Chapter 30 Chapter 30
Roman's POV
The rest of the night rolled off with me deep into documents and weighing thoughts. Same also with the weekend. More compounding thoughts and more decisions to make.
But instead of spending them in my office, I spent them elsewhere. Equally busy, but with a different kind of feeling. A lighter kind of feeling.
By Monday, let's just say the weather felt pretty good to be outside. Outside and waiting for a certain individual.
Until Jordan attempted to spoil it that is.
"Boss, I have a question."
"Another one?" I called out, swiping away on my phone.
"Just this once. The last." He assured me, looking straight ahead. Calm. But I knew he wasn't. Not exactly.
"Shoot."
"Are you really signing off the building? On an employee contract?"
"I'm not signing off, I'm adding to it." I said,
"Yeah but... it's your personal building, boss. You've been preparing it for a while now, not even moving in yourself."
"Yes, and now, I'm finally able to put it to good use." I said, still on my phone. "There's now an opportunity to use it, so why not? No point having a building when it can't serve its purposes of being occupied."
"But shouldn't it be occupied by you though?" He pressed, facing me. "After the wedding. With Miss. Lana."
Lana?
I turned to him, pausing on my phone.
"No offence boss but...you should think again on this."
"Why?" I asked calmly, watching him. "Why should I rethink? It's just a building."
"Apologies boss,"
"No apologies." I stopped him, putting away my phone. Leaning off the car for a bit, my features eased as I stared at him. His expression was solemn though. Not meeting my eyes anymore, staring right ahead as though religiously awaiting our guest.
"Is there something you want to point out, Jordan?" I pushed,
"No boss."
Hmmm.
Even if he wouldn't speak, I already knew of his reservations. Where this was heading to. Undoubtedly giving out the building was a bit of a stretch. A real deep stretch, but what's the big deal? It was simply a building. One that wasn't even in use. Besides I wasn't signing off everything, just a space.
Surely, that couldn't mean much.
Not to me that is. It would to her.
"It's only a building, Jo." I called out, facing the entrance. Oxygen's entrance. Same as him. "She's going to be able to afford a new place after concluding her job here, no harm if that happens earlier. And you saw the place. It's ridiculous. Not even the cleaners here live in such an area. It's embarrassing."
"I understand, boss."
"I'm not signing off on it either," I added, watching movements behind the security checks at the entrance. She was coming.
"I'm only giving her a section to get comfortable. Plus, it works in my favour."
He turned to me, a slight confusion in his brows.
"You've forgotten so fast?" I smirked, "I'm not losing out on the game. Our game. Imagine how high my chances will be coupled with this building now?"
My words slowly registered. The implications, a quiet laugh leaving his lips. Same time the sound of heels clicking the grounds. Her heels.
I turned from him. Facing her.
The short brown haired and brown eyed woman I somehow missed this morning.
She was avoiding me.
Not for long anymore though.
"Good afternoon, Sir." She greeted curtly as she reached us. Maintaining a distance.
I smiled, "Good to see you too, Alina. Smooth morning?"
Her eyebrows creased a bit, "Err...yes? Thank you." She dismissed easily, clearing her throat. Professional. "So why did you ask to see me outside, sir? Any problem?"
"Yes there's a problem." I said, "A very big problem."
"Problem? What kind of problem?"
"Have lunch with me."
"Sir??"
"Let's go have lunch," I repeated, she blinked. Confused. But I only turned around right then, Jordan opening the door of the car on cue.
"W-what? I can't...I can't have lunch with you."
"Why?"
"I have work! Lots of work."
That almost made me chuckle. Such a poor attempt at an excuse.
"You're aware I'm your boss, right? The one giving you all that work, and I'm saying to have lunch with me. You're saying no? You're saying no to me? Your boss?"
She stared at me. Baffled. Speechless. I simply stepped aside then, using the moment to show her the way into the car like the gentleman that I was.
Jordan on standby. Not smiling, not frowning but his expression was enough to leave her no choice.
"Will you have lunch with me, Alina?" I rephrased, tone soft. Catching those brown eyes once more. And instead of bafflement, confusion and skepticism sat staring back at me. For sure wondering what was going on, what I was up to...my lips stretching into more smiles. Excitement getting stroked.
"I'll take your silence as a yes." I reached out to her, taking her by the hand before pulling towards the car. Gently. Stuttering words of protest falling from her lips, eyes wide as she tried to resist while scanning the environment. Surely checking who was watching, but I didn't give a shit about that right now.
I led her in first, then followed after. Jordan shutting the door behind us, not before muttering,
"It's a tricky game you're playing, boss."
I did love tricks. Especially when I was so often right about the answers. Like this one.
"Buckle up," I only said in response. To her. As Jordan rounded to the driver's seat. The engine roaring to life soon, and off we went.
First to get lunch. Jordan staying at a seperate table, leaving us together at one. Fully understanding the situation now, and I couldn't be more delighted. Especially as I was seeing how uncomfortable she was as a result. It was almost like back then. When I first took her out for lunch she fully agreed to it via text. She was so shy and uncomfortable back then that you'd think she had problems sitting around people.
She didn't. She was just too cautious. Too concerned about what others thought of her, of us together.
Same as now too.
Only difference, I wasn't this amused back then. Watching her now just made me laugh. She really hadn't changed.
I knew she hadn't and this game of ours would be easy, but seriously, it shouldn't at least be this easy.
Soon after lunch, where she barely got 5 spoons down, we headed out. To our actual destination.
The environment was different, the sun was different. The buildings, people, trees, noise, energy. Everything getting lesser and lesser the more we drove deeper. The car passing them all and something else making itself impossibly obvious to the eyes.
Sophistication.
That alone could be felt in the air, not just by staring at the environment. And she noticed.
"Err... is this another way back to the office?" She asked slowly, glancing out the windows and then back at me. Jordan at the steering.
We didn't say anything.
Just kept quiet as the car continued moving. That quickly made her apprehensive. The fake ass calmness she'd been wearing all afternoon finally setting her features free. Free from its shackles, especially after she silently tried the door and realised it wouldn't budge. It'd been locked from the front.
"Roman," she called after that, I smirked. Staring right ahead.
"Roman." She called again, more stern now. Her true chaotic self inching outward now. Very good. "Where are you taking me? Where is this place?"
"You'll find out soon, don't worry." I said after a moment, keeping my voice still. But she wasn't about to be calm.
"This isn't a ploy to kill me and discard my body, is It?" She let out, staring me dead in the face. Already clenching her purse. Something inside of It.
"What??" I focused on her, amused. "What are you-
"You better not think of it," she cut me off, threatening. "You had better not be plotting some scheming shit, bringing me here to take out my organs or worse...to involve me in some dirty group orgy or fetish shit!"
What??
She held her purse tighter, glaring openly at me now. Her hands deep inside that purse like some weapon of safety was already waiting to be unleashed.
But all of that, what I got was one thing.
Group orgy.
Fetish shit.
She knew stuffs like that? She knew 'what' they entailed?? With her innocent looks and judgmental gaze at Oxygen??
Now that was interesting.
I couldn't help but fully turn to her now. My smile obvious to all, "You're into stuff like that? Hmm?" I smirked, "If you are that'll make things so much easier tonight."
Her eyebrows furrowed, "Tonight? W-w-what's happening tonight?"
"Didn't you already guess?" I pressed, enjoying this moment right here. "Orgy. There's to be an orgy party. A big one. You're invited. A reallll special guest tonight."
Her face paled. Brown eyes bright with both disbelief and shock.
"So tell me," I continued, moving closer to her. Her back dressing backwards. "What other 'dirty' shit do you know about, Alina? Do you have a fetish?"
"Fe-fetish?? What?!" Her features quickly got defensive, that purse rising between us. Disgusted. "You better stop this car right now or I'll end you, Roman Ward."
"Stop this damn car right now! Let me out! I said let me out of here!! Help!"
Oh my God...
"Will you relax? Nothing or that sort is going to be happening!" I let out, more than amused as I stared at her. The panicked/ wild look in her eyes. Purse high up in the air as a symbol of defence.
No weapon coming out even. Comical.
"If I were to harm you, you wouldn't stand a chance so relax. In fact, you should be grateful right now. That I brought you here."
"Grateful??" She scoffed, loud. Practically rolling her eyes into her brain. Definitely nothing like the calm Alina you'd see on a normal. "I'm anything but grateful to you, Roman Ward. I'm not even in the slightest bit grateful to you basta- when it comes to you!"
"You weren't going to cuss me right now, were you?"
"If I were?" She argued, nonchalant. Sass. So much sass.
"You wouldn't. You wouldn't dare "
"Dare?? Oh sweet Jesus, you think I don't dare to call you by your rightful title which is basta-
"We're here, boss!" Jordan cut through the air, halting her speech. The door locks unlocking loud and clear. Her eyes flying to them, words forgotten as she tried the door immediately. Rushing out the moment it re
sponded. Before either Jordan or I could move a muscle!
He stared at me. Surprised. I was amused.
"She really thinks that would save her if I really have a plan like that?" I chuckled, Jordan shaking his head as he went out. Coming over to my side so I could get out.
And I did. With much enthusiasm too, knowing she couldn't possibly have gone anywhere. Not in my estate.