Page 37 of The Fall of Rome


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We rode the elevator in silence, standing side by side. The rift that had grown between us was finally beginning to close. I looked up at Rome, who was calmly watching the floors tick up. I bumped my shoulder into his arm softly.

He looked down at me with an amused expression, “What?”

I smiled, and softly said, “I kind of missed you.”

Rome smiled back, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Ever think you wouldactuallymiss me?”

I laughed and shook my head, “Never in my wildest dreams, Cipriani.”

The elevator door opened into my penthouse. I wandered in, setting my purse down and shrugging off my coat. It was my routine to always drop them off in the entryway when I got home. What I hadn’t noticed before was Rome hanging the coat in the front closet and moving my purse from the floor to a table.

I eyed him with confusion for a moment, “Have you always done that?”

He nodded. “Did you never notice before?”

“No…” My voice trailed off. “I guess I didn’t.”

I was starting to realize there were many things about Rome that I had dutifully ignored, purposefully not noticed. But why? Why had I pushed any positive thoughts about Rome to the back of my mind?

Something about him terrified me. Not because I was scared of him, but because I was petrified at how he made me feel.

“You have color,” he murmured as he stared at my couch.

I glanced back, seeing the red blanket I had bought a few days back. “Yeah… I was upset about our fight and decided to do some retail therapy. Something about it made me feel better.”

“It’s red.”

I nodded slowly, “I’m aware, Rome. I was the one who bought it. Why does the color matter? I thought you would be proud I finally had some.”

“You bought a red blanket when you missed me and we were fighting, because it made you feel better?” Rome asked, trying to clarify.

I collapsed onto the couch. “Are you having a stroke?”

Rome shook his head and looked back at me, but something in his eyes had changed. It was as if a switch had flipped in his mind, and he was finally putting a puzzle together. Not that I had any idea what that was about.

“I think I’m finally starting to figure you out, Bly.”

I smiled, “Right back at ya, Cipriani.”

Chapter Fourteen

BEC

“Take a breath,” Andi murmured under her breath as we approached the conference room.

Today was the first meeting with the board since my fake relationship with Rome had begun. While Melissa claimed the plan had been proving successful, I wouldn’t believe it until I saw it for myself.

I had been told many times that I wasn’t a trusting individual… but Icouldn’tbe, not in this industry. Corporationsdidn’t care about people. They only cared about being on top and were willing to sacrifice people to get there. I had worked hard not to be one of the sacrifices.

I took a steadying breath just as Andi suggested, and nodded for her to open the door. I waltzed in, holding my head high. While I was an elastic band ready to snap internally due to my nerves, I wouldn’t show my weakness to the group. Showing them my Achilles’ heel would be akin to a death sentence. They needed to believe I was perfect, at least until my probationary period was over… only five more months to go.

The board members sat around the long conference table, and as usual, quieted down as I walked to my chair at the head of the table. I glanced at the seat that was usually empty on my right side, and was taken aback to see it filled.

Will’s dark hair and steely blue eyes that matched my own were impossible to miss. He was dressed in a button-up with the sleeves rolled up, exposing his tattooed arms. If I was right, he had added more pieces to his hands since I had seen him last.

I smirked at my brother, who returned the gesture and stood as I passed him.

“Rebecca,” he greeted with a quiet but commanding voice.