Chapter Twenty-Five
BEC
When I had agreed to the additional security personnel, I hadn’t been expecting them.
Yes, I read their personnel files, but when you have five hulking men following you around, the reality comes crashing in fast. They were all rather friendly with Rome and seemed like great, well-rounded men.
But I knew with one flip of a switch, they could transform.
I wouldn’t want to be on their bad side.
They had all been debriefed on what we were dealing with.
They knew about the notes, the threats, and even the rumors my dad was spreading.
There was no need to debrief them on the kidnapping attempt.
Everyone knew about that. I hadn’t seen it directly, but I knew the story was everywhere.
I just hoped that with time, it would die down.
“Is this really necessary?” I mumbled to Rome as the elevator rose to the executive floors.
“Extremely necessary. You won’t even notice they’re there,” he explained.
One of the men who was standing behind us actually snickered at Rome’s remark.
So did the elevator attendant. At least they recognized how ridiculous this was.
Between Rome, myself, and the five new bodyguards, we barely fit in the elevator, and we had to take two cars to go from Rome’s house to the office. It was a ridiculous entourage.
With them having no connections to Bly Enterprises, Rome felt safer having them around me, especially while I was in the office. So if having them around meant Rome felt better, I could compromise. It was the least I could do for him.
I was still staying at Rome’s house. We both claimed it was for security, but we both knew it was because it felt more like home.
My penthouse, while beautiful, was empty of life.
Rome’s cramped home had life bursting at the seams. Between his family and the love everyone radiated, there was nowhere else I wanted to be.
I also didn’t want to be away from Rome.
For so long, I thought I hadn’t had a home because I couldn’t find the right space.
Turns out I was looking in all the wrong places. Rome was becoming my home.
His name really was ridiculous at times.
I had asked his mom about it a few days ago.
He was named after his father, Romeo. Lucia didn’t want it to be confusing referring to the two of them, so she dropped the ‘O’, and here came Rome.
She hadn’t realized it seemed as if he was named after the English pronunciation of the city until he was nearly one.
And thus, Rome was my home. Not the city, but the man. I chuckled softly at the double entendre.
Rome raised a brow in question. I just shook my head, waving him off. There was no reason to start teasing him so early in the morning. I should at least wait until after lunch.
The elevator doors dinged open, and every eye on the executive floor turned our way as we entered the office.
They all knew what had happened and knew why I had not been here.
I wasn’t sure they were pleased I was back, though.
If the rumors my dad was continuing to spread were to be believed, my appearance in the office meant everyone was in danger.
I wouldn’t be thrilled if my boss were putting me in harm's way, so I couldn’t really blame them.
What I could do was prove that there was no risk. Though the five men following me didn’t help with those optics.
“Ms. Bly!” Andi called, but skidded to a stop in front of me as she looked between each of the men with a look of both awe and confusion. “...annnd entourage.”
I laughed lightly, “Hi, Andi. Give me the rundown.”
She swallowed hard and threw a glance at Rome, her cheeks blazing from one look alone. I was starting to understand why she made Rome so uncomfortable. I really need to have a discussion with her.
Rome kissed my cheek, “I’ll be in my office if you need me.” He turned to Andi, “Will you send all of Bec’s mail directly to me going forward, not just the notes?”
Andi nodded, her cheeks flushed.
Rome smiled and made his way to his office. He stopped at the threshold before glancing over his shoulder. Then he shot me a wink and disappeared into the office.
I heard a squeal come from Andi and turned to her with a raised brow.
She cleared her throat as she regained her composure, “Umm… oh yeah, your day. You have a meeting with Melissa this afternoon and then a conference call afterward. I left your morning empty so you could take some time to get caught up, but Alexandra slipped into your office before I could tell her to stop.” She glanced at me, “Sorry.”
I waved her off and walked to my office, “Don’t worry about it. I’m happy to see her.” I stopped in front of my doors and turned to my new guards, “You five stay out here.”
One of them actually saluted with a smirk. Then the one who laughed in the elevator, Fynn, spoke up, “Will do. We’ll approve any visitors for you as well.”
“Oh no,” Andi began to protest, “I’m perfectly capable…”
“We aren’t questioning your skills,” he interrupted, “but we have explicit orders to ensure the safety of Ms. Bly. All visitors will be cleared by our team going forward. Please print us a copy of her schedule so we can begin coordinating.”
Andi shot me a look, seeming almost angry. “Are you sure?” Her voice strained.
I nodded, “After the recent events, it’s necessary they’re here. The order came from Rome.” It was low to use her crush to my advantage, but I figured she wouldn’t argue if it came from him.
Andi took a steadying breath, but didn’t argue any further, and then reached for my purse. On a typical day, she would take my coat and purse in the morning, but today it was intercepted by Fynn. “We can hold onto this for you. You focus on your work.”
Andi looked to me for help, her eyes wide. “It’s fine,” I placated, “they’re just being cautious. I’ll let you know if I need you. With them running interference, you can focus more on higher-level duties. Think of this as a promotion.”
I turned and entered my office, the voices of Andi and the security guards disappearing as the door closed behind me. I leaned against the door and took a deep breath, happy to be back in a place I knew. A part of the control that I desperately needed was finally back.
“Oh, thank God!” Alexandra cried as she stood from her chair and threw her arms around me.
“I’ve been so worried about you!” She exclaimed and pulled back.
She looked me over, as if trying to ensure I wasn’t hurt.
“You’re okay now? I kept calling, but Andi said you were in Oregon, recovering, and refused to give me a forwarding number.
I was minutes away from flying out there to check on you myself if I didn’t get to talk to you. ”
I smiled at my friend, “I’m okay. The concussion’s healed.” I pulled back my hair, revealing the small scar on my temple, “Other than this, I’m good as new.”
Alexandra scrunched her nose, “That doesn’t look fun. What happened? I saw the news articles and pried as much information from your assistant as I could, but I have a feeling there is far more to the story.”
I sighed and walked to my office chair, where I all but collapsed into the supple leather. “Some punks tried to snatch me off the street. Unfortunately for them, Rome was right there and got to me before anything too bad could happen.”
Alexandra smirked, “I‘ve spent a good amount of time staring at some of the photos that were captured during his mad dash to get to you. He is plastered in every magazine.”
“What?” I asked in surprise.
She nodded, rifled through her purse, and handed me a paper. There was Rome on the cover. It was a good shot of him on that fateful day. He was on the motorcycle, flying down the streets of New York City.
I flipped through the pages and found the article.
There was a description of the incident and an in-depth look at Rome and his time in the service.
They had included his official personnel photo with Bly Enterprises, where he had his usual smirk, and a few candids of the two of us from the last couple of months.
“Damn,” I mumbled, “at least he looks good.”
Alexandra chuckled, “I thought the same thing. However, not every article is as positive as that one.”
Shit.
“It’s bad,” Melissa explained as she paced the length of my office.
After Alexandra explained there was negative press, she had left, and I called Melissa and Rome in immediately.
Melissa would be able to explain the situation we were in, and Rome deserved to be here as the stories were about him—the many stories, as Melissa explained.
While I had been in blissful ignorance as I recovered, she had been fighting a losing battle with the press.
The tabloids praised Rome and his heroic actions, but the more serious publications criticized his actions and behavior.
They were describing him as reckless, impulsive, and hot-headed.
The photos and videos of him breaking through the roof of the car didn’t help his case.
Rome looked like he wanted to puke from his spot in the chair. He hadn’t spoken a word since Melissa came in, but I could see the stress in his body grow with each word said.
“Has it made it to the board?” I asked, interrupting Melissa’s pacing.
She sighed and collapsed into the chair next to Rome. “Yep,” she answered. “It made it to them, and your dad is spinning quite the story about it as well.”
My head fell into my hands. “Shit,” I murmured. “What is he saying now?”
“The same thing the media is,” Melissa explained. “That Rome is impulsive and a bad influence. He’s even saying that the increased publicity from your relationship with Rome is why you were taken.”
“How does that even make sense?” I complained.
She shrugged, “It doesn’t, but it also doesn’t need to.
Your dad is looking for weaknesses with the board's perception. There are rumors now that Rome is distracting you from your work, and some claim you weren’t even injured.
That you just wanted a vacation away with your boyfriend.
According to them, it was all faked as a grand scheme to earn you sympathy, and a chance to jet off on vacation.
Luckily, those theories make up the minority. ”
I looked between Melissa and Rome. “What do we do?”
“It’s obvious, isn’t it?” Rome finally spoke, sounding dejected. His shoulders were slumped, and his hair was mussed from the many times he had run his fingers through it.
Melissa swallowed hard and nodded, “Yeah. It’s our only option at this point if we want to salvage this.”
“It’s not obvious because I have no idea what either of you is getting at,” I exclaimed. “What is this solution the two of you have?”
“We break up,” Rome stated, and my heart dropped into my stomach.
“What?” I asked, my voice breaking, and tears beginning to form.
He must have felt my desperation. “Not for real,” he said quickly while taking my hand across the desk. “Obviously not for real. I just mean we have to do the same thing we did when this all started. Lie to the media… tell them we did.”
Melissa looked between the two of us, the truth dawning on her in that moment, “Oh my God,” she mumbled. “You two are actually together now?”
We both nodded simultaneously, as he let go of my hand and leaned back into his chair.
She sighed, “I should have seen this coming. Well… having you two break up, at least for the public, is your best bet here.”
“Okay,” Rome answered at the same time I said, "Absolutely not.”
Rome looked at me, confused. “Being with me puts your job at risk. You need to do this to get them back on your side. Isn’t that the entire reason we ended up together in the first place? Convince the board?”
“I don’t give a shit what the board thinks,” I argued. “You know what? If the record numbers I am pulling aren’t enough to convince them to keep me on as CEO, then fuck them!”
Melissa stared at me in surprise, and Rome smirked.
“What about all the work we put into getting them on your side?” Melissa asked. “I have spent the better part of the last couple of months spinning stories to win them over. You want all that work to go to waste?”
“First, you did an incredible job,” I explained.
“Remarkable, even. But it was a job that shouldn’t have to be done.
You should be able to focus on the company's PR, not my personal issues.” I sighed and leaned back in my chair.
“From here on out, we ignore the board. Melissa, you focus on putting out the truth of my leadership. Push the numbers… explain the growth. I’ll do my job, and I’ll do my damned best at it. ”
“What happens if they remove you at the end of your probationary period?” Melissa asked.
I smiled. “Well, Bly Enterprises will have to find new leadership, and I’ll start my own company. Any chance you’ll come with me?”
Melissa smiled widely, “Obviously. I only work here because of you. Half of the staff work here solely because of you. If you leave, Bly Enterprises will have a mass exodus on their hands.”
“They’re really here for me?” I asked in surprise.
Melissa looked at me as if that was obvious. Was I truly this oblivious?
“Bec,” she began, “the board may be blind to your incredible work, but your staff? We see it. We’ve seen the hours you put in, the changes you have made, specifically the changes to make our lives easier.
We know you took a pay cut and funneled the additional funds to better our benefits.
We watched you as CFO for years when you were practically running the company for your father, and again over this last year.
We’re here not because we believe in Bly Enterprises, but because we believe in you.
If the board removes you… this company is screwed on every front. ”
I let the pride wash over me. For so long, I had worked with the focus to prove my father wrong. It seems I had missed all of the people I had proved right in the process. I turned to Rome, “What do you think?”
He smirked… that same look that used to drive me crazy, but now sent butterflies to my stomach. “I think you’re hot when you talk business.”
A startled laugh fell from my lips, “You’re ridiculous.”