Poised Between War and Want

Tania’s pov***

I had tried calling Roman repeatedly, but he wouldn’t pick up. The thought of visiting the hospital terrified me—what if he took out his frustrations on me for being there?

Even Levi wouldn’t pick up his call.

And there was Sera, claiming she had PR duties at the hospital. I didn’t buy her excuse one bit. Everything she did, she seemed to be a step ahead of me.

I couldn't help but wonder if she had apologized for yesterday's outburst.

When we arrived at the hospital, I spotted Levi outside talking to the press.

Sera waved him over.

“Why didn't you tell me this was happening?” she asked him like they had been friends for ages.

He replied, “You already have a lot on your plate, I didn’t want to add to it, and besides, I didn’t think Roman would want to see you.” I couldn't suppress my smirk. She deserved that.

“This is my job," she asserted, "it doesn’t matter, it's all over the news, they say it’s a heart attack,” she said without hesitation.

The audacity! I couldn't dare talk to Levi like that. I hated her guts more.

“Now you are here, I need to talk to you in private,” Levi said. Now they were keeping secrets.

“Hello! I'm right here,” I interjected, frustration bubbling within me.

“Exactly, why are you here? You should be back at the company managing its affairs; your presence here makes no difference,” Levi shot back at me.

“It's alright Lee, she probably was just worried for her boos” Sera chipped in before I could defend myself.

“Go back and handle all of Roman's meetings for today, call me if anything happens,” he ordered me.

I stood there, stunned and hurt by his outburst. I couldn’t believe he had spoken to me in that manner. I walked off pretty upset.

Zara’s pov***

“How bad is it?” I asked Levi, ignoring Tania, who had ended up making a fool of herself. I couldn’t tell her not to come with me, but I knew that she had no business coming here.

“How do you… Anyway, it's bad. We couldn’t come in today because he is being operated on. The valve in his heart has some issues, the doctors are working to rectify it now,” he explained. I nodded, following him.

“I don’t know how long before the news gets out, we need to contain the situation,” Levi stressed.

“Roman, where is he?” I found myself asking, unable to quell my curiosity.

“Sera, I don’t think now is a …” he replied, but I cut him off,

“I know, I just want to know so I can avoid his part,” I told him.

As much as I wanted revenge, I wasn’t insensitive to the fact that there were times when one had to hold back.

Also, I knew how desperately Roman wanted his father's care. Even at an older age, and even when he said he resented him.

“He's on the VIP floor, just take care of things here. I need to go be with him,” Levi said while holding my hand for a moment, before walking out.

He stopped and turned, as if to say he remembered something. “When this is over, you and I, I'll take you on that dinner date,” he smiled and walked off.

I had completely forgotten about that, but I could use the break. I hadn’t been able to apologize to Roman, and this came up. Of course, I was prepared for when nature took its course along the way, but I didn’t think it would be so soon.

feeling a sense of urgency, I called Sylvia. I knew she would know what to do, but she wouldn’t pick up. I sighed, not knowing for to do.

Next, I called Chloe.

“Tell the team to come up with a speech emphasizing the stability of Mr. Lucien Vale. We need the public to believe that he is in good health, and the reason Roman is absent from work is that he loves his dad and just like any other child would love to stay with his dad at least for a day.” I told her, hoping she understood.

“Alright, ma’am, anything else?” she asked.

“Ya, tell them to have the equipment ready, just in case we need to show live videos and ask them to speak with their sources in the media outlet, find out what they would like in return for dropping further speculations of the situation,” I further added.

“Alright, got it, ma’am,” she said, and I hung up and sighed, the weight of the moment pressing down on me.

"I hope I tackled that well," I told myself while walking into the small garden adjacent to the reception area. As I looked through the serenity of the place, my thoughts drifted to Roman again and how he was holding up.

"Not my problem anymore," I told myself yet again.

As I walked, I caught sight of a familiar figure in the garden, it was Roman.

I could tell from his back, the way he stood, that it was him. A wave of worry washed over me. I stopped in my tracks, turning slowly, wanting to walk away from him. This wasn’t one of my confident moments. I wished the ground would open and swallow me whole. There was no way I was going to let him see me. Not today.

“Stop right there,” he commanded. His voice echoed through the garden.

“I'm sorry, I didn’t realize anyone was here,” I told him, trying to put up my confident look, which I seemed to be falling awfully at.

“Do you own the garden?” he queried, his eyes aloof.

“Excuse me?” I asked in surprise.

“You didn’t think anyone was here, do you own the garden?” he asked again. I began to feel like my legs leave me.

“Look, Roman, Sir Roman, I'm really sorry about your dad, and I also regret the manner in which I handled the meeting yesterday,” I added as it seemed like he was going to kill me anytime soon.

“You seem to be sorry a lot in just how many days,” Roman said flatly. What should have been a lighthearted joke hit the air like an icy fog.

“I am, I didn’t…” I attempted to clarify again.

“Levi gave you the details?” he asked, completely ignoring my apology.

“Yes, he did,” I said, not wanting to push the apology again today. I had done my best anyway.

“How do you intend to keep it from the press?” he asked again

“Sir Roman, I think you shouldn’t be bothered about…” I replied, but he cut me off again. I almost screamed at him to stop interrupting me. But I didn’t.

“Tell me,” he urged, now sitting on the chair in the garden. He didn’t invite me to join him, but I sat anyway. There was no way I was going to be looking downward when talking to him.

“Well, I assume Levi already cautioned the doctors, nurses, and other staff of the hospital. My team is coming up with a draft now for an official statement by the company, and we are prepared to show video footage if necessary.” I told him, crossing my legs and sitting upright.

He looked at me for the first time. “Thank you,” he muttered. I could have sworn I heard genuine gratitude in his voice.

“Did you just?” I asked, smiling. And he laughed. His face lit up as he laughed, and it was filled with warmth. I watched his face soften, and he was just like the man I once knew.

Silence ensued after a while. he held my gaze, and I held his. My body felt like it had been set ablaze. Our faces drew closer together. I could almost feel the heat of his breath on mine.

What was going on? I asked myself, but I couldn’t stop it.

He brought his hand, inching it towards my face….

“Roman!” ... a voice interrupted, shattering the moment.