Chapter 7 - The Night They Came for Naen
Marcus's arrest made headlines.
Roman's name did too.
Naen avoided the news.
For three days, she stayed with Leo in a quiet hotel suite.
Roman didn't visit.
At first she appreciated the space.
Then she became angry.
Then worried.
Finally, on the fourth morning, she called Vincent.
“Where is he?”
“Working.”
“That's not an answer.”
Vincent sighed.
“He's dismantling things.”
“What things?”
“His life.”
Naen went to Roman's office.
Boxes covered the floor.
Lawyers moved through corridors.
Documents were stacked everywhere.
Roman stood at the center of it all.
“What are you doing?”
He looked tired.
“Making changes.”
“What changes?”
“Selling businesses that shouldn't exist.”
Naen stared.
Roman continued.
“Closing others.”
“Because of me?”
“No.”
She didn't believe him.
Roman stepped closer.
“Because you made me ask a question I'd avoided for twenty years.”
“What question?”
“What happens after survival?”
Naen said nothing.
“My father survived. I survived him. Then I spent my adult life building stronger walls.”
Roman glanced around the office.
“I never asked what the walls were protecting.”
“And now?”
“You.”
Naen's expression tightened.
Roman corrected himself.
“No.”
He smiled faintly.
“Myself.”
That answer mattered.
“I don't want you changing because you think I'll reward you.”
“I know.”
“I can't fix you.”
“I know.”
“And I'm not asking you to become someone else.”
Roman nodded.
“I know.”
Naen looked around.
“Then why?”
Roman's voice softened.
“Because when Leo asked me not to die, I realized there was finally somewhere I wanted to come home to.”
Naen's eyes filled.
Before she could answer, Leo burst through the office door with Vincent.
“Roman!”
Roman crouched.
Leo ran into him.
The impact almost knocked Roman over.
Naen laughed through her tears.
Roman looked at her over Leo's shoulder.
For a moment, the empire disappeared.
There was only a man.
A woman.
A child.
And the possibility of something neither adult had planned.
But consequences remained.
Roman cooperated with investigators.
He surrendered records.
He accepted responsibility for legitimate violations connected to companies under his control.
He sold assets.
Created trusts for employees.
And made Laura independent.
Then he did something Naen never expected.
He gave the restaurant to its staff.
Not to her.
To everyone.
Servers.
Cooks.
Dishwashers.
Hosts.
Employees who had spent years being told they were replaceable.
Naen read the paperwork twice.
“You're serious?”
“Yes.”
“What about me?”
Roman handed her another envelope.
She narrowed her eyes.
“If this is money—”
“Open it.”
Inside was a job offer.
Not waitress.
Not charity.
Community director for a foundation Roman was establishing to help single parents working in hospitality.
Childcare grants.
Emergency medical assistance.
Transportation.
Legal support against wage theft.
Naen stared at him.
“You created a foundation?”
“You complained extensively about the industry.”
“I did not complain extensively.”
Vincent coughed from across the room.
Naen glared at him.
Roman smiled.
“You identified structural problems.”
“Better.”
Naen looked at the salary.
Then immediately looked away.
“This is too much.”
“It is market rate.”
“For what market?”
“The one where you're allowed to stop worrying about antibiotics.”
That silenced her.
Roman's expression softened.
“This isn't repayment.”
“What is it?”
“An opportunity.”
Naen looked down at the contract.
“Do I report to you?”
“No.”
“Can you fire me?”
“No.”
“Can I tell you when your ideas are terrible?”
“You already do.”
Naen smiled.
“Then maybe.”
Roman extended his hand.
“Maybe?”
She shook it.
“Maybe.”
But as their hands touched, both understood something neither was ready to say.
The debt that had connected them in an alley no longer existed.
Whatever came next would have to be chosen freely.
May you like
And that frightened Roman more than anything.
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