Chapter 6

Betsy

Roman’s secretary, Elena, was tall, poised, late twenties. The kind of woman you’d call flamboyant, effortlessly confident, always looking perfectly professional.

But right now? She didn’t look professional at all.

So he’d slipped away from the reception just to be out here with her. Were they dating?

“Betsy” he called me, voice low.

Jeez. I really shouldn’t be here.

I touched my temple lightly and sighed. “At least get a room,” I said, already turning to walk away.

Whatever he was up to now wasn’t my business. But what if someone else had seen? What if they’d taken a picture?

Tomorrow’s headline would write itself: CEO of Saint Corps Caught in Intimate Moment with His Secretary.

I started heading back toward the hall. My digestion had kicked in quicker than I thought—stomach already feeling lighter.

I stretched my arms up, feeling the soreness in my body. “I should just go get some proper sleep,” I muttered to myself, then yawned.

“Well, sleep and forget whatever you saw,” Roman’s voice came from behind.

I turned. His hair was all over the place, lips still swollen and red.

“Huh?” I said.

He raised a brow. “You’re not weirded out?”

I shook my head.

“What weirds me out right now,” I said, shaking my head with a small chuckle, “is you ditching your secretary out here. Or should I say your lover?”

He reached up and smoothed his messy hair with one hand. “I should head back inside and tell Barnes I want to leave,” I said, glancing toward the hall.

“So soon?” Roman asked, pulling my attention back.

I nodded. “Mmm. I feel really sleepy.”

He gave a small nod. “I don’t think Barnes is ready to leave anytime soon. But if you want to rest, the limo’s right there.”

Then, almost under his breath, but loud enough for me to catch—he muttered, “Which I should’ve used.”

A real, hearty laugh burst out of me.

“Now you’re thinking about it?” I said. “Good thing you didn’t. Now I can sleep in there peacefully.”

He let out a low chuckle. “Follow me then. I’ll tell Barnes you’re crashing when I go back inside.”

He started walking, and I fell in step behind him.

“Thanks,” I said quietly, nodding.

We reached the limo pretty quickly. The driver stepped out and opened the door for me.

“Okay, bye,” I told Roman, my eyes already feeling groggy.

He gave a small wave as I climbed in. The door closed with a soft thud.

Through the tinted window I could still see him clearly—he couldn’t see me. His face looked frustrated, and he ruffled his hair again, looking annoyed with himself, which drew a quiet laugh from me.

It hit me then: he really hadn’t wanted me to catch him like that, ever.

I yawned once more, stretched out on the seat, and let my eyes close.

Sleep didn’t take long to pull me under.

I couldn’t tell if I was dreaming or trapped inside a memory. The entire day replayed itself in my head, especially the moment Oliver read his vows.

Every feeling I had buried came rushing back. Even in my sleep, my heart pounded wildly, sweat clinging to my skin as I sat there again, watching him promise her forever. Watching him declare, in front of everyone, in front of me, that he would love her until his very last breath.

But then the dream twisted.

This time, Aqua turned toward me.

Slowly, deliberately, a smile crept across her face, not warm, not kind. Mocking. It stretched wider and wider until she barely looked human anymore.

“I got the man,” she screamed. “And you will always be beneath me.”

Her eyes locked onto mine.

I couldn’t breathe.

I tried to move, to get away, but my hand wouldn’t budge. It was trapped. I turned and saw Barnes sitting beside me.

But that wasn’t my brother.

His face carried the same cruel expression Aqua had worn. It chilled me.

“You’ll never be with him, Betsy,” he spat. “I can’t believe my sister would stoop so low, chasing another woman’s husband.”

The words shattered something inside me, and I broke into helpless sobs.

All I wanted was to run. To disappear. Why wouldn’t they let me leave? Why couldn’t I just vanish?

Then I heard my name.

“Betsy.”

The voice sounded distant, yet close at the same time.

“Snap out of it.”

I turned.

Roman stood there and he wasn’t looking at me with disgust. There was no mockery. Only concern.

“Betsy, I said snap out of it.”

But this time, he said something else with it.

“Wake the fuck up, kiddo.”

And suddenly it clicked.

The limo. I’d gotten into his limo and laid down.

My eyes flew open.

And I was met with Roman’s horrified face staring down at me.

“What the fuck?” he muttered under his breath. I didn’t care if I’d been talking in my sleep or crying—though I could feel the tears still clinging to my cheeks. Right now, I was just grateful Roman had woken me up from that nightmare.

Because that was exactly what it had been. I could still feel my body trembling from it.

He cupped my face gently in his hands. “Oh, kiddo… you scared the living hell out of me,” he said, using his thumb to brush away the tears I hadn’t yet wiped away. I still hadn’t said a word.

My eyes scanned the limo’s interior, and relief washed over me, I wasn’t back at that stupid wedding. I let out a deep sigh, feeling reality slowly settle in. Embarrassment tingled across my cheeks, forcing me to finally speak.

“It was just a bad dream,” I murmured, but judging by his expression, Roman wasn’t buying it.

Oh God, what had I said in my sleep? Please don’t let him have heard anything that might reveal how much I hated that his brother had married someone else and not me.

“Well, that was worse than a bad dream, with all the kicking and struggling,” he said, and I rolled my eyes.

“I’m not joking, Betsy, you should’ve seen yourself,” he added, releasing my face.

He sank into the seat, and I followed suit, sitting. I heard a long exhale.

“Barnes said I should take you home on his behalf,” he said, shifting the topic. Thank God.

“Why?” I asked, wiping at my damp cheeks.

“He had somewhere to be,” he replied, settling back.

“Or… someone to be with,” I blurted, and a small smile tugged at Roman’s lips.

“Wait… he really abandoned me?” I asked, incredulous. All he did was laugh, that infuriatingly handsome laugh of his.

“Well, I can’t be alone in that house,” I admitted, shaking my head.

He squinted at me, eyes serious now. “Do you… mind staying at mine instead?” he asked.

And I found myself actually thinking about it.