Chapter 27 #2
“I look forward to it,” I call back, just as the door slams closed.
“What the fuck, Luka? Do you have any idea what you’ve just started?” Roman hisses, his head falling back against his chair as he scrubs his hands down his face.
“Holy shit, dude. That was intense,” Guy says, reaching across Roman for another donut.
I just shrug. “I don’t see what the big deal is. It was bound to happen eventually.”
“Exactly,” Roman mumbles, looking far more annoyed than he should.
“What the fuck is your deal, Rome?” I cross my arms over my chest. “You got something you want to say to me, then fucking say it.”
“Can we not do this right now?” Leo tries to interject, but the glare Roman’s giving me tells me he’s done holding back.
“No, I want to hear it.” I gesture between them. “Let’s clear the air. What exactly would you like to say to me?”
“Oh, shit, we’re really doing this,” Guy mutters, already reaching for his phone as he takes another bite of his donut.
”All right, let’s start with your fucking house using my identity to create a dating profile. ”Roman slaps his hand against the conference table with a sharp thwack. “Imagine my surprise when a woman showed up at my house and accosted me about cheating on her!”
I purse my lips and nod, because he’s got me there. I’d be pissed about that too. “I’ve taken care of L.O.K.I. and I can assure you, nothing like that will ever happen again,” I say, trying to keep things as diplomatic as possible.
“Why the fuck is your house sexting people? How does it know how to do that?”
“I let him watch The Notebook one time, and he learned how to adjust his code. He’s a hopeless romantic, and he acts out when he’s left alone for too long.” I pinch the bridge of my nose, feeling a stress headache coming on. “I’m working on it.”
Roman rolls his eyes. My explanation must satisfy him because he doesn’t prod any further.
“Anything else you’d like to get off your chest?” I say sarcastically. “The floor is all yours.”
Roman blows out a breath, like he’s considering his words carefully. “Do you know why you were assigned to lead the festival this year?”
“Roman—” Leo warns, but I wave him off.
Unsure of where he’s going with this, I answer as honestly as I can. “Because I won the Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament, and then you changed the rules after the fact. Now it means I’m stuck leading the festival.”
Roman nods. “Well, yes, mostly…” He points a thumb over his shoulder but doesn’t look behind him. “But Leo here thought you weren’t living up to your potential. He thought maybe you needed an opportunity to prove to yourself… and everyone in town… that you aren’t, in fact, a fuck up.”
The word fuckup hits a nerve, and my chest tightens with rage. I can still hear Scout’s voice from our fight, throwing out those same words. Have I been blind this whole time? Has everyone been tiptoeing around me, thinking I’m some pathetic fucking loser?
I clench my jaw so hard it aches. “So, it was a test?”
Roman holds up his hands like he’s innocent. “I told him it was a bad idea, but he convinced everyone that this was what you needed.”
“Luka, it’s not like that,” Leo says, trying to smooth things over. “It’s just that sometimes I’m not sure you see the same potential in yourself that everyone else does.”
Roman continues, “And the first thing you do is marry Scout and go on a revenge tour.”
“That was you’re fucking idea, dip shit!”
Roman shakes his head, looking utterly exhausted—but at least he doesn’t deny it. “You couldn’t even do the proper research beforehand, knowing it’s not just your ass on the line—it’s the whole fucking company.” His words land heavy in the air, thick with disappointment.
The silence that follows tells me everyone agrees with him. I guess at least Roman had the balls to tell me to my face.
I scoff a laugh, somehow feeling even worse knowing they intentionally set me up. “Well, I’m sorry your little experiment backfired.”
“Luka, come on, don’t be like that…” Leo starts, but I’m already standing up to leave.
“Look, I know I fucked up, but you know as well as I do, he threw that bullshit together just to threaten me…” I shake my head, feeling my throat tight with emotion. “I know I’m not the most responsible person, but I am trying for...what it’s worth…”
“Come on, dude, don’t take this personally,” Roman says, “We were just trying to help you.” He reaches for another donut, but I snatch the box away before he can make his next selection.
“Donuts aren’t for assholes.” I snatch the box and tuck it under my arm, but somehow it still doesn’t feel like enough. So, I swipe Roman’s coffee, just as he’s taking a sip, and grab Guy’s matcha for added measure.
“Hey! What’d I do?” Guy protests, but I don’t respond, as I storm out of the conference room, letting the door slam shut behind me.
I drop the drinks in the closest trash can before offering the donuts to the rest of the staff and make my way outside feeling a renewed sense of purpose.
I think I’ve just figured out how to solve both of my problems. I pull out my phone and send out a quick text to L.O.K.I.
That should keep him out of trouble…for a little while anyway.