Roman's POV
I woke up early, long before my alarm, but I didn’t move right away. Instead, I lay there, listening to the soft rhythm of Avah’s breathing beside me. The rise and fall of her chest was steady, peaceful. After our late-night movie, she had finally fallen into a deep sleep, her body relaxed, her features softened in a way that made my chest tighten.
Carefully, I slipped out of bed, making sure not to disturb her. The cool morning air brushed against my skin as I made my way to the bathroom, showering quickly and drying off before dressing in my usual tailored suit. The quiet hum of my morning routine was second nature, yet today, something felt different. I adjusted my cufflinks absentmindedly before turning to glance at the bed.
She was still curled up under the blankets, her dark lashes resting against her cheeks, her hair a beautiful mess against the pillow. A strand had fallen across her face, and I had the irrational urge to brush it away. She looked so small, so untouched by the weight of the world. Something inside me warmed at the sight, a quiet satisfaction settling in my chest.
I grabbed my watch and was about to leave when I heard her stir.
"Roman?" Her voice was soft, groggy, barely above a whisper.
I turned, watching as she rubbed her eyes, her fingers moving sleepily as she blinked against the morning light. For a second, she looked almost lost, then her gaze found mine, and a small smile ghosted her lips.
"You’re awake?" I asked, my voice quieter than usual.
She stretched lazily, her arms reaching over her head before she let out a small yawn. "You’re leaving already?"
I glanced at the clock. "Not yet. We still have time for breakfast."
That seemed to wake her up a little more. She sat up, the blanket pooling around her waist as she muttered something about brushing her teeth before slipping out of bed. I watched as she disappeared into the bathroom, my lips curving slightly.
A few minutes later, we walked downstairs together, her small hand slipping naturally into mine as we made our way to the dining room. The staff had already set everything up, a flawless display of efficiency, but Avah bypassed the spread and went straight for the coffee. Her fingers wrapped around the mug like it was a lifeline, and she closed her eyes as she took a slow sip, savoring the warmth.
I found it oddly endearing.
We ate in comfortable silence for a while before she finally spoke.
"I was thinking…" She hesitated, stirring her coffee absentmindedly. "Since you’ll be busy with work, I would like to be busy too."
I raised a brow. "Busy with what?"
"I don’t know," she admitted, biting her lip. "I mean, I’ve always loved fashion. I was thinking of maybe doing something with that."
Her voice was hesitant, almost uncertain, like she wasn’t sure how I would react.
Did she think I wouldn’t approve?
I leaned back slightly, studying her. She was avoiding my gaze, her fingers tracing the rim of her coffee cup in slow, idle movements.
I hated that uncertainty in her eyes.
She shouldn’t have to second-guess herself and certainly not with me.
I took a sip of my coffee, letting the silence stretch just long enough for her to shift uncomfortably before I finally spoke. "You should do it."
Her eyes snapped up, wide with surprise. "Really?"
"Yes." I set my cup down, leveling her with a steady look. "In fact, I have a fashion line under my company. I’ll have Derrick set up a store for you in our most prestigious mall. You can manage it however you like."
She stared at me, completely stunned. "You’re just… giving me a store?"
I smirked. "Would you rather start from scratch?"
"No! I mean… I just wasn’t expecting you to be so supportive."
My smirk faded slightly. "Why wouldn’t I support you?"
She lowered her gaze, stirring her coffee again, as if the movement could mask the emotions flickering across her face. "I don’t know. I just didn’t think it would be this easy."
I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table. "Avah, I want you to be happy. If this will make you happy, then it’s a good idea."
Something in her expression softened, her lips parting slightly as if she wanted to say something but didn’t know how.
Before we finished eating, I added, "I’ll have Derrick help you with everything. He’ll also hold interviews for your personal assistant since you’ll need one."
She nodded slowly, still processing everything.
I stood, pushing my chair back. "I should go now."
She followed me to the entrance, her eyes still holding that dazed look, as if she was struggling to understand how easily I had given her what she wanted. As I reached for the door, I hesitated.
For reasons I didn’t fully understand, I turned back.
She was standing there, watching me, waiting.
Before I could overthink it, I stepped closer and leaned down, pressing a slow, lingering kiss to her forehead.
I lingered.....just for a second too long.
When I pulled back, she was frozen, her lips parted slightly, her eyes wide with something unspoken.
I smirked. "See you later."
She didn’t move. She just stood there, staring at me like I had knocked the air out of her lungs.
As I walked out the door, I couldn’t help but think....
She had no idea how much more I was willing to give her.