Page 47 of Roman

“I am sorry if I embarrassed you, but if you are asking me if I am sorry I saw you naked, the answer is no. You are exquisite, Effie.”

She scoffed. Actually scoffed at me. “Exquisite. Oh yes. Wide hips, boobs out of proportion with my frame, short arms and legs. Such a stunner.”

I stepped closer, so close I could feel her breath on my skin. Feel the heat of her body so near to mine. I tilted up her chin. “I have never once in my life called a woman exquisite before. You are. Your hair and skin are beautiful. Your face is lovely, your smile sweet. Your eyes are indescribable. And your naked form is far too beautiful to be covered in these oversized rags. I have seen what they hide, and I will never forget it. Wear the clothes I got you. Enjoy them. Consider them a gift for having to pretend to like me.” I paused, staring into her mesmerizing eyes. I pressed the box I had found earlier into her hand. “And wear this.”

She looked down, gasping.

“But how…?”

“Marianne didn’t find it. I did. It’s safe with you, just as you are with me.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, then rolled up onto her toes to press a kiss to my cheek. But I turned my head and captured her mouth. She stiffened, then melted against me, fisting my shirt in her hand. I slanted my head over hers, deepening the kiss, dipping my tongue in and tasting her. She whimpered low in her throat, and I caught her against me, holding her tight. I explored her, groaning. I slid my hand under the too-big shirt, spreading my fingers against the skin of her back. It was warm and soft. I dipped under the waistband of her pants, running my hand side to side, wanting what was under the material. She shivered, and I gathered her closer. She moaned, but this time, the sound was painful. Distressed. I released her, stepping back. “Forgive me, I forgot about your injuries.”

She touched her lip, not saying a word. Then she backed up. “I-I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. I was out of line. Sit and finish your dinner.”

I took my plate and went to my desk, hoping she would eat if I left her alone. I entered more data, still angry that I couldn’t solve this puzzle. I studied the screen, almost growling in frustration. I was missing something.

“You wear glasses.”

“Yes,” I responded shortly. “For reading,” I added.

She hummed. “I see.”

I hit the keys with a little more force than needed, my frustration getting the better of me.

“What are you working on that is making you so irritated?”

I glanced up. “A puzzle.”

“What kind of puzzle?”

I saw no reason not to tell her. “We have three bars here. All well monitored. But suddenly, one has dropped in sales. Nothing drastic, but steadily. I can’t figure this out, neither can Aldo,” I mused. “How the numbers have changed. Everything was fine until a couple of months ago. No new staff, no missing liquor, and although the crowds have stayed the same, liquor sales have dropped. Then they rebounded. I want to know why so I can stop it happening again.”

She was quiet for a moment, then approached the desk. “Do you monitor the staff?”

“Yes. I see them start their shift, end it. We can’t watch every move all night, but their manager gives them their tips when they check out.”

She frowned. “I had a small drop in sales. I thought nothing of it until I noticed it remained consistent.”

I nodded for her to go on.

“I installed a camera and caught nothing. Then one day, I accidentally set the recording to start early and caught an employee bringing in their own store-bought bagels and selling them in the shop. He would stock the shelves, slotting them in. Then he pocketed the sales. He did it so well, it took me a while to figure it out. I didn’t miss it when it was five, but the twenty dollars a day caught my eye, and I certainly noticed the eighty dollars, then the hundred as he started doing it every day and adding in more bagels. In a month, he was pocketing over four hundred bucks.” A small smile twitched on her lips. “Less the cost of the cheaper bagels, of course.”

I stared at her. I picked up the phone. “Get me the feed from Breakers the past month two hours before they open. Line it up. I’ll be there soon.” Then I texted Aldo.

I stood and rounded the desk. She didn’t expect it when I cupped her face, and I kissed her again. Deep, long, passionate. “You are fucking brilliant, Effie. Exquisitely beautiful outside, smart and capable in that brain of yours.” I kissed her again. “Brilliant.”

She clutched my wrists. “You’re not going to kill someone are you?”

“I will teach them a lesson.”

“Roman, there could be a reason⁠—”

I cut her off. “Do not tell me how to run my business, Effie. You steal, you pay the price.”

“Maybe the person doing this had no choice.”

“There is always a choice.”

She lifted an eyebrow, and I knew what she was thinking. I hadn’t given her a choice. I hated that she was in my head. That she made me question my ways. I tugged my shirt sleeves down, ending the conversation. I stepped back. “Don’t wait up.”

In the elevator, I rolled my neck, anger coursing through me. Stealing from me was an unforgivable offense in my world. The person doing this needed to be taught a hard lesson.

And my lessons were rarely forgotten.