Chapter 39 39
Maisie's Pov
By the time the car moved, Dominion Industries was already behind us.
“Boss,” Emma said gently from the front seat. “You okay?”
I removed my gaze from the window. “I'm fine.”
It was a lie. I was far from fine but I couldn't tell her. Lies were easier than truths these days.
Clyde's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, then at me. “I've reached out to the scientists. They all want assurances.”
“They'll get funding, autonomy, and protection… and every single thing they need.” I said immediately. “None of them will be interfered with by anyone.”
“And oversight?” he asked carefully.
“I'll oversee it myself.” I said.
His jaw tightened but he nodded calmly. “As expected.”
Emma twisted in her seat. “You're really serious about this, aren't you?”
“I've never been more serious about anything in my life.” I looked out the window.
My phone buzzed and I looked at the screen. It was Roman. I didn't answer it. Not with the way my chest tightened every time his name appeared or the way he looked at me in that elevator like he could still reach me if he tried hard enough. If he knew what I was planning… No. He wouldn't understand. No one ever understands the cost of mercy until it buries them.
Once we finalized on everything we needed for the day and home, I drove home.
“Welcome home, ma'am.” One of the guards at the entrance greeted me.
“Thank you.” I greeted them with a warm smile. Then I made my way to my suite. Our suite. The memory of Roman's phone call resurfaced and I buried it in the deepest recesses of my mind.
The second I stepped foot inside the room, I froze.
What was he doing here? He never comes home this early.
Roman stood in the doorway of my walk-in-closet wearing a crisp black button-down and dark jeans.I gaped at him. It was my first time seeing him in anything other than a suit, and the effect was equally devastating in a completely different way but what put me off was the intensity of his stare.
“You didn't answer my calls.” He began.
“I was busy.” I dropped my bag on the bed and peeled off my jacket.
“Busy with what?” He pulled away from the door and made his way towards me.
“Work.” I bit out.
“Oh. I see.” He was standing too close now and I tried not to stare at the way his shirt stretched over his broad shoulders and muscular arms.
“Yeah.” I nodded sharply.
“That's fine. Get dressed. We’re leaving in an hour.” He said in a dry tone.
I blinked. “Excuse me?”
“We’re having dinner tonight with Xavier and Kylie.”
Those two? I'd rather walk barefoot on hot coal than spend another minute with those hypocrites.
I collapsed on the bed with a hiss and stared at the ceiling.
“Maisie, we're running late.” He hovered over me now but I ignored him. The chances of me dragging my exhausted body out of here was close to zero.
I pinched the skin between my eyes. “This wasn't on my calendar.”
“That's what I wanted to talk to you about earlier but you didn't answer my calls.” The dip in the bed beside me told me he was sitting next to me
“I was working!” I hissed again.
“No, you weren't. You can lie to everyone else but not me.” Roman's voice turned to ice.
I tilted my head to look at him and when I replied this time, it came as a whisper. “I was working. I didn't ignore you.”
“Five minutes, Maisie. Get dressed.” He said in a stern voice then left.
I stared at his retreating figure, not taking my eyes off the door even when he was out of sight. What was he upset for?
Roman Delacroix was just a man. He was an Alpha, not an emperor, even if he was richer than one, and not a god, even if he looked like one so I had nothing to be nervous or scared about. Since I was in a time crunch, I washed my hair, showered, shaved, and exfoliated with record speed instead of lingering in the shower like I wanted.
I was done fixing my makeup when I heard a light knock on the door.
He was here.
“Come in.” I said in a lazy drawl as I capped my mascara and put it away with the rest of my makeup bag.
I did a slow twirl in my swivel chair and met his gaze.
Holy shit.
Roman stood in the hall, looking even more devastating than usual in a black tuxedo. With his perfectly wavy hair and clean-shaven face, he could’ve passed for a movie star.
“You’re early.” Getting ready was my favorite part of any event. Sometimes, I liked it better than the event itself.
I didn’t appreciate being rushed, not even when I'm running late. Still, I thought I had half an hour left to myself.
“You’re late.” Roman’s gaze ran from the high slit on my thigh till my bare black painted toes. Something inscrutable passed through his eyes for a split second before it disappeared.
“Because you’re early.” I bit out, rising to my feet to pick up my shoe. Tonight, I settled for a sleeveless golden silk dress that fell all the way to my ankle with a slit that started from my thigh. If anything it was scandalous but my mission tonight was to show Xavier something he'll never have. A
While Roman waited, I picked up a clutch that contained everything I needed. I added a shawl in case I got cold and checked my teeth for stray lipstick before I turned to Roman. He was leaning against the wall, staring at a small object in his hand. I couldn’t make out what it was before he straightened and slipped it into his pocket.
Our eyes connected and a fire lit in my stomach.
He wasn’t looking at the object or anything else in the room anymore. He was looking at me. With a simple look, he lit me up from the inside out.
“Perfect.”
One word but it set the caged butterflies in my stomach free before I wrestled them back into their hold.
“Shall we?” He held out his arm and I had no choice but to take it.