Chapter 4 - Sparks and SabotageMy hands shook as I read the article. Embezzlement? Bank fraud? Celeste had forged corporate documents using Victor’s old login credentials to make it look like I had transferred half a million dollars into an offshore account.
Before I could panic, my office door swung open. Roman strode inside, his heavy coat swirling around his ankles. His presence immediately filled the room, radiating power and unwavering calm.
"Have you seen it?" I asked, my voice tight.
"I saw it," Roman replied calmly. He walked over to my desk, leaned down, and placed his hands flat on the mahogany surface, bringing his dark eyes level with mine. "And I'm going to ruin her for it."
"She forged my signature, Roman! The press is calling for an investigation. If the police get involved, our contract will be exposed, and—"
"Lena, look at me," Roman commanded gently.
I looked up, meeting his fierce, steady gaze.
"You are my wife," Roman said, his tone carrying an unmistakable warmth that went far beyond our legal contract. "No one touches what is mine. Do you trust me?"
For the first time since this madness began, I felt a genuine spark flutter in my chest. It wasn't just about protection or money anymore; the way Roman looked at me made my breath catch.
"I trust you," I whispered.
"Good. Because tonight is the DeLuca Foundation Charity Gala," Roman said, a dangerous smirk touching his lips. "The Moreaus will be there, expecting us to hide in shame. Instead, we are going to walk in holding hands, and we are going to crush them."
Over the next few hours, Roman and I worked side-by-side in his penthouse study. As we reviewed corporate ledgers and traced the digital footprint of the forged documents, the cold barrier between us began to melt.
I discovered that beneath his terrifying billionaire exterior, Roman was intensely loyal, wildly intelligent, and possessed a quiet, self-deprecating humor. And he discovered that I wasn't just a quiet victim—I had an analytical mind that spotted a crucial discrepancy in Celeste’s fraudulent ledger that even his lawyers had missed.
"You're brilliant, Lena," Roman murmured, looking at me over the rim of his glasses as the clock struck midnight.
Our eyes locked in the quiet room. The space between us suddenly felt charged with electricity. Roman reached out, his warm fingers brushing a stray lock of hair behind my ear. My heart beat wildly, not from fear, but from a fierce, terrifying desire.
He leaned in slowly, his eyes dropping to my lips. For a second, the contract didn't exist. There were no five million dollars, no corporate takeovers—just him and me.
Ring!
The sudden blare of Roman’s phone shattered the moment. He pulled back, clearing his throat, though his eyes remained dark with desire.
May you like
He answered the call, listened for a moment, and his expression instantly hardened into stone.
"What do you mean the evidence was wiped?" Roman snapped into the phone. He listened again before looking at me with a pained expression. "Celeste’s father just bought the audit firm. They've verified the forged documents as real. The police have an arrest warrant for you, Lena... scheduled for execution at the gala tonight."
