Page 123 of Hate to Love You
My stomach drops, and my heart stops, dread filling me as I jump from my chair and dart toward Roman’s office.
“Abby, I said to transfer him,” Roman sighs, running his hand through his hair.
“He’s…he’s down in the lobby.”
“What?”
“Down…in the lobby, Roman.” I mutter, trying to catch my breath, feeling my heart thundering in my chest.
Roman scrunches up his face.
“Why are you so flustered?” He snorts. “He isn’t here to see you.”
But I can’t explain to him why I’m flustered.
The truth is, I recognize that name, and I know that Detective Hevon is someone who could reveal things that I have kept buried.
“The…the restaurant,” I breathe, trying to explain away my panic. “The bomb.”
For the first time today, Roman’s face softens. Silently he stands, walking over to me and taking my hands in his.
Once again, the feeling of his skin touching mine heats my blood within my veins, and I look up at him, staring into his beautiful face as my heart thumps loudly in my chest.
“Relax, Abigail. It’s alright. I’m sure this is just a procedure. After all, we were witnesses. We were there before it went up in flames.”
His voice is soft and tender, so different from how he’s spoken to, and acted around me all day. If I didn’t know better, I’d say there was genuine concern in his eyes, seeing my uncharacteristic response.
“Okay,” I breathe quietly.
“Go take a seat. I’ll take it from here, okay?”
“But…I should go and get him, right?”
Roman grips my chin, tilting my head up so that I’m forced to look at him. I know that my face right now is an open book, but I don’t care.
Gently he rubs his thumb gently over my lips as he leans forward.
“No, I’ll greet him myself.”
And taking my hand, Roman leads me back to my desk, before squeezing, “And don’t worry, I’ll keep your name out of it.”
He turns, walking away from the corridor and into the waiting elevator. Gradually my muscles relax as I sit and stare aimlessly, waiting for him to return.
A few minutes later, just as I’m dumping Roman’s dress code in the trash can, the elevator chimes, opening to reveal Roman, and Detective Hevon, following behind him.
Aside from the fact that he looks older, Hevon hasn’t changed much since I last saw him. His dark mahogany skin has a few more wrinkles, and his hair has grown lighter, speckled now with flecks of white.
I try desperately to hide my face, but as the two of them walk past, the detective makes eye contact with me and his face lights up immediately.
“Mrs. Adams! How lovely it is to see you again!” He says, genuine joy filling his features.
Roman stops, glaring at him.
Standing slowly, I smooth my skirt down my legs.
“Detective, I go by Miss Wayne now,” I correct him, ignoring the feel of Roman’s eyes burning into the side of my face.
“Ahhh, yes, I was sorry to hear about your loss, losing a life partner at your age is truly sad.” He says, shaking his head.