Chapter 36
Roman stepped out of his office, his mind still spinning from the encounter with Jessica. He clenched his jaw as he spotted Blair and Kara talking over Blair’s desk. Blair’s arms were crossed, her expression unreadable, but there was an edge to the way she stood. He could see she was tense. Kara, on the other hand, looked apologetic, shifting awkwardly on her feet.
The moment Kara noticed him, she straightened, opening her mouth, but Roman shook his head. “Don’t,” he said firmly.
“I’m really sorry-”
“It’s not your fault,” he cut her off. “Jessica is manipulative and has no boundaries. You don’t have to apologize for her.”
Kara looked relieved, nodding quickly. Blair, however, kept her gaze steady on him, like she was trying to figure out what was going on in his head. Roman didn’t give her the chance.
“Blair. My office. Now.”
He didn’t wait for a response, just turned and walked back inside, knowing she would follow. And she did. A moment later, she was shutting the door behind her, arms still crossed as she watched him.
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Her next words shocked him. “I’m sorry about this morning. I was being a bitch. I’m not sure where my head is at, wanting to keep it quiet one moment to not to the next. So much has happened in a few days and I feel like everything is spinning out of control.”
Roman ran a hand through his hair. Glad she was feeling as mixed up as he was. But he had a feeling he was about to increase her feeling of not being in control. “We have bigger issues right now.”
“What?” she prompted.
Roman exhaled sharply, rubbing his jaw. “Jessica tried to pull her usual tricks. She came here to cause problems, not to talk. When she tried to seduce me and that didn’t work, she then tried her hand at blackmail. To get money out of me.”
Blair’s brows furrowed. “Blackmail?”
“She thinks she can use the fact that there is obviously something going on between us to squeeze money out of me. Or worse, damage me.” He paused, eyes locking onto hers. “And you.”
Blair stiffened. “What? But she saw nothing.”
“Doesn’t matter. She knows me. We were both obviously involved in a passionate embrace before she walked in. She is sharp, a bitch, but still sharp.” Roman took a step closer, lowering his voice. “She has also brought up my sexual preferences and the fact… I like it often and I like to be in charge.”
Blair’s cheeks turned pink. She said nothing, waiting for him to continue. He watched as her breathing increased. He knew she was remembering just how he liked it. His cock jumped when he remembered her calling him sir. She may be an innocent compared to him, but she had liked it a little kinky. Roman wondered just how far he could go with her. She had already allowed him to tie her up.
Roman could feel his sex spring to life. Fuck, now wasn’t the time. Later. He needed to focus on getting her to agree to his plan.
“She wants to create a scandal. If I don’t pay up. She will sell the idea that I’m involved with my secretary, make it something dirty. Like I make a habit of it. First her, then you. She also pointed out how much younger you are.”
Blair’s eyes darkened. “That’s disgusting. Plus, you are only ten years older than me. That’s nothing.”
“She’s desperate. Jessica likes a man to pay her bills. She wants money. I have it and she wants it anyway. She can get it.” Roman shrugged like it didn’t faze him, but inside, it enraged him. Jessica had always been conniving, but this was a new low. It wasn’t like she was broke, but in her eyes it wasn’t enough what he was paying her for alimony. Knowing her tastes,
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she wouldn’t be happy with it. He was richer than she ever thought he would be and she had backed the wrong horse. “She could go to the media and create a scandal. I still have a board to answer to and investors that this could influence.”
Blair bit her lip. He could see she was thinking about the best way to handle this. She shook her head, anger flashing in her expression. “So what do we do?”
Roman studied her for a long moment, feeling the weight of everything between them. The way she challenged him, refusing to let him get away with anything. The way she wasn’t afraid of him. And the way he felt about her, how much deeper it ran than anything he’d ever felt before.
“We get ahead of her,” he said simply. He could see she was as worried as he was about the damage Jessica could do. But he hadn’t lied. If she went public, he would destroy her.
She gave him a wary look. “What does that mean?”
Roman exhaled, then met her gaze head on. “Marry me.”
Blair blinked. Then blinked again. “Excuse me?”
“Marry me.” He watched every flicker of emotion that crossed her face. “Jessica can’t touch us if we’re legally together. She will have no leverage. Anything she says becomes meaningless. No one will care and believe it’s anything more than sour grapes on her part.”
Blair let out a breathless laugh. “That’s insane. We can’t just get married.”
“Is it?” Roman tilted his head. “We get along. We work well together. You don’t take my bullshit, and I respect you for that. I’m done with shallow relationships. I want more.”
Blair stared at him, her expression unreadable.
Roman took a step closer, his voice husky. “I’m ready to settle down, Blair. Start a family. I want that. And I want you. We get along better than any of the women I have dated in the past.”
Blair’s breath hitched. He could see her pulse hammering at the base of her throat.
Roman held out his hand to touch the side of her face. “Say yes.”
Blair’s lips parted slightly. “Roman…”
“Marry me. Say yes.”