Chapter 8 - Another Man Took Her Hand
Six months later, Serena received an invitation.
A charity summit in Chicago.
Roman couldn't attend.
"I have a board meeting."
She looked disappointed.
"You can go without me."
"I know."
But she wanted him there.
He kissed her forehead.
"Go."
At the event, Serena met an old friend.
Daniel Brooks.
They had attended graduate school together.
He was married now.
Serena knew his wife.
There was nothing romantic about it.
But Daniel hugged her when they met.
A photographer captured the moment.
Then another photograph.
Daniel holding Serena's hand while helping her step down from a stage.
That picture appeared online the next morning.
Roman saw it.
He went silent.
Luca watched him.
"You know that's innocent."
"I know."
"Then why do you look like that?"
Roman stared at the photograph.
Because for the first time, he understood exactly what jealousy felt like.
Not because Daniel was a threat.
Because Roman remembered another version of himself.
The man who had spent six years rejecting every touch.
Every affection.
Every chance to make Serena feel chosen.
He closed the browser.
"Book me a flight."
Luca smiled.
"Boss—"
"Now."
He arrived in Chicago that afternoon.
Serena opened the hotel door.
She stared.
"What are you doing here?"
"I missed you."
She smiled.
Then noticed his expression.
"What happened?"
"Nothing."
She folded her arms.
"Try again."
He sighed.
"I saw the photograph."
"Daniel?"
"Yes."
"He's married."
"I know."
"I love his wife."
"I know."
She waited.
He looked embarrassed.
"I was jealous."
She laughed.
"You?"
"Yes."
"Roman Duca."
"Unfortunately."
She stepped closer.
"Come here."
He obeyed.
She kissed him.
"Better?"
"A little."
She smiled.
"Still jealous?"
"Less."
They sat together on the couch.
Then Serena said:
"Do you realize how strange this is?"
"What?"
"Six years ago, you told me not to touch you."
"I remember."
"Now you flew across the country because another man held my hand."
He smiled.
"That's not why."
"Why then?"
He looked at her.
"Because when I saw the picture, I realized how much I loved the woman in it."
Her teasing disappeared.
He continued.
"She looked happy."
"I was."
"Without me."
She touched his cheek.
"I can be happy without you."
He nodded.
"I know."
"But I choose you."
That was all he needed.
They spent the evening walking through Chicago.
No security detail.
No gala.
No business.
Just dinner at a quiet restaurant and a long walk beside the river.
Roman bought Serena a ridiculous slice of chocolate cake because he knew she liked it.
She laughed at the expression on his face when he realized he'd ordered too much.
"You're terrible at being normal."
"I'm practicing."
"Keep practicing."
The next morning, they returned to New York.
The photograph disappeared from the headlines.
But it stayed in Roman's memory.
Not as a threat.
As a reminder.
He had almost lost her because he had believed love was something dangerous.
May you like
Now he knew.
Love was the thing that had made him brave enough to change.
