I Hate You But I Love You
Working as a secretary for Dale Dimmadome is no walk in the park. He's a narcissistic, egotistical businessman who commands every room he enters. Despite your initial disdain for his arrogant demeanor, you find yourself inexplicably drawn to the complexities of his character. This collection of one-shots delves deep into the lives of Dale and his son, Dev, exploring the unexpected moments that challenge your perceptions and gradually unveil the man beneath the mogul.
This is my first ever fic, and I’m eager to hear your thoughts! Feel free to leave comments and let me know if you'd like to see more.
Chapter 1:
The morning had been a whirlwind of activity, and you were already running late for an important meeting. With a stack of papers balanced precariously in your arms and your glasses slipping down your nose, you hurried through the hallway, trying to keep everything in order. Your mind was racing with everything you needed to do, and in your rush, you didn’t notice the slight bump in the carpet ahead of you.
As your foot caught on the uneven surface, you stumbled forward, unable to regain your balance. The papers you were holding flew out of your arms, scattering across the floor in a flurry of white. You reached out instinctively to catch yourself, but it was too late—you tumbled to the ground, landing with a soft thud.
Your glasses, dislodged in the fall, slid across the floor, leaving you blinking in a disoriented daze. You groaned softly, embarrassment flooding through you as you realized what had just happened. Why did this have to happen now, of all times?
As you scrambled to gather the papers, your vision blurry without your glasses, you heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Your heart sank—of course, someone had to witness your clumsiness.
“Wow, you really know how to make an entrance,” came Dale’s familiar, sarcastic tone.
You looked up, squinting slightly, and saw Dale standing over you, one eyebrow raised in that infuriatingly smug way of his. He crouched down beside you, a smirk playing on his lips as he surveyed the mess you’d made.
“Is this your new strategy? Disarm everyone with chaos?” he teased, clearly enjoying your predicament.
You rolled your eyes, trying to stifle a smile as you reached for the nearest papers. “Glad I could entertain you, Dale,” you muttered, feeling your cheeks flush with embarrassment.
Dale chuckled softly, but despite his teasing, he reached out to help gather the scattered documents. As he did, he spotted your glasses lying a few feet away and picked them up, holding them between his fingers with a playful glint in his eyes.
“Wouldn’t want you to miss any more important obstacles,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he held the glasses just out of your reach, clearly waiting for you to react.
You huffed, trying to hide your growing embarrassment. “Very funny. Can I have those, please?”
Dale’s smirk softened slightly as he leaned closer. “I don’t know… Can you?” he teased, but before you could respond, he moved closer still.
Without warning, Dale gently took hold of your chin, tilting your face up slightly as he carefully placed the glasses back on your nose. His touch was light, his fingers brushing against your skin in a way that sent a jolt of warmth through you.
“There,” he murmured, his voice softer now, the teasing edge gone. “Wouldn’t want you walking into any more walls.”
Your breath caught in your throat as you stared up at him, your heart pounding so loudly you were sure he could hear it. The world seemed to slow down, the chaos of your fall fading away as you focused on the warmth of his hand, the intensity of his gaze. His face was so close to yours, and you could see the playful glint in his eyes soften into something more tender.
You could feel a blush creeping up your cheeks, your face growing hot under his touch. “Th-thank you,” you stammered, your voice barely above a whisper.
Dale’s eyes lingered on yours for a moment longer, and for a brief, electrifying second, you thought he might lean in closer. But then, as if realizing how close you were, he quickly pulled back, his expression shifting to something more guarded.
“No problem,” he said, his voice now a little more brisk, though there was still a teasing glint in his eyes. “But you really should watch where you’re going next time. I can’t always be around to save you.”
You managed a weak smile, trying to steady your racing heart as you took the papers from him. “I’ll try to be more careful,” you replied, though your mind was still reeling from the unexpected closeness, the way his touch had made your heart flutter in a way you hadn’t anticipated.
As you both stood up, Dale gave you a quick once-over, as if making sure you were really okay. “You sure you’re good?” he asked, the sarcasm now replaced with genuine concern.
You nodded, still trying to process what had just happened. “Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks for the assist.”
Dale nodded, stepping back, but not before giving you one last, almost reluctant glance. “See you in the meeting,” he said, his tone now more formal, though you could still detect a hint of something else—something unspoken.
“Right,” you replied, trying to regain your composure. “I’ll… I’ll be there.”
With that, Dale nodded and turned to leave, but not before giving you one last teasing smirk. “And try not to trip on the way.”
As you watched him go, your heart still pounding, you couldn’t help but smile despite your embarrassment. Dale’s sarcastic teasing, the unexpected intimacy of the moment—it was all so overwhelming, and yet, it left you feeling strangely giddy.
As you finally gathered your things and headed to the meeting, you couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted between you and Dale in that brief encounter. It was as if the world had stopped, just for a second, and in that second, everything had changed.
And as much as you tried to focus on the tasks ahead, your thoughts kept drifting back to Dale, to the warmth of his hand, the way he had gently placed your glasses on your nose. It was a small gesture, but it left a lasting impression, one that you knew you wouldn’t be able to forget anytime soon.