Avah's POV
As we ate in comfortable silence, I kept sneaking glances at Roman, trying to find the right moment to speak. My mind was racing with the thought of doing something for myself, but I wasn’t sure how he’d take it. Would he even be open to the idea?
I cleared my throat softly, gathering my courage. “Roman… Since you’re always busy with work, I was thinking… maybe I should also do something to keep myself occupied.”
He set down his coffee cup and looked at me with mild curiosity. “What do you have in mind?”
I hesitated, suddenly feeling nervous. What if he thought it was unnecessary? Or worse, what if he dismissed it entirely?
“Well… I like fashion,” I admitted slowly, watching his expression for any signs of disapproval. “I’ve always enjoyed styling, putting outfits together, and creating looks that make people feel confident.”
To my surprise, he didn’t scoff or look uninterested. Instead, he simply nodded. “Then you should pursue it.”
I blinked, caught off guard. “Really?”
His lips curved into a faint smile. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I want you to do something you love?”
I let out a small, nervous laugh. “I was thinking of something small… maybe just finding a way to be involved in fashion somehow.”
Roman leaned back in his chair, his gaze steady. “You don’t have to start small. We have several fashion brands under the company, and I can set you up to manage one.”
My heart skipped a beat. “Manage?” I echoed in disbelief.
“Yes.” He took another sip of his coffee, as if it were the simplest thing in the world. “One of our most prestigious malls has space for a high-end boutique. You can take charge of it. Full control.”
I swallowed hard, my mind spinning. “Roman… that’s a lot of responsibility.”
He raised a brow. “You don’t think you can handle it?”
“No, it’s not that,” I quickly said, shaking my head. “It’s just… I didn’t expect you to offer me something so big.”
He leaned forward, his gaze soft but firm. “You’re my wife, Avah. I want you to have the best opportunities. And if fashion is what you love, then I want you to have the chance to turn it into something real.”
I stared at him, overwhelmed by how easily he was willing to support me. My husband—this man I was still trying to figure out—was giving me more than I had even dared to ask for.
“I want to try,” I finally whispered.
A satisfied look crossed his face. “Then it’s settled.”
I picked up my coffee cup, my fingers trembling slightly. Just like that, my life had taken a new direction, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready for it. But one thing was certain, Roman was full of surprises.
As we neared the end of breakfast, Roman casually wiped his mouth with a napkin and leaned back slightly. “I’ll send Derrick over to help you with everything,” he said smoothly.
I looked up from my plate, blinking in confusion. “Derrick?”
“My assistant,” he clarified. “He’ll guide you through the setup process and handle anything you need. He’ll also hold interviews for a personal assistant for you, you’ll definitely need one.”
A personal assistant? My head spun. Just minutes ago, I was worried about how to bring up the idea of doing something for myself, and now I suddenly had a business, an assistant, and a whole operation waiting for me.
“Roman, I—” I started, unsure of what I even wanted to say.
Before I could form a proper thought, he stood up, walked around the table, and gently cupped the back of my head. I barely had time to react before he pressed a soft kiss to my forehead, lingering just a little too long.
I froze. My heart stuttered.
For a moment, it felt like he didn’t want to pull away, like he was savoring something.
And then, just as quickly as he had done it, he stepped back. “I have to go now,” he said, his voice quieter than before.
I nodded, still too dazed to speak.
He gave me one last look before turning away and leaving the dining room, his footsteps fading down the hall.
I sat there, completely still, my fingers gripping my coffee cup as I replayed everything that had just happened.
I just got a business.
Just like that.
As I sat there, still gripping my coffee cup, my mind raced to catch up with everything that had just happened.
I had woken up married to a man I barely knew, still unsure of what my place in his life was supposed to be. And yet, here I was, being handed a business like it was as simple as picking out breakfast.
I had expected marriage to be… suffocating. A contract that bound me to someone in ways I wouldn’t fully understand until it was too late. But Roman...he wasn’t what I expected. He wasn’t cold or distant like I had feared. He didn’t try to control me, didn’t question my choices or dismiss my hesitation.
Instead, he listened.
And now, he was giving me something to do, something to call my own, without me having to beg for it.
I traced my finger along the rim of my cup, exhaling slowly.
Maybe being married to a rich man wasn’t as bad as I had originally thought.