Chapter 4

ROMAN’S POV

“Boss,”

Marcus’s voice dragged me back from staring at the door she’d stormed through. “What do you think about their proposal?” I asked, eyes fixed on nothing, replaying her voice in my head.

“It was… it was truly impressive, Sir.” He said, choosing his words. “They seemed to fully comprehend the complexities of the room structures. Meaning they’re either into it or have been working on their proposal for a while now.”

Hmm.

I smirked. A small smile tugging at my lips at his yet accurate response. Just what I had in mind, “Thought I was the only one that got that,”

I turned to him just then, “We still have a few more teams to go.” He said, crosschecking the files in front of him. But I’d already had enough. “About 3 teams to go, Boss.”

“That’s enough,” I rose from my seat, the leather groaning under me. “I don’t think we need anymore. Already found what I’m looking for, wouldn’t you agree?”

He blinked, composing himself immediately. “Err, yes. Miss Monroe is quite talented. The heat of the season.”

“She’s the one you wanted us to contact personally?” I asked, pausing at the mention of that name again. He nodded.

“Monroe… Alina Monroe,” I tasted the words on my lips again. Noting just how easily they flowed. Without stress, familiar… like they belonged there. Just as they once had.

I could still see her standing tall and proud at the podium, chin lifted like she owned the room. Every pore exuding confidence and femininity in its purest forms. A full-grown woman. Very attractive too, a stark difference to the vibrant image of a young girl with thick glasses and baggy jeans, that I had permanently sealed in my head.

Alina Monroe.

I could never forget. Could never erase… the mere mention of the name had my blood reeling. Fists clenched at my sides as things I had long buried fought to the surface.

That girl… No doubt she would be a woman now. A full-blown adult. Much like this lady now was. Which made everything all the more nerve wrecking. They stood as polar opposites. Totally different persons if I were to compare, but still.

I couldn’t shake off the familiarity of those brown eyes. The burning hot whispers they sent to my mind the more I stared at them. The more I stared at her.

No way was I allowing another Alina Monroe get under my skin. Especially one that seemed so good at a job I desperately needed done. If she really is her, then I needed to confirm.

“Dave,” I called, referring to my right-hand man. “I want everything on this Alina Monroe. Past. Present. Everything. How soon can you get it done?”

He appeared at my side, “A little after tomorrow, Boss.” He replied, features an unreadable calm. Mirroring mine as I stared at the podium again. My eyes narrowing as I remembered the curve of her back in that tight tailored dress she had on and how it seemed she was avoiding exchanging glances with me. Everyone but me.

First sign of a guilty conscience.

My jaw tightened, “Get it done.” I said, turning to the door. “I need to confirm something.”

******

Days passed after the proposal presentations. My week running like every other; numbers, deals, and endless paperwork. The mornings were always uneventful; Quiet. Calm, and unforgiving. Making room for senseless thoughts I’d rather not entertain.

But by evening. Midnight, Oxygen comes alive.

My favorite part. The scent of money in the air, women dressed to be seen, low lights spilling warmth across glass walls… expensive laughter from private lounges and soft music drifting through the air. Smooth and controlled. Like a buzzing chaos.

The kind of chaos I could control. The kind of night that reminded me why I built all this in the first place.

But surprisingly, in all of that, something new added to it. Something provokingly interesting. And it was no other than those brown eyes I had seen that day.

Alina Monroe.

“An interesting little thing you are, hmm?” I mused, taking yet another sip of my whiskey. A curl of smoke lit in hand, lazily drifting upwards, joining the shadows of my office. Consuming me. “You have me eagerly waiting to hear about you. Real interesting.”

Somehow, after our meeting that day my mind kept going back to her. Her eyes. The way they stared at me. The surprise in them that was so skillfully hidden after a moment of initial shock. Could’ve sworn they were hiding something but I needed that confirmation first.

A process Dave was surprisingly taking his time to do. Speaking of Dave, my phone buzzed. “Boss, another firm just reached out again.” He texted, “Concerning the project.”

Another one?

Pfft. “Why are they all itching unnecessarily? If we want them, we’ll reach out.” I muttered, not liking the fact that was what he reached out to say. “The task I gave you?”

“On my way, Boss.” He texted back and just then I dropped my phone. Releasing air from my nose as I drew back on my seat. But then it occurred to me, “Why haven’t she reached out as well? Other teams are doing it.”

 It was almost as if she couldn’t be bothered to be selected. “Talk about over confidence” I scoffed, smirking.

It’s been a week already.

This was odd behavior for sure, and it was quipping up my interest all the more. If I wasn’t captured by her name, then I was most definitely now.

But just then a knock came in. “Boss,”

Dave.

I sat up. “You have what I want?” I asked, eyes on the brown envelope in his hands.

“Yes, boss. Everything.” He handed it over, watching me tear it open. “And the cameras from that night?” I paused as this was considerably more important. It held the key to the missing puzzles that had been going on in my head for a few weeks now.

“Nothing out of the ordinary, Boss.”

My teeth grounded together. “Impossible.”

“Boss, you-

“I was drunk not stupid, Dave.” I shot, cutting him off. “I had a woman over. I was not alone. The very fact she isn’t appearing on any of the cctv should send warning alarms! Keep looking.”

“Yes Boss,” he replied, the edge in my voice enough to shut down further questions. “The reports from the last cctv showed you drove home yourself. There was no capture of any woman, but we’ll keep looking.”

I scoffed, suddenly pissed at that single piece of information. In response, my hands tore at the brown envelope. Silently warning it to have what I wanted. And it did.

Several white documents and pictures spilling out. “They’re everything about her,” Dave explained, but I was already going through them without a second thought. Eyes scanning with precision and utmost intentionality.

Taking my time. Fingers tightening around the edges, until finally! I got to the pictures.

The final proof I needed.

Brown wavy hair, met brown eyes. Thick rimmed glasses, baggy jeans and an equally baggy shirt. A warm smile to top it all off. That same smile.

This was Alina. THE Alina Monroe.

My jaw tightened as I stared at her for a bit. Taking in the very detail of her features that my mind for sure hadn’t forgotten.

Then all at once, I dropped it. Grabbing the other separate batch. Dave watching as I slide through. My eyes taking in yet another round of brown hair. But instead of waves, these were straight. Lucious and trimmed to perfection, framing the heart shaped face of the very much matured lady.

Her high cheek bones contrasting the chubby, cute faced teen on the other picture. No glasses this time. Effortless smile, carrying the full radiance of a full feminine adult, bloody curvaceous hips sitting on some real goddess legs. And finally, brown eyes.

Familiar brown eyes. Almost identical with the one on the teen picture but with a more daring fire burning in their depths.

My breath hinged. Heart slowing to pause as I sat upright. “Boss,” Dave called, watching me lean even closer to my desk. Both picture batches in my hands. Staring back and forth. Comparing and contrasting. Checking and rechecking.

 But still, they were unchanging. Those brown eyes… they held nothing but the absolute truth.

That this was Alina Monroe.

Both were Alina Monroe. Alina Fucking Monroe!

She was the same person through and through. “Of course,” I scoffed, shaking my head. “Of course it’s you. It’s fucking you!” A baffled laughter left my lips then, mind clear as day as her words from last time replayed in my head.

“I am Alina. Alina Monroe.”

“Never left the city. Lived my whole life here.”

“I’m not THAT Alina, sir. You’re mistaken, and if that’s all, excuse me.”

Liar.

“What a real smooth liar. So eloquent.”

“Boss,” Dave called, “You’re going to ruin the pictures.” I stared down. And sure enough, my hands were wrapped tight around them. Squeezing, that she was bruised all over. If only it wasn’t just on pictures. I let them go. Leaning back on my seat.

 “You’re smiling,” Dave commented, confused. My smiles spreading even more then, “I am.” I confirmed, straightening out one of her current pictures I had been clenching hard. “Alina…Alina.”

I chuckled, “So this is where you’ve been. All this time… You looked me dead in the eye and lied, brown eyes! I almost respect you.”

Almost.

“What now, Boss?”

What now?

What now is to deal with this lying two faced snake! Watch her squirm and try to hide now that I know who she really is. “Draw up the contract, Dave.” I ordered, “I’ll go meet our new Creative Consultant myself.”

Let’s see how long you last brown eyes.

This is going to be fun.