Page 13 of When In Rome

“Roman, I was just checking in with you. I know you just got back from the Japan trip.”

“How did you know I was back already? I wasn’t supposed to be back for another week.”

“I saw the light on in your office.”

“Don’t touch.” My back stiffens at how… harsh his voice became. He didn’t sound this angry when he found me in his bed, for fuck’s sake. What did she just touch? I rock back in my chair to try to grab a look.

“Roman.” The woman giggles and blows his anger off. Even I realize that is only going to piss him off more and I barely know the guy. “I was wondering if you had an answer for me about that date?”

Holy shit. She’s one of his girls. She sounds pretty, but I can’t see around the big lug. I lean further back to try to steal a peek. What kind of woman would he dally with? Do people even say ‘dally’ anymore or is that a word only found in romance books? Fuck it! I’ll start bringing it back.

“I already told you, I don’t date people I work with.”

“I understand, but this is just such an important night for you and the company.”

“And I’m already in a relationship, Ms. Simpson.” He talks over her comment about the importance to the company thing and hits her with the already in a relationship card.

“Oh. Really?’

I hear the disbelief in her voice. She’s not buying the ‘other woman’ story. I tilt just a wee bit further and my toes leave the floor. I experience a moment of soul-crushing terror as gravity shifts and my chair goes beyond the point of my control. I'm not sure if I am more fearful of the crash or the fact, I am about to make a complete idiot out of myself.

I hit hard but most of the force goes through the wooden frame of the chair. I make sure to keep my head from clanking on the floor and hold my breath. Maybe they didn’t hear that. But when I open one of my eyes a crack, I can see both of them have trained their eyes on me. Damn!

I squeeze my eyes shut again but they fly open when I feel hands on me especially when they jerk my skirt down over my panties. Rome is fast, apparently not just tying me up but also untying me. He has me up and over to the door before I can calibrate what just happened. My mind is still lying on the floor tied to the chair.

“Her?”

I give the woman a cocked eyebrow. Look I realize I just fell and I might be a little disheveled but there’s no need to be catty about shit.

“Yes, her.” Apparently Rome thinks it was a little rude too. “Nolia, this is Ms. Simpson. Ms. Simpson, this is Nolia. My girlfriend.”

What?

“Although she’s so much more than just my girlfriend. Isn’t that right, Sunshine?”

“I…no!” My eyes fly between the two of them. Did I hit my head when I fell? Am I really knocked out on the floor, bleeding from a huge head wound?

“I know too, love,” he purposefully misunderstands my words and jerks me to him so hard he knocks the air out of me so I can’t say anything. “You wanted to wait to give your sister time to celebrate her good luck with Roan, but I won’t allow someone to see you as nothing more than just my girlfriend when I would burn this company to the ground for you.”

Yeah, I think I definitely hit my head at the end of that fall.

Chapter Thirteen

Roman

A plan starts forming in my head. It might not have been my own plan, but I will take it and run. I wrap my arms around Nolia’s waist and nuzzle into her neck, dropping little kisses on her bare shoulder.

Ms. Simpson looks like she just made the biggest faux pas of the century. She probably thinks I might just fire her over this last attempt to seduce me.

“I’m…I’m so sorry…I…didn’t know you had someone, or I would have never…I’m really sorry. Nolia, I…didn’t know…”

“Me neither.” Nolia gives her a sweet look. I squeeze her a little tighter. “Oh, um…no worries. I…It’s cool. We’re cool.”

The woman on the other side of my door gives Nolia a relieved smile before offering up goodbyes and congratulations.

As soon as I have the door shut, my little hell cat is back. “What the hell…?”

“Do I have to tie you back up or are you going to listen to me?”

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