Just when it was getting Worse

Zara’s pov

The meeting ended rather abruptly with Roman summoning me to his office the next day. After the meeting, I went home immediately, even though Levi had asked for a dinner date. I didn’t feel up to it anymore.

Not that the meeting didn’t go as planned. But I became exhausted from it. Before that moment, I was enthusiastic about unleashing my plan.

But now that it was happening, even though I was fueled with rage, I felt rather overwhelmed.

My mind went to Roman. Just that day, I had managed to get in his bad book more times than I could count, and I couldn’t help but notice how much it affected him.

He didn't seem to have changed a lot. Aside from him being more aloof, he was still the same man I knew. He looked handsome in his navy blue suit and striking grey tie.

I thought about our time together.

Once he had offered to make me breakfast

“Do I use the big or small pot?”

“Now, what do I add next?”

“The stew wouldn’t cook, it just wouldn’t,” he complained back and forth, and what was supposed to be an indoor dinner date ended up in a restaurant.

I had laughed so hard watching him scramble from place to place in the kitchen.

He wasn’t always as scary and ruthless as people mistook him to be. I had seen him. I saw his other side, which he always kept hidden, and any woman who did would be lucky just to.

My phone rang, snapping me back to reality.

It was Miss Sylvia. I had forgotten that it would soon be the twins' sleeping time.

“Hello,” I said, picking up the phone after the second ring.

“Mama,” it was Aria, speaking in her usual cheerful manner.

Aria called me mama, and Leo called me ma’am, which made me chuckle every time.

The twins were very different in so many ways. While Aria, with her dark hair and sparkling blue eyes, looked like Roman, Leo, on the other hand, with his dark eyes, looked like me.

Miss Sylvia always said they didn’t look like Roman, but I knew because Aria had the same scar as Roman behind her ears.

“Hey baby!” I responded, relieved to hear my daughter's voice.

“Ma'am,” Leo added, his voice comforting as always.

“Hey, honey,” I laughed. It was the only words they knew, and they used them all the time.

“Goodnight, lovelies,” I said, sending kisses to them over the phone, and Sylvia picked up the phone.

“How are you?” she asked, always the mother figure I relied on.

“Well, I am doing very well,” I told her, while taking a moment to explain all that had occurred in one day, we went over the events that were to occur over the next couple of weeks again. She was very thorough.

I ordered takeout instead since I was too tired to prepare anything. As soon as I sat down to eat, my phone rang again. It was Levi. I picked up the call on the second ring.

“Levi, hello,” I said, half interested in whatever he had to say.

“Did you get home safe?” he asked, not knowing I wasn’t in for small talk.

“I did, and you?” I answered, returning the question in a bid to sound interested; he probably wanted to talk about the later event of today.

“Yes, Sera” he said but then there was a brief pause. “you, know, it would be wise if you didn’t provoke Roman any longer, especially on a topic like the one you raised today,” he said in a very low tone, as if he was scolding me while trying not to sound too harsh.

“I didn’t think it was that sensitive. I'll try to make it up to him sometime soon,” I assured him.

“He was engaged to her, Sera, of course, it's sensitive,” Levi emphasized, frustration creeping into his voice.

“I understand that now, I'll tell you what, I'll ask him on for dinner and properly apologize,” I told him, hoping to soothe things.

“All alright, see you at work tomorrow,” he replied, and I hung up the call, not bothering to respond any further.

The night was cold and lonely. Just like most nights for the past three years. Yes, I had Leo and Aria, who were my greatest happiness, but nothing could fill up the void left by the absence of a man's touch and company.

I gave up on dating just so I could focus on my plan and my kids.

Or so I told myself, but if I were honest with myself, it was because I still couldn’t get over him, or shake off the memories of the one who ruined my life.

Roman’s pov***

“I want her fired! I want her company replaced immediately,” I shouted at the top of my lungs after abruptly adjourning the meeting myself.

“I don’t care if she has a recommendation from the president, I want her out of here!” I continued ranting to Levi, my voice dripping with anger.

I couldn’t believe what had just happened. Why would she bring that up? what was she thinking?

I smirked as I remembered her last statement, “I work with you, Mr. Roman, not for you.”

I paid her, hell, she worked under me.

“Roman, you can't fire her on her first day, it's bad for the company...” Levi cautioned, but I cut him off, my anger still burning.

“I don’t care! This is my company, and I do whatever I want.” I shot back in frustration.

“Maybe, but in a few days, you wouldn't be talking like this, man. Just let it slide, and I'll talk to her,” Levi suggested

“She is nothing, a nobody, and I will make sure she pays for this,” I told him, still consumed by anger.

Just then, Tania walked in, her face plastered with guilt.

“I'm so sorry, boss, this is all my fault. I shouldn’t have employed her.”

“Not now, Tania, I don’t need you on top of all this, I don’t want your games,” I snapped, turning to face her.

“I'm just trying…” Cutting her off, I asked,

“Would you rather take responsibility by handing in your resignation?” I saw her retreat as her face fell.

“Now leave my office,” I ordered, and she walked away.

What was she trying to achieve? coming to take the blame like that would solve the problem?

Even Levi never mentions that name, let alone a mere PR. No one has ever stood up to me the way she did.

“I want her in my office first thing tomorrow morning,” I said to Levi.

“All alright, that's fine, just talk things out with her, let her know what you expect from her, and I'm sure everything will be resolved,” Levi said with some assurance.

I sat on my chair, exhausted

“She didn’t have to bring up Zara, anything but that,” I said, not exactly to Levi, but he was there listening as I yapped.

“I know; I'll speak to her as I said. I stood up again, still perplexed about the day's event.

“You better do. And how I thought she was now humbled after lunch. Women are all just alike, trying to sit in place of men,” I muttered as I paced the room.

“Excuse me, sir Roman,” It was Victoria.

“Not now,” Levi and I echoed at the same time.

“But sir,” she persisted with an urgent tone from the doorway

“Not now, woman!” I shouted, my patience wearing thin.

“But it's your dad,” she said. I looked at her, her face etched with worry. “He’s been admitted.”