Avah’s POV
Roman’s grip on my hand was firm but gentle as he led me out of Rome International. His strides were long and purposeful, each step radiating the quiet storm of his anger. The air around him felt charged, almost dangerous.
But while he walked ahead, his grip never loosened. It was as if, even in his fury, he needed to remind me that he was here. That I was safe.
Still, my mind was elsewhere.
I couldn’t stop thinking about what had just happened.
I replayed every moment over and over again. The dismissive laughs. The mocking stares. The sharp bite of their words. The security guard’s tight grip on my arm. The way everyone in the lobby had watched like we were entertainment. It was a Netflix movie starring me as the main character.
The more I thought about it, the harder it became to push down the guilt pressing against my ribs.
Because people lost their jobs today.
Because of me.
I knew how hard it was to find work. I had spent months juggling two jobs just to survive, stretching every last dollar to make rent. I knew the panic of opening a nearly empty fridge and wondering how long I could make a meal last.
And now?
Because of me, people were going to feel that same panic.
I exhaled shakily as Roman opened the car door for me. He didn’t speak, just waited until I slid inside before circling to his side. His movements were smooth, controlled, but I could feel the tension radiating off him.
The second he settled into the driver’s seat, the car eased into motion, but the silence inside felt suffocating.
I pressed my hands together on my lap, willing myself to stop thinking about it.
It’s not your fault, Avah. You didn’t do anything wrong.
But then why did I feel so awful?
Why did I feel like I had stolen something from them?
Why did I feel responsible for their next sleepless night, their next worry-filled morning?
I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t realize my hands were trembling, until Roman reached over and took them into his own.
His warmth spread through my skin as his thumb traced gentle, soothing circles over my knuckles. The tension in my body softened, but my mind kept racing.
“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice quieter now, softer. “I should have made sure they knew who you were from the start. This shouldn’t have happened.”
I swallowed the knot in my throat, my gaze fixed on where our hands touched.
“I didn’t want anyone to lose their jobs,” I admitted softly.
Roman sighed, his grip tightening just a little. “I know.”
“I just…” I hesitated, struggling to put my thoughts into words. “I know how hard it is to find work. But they didn’t even try to check if I was telling the truth. It wouldn’t have taken them five minutes to confirm who I was.”
The words left my lips before I fully processed what they meant.
And suddenly, the guilt wasn’t as suffocating.
Because I was right.
It wasn’t about me.
These weren’t good employees who made a simple mistake.
They were arrogant. Lazy. Dismissive. Abussive.
They didn’t think twice before humiliating someone just because they could.
And if it hadn’t been me, it could have been someone else.
Maybe next time, they would have treated an important client the same way. Or worse...someone who actually needed help.
This wasn’t my fault.
This was on them.
My lips parted slightly at the realization, my chest feeling just a little lighter.
Roman must have noticed the shift in my expression because his thumb brushed against my skin again, pulling me back to him.
“You’re right,” he murmured. “And I’ll make sure something like this never happens again.”
His words settled over me like a quiet promise.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
But his hand stayed wrapped around mine. Steady, warm, reassuring and reminding me that no matter how chaotic everything felt…
I wasn’t alone in this.
And I never would be.
As soon as the car stopped, I didn’t wait for Roman to come around and open the door. I jumped out, desperate to shake off the weight of the evening.
“I’m going to shower before dinner!” I called over my shoulder, not bothering to look back as I hurried inside.
The moment I stepped under the warm spray, I let out a long breath, tilting my head back as the water rushed over me. My shoulders still ached from the tension of earlier, and even though everything had calmed down, my mind hadn’t.
I felt guilty.
People had lost their jobs because of me.
Even if Roman had been the one to fire them, even if they had been rude, dismissive, and downright cruel, it still sat uncomfortably in my chest.
I knew how hard it was to find a job. How exhausting and demoralizing it could be. And now, those receptionists and security guards would have to start over.
But at the same time… wasn’t that their fault?
Would it really have taken more than five minutes to confirm my identity before treating me like a nuisance? What if, instead of me, it had been an important client? What if their attitude had cost Roman a major deal?
They had acted unprofessionally, and it had nothing to do with me personally.
I sighed, running a hand through my wet hair.
It wasn’t my fault.
Just as I was starting to relax, I felt the unmistakable warmth of strong arms wrapping around my waist from behind, pulling me into a familiar embrace.
I didn’t need to turn around. I knew who it was.
Roman.
His bare skin was hot against my wet back, his chin resting lightly on my shoulder.
“I’m sorry again for today,” he murmured, his voice low and close to my ear.
I exhaled, leaning into him. “It’s okay. These things happen. It’s not your fault.” A small pause. “But I guess HR needs to be more careful about who they hire.”
I felt his quiet chuckle vibrate through me. “That’s already being taken care of.”
Of course, it was.
I let my eyes close for a moment, allowing myself to enjoy the quiet, the warmth of his touch. Maybe today had been overwhelming, but right now? Right now, I felt safe.
I felt home.