Chapter Nine #2
Her cheeks flushed slightly. “Look, Rome, I know we don’t get along, but I also understand that you don’t get anything out of this arrangement. If we pull off this whole fake relationship…”
“When…” I interrupted, “When we pull off this fake relationship.”
She just rolled her eyes and continued, “I get to maintain my position and run, quite literally, the largest company in the world. Meanwhile, you’re not getting anything out of this.
I’m mature enough to recognize that you will be sacrificing parts of your life for me.
I just wanted you to know that I do appreciate that. ”
I nodded in acceptance, still unsure whether she was being truthful or if this was all pure sarcasm. “I will say, I’m not giving up anything. I don’t think my life will change all that much. I already spend most of my time with you as it is.”
“Come on, Rome,” she argued, “there has to be a girl or two that you’re leaving behind for the foreseeable future to do this with me.”
I shook my head “I left my whoring around days behind me. For now, at least.”
Bec stared at me, dumbstruck for a moment, before finally breaking the silence. “I really can never guess what’s going to come out of that mouth of yours.”
“Imma take that as a good thing.”
BEC
“So…” I turned my attention to the man sitting next to me. We still had a few more minutes before we would arrive at the gala, and my nerves were already on edge just thinking about the event. I couldn’t handle a moment of tense silence. “You live with your mom?”
Rome nodded, “Proudly.”
Obviously he was proud of it. He didn’t live with his family because he had to; he lived with them because he wanted to. Every time I learned something about Rome that didn’t fit into what I expected, I was intrigued.
The man simply made no sense to me.
“Why?” I couldn’t help but ask, trying to gain a better understanding of him. If we were going to pretend to be together, I needed to start figuring out who he truly was.
“I missed her, my sisters, and their dad. It’s a bit of a commute, but worth it to see them happy,” he explained as he fumbled with his cufflinks.
I watched him for a moment as the world whizzed past in a furious blur through the windows. “Can I ask you something personal?”
He raised a brow in question, “You want to know a personal detail about me after being nice to me for a minute there? Even thanking me? Are you sure you’re Rebecca Bly, or were you replaced by a clone or something?”
I rolled my eyes and ignored the comment, “Why don’t you call your step-dad ‘Dad’? Hasn’t he been your father figure since you were eight?”
“Really jumping straight in, aren’t we? No small talk, just going right into the childhood trauma.
” he questioned with a raised eyebrow, but then answered anyway.
“He’s an incredible father to my sisters and has been an incredible step-dad to me, too.
It was never him. I was just…” He paused, his gaze moving past me and out the car window.
“I couldn’t let go of my Dad. I don’t really remember him, but he was my hero.
All I ever wanted was to be like him. When I was younger, I was adamant that Mateo couldn’t replace my Dad.
And as I grew up, he just stayed ‘Mateo’. ”
“Is he okay with that?” I couldn’t help but ask.
Rome shrugged, “Honestly, I don’t think he minds one way or another. He knows I care for him just as much as a son would a father, and I know he cares for me just as much as he does my sisters. What about you? Do I get any personal details in return?”
I rolled my eyes, “You can ask one question, deal?”
Rome smiled widely, showing off his unusually flawless teeth. “Deal. Now, I’ve got to make it a good one. Give me a minute to think about this…”
“My God, just ask me anything,” I groaned.
He chuckled, but obliged nonetheless, “Why don’t you or Will talk about your dad?”
“In the wise words of my sister-in-law, and as you saw for yourself, he’s a total dickface,” I explained.
Rome raised a brow in question, “Care to elaborate?”
Did I want to elaborate? No. But I did ask him rather intrusive questions, and it would be rude not to reciprocate. “What I am about to tell you does not leave this car, understood?”
Rome nodded and let me continue.
“He was wildly abusive to both Will and my mom when we were younger. He cheated on my mom for the majority of their marriage, and is a misogynistic asshole to the tenth degree,” I explained.
“I’ve barely had contact with him. After Will moved and my parents got divorced, I saw him maybe once a year until I started working at the family business.
I don’t consider him family, let alone my father. ”
“Shit,” Rome mumbled, “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
I shrugged a shoulder, “No one does. We’ve all made sure of that.”
“Why?” He asked, seeming genuinely curious.
“You’ve seen what my life is like. I’m being followed constantly by reporters and cameras.
Every move is documented and scrutinized, and I can’t even sneeze without some article coming out about it.
It was the same when I was growing up. And don’t even get me started on Upper East Side society.
Those people are piranhas when it comes to any amount of gossip.
It’s easier to keep it quiet than to deal with the consequences of it becoming public. ”
“Shouldn’t your dad have to deal with the consequences?” Rome argued.
“Whether he should or would are two different things entirely. Should he? Yes. Would he? Never. My dad could buy his way out of nearly anything,” I explained.
“It would require espionage or literal murder for him to finally face any consequences. And even then, it would probably just be a slap on the wrist.”
Rome was quiet for a moment, his dark eyes scrutinizing. It was rare that he seemed so serious, and I didn’t like it. The usual person I dealt with was annoying… but this side of him was something else. Almost scary.
He took a steadying breath and the usual light returned to his eyes, “Well, we can agree that fucking sucks.”
A startled laugh fell past my lips, “Yeah, it really does.”
“So, it seems we both have some pretty serious daddy issues, don’t we?” Rome joked, lightening the heavy mood that had fallen over the car ride.
“You’re ridiculous, Rome.”
“That I am, Bec. That. I. Am.”
We sat in companionable silence for a moment more, and I couldn’t help but feel closer to him. He was proving there was more to him than met the eye.
Though what met the eye wasn’t half bad. I had Andi send him a suit. I probably should have been concerned about how well she knew his size, because it fit perfectly and somehow only improved his appearance, which was hard to do.
Did I like the man all that much? No.
Did I like looking at the man? Absolutely.
He was the definition of tall, dark, and handsome. Add an expensive suit that fits perfectly, and he becomes lethal.
“Do you remember what we spoke about? How to behave tonight?”
Rome smirked, “Why do you assume I am going to make a fool of you? I can charm a bunch of rich as fuck politicians and socialites.”
How could you not roll your eyes at that?
“Maybe don’t call them rich as fuck.”
“Aren’t they?” He challenged.
I smirked, “Compared to me? No.”
Rome barked out a laugh, and my heart fluttered knowing that I had caused that sound. Which was absolutely not allowed.
We sat in amicable silence for the remainder of the drive. I wasn’t ready to finally take this fake relationship for a spin, but after another night of running it over with Alexandra—and talking it over with my brother—I knew it was what I needed to sway the board.
Will did offer to bring his brother-in-laws, and I quote, ‘fuck the board up,’ but I politely declined. Physical violence was a final resort.
Between having Rome by my side and making more societal appearances, I would sway the board to my side in no time.
The flashing lights drew my attention to the carpet. This was the part I was dreading the most. I didn’t do reporters. They were leeches who were willing to lie if it meant they had a good story.
“Wait here,” Rome instructed as the car came to a stop. “I’ll come around and get your door.”
Before I could respond, Rome was out of the car and rounding the back towards me.
“You got this,” I mumbled, readying myself. I could definitely convince everyone I wasn’t this supposed ‘Ice Queen’. I just needed to smile and keep Rome nearby, and I would change everyone’s mind in no time.
This was going to work.
It had to work.
My door was opened and I focused all of my attention on Rome, while I tried to ignore the world around us. I took his outstretched hand and made my way into the screaming crowd.
The voices of reporters, cameramen, and what I assumed were someone’s fans were all around us as lights flashed. The carpet wasn’t traditional, but rather fashioned like a runway leading up to the museum’s entrance.
Rome looped my arm through his own as he guided me slowly towards the door. I just had to make it there. I repeated the mantra in my head and counted the steps until I would be away from this madness.
I felt Rome’s breath against my ear before he spoke, “You hate this, don’t you?”
I shrugged and turned my attention to him. “It isn’t my favorite thing. I’m a businesswoman, not a celebrity.”
His dark eyes assessed me for a moment. I didn’t like not knowing what he was thinking, but I could see the moment he made up his mind.
“Smile at that camera for me,” he instructed before turning me towards the cameraman in question. I did my best to listen to him, but this part of my job had never come naturally.
Maybe I was the ‘Ice Queen’ I had been dubbed.
Rome glanced at me quickly before smoothing his free hand down his suit, “You’re making me feel like your sugar baby in this suit. Do I need to start calling you Mommy or something?”
A startled laugh fell out of me. I smiled at the ridiculous man next to me, “Where in the world did that come from?”
He simply smirked, “Knew it would make you smile. That’s all we needed.”
Damn, he was good. He got what he wanted out of that picture with my smile, and thus led us towards my perceived safety… away from the reporters.
I couldn’t help but wonder if Rome would be able to defrost the ‘Ice Queen’ everyone believed me to be.