Ruby St. Clair's POV

On my way to Spain, I mentally prepared myself for my encounter with Roman. It took every ounce of my courage to face him again after I learned that he was deviously scheming this plan with granddad against me. I wasn't given the two of them.

With me was my hand carry with a few clothes and the all-important documents in my luggage. I just need him to sign the divorce paper and then we'll go on our separate ways. I can do this, I told myself silently as I closed my eyes on the plane ride.

But my preparation didn't stand a chance when I finally arrived at Roman's high-rise office building in the city. I was back at the place where this was all started. My nerves were on alert as I sat outside Roman's office waiting for him to finish his board meeting. I was told by his secretary that he'd been in the boardroom since he arrived this morning.

So here I was, mentally preparing myself once I saw him again. I reminded myself to act cool and composed while dealing with him. I need to show him that he does not affect me—whatsoever—that he can't fool me around anymore.

I bit my lips, despite reminding myself to harden my heart the thought of seeing him again made my heart waver. Can I do this? I asked myself silently as I tightened my hold on the divorce papers in my hand.

I felt out of place in his office since these formal-looking people working for him. Here I was wearing a pair of dark jeans, a white T-shirt, and a cardigan. Heck, I also brought my overnight luggage with me to his office.

I didn't even waste time bothering to check in at some decent hotel because once he signed this blasted paper I would book myself a flight back to New York. I tapped my feet on the floor a mannerism I do when I'm nervous. The waiting is killing me.

The intercom sounded on the table of Roman's secretary. My heart suddenly beat loudly in my chest when the woman stood from her table and gestured for me to enter Roman's office. I forced my feet to walk towards his office.

I took a deep breath one last time before entering his office. I realized upon seeing him again after a week of our separation have I never accomplished anything from my preparation. There he was standing behind his table looking at me with unreadable eyes.

I commanded myself to walk even further into his office. I was aware of the thick atmosphere around us as silence engulfed the room. I tossed the envelope unceremoniously on his glass table. "I came here just like you wanted now sign those papers as you promise."

He didn't even look at the paper I threw on his table. He never broke his gaze on me, suddenly I felt slightly nervous at his intense look at me. "How are you?" He said after a long silence inside his office.

"Never been better," I told him, even though I've been in hell since he left. But I wasn't going to tell him that. "Please sign the papers so I can leave."

He was still staring at me with intensity in his eyes. I nearly squirm at his forceful gaze. He finally broke eye contact took the divorce papers from his table and studied them. He looked at me once again. "You haven't signed the papers yet."

I rolled my eyes. "I will sign them once you are done. I am in a hurry to fly here that's why I forgot to sign them."

Roman placed them back on his table. "You first. Sign them first."

I let out my frustration at him. Why does he make this difficult? He just needs to put his signature on a few pages. Why does he want to make it harder than it was supposed to be? "What for? I can sign them later."

He shook his dark head resolutely. He offered me his fountain pen in my direction. Ironically, it was the same pen I gave him on Christmas. "You do it first." He bargained. "I want you to sign them first so it won't look like I divorce you. I want you to sign them first since you are divorcing me."

"Oh, for the love of God!" I said exasperatingly. I moved closer to his table and took the offered pen. "Why do you want to make this difficult?" I leaned down on the table and was about to sign the divorce paper under my printed name but my hand froze from signing them. What's wrong with me?

When I hesitated from signing them Roman's large hands stopped my hand from moving. "Don't do it, por favor."

"Roman..."

"Don't sign them, Red. Please." He begged, his eyes filled with anguish. "I can't bear to lose you. I don't want to lose you. I love you, Red."

I couldn't help but burst into tears. All emotions swirled inside me I don't know how I feel about his confession.

Before I realized what was happening Roman hugged me tightly as if he had no intention of letting me go. "Oh my god, please don't cry. Don't cry, my love. Stop crying I will sign the papers if you want your freedom from me. Just stop crying I don't want to see you crying in my company, my darling love."

I thud my fists on his shoulders while sobbing in his arms. "I hate you! I hate you, Roman."

"I know." He replied miserably, still cradling me in his arms like I was his most precious thing in this world. "Stop crying, please. I promise you will never have to see me after today."

"But that's the problem." I sobbed, clutching the lapel of his suit tightly. "I've been miserable since I left you. I thought in time I could move on from our separation but I was mistaken it only got worse as the day passed. I want to hate you for what you did for me but my heart isn't listening."

"My love." He said in a voice thick with emotions, kissing my forehead. "I feel the same. Do you know that after this board meeting, I plan to fly to New York and grovel to your feet if necessary so you can forgive me?"

"Roman..." I drew back from his embrace.

He gently wiped away the tears in my eyes. "I'm sorry if I unintentionally hurt you when you learned that I schemed with your granddad. I was desperate at that time I had no idea how to win you back because of our misunderstanding before you ran away. Daniel offered me a quick solution so I grabbed it without hesitation."

"I'm still mad at you and Granddad," I informed him.

He smiled at me, cradling my face in his hands. "I know. Let me make it up to you just let me stay by your side and never leave me."

"I'm scared..." I told him. What if we'll end up like my parents' marriage? What if we will hate each other in a few years?

"I know," Roman kissed me softly on the lips. "Your grandfather told me about it the other day. What you must suffer thinking it's your fault that your parents died but it's not Red. Daniel told me that your soul was scarred from experience and that I should be patient and help you heal from that bitter past."

"He did?"

He nodded with a smile. "That's why I decided to fly today to win you back whatever happens. I was just stuck with a gruesome meeting this morning. I need to finalize everything here because I will take a leave and try to win my wife again for the third time."

I couldn't help but smile at him. "What if I decide then that I still don't want to be with you anymore? What will you do?"

He shrugged his eyes lit with love. "Does it matter? I will still try to win back your affection even if it will take me years as long as I am on your side all the time." He tucked away some of the wayward strands of hair in the back of my ear. "I love you, Red."

My heart was filled with love for this man. "I love you, Roman."

The happiness I saw in his eyes was the sight I would treasure forever. He kissed me deeply in the middle of his office. It feels so good to be in his arms again after it feels like forever. I was once again back in his arms and this time I realized I was finally home.

*****

"Daniel will expect a grand wedding once he learns that we got back together," Roman said once we were lying naked in his bed.

I frowned at him, resting above him. "Why would he expect such a thing when we didn't file for divorce in the first place?"

"My love," he said, running his hands on my naked butt. "He feels like he was deprived of the opportunity to see his granddaughter marry the man she loves. He is probably expecting us to have a church wedding once he learns that he mends our rift. Besides, you deserve a grand church wedding."

"Oh! I don't want such things." I replied with a scowl on my face. "I am contented with our civil union."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, of course," I informed him. I studied his face fully how I miss seeing his handsome face since I left him. I never thought that I would fall in love with this man when I first laid my eyes on him in the little restaurant here in Spain.

I thought at first it was my misfortune to meet Roman but I guess it was my fate since I couldn't imagine my life anymore without him in it. He ruthlessly snatched away my heart like how he ruthlessly stole a kiss from me on our first meeting to discourage his date.

"What are you thinking?" My husband asked curiously.

I grinned at him happily. "About the day we first met."

"Ah, the day you stole a kiss from me?" He asked with a mischievous grin on his face. "I was with a girl that time remember when you suddenly kissed me in the middle of the busy restaurant."

I slapped him in the arm. "You're the one who did that, bastard! Because of you, I was sacked from my job."

He switched our position in the bed. I was now lying under him. He stared down at me. "I offered you a job after that remember?"

I pretended to think. "Hmm...I don't remember."

"I ask you to be my wife." Roman reminded me tenderly. "Still can't remember? I will remind you, wife."