.

Less than a minute later, he returned.

With a paper cup in hand.

Katherine looked up when he placed it gently beside her keyboard.

"You made this?" she asked, her voice tinged with surprised amusement.

Felix nodded, trying to act casual though his heartbeat thudded loudly in his chest. "I figured I’d return the favor for once. I made some for myself earlier and... thought you might want some too."

Katherine took the cup, lifting the lid slightly and inhaling the aroma. A small smile tugged at her lips.

"Thank you," she said genuinely. "I really need this now."

Felix rubbed the back of his neck again, watching her with barely concealed anticipation.

She took a sip. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

And her eyes widened just a bit.

"It’s... actually good," she said, surprised.

Felix grinned. "Excuse me, actually good? I’ll have you know I watched three different tutorial videos last night."

Katherine laughed softly, but then her cheeks colored slightly as her eyes dropped to her cup again.

Felix watched her.

There was something about the moment—about the faint blush dusting her cheeks, the curve of her smile, the quiet hum of the office waking up around them. The way sunlight highlighted the stray strands of her hair that had slipped from her bun.

She looked radiant.

"I’m glad you’re here," he said quietly.

Katherine’s fingers paused on the cup. Her eyes met his.

Something unspoken passed between them. A spark.

She looked down again, took another sip, and said, "Thanks for the coffee."

But her voice was softer this time. Warmer.

Felix lingered a second longer, then returned to his office.

Inside, he leaned back against the door after closing it.

His heart was hammering.

But the taste of possibility—it was sweeter than anything he could have brewed.