Chapter 35
Roman didn’t expect Blair to barge into his office. Well, that wasn’t entirely true.
The second he left her and Kara, he knew she’d be pissed. Knew by the way her eyes had flared. After Kara looked at them too long meant she’d put the pieces together. He should have been more careful. He should have walked in like he always did, like she wasn’t the only thing occupying his mind, like he hadn’t spent the last few nights tangled up with her, tasting
her.
But he couldn’t, not now. He wanted to shout it from the rooftops, but she wanted to hide the fact they were together. It wasn’t sex to him. Roman wanted more than an affair. He had been planning this too long for this to be anything but serious. He just needed to convince Blair of that.
So, no, he wasn’t surprised when she shoved the door shut behind her, arms crossed, eyes sharp and full of fire. He wasn’t surprised when she cut straight to the point. “You gave us away.” (
Roman leaned back in his chair, exhaling through his nose, schooling his expression into something calm, unreadable.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” A lie. Because he knew he had seen her reaction and Kara’s.
She narrowed her eyes. Stepping closer, he could see the frustration rolling off her in waves.
“Kara noticed. She saw it, Roman. The tension.”
She was right. Of course she was. But he didn’t give a fuck. He was still pissed that she had wanted to be dropped off a block from the office.
“The way you acted. You walked in, handed over the mail, and didn’t even say good morning to me. No hello, nothing. And she knew. It was that obvious.”
He wasn’t a great actor. If he had been he would have been on fucking broadway. Roman sighed, rubbing his jaw, finally looking at her. “I wasn’t thinking about it like that. I’m not used to hiding my relationships.” Or my feelings. But in some ways, he was doing that with her. Not telling her how he felt. Yes, they communicated, but not about their… his feelings. Would she run? Did she feel more? He wasn’t being fair. She wasn’t ready. He had a lot longer to know how he felt.
That made her bristle. “Exactly. You weren’t thinking. And now she knows about us. She won’t say anything, but it’s only a matter of time before other people pick up on it, too. If we couldn’t even hide…” she waved a hand between them, “this in just one morning.”
This.
His jaw tightened. “This?”
Blair faltered. “You know what we… are doing together.”
He did. More than she realized. He wanted her to see it as more than just casual.
Roman tilted his head. “What is that?”
There was something unreadable in her expression. A hesitation she was trying to mask.
She sucked in a sharp breath, pulse hammering. “We’re scratching an itch.”
It wasn’t true. Not for him.
And he hoped to god not to her.
His chair scraped across the floor, hitting the window as he stood abruptly, closing the space between them. “Careful, Blair.”
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Chapter 35
She let out a breathless laugh. “Or what?”
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He could see the increase of her breathing, her heightened excitement, see the tight pull of her jaw as she lifted her chin in defiance.
“I’m not afraid of you, Roman.”
That did it.
Roman grabbed her, his hands firm but controlled, pulling her flush against him. His lips crashed onto hers, all control snapping in a single moment. He didn’t want her scared of him. He wanted… needed her to want him as much as he wanted her.
She kissed him back without hesitation, fingers threading into his hair, her body pressing into his like she couldn’t get close enough.
It was wild, consuming. He was about to break her rule about having sex at the office.
She wanted him. He knew that. But she had no idea how much worse it was for him. How much she had completely undone him.
He deepened the kiss before dragging his mouth down her throat.
The door rattled.
They ripped apart. Roman was well aware Blair didn’t want to be caught out.
Blair wiped her lips quickly, trying to catch her breath just as the door swung open.
Jessica. Standing in the doorway, her expression perfectly composed, except for the sharp amusement dancing in her eyes.
Behind her, Kara looked horrified, mouthing, “I’m sorry” as he waved her away. This wasn’t her fault. He knew how Jessica could be.
But Jessica had already stepped inside like she owned the place.
“Roman,” she said smoothly, tilting her head. “Hope I’m not interrupting.”
Blair stiffened beside him.
Roman took a step back, forcing himself to breathe, to shake off the haze of Blair. His voice was sharp. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Jessica smiled, that slow, knowing smile that made his blood boil. “Oh, come on. You know me. I never needed an invitation.” Yes, she did and if it was his choice, he would never, ever send her one.
“Jessica, I hadn’t seen you in a year, and now you think you can come and go from my office as you please? We have lawyers, use them. We have nothing to say to each other.”
Blair said nothing, but Roman could feel the tension in her.
Jessica’s gaze flicked to Blair, like she had just now decided to acknowledge her presence. “I think we do.”
Blair stayed perfectly still.
Jessica’s smile widened, her eyes glinting. “It’s cute. Really. This whole… thing.” She gestured vaguely between them. “But let’s be honest, Roman. It’s history repeating itself. We have unfinished business.”
Roman’s voice dropped lower, sharper. “We’re done, Jessica.”
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Jessica arched a brow, completely unbothered by his tone.
“Tell your little secretary to leave so the adults can talk.”
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Roman watched Blair’s fingers curled into fists. Jessica wasn’t here to reminisce. She was here to cause trouble if she couldn’t get him back. He wouldn’t touch her ever again.
Blair turned to him, expression tight. “I’ll be at my desk.”
She left without another word, and Roman was already regretting letting her go. But he needed to deal with the bitch in front of him before he set Blair straight on a few things. He had everything he needed to do, just that.
The moment the door shut, Jessica stepped closer, her perfume thick, almost sickly.
“God, Roman. I forgot how intense you get when you’re obsessed with someone.” She ran a manicured nail down his tie. “Is she the reason you won’t consider giving me another chance and the reason Claire was given the flick? Hm? I mean, I can’t blame you. She’s a cute little thing. Probably makes you feel like a man again. But don’t you think she is a little young Roman for your appetites?”
Roman clenched his jaw, stepping out of her reach. “If you came here to play games, you can leave.”
Jessica tilted her head. “You always were so fun when you were angry. We had some very enjoyable times.”
“Just tell me why you are here, Jessica. Then get the fuck out of my office.”
Then her voice dipped, turning calculated. “I need money, Roman.”
He let out a sharp laugh. “That’s what this is about?”
She smiled slowly and completely fake. “I could make things very difficult for you. For Blair.”
His muscles coiled. “Don’t finish that…”
“Oh, relax. I won’t tell the whole world you’re screwing your employee and it’s not the first time.”
Roman’s blood went ice cold. “You wouldn’t dare.”
ssica shrugged. “Wouldn’t I?”
hat was it.
Roman stepped forward, his voice dangerously low. “Listen to me, Jessica. I don’t give a damn what me. If you try to blackmail me, I will bury you. Do you understand?”
you think you
have over
She stilled.
He didn’t blink. Didn’t move.
Jessica’s lips pressed together, her bravado slipping.
She smoothed a hand down her dress, regaining her composure. “Don’t think you’re safe, Roman. We are not done.”
She turned, her heels clicking against the floor as she walked out, leaving nothing but her perfume and the rage in his chest.
Roman exhaled, running a hand through his hair.
He needed to see Blair.
Now.