Lines we shouldn't Cross

Roman’s pov***

“Roman!” ….. Tania practically screamed, jolting me back to reality.

What was she doing here? That was my first thought as a wave of confusion washed over me.

Before I could gather my thoughts, she walked away, she turned and walked away, leaving an uneasy silence hanging in the air between Sera and me.

My thoughts went back to the moment, the tension thick as I tried to grasp how it had all spiraled.

“What is wrong with me?” I wondered, as I watched her turn her back, mirroring my silent treatment.

Suddenly, as if regaining her composure, she spoke, “Excuse me, sir Roman,” her tone clipped, and then she was gone.

I stood up thinking about everything.  It must be because of the pressure from my dad that I tried to assure myself.

“Levi,” he popped into my thoughts. "How could I have almost done this to him?" Just then, he walked in as if timing me.

“Hey, man. I've been searching everywhere for you.” He spoke as though he’d just sprinted a marathon, breathless and a little frantic. But I was still lost in my headspace, unable to respond.

“I just saw Tania and Sera leave in a hurry. Did something happen between them?” His questioning tone pricked at my nerves.

I had to deal with Tania, who could spill everything.

Confused on whether to say the truth or not, “nothing, not sure,” I finally blurted out.

“Your dad's out of surgery. I thought you should know; he's been taken to the ICU,” he said, walking closer to me.

I could see in his face that he most likely doubted what I said, but it didn’t matter. All that clutter in my mind was focused on talking to Tania and Sera.

“I don’t want to see him yet,” I told Levi while sitting again.

As if he understood, he sat down too. “Alright, the doctors say it will take a few hours for him to regain consciousness,” he said, and the room fell silent.

Never have I ever felt this way for a woman except Zara. Not only did she look a little like Zara,

“When she laughed, it reminded me of Zara,” I thought

“What did you say?”  Levi asked.

I realized too late that I had spoken my mind aloud.

“Nothing, I just remembered something from the past,” I told him, waving it off.

“I know this is not a good time, but Sera's is around, and she just wants to apologize to you; she is not looking to get into any fight with you,” Levi spoke.

If only he knew. I only nodded.

“I need to get some air, I'll be back,” I told him and stood up to leave the hospital. It didn’t make sense what had transpired. And it didn’t help that I was sitting next to Levi, whom I felt I had betrayed.

“Alright, I'll call you when he wakes, don’t go too far,” I heard his voice trail off as I stepped outside, the cool air a welcome distraction.

Levi’s pov***

I went upstairs to the VIP ward in search of Roman, but he wasn’t there.

“Hey, where's Roman?” I asked the nurse stationed there

“He left some minutes back, he said he'd be right back,” she replied, smiling

“Stupid,” I muttered while walking away.

He should have been there while his father’s surgery was over. Being with a father who never saw you was not an easy fit, and I could understand.

 I went in search of Roman when I saw Sera enter the garden by the reception. Beautiful as ever. A smile crept onto my face. I was going to disturb her for a moment before continuing my search for Roman.

Then I saw him with her. I watched from an angle as their conversation unfolded.

Everything happened before my eyes, but I pretended not to know. Roman was stepping into the lion's den, and I would wait for him at the front.

I waited for him to regain his composure without stepping in

I listened to him lie to my face about what had just happened before my eyes.

He just destroyed my trust….

Zara’s pov ***

I felt a jumbled mix of emotions as I realized I was supposed to make Roman fall for me, but why was it feeling so intense?

My heart raced, pounding in my chest like it was on fire. The connection felt so real, nearly intoxicating, until Tania’s interruption yanked me back to reality.

I didn’t know if I should be thankful or frustrated with her for breaking in at that moment. 

“You bitch!” I heard Tania snap as I stepped outside, her voice sharp and filled with venom. 

“Don’t you dare!” I shot back, confronting her head-on. Her face turned a furious shade of red, and I could practically feel the tension crackling between us.

It finally dawned on me, maybe she had feelings for Roman. 

She locked eyes with me, her glare as fierce as a storm. “You’ve barely been here a day, and you’re already hovering around the boss like you own the place. Who do you think you are?” 

I had never seen her so furious before. Even in moments of hurt, she usually put on a brave face and drowned her sorrows in drinks, but now she looked ready to explode. 

“I don’t owe you any explanation. My life is my business,” I replied defiantly, even though I knew it was risky to fire back like this. 

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Levi striding past, reminding me that there were more complications to deal with.

Sighing, I turned to leave, but Tania stepped in my way, blocking my path. “He’s mine, and you better stay away,” she warned, her eyes spitting venom at me.

I struggled to comprehend her possessiveness but managed to keep my cool. 

“I don’t care,” I said, pushing past her. 

The truth was, I did care. It dawned on me that Tania, my friend, was tangled up with Roman. I needed to talk to Miss Sylvia about it; maybe she could help me sort out my feelings. 

I made my way to the VIP ward, seeking the quiet refuge I desperately needed. I found myself sitting by Mr. Lucien’s bed, the stillness surrounding me almost soothing as I gathered my thoughts. 

“Who are you?” A voice jolted me back to the present, startling me. 

It was Sir Lucien. He watched me intently, his gaze piercing. 

“Why are you in here, sleeping?” he asked, an eyebrow raised. I could see a glimmer of amusement in his cold eyes. 

“Oh, I’m terribly sorry, sir! I didn’t mean to doze off,” I stammered, trying to mask my embarrassment with a smile. 

“It’s a pleasure to wake up with a beautiful woman beside me,” he said, a warm smile breaking across his face. 

I stood up, smoothing my shirt, then extended my hand. “I’m Sera Quinn, the new PR specialist for your sons, I mean your company.” I grinned, doing my best to ease the awkwardness. 

He reached for my hand, but the IV drip attached to his arm made things tricky, earning a laugh from him. 

“Sorry about the snag,” I said, leaning in closer to shake his hand. This close, I could see the family resemblance; he looked a lot like Roman.

The grey hair set against his well-defined features, and the scar he bore behind his ear it was a mark that linked him to his children, just like the ones on Aria and Roman. 

“Ah, that scar has been passed down in the family for years. A true heirloom,” he joked, making me laugh, if only for a moment, and I forgot about the earlier tension with his son. 

“You know,” he added, “I keep waiting for Roman to give me a grandchild to pass this on to.” 

If only he had any idea of the tangled mess this would become. 

“I’m sure Sir Roman is working towards that,” I replied, trying to keep the tone upbeat. 

He paused, eyeing me thoughtfully, then leaned back slightly. “Now that I think of it, you and Roman seem like a good match,” he mused, eyes sparkling with mischief. 

I laughed awkwardly at the thought, though the sadness flickering behind his smile didn’t escape me. 

“What the hell is she doing here?” Roman’s voice sliced through the moment, causing the air to thicken instantly as he walked in with Levi beside him. 

My heart leaped into my throat, the tension spiking as everything I felt moments before crumbled under his gaze.