Roman's POV
I returned from work earlier than usual.
Since I had left early that morning, I figured it was only right to come back the same way I had left, especially with the good news I had for Seraphina.
I stepped into the house, loosening my tight tie around my neck and was surprised to hear her voice sounding softly from the living room. She was on the phone, her tone lighter than I had ever heard her speak since she came to live with me.
But what caught my attention, what made me stop while I was still walking was the name Lewis.
Morgan's parents.
From the parts I heard, it was clear. They had taken Seraphina in...and then thrown her out of their house into the streets.
They sent her out to the horrible world to suffer.
I clenched my fists.
Why would they do that?
Would they even allow their own daughter to be treated that way?
My thoughts were off, anger quietly building under my skin.
Just then, she hung up the call, and I let her know I was there to avoid startling her.
Which I failed.
After I shared the news with her, about the secretary position in my office, her reaction surprised me more than I expected it to.
She lit up.
The way her eyes beamed, the way her smile brought out her face, her genuine and bright expression....it was the most alive I had seen her since she arrived.
I watched as she calmed and collected herself, straightening down her top that had gotten a little wrinkled during the hug. Her cheeks were still slightly flushed, but her smile didn't fade, it just kept shining more than any light was.
"Well, you can start tomorrow," I said.
She nodded quickly at my words, excitement practically going off from her as she turned and almost skipped toward her room.
I couldn't help but smile at her reaction...on the outside.
Seeing her happy...it brought something in me. Something warm. Something real.
But on the inside, I was boiling. My anger slowly rose.
My jaw clenched, and my hands balled into a fists at my sides.
The Lewis family.
They would pay for what they did to Seraphina.
I wasn't going to let it slide.
And I already knew exactly how to make it right.
The next day, just after I finished the breakfast the maid brought to my room, I checked myself once more in the mirror. Adjusting the tie to the right a little.
Then everything was in place.
I grabbed my suitcase and stepped out of my room, planning to tell the maid to inform Seraphina that we would be leaving soon.
But what I saw in the hallway stopped me right on my tracks.
She was already downstairs.
Waiting for me.
Dressed and ready, like she had done this routine a thousand times.
She wore a fitted cream blouse that was tucked into a high waist skirt, that hugged her body just right and still kept the professional touch. Still enough to draw the eye. The top had a V-shaped neckline that went down just slightly, giving it a quiet but luring look.
A thin belt she wore held her waist tight, like it was never letting go, and a pair of black heels that completed the whole look.
She looked like she had been a secretary her whole life.
And for a moment I just stared at her.
"You're out," I finally muttered, still a bit taken aback about her appearance.
"Hmm hmm," she replied with a powerful nod, her lips formed into a wide smile.
Without another word, we made our way to the car. I opened the door for her, and once we were both seated in the car, I drove us to the office.
Once we arrived at the large building, I led Seraphina over to Mrs. Lawson, one of our senior staff who had been working for the company for over ten years. She was firm and had the whole knowledge on what to do around the office. The perfect person to show Seraphina through all the basics, what she needed to do and more importantly than the first, what she shouldn't do.
With that being handled, I nodded to Seraphina and then made my way into my office.
I pressed the intercom on the table. "Call me Mr. Whitman."
Mr. Whitman, my head of investor relations, arrived within minutes of my call.
"Sir, you called?"
"Yes," I answered him without hesitation. "I need you to cancel the Lewis family's partnership with us. Every link, every surrounding form of business linked to them. I want it done as quickly as possible."
He blinked at my words, slightly caught off guard, as if trying to confirm he heard everything I said correctly.
But after a moment, he gave me a small nod.
"Understood, sir."
And with that, he turned and left to carry out my order.
Within just hours of canceling every partnership and business link they had with my company, the Lewis family showed up at my office, walking straight in, completely ignoring the security team's pleas for them to wait.
"Good day, Mr. Roman," Mrs. Lewis spoke first, trying to keep her voice calm, despite her shaky breathe.
"I'm afraid there's been an error somewhere," Mr. Lewis added, skipping any formality, clearly not ready or the mood for any of that.
"You don't say...." I leaned back into my chair with a look of ease.
"Our partnership with your company was canceled just a few hours ago. We're afraid you've mixed up something or perhaps made an error."
"No, I didn't," I said, short and clear.
They both looked at me, confusion written all over their face. I could almost see the moment it finally occur to them.
They had offended me.
They just didn't know how.
And that uncertainty sent them into a frenzy.
They began pleading. Mrs. Lewis even bent forward, her hands folded together. Mr. Lewis followed and did the same, their pride crumbling in seconds.
I raised my hand to stop them.
"There's only one way to solve this," I said, voice cold.
"Anything, Mr. Roman," Mrs. Lewis said quickly, nodding.
"Just right outside is Seraphina, the same girl you threw out onto the streets."
I paused,
"If you want this to work....go and apologize to her."