Chapter 79 Rise on Her Terms
Evelyn looked at him conflicted, her heart thumping loudly in her chest.
"But the board—your elder brother is back—the executives—" She shook her head, backing away. "No. No, Roman, this is insane. I can't just walk into Sinclair Industries and take over."
"Why can't you?"
"Roman!" Her voice rose. "You're on sabbatical! How on earth are you going to just make a drastic decision like that without the board revolting? Without your brother using it against you?”
"Evelyn." He caught her face in his hands, gentle but firm. "I'm Roman. And you're my wife. There's no harm in you handling the company."
She stared at him, searching his face for any sign that this was a joke. There was none.
He continued, his voice steady. "Yes, I was placed on sabbatical by my father. I can't go back. Not yet. But someone needs to be there. Someone who represents me.”
Her breath grew heavy.
"You'd really trust me with your company?" she whispered.
"I'd trust you with my life." He brushed his thumb across her cheek. "The company is easy.”
Her eyes glistened. The weight of his words settled deep in her chest.
"Okay." She swallowed hard. "But you can't just place me in the CEO position.”
Her eyes met his with newfound determination. "How about I work my way to the top? Properly.”
Roman sighed. He placed both hands on her shoulders, his thumbs rubbing small circles against her collarbone.
"Very well. If you won't accept CEO, then I will compromise.”
She watched him cautiously, suspicious of that glint in his eyes.
"How about I appoint you as Executive Vice Chair." He paused, letting the title sink in. “It places you within the Chairman's authority. You'll have access to board meetings, executive decisions, and company strategy, without the full weight of the CEO title.”
Evelyn's brows furrowed. "Executive Vice Chair? That's... that's still a huge position."
"It is." He smiled slightly. "But it's also a position I can justify. You're my wife. It's reasonable for me to want you involved in the company's future. It's reasonable for you to learn the ropes before taking on more.”
Evelyn pulled back slightly, still within the circle of his arms, and shook her head.
"No."
Roman's brows lifted. "No?"
"I appreciate the offer. Really, I do." She met his eyes steadily. "But I'm not taking the Executive Vice Chair position. Or any position you try to hand me on a silver platter."
He studied her face, curious. "Then what do you want?"
"I want to do this properly." She stepped fully out of his embrace, needing space to think. "I applied for Senior Strategic Analyst. I passed the tests. I made it to the final interview round. That's where I should start.”
Roman arched an eyebrow. “Do you even know how long that will take?”
“I do,” she replied evenly. “And I’m fine with it.”
Roman was quiet for a long moment. Then he sighed, running a hand through his hair.
“Fine. If you insist… but instead of entering as a Senior Strategic Analyst, I’ll place you as Special Strategic Advisor to the Chairman.”
"Roman—"
"That's the lowest I'm willing to go." His voice left no room for argument. "It's a senior role, yes, but it's advisory. You'll have access, and insight. You won't be making executive decisions alone, but you'll be in the room when they're made.”
She opened her mouth to protest, but he cut her off.
"And before you argue further," he continued, "let me be clear. I refuse to place you beneath men who answer to me. Men who would treat you poorly simply because they can. Men who would see your position as an invitation to test your limits."
Her heart stuttered at the possessive edge in his voice.
"But Roman, I have no experience… and even if I did, how would you even appoint me while you're on sabbatical?”
“You don't have to worry about that.” He said calmly.
She stared at him, torn between frustration and the warm glow of being so fiercely protected.
"You should rest today," he continued. "Don't bother preparing for any interview. You won't be sitting across from a panel of mid-level executives to be evaluated.”
Evelyn opened her mouth to argue again, but before a word could escape, Roman closed the distance and pressed his lips to hers.
His mouth claimed hers with an intensity that stole every thought from her head. His hands cupped her face, tilting it to deepen the angle, and she melted into him completely.
By the time he pulled back, she was breathless, her knees weak, a thin sheen of saliva connecting them that made her face burn crimson.
After a while, she finally murmured. “You're impossible."
"I'm Roman." His lips curved slightly. "Same thing.”
He wiped her lips gently with his thumb, his eyes dark and satisfied.
"I'll be in my study," he murmured, his voice rough.
He pressed one last kiss to her burning cheek, then turned and walked away, disappearing down the hall toward his study.
Evelyn stood there for a solid minute, trying to remember how to breathe properly.
‘Impossible man.’
She fanned her face with both hands, then laughed at herself. Here she was, a married woman, acting like a flustered teenager.
She made her way to the living room and collapsed onto the plush couch, pulling out her phone. Her fingers found Lena’s contact almost instinctively.
"Eve!" Lena's voice came through after two rings. "Tell me you're finally out of that hospital prison.”
"I've been out for hours, actually."
"And you're only calling me now? Rude."
Evelyn laughed. "I've been... occupied."
"Occupied how? Wait—" Lena's voice dropped to a scandalous whisper. "Were you and Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Intense having reunion activities? Because if so, I fully support that and you can call me back later. Byeee!"
"Lena!"
"What? I'm being supportive!"
Evelyn buried her face in a cushion, grateful Lena couldn't see her burning cheeks. "It's not like that. Well, not entirely like that. We were talking about work."
"Work?" Lena's tone shifted to exaggerated disappointment. "You had that man in your vicinity and you talked about work? Eve, I'm disappointed in you."
"Would you let me finish?"
"Fine, fine. Proceed."
Evelyn took a deep breath. "So... Roman wants me to work at Sinclair Industries.”
"Didn't you pass their test one time?"
"Yes."
"Oh, it's going to be good then. Tell me everything.”
Evelyn launched into full story mood, telling her everything that transpired. Lena listened without interrupting, which was a minor miracle.
When Evelyn finished, there was a long pause, then Lena let out a dramatic gasp. “WHAT?! Are you trying to kill me with this news, or Roman? Does he need a nap so badly that he’s just handing the whole empire to you?”
Evelyn laughed, feeling flustered. “Well, if you put it that way—wait you might be kind of right.”
Evelyn bit her lip, unsure whether to laugh or faint. How on earth was she going to survive this?
“But wait—let me get something straight." Lena's voice was filled with amusement. "Your husband, who is apparently some kind of corporate warlord, offered to make you Executive Vice Chair of his entire company. And you said no.”
"I said no to that specific position, yes."
"You said no to being second-in-command of a billion-dollar empire because you want to work your way up."
"It's called integrity, Lena."
"It's called being insane." But Lena was laughing. "Only you, Eve. Only you would turn down the fast track to power because of principles."
"It's important to me."
"I know, I know." Lena's voice softened. "And honestly? It's one of the things I love about you. You're not like the rest of us who'd sell our grandmothers for a corner office."
Evelyn smiled, finally feeling less tense from all of the day's drama.
Lena’s voice dropped slightly. “Since Roman is currently on sabbatical… you should go and give the Hayes Corporation a rough time.”
Evelyn frowned, her brow knitting. “What do you mean?”
“Oh, you haven’t heard?” Lena said, mock shock in her tone. “I must have forgotten to tell you…”
Evelyn shifted in her seat, her fingers tightening around the phone, eager to hear the news.