“Order prevents chaos.”
I nod. “It’s also boring and hampers joy.”
He shrugs as if he’s unbothered.
“Read the rules,” he says.
I sigh and place the tablet on my lap . “Before I get to the rules, tell me about yourself. Like, what is your middle name?”
“Alexander. Yours?”
“Joy.”
“Noelle Joy. It’s nauseatingly festive.” He smirks behind his fingers as his other hand steers the wheel.
“Birthday?”
“Every year.”
I stare at him? “Seriously.”
“When you got your file from Lia, it was there. You should have looked it over.”
Looked over? Like I had nothing to do?
“True. When is my birthday?” I smirk, waiting for him to answer.
There is a long pause. “I, too, need to look over my file.”
“What do you do for a living?” I ask.
He sighs. “I’m the CEO of Voss Heritage Fund.”
“Oh no. You’re a finance bro?” I cry.
“What? No. I take people’s money, reinvest it, and make them richer,” he replies as he turns the corner.
“You’re the final boss of the finance bros,” I add.
Roman shakes his head in annoyance.
I nod in agreement. “Where did we meet?”
“I am leaving that love story for you to make up.”
I tap my chin, thinking. “I slammed your face into a door at a Screaming Bean. Blood was pouring out your nose. I saved you.”
“Someone is a little bloodthirsty,” he mumbles. “Let’s go with a charity event, and you spilled wine on me.”
The whole car smells of Roman: rich, new, expensive. I’m tempted to lean over to take a whiff of him.
My phone vibrates, and parang music takes over the space in the car. I hum along, dancing in my seat.
“God, answer the phone, or turn that ringtone down.”
I turn it down. “You don’t like Christmas music?
He shakes his head. “No, I don’t like noise.”
