Alexandra sighed softly from her seat next to me, clearly concerned.
“We’re here,” Malachi explained with a sympathetic smile.
“Oh,” I looked around, seeing my mom standing on the front steps. She had offered to come with me today, but I hadn’t wanted it. I couldn’t handle any more pitying looks. “Thanks.”
My feet carried themselves out of the car, past my mom, and into the house. I could hear Will and my mom exchange worried words with each other about my state, but I didn’t care.
I wandered through the opulent halls and up the staircase to the one room that had been untouched by Rome. The one room that didn’t feel lacking. I sighed as I wandered into my childhood bedroom and collapsed onto the bed.
I was still in my black dress and coat, my pantyhose had dried, but they still felt chilled, and my heels were still plastered to my feet. I didn’t care.
None of it mattered anymore.
Not without Rome.
Three Months Gone, January 17th
Ireadied myself slowly, carefully. Picking out the perfect dress and matching shoes, and spending extra time on my makeup and hair… wanting it to be perfect.
I had taken over Rome’s old room. My clothes filled the closet, my books on the shelf, and I had even added a couple of photos to the wall. I was going to move out of the Romano's house soon. In fact, I had just signed the closing papers for my new brownstone just down the street. My time here had helped my broken heart to mend, but I had accepted it would never fully heal.
My heart would no longer work as it used to, because the one person it beat for was gone.
I took a steadying breath and smoothed my hands over my dress. It was my first time in the office since I had lost Rome… and it was about to be my last.
The final board meeting of my probationary period was today. They were to vote on the permanency of my position. While the majority of the year had been successful, the last quarter was a spiral of epic proportions. The company was floundering. I was acutely aware of the suffering stock pricesand the mass resignations that had occurred, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. I had signed off on huge severance packages for every employee who left, and given glowing letters of recommendation. I refused to let my indifference negatively affect my staff. They deserved better than what I could give them right now.
I no longer cared about that goddamned company. It was my father’s empire that had ultimately taken everything from me. I wanted nothing to do with it. Not anymore.
If the board, by some act of divine intervention, agreed to keep me on as CEO, I wouldn’t accept it. I was done. What had been my life and my ultimate goal for so long, had ended up meaningless in the long run.
My job should have never been my entire life, and it was time I started living the right way. The way Rome would have. It was time I lived in the moment and learned to appreciate those around me.
Lucia and I had spent many late nights sharing stories of Rome. She had explained how similar he was to his father and how, despite losing him so long ago, she’d still had a piece of him in Rome. Having that final piece taken away from her was unbearable. She was now living for her daughters, but I knew she wanted to give up—just as I did.
His family and I were surviving. That’s the best we could do under the circumstances.
A knock sounded on the bedroom door. Malachi peeked his head in. He had spent the last few months flying back and forth between his family and here. He was a good friend to Rome, even now. Malachi was heading home permanently after the meeting, but had insisted on joining me, as did Will. They had both said it was what Rome would have wanted.
Rome would have moved heaven and earth to be there with me. He was the only reason I was second-guessing my choiceto leave the company. He had wanted me to take over the world, and was happy to watch from the sidelines as my biggest supporter.
“You ready?” Malachi asked quietly.
I nodded and followed him out of the room and down the stairs. I could feel a foreign smile inching onto my lips. Every member of the Romano family was waiting for me in the living room.
Livia smiled softly and closed the distance between us, wrapping me in her arms, “You sure about this?”
Her dark roots had grown in, her pink hair fading, signifying how long we had all been without Rome—without the color in our lives.
I pulled away and nodded, “I am. It’s what’s right.”
“You sure you’re not being…” Aria trailed off.
“Impulsive because of overwhelming grief?” Bee supplied.
I laughed despite myself. “Maybe I am, but this feels right. It’s the first thing that’s felt right in…” I couldn’t finish that sentence.
We all knew how long. Lucia clasped her hands together, “I’m proud of you… and Rome would be, too.”
