If I didn't know how I felt about Roman Reeves before this encounter, I knew now that I hated him. What was supposed to be a celebration between Chris and I turned into a battle of awkwardness. Lunch was a quiet affair and he had spent the whole time glaring at me (and at the waitress who had done nothing wrong).

The ride back to my place had not been much better. Every time I tried to talk, Chris had quelled my words with a glance. I didn't want to make him even more annoyed so I shut up. Besides, I couldn't blame him for being mad. I had finally accepted to move in with him and what happens? Roman comes and spoils everything.

"That is who dropped you off last night, yeah?" Chris asked after we got in.

"Yeah but Chris, you have to–"

He held up his hand and I immediately went quiet, letting out a sad breath. I hated when Chris was pissed at me. It was almost like I had all the burdens on Earth at that moment.

"What did you say his name was?"

"Chris, why do you want to know his name?" I asked warily, looking at my boyfriend.

"Just tell me his name Kayla," was his impatient response.

I swallowed and looked away. "Roman Reeves."

"Roman Reeves."

I looked at Chris with a confused expression on my face. Why was he so obsessed with knowing that man's name? What did he want to do with it?

My confusion turned to horror when Chris slipped out the card he had found that first night. He took it out of his pocket and fingered it, then he looked up at me.

"The same Roman Reeves?" he asked and my heart dropped into my tummy. I stood up and walked towards him slowly.

"It's not what you think Chris. Believe me," I said pleadingly.

Chris laughed. But it wasn't a particularly joyful sound. It was sinister. It made me scared.

"What is it then?"

Before I had the chance to answer, he continued, "Because the way I see it, you met this man, you've been meeting with him and you've been cheating on me. Yesterday was just an unfortunate day, right? You got caught."

My eyes widened involuntarily and I cursed the man in question. "Chris, no. You have to believe me. I absolutely didn't cheat on you with Roman."

"On first name basis with him, are we?" He laughed again, the same cynical laugh he had let out before.

I fought the urge to let out a frustrated breath. It seemed like the more I spoke, the more I got Chris mad. "I swear Chris, I didn't cheat on you. I... I poured a glass of wine on his shirt. That's why my boss fired me. And he... he helped me. That's all that happened. You have got to believe me."

"What happened to the broken bottle of wine? Or you lied to me?" The tone Chris had taken was dangerously quiet. I shifted a little and steeled myself, cursing my stupid mouth for deciding to lie.

"I lied."

Bang! I shook at the loud noise, my eyes wide and my chest heaving. My rickety table was in shards after Chris had hit it and my heart was beating even harder.

"Chris..."

"This is why I find it hard to believe you! You lie so fucking much. You want me to trust you. But you go around whoring yourself to these men, spreading your legs for how much?" he screamed and my mouth hung open. I never expected any of this from him. "I bet you're not even a fucking virgin. I guess you're lying about that too huh! Cock teasing me, while giving yourself to those men."

My treacherous eyes had failed me and the tears were running down my cheeks. "Please leave Chris," I whispered, wanting to cry in the sanctuary of my room.

Chris looked he wanted to argue (and another argument was frankly the last thing I needed) but to my surprise and great relief, he left. But not without banging the door as he went out.

I slumped onto the couch and closed my eyes. Hearing those words from Chris hurt. I had tried my best to be a great girlfriend. I didn't ever want to hurt his feelings. I had avoided men, even the rich ones who had propositioned me. So for him to throw all those accusations at me? Shocking.

I stayed on the couch for a while even after the tears subsided. Sometimes I just wished I could turn off my feelings. I didn't want to feel. I didn't want to hurt again. It was painful.

Too painful.

***

Roman watched as Kayla's boyfriend got out of her apartment. He looked angry, so they had probably had a fight. Roman fought the urge to get into her apartment and pull her out or comfort her. If there was one thing he knew, it was that if he did that, she was most likely going to give him a black eye.

Roman could bet his whole fortune that they had had an argument about him. And he couldn't bring himself to feel guilty. In his opinion, he was just getting what he wanted like he always did. It was nothing new for him to play dirty. If it could get him what he wanted, he didn't mind.

Soon, the only thing left in his way would be Kayla herself. He was going to convince her that he was good for her. And he was going to let her know all the things he had wanted to do to her right from the first day he had seen her.

Roman knew he was going to have to take it slow, something he never did. But Kayla was skittish and he wanted her enough to respect her. All he hoped was that she grew comfortable around him really quickly. Because all he wanted from this woman was her.

***

Word count: 1007

hello. sorry for the short chapter y'all. it's more of a filler but we are going to get more action in the coming chapters.

hope you enjoyed this one regardless of its length. if you did, tell me what you enjoyed about it!

love y'all

essie 🌺