Page 49 of Downfall

He’s talking to a girl. Not just any girl but Lynne. His ex.

I gulp. It shouldn’t matter, not after what he said, not after our promises but right now I’m so on edge that it feels like it does.

He looks up as if he can feel the heat of my gaze and as our eyes connect something flickers on his face. He mutters something. Lynne raises her hand, strokes his face and he jerks pushing her off, pushing quickly through the crowd to get to me.

Only I don’t stay.

I’m gone. I’ve spun on my heels, half storming into the night and he has to run to catch me.

“Rose.”

“Let me go.” I hiss.

He grabs my arm and I yank myself free but not before stumbling and this time he grabs me to stop me from landing face first on the pavement.

“Let me go.” I grit it out.

“Why are you here?” He asks.

“That’s what you want to say?” I reply. “That’s it?”

He frowns. “Are you jealous?” He seems confused, like I didn’t just see another woman touching him.

“She was all over you.” I hiss.

He shakes his head, his eyes flashing and he pulls me before I do anything into an alleyway. “I’m not interested in her, Rose. You know that.”

I huff, crossing my arms, projecting all my anger, all my fear onto him in this moment because it feels like everything is spiralling so fast out of my control and I have no way of stopping it. Of stopping any of it.

“What’s wrong?” He asks.

“You mean apart from you and Lynne?”

He shakes his head. “That’s not the issue.”

“No but I suppose it doesn’t matter.” I state. “She’s a better girlfriend for you anyway. At least you can take her out in public.”

“For fucksake.” Roman snaps, pushing me back against the wall, his hands over my head all but holding me in place. “What is going on?”

“Paris.” I whisper his name. It feels as disgusting on my tongue as it does in my head.

His face changes. The anger goes, replaced with confusion. “What?”

I feel my eyes welling up and I don’t want to cry. Not now. I really don’t want to but they’re spilling over as I say the words. “My parents want me to marry him.”

“What?” He growls making the tears spill more.

“Apparently it’s been in the works for months. It’s all but a done deal.” I whisper before burying my face in his chest and he wraps an arm around me.

“That’s not going to happen.” He growls.

“I can’t stop them. I can’t…” I trail off as my tears get almost uncontrollable.

“Look at me Rose.” He says but I don’t.

He shakes his head, pulling my chin up and forcing me to look at him.

“You’re not marrying Paris fucking Blumenfeld.” He snarls.

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