The Encounter

The Background is a network that ruled the city and the majority of the surrounding countries. It's sickening how influential these people are, always covering up their shit, but not from me. I see and hear everything about everyone except Roman.

The man is like a snake living somewhere with no idea of its existence. If I didn't hear his name that day or learned of him while I worked with this network, I would've thought he was a fragment of my imagination. The network is separated into different branches, headed by the same kind of assholes, But Roman is the overall boss for everything.

Their code is mostly about loyalty, you see, when you join the background you don't belong to yourself. You dedicate your life to the Background, you'll take a bullet, a knife, and whatever weapon available to keep the Background a secret. These men here will do anything and everything to protect their asses and burn someone else's. The second thing about joining is you risk your family, especially if you're not someone powerful. Usually, they're bargaining chips, used for blackmail material, and means to make money. That's why I've sworn myself to not get closer to anybody more than necessary.

Every once in a while, there is a massive party to celebrate their endeavors. Men flaunt their money, and power, and keep trying to maintain alliances. The thing is, even though they're under one wing, there's always some kind of tension when all of them are in the same room. Every single man and woman in here doesn't trust the other, it's fake. I know it and they know it. Almost everyone is here, but I have the feeling the man I'm here for isn't here.

I haven't seen his face before, but I'm sure he isn't here yet. I'm patient, though. I may look unfocused to many, but I am paying even the smallest attention to everything happening around me.

Through my peripheral vision, I spot Mason Walking up to me.

Damn.

The man is fine. He's wearing a dark blue dress shirt with black slacks. Even through the shirt, I can see his abs. Yeah, he's a gym freak because I can't with all that sexiness, right? To make matters worse, his curly hair is trimmed to the side, with some falling in front of his forehead. I take a sip of the wine I've been nursing since I arrived.

“I've always known you were hot” He smirks, “But seeing you like this? Uhm” He licked his lips, his blue eyes darker than usual.

Ah, Mason, ever the charmer. I turned with a smirk and met his heated gaze. His eyes take in my body inch by inch, his teeth dragged between his bottom lips and a bit on it.

“You don't look so bad yourself” I grinned. Deciding to tease him a Little bit, I spread my legs a little wider, showing the wide split that runs from the tip of my dress up to my mid-thigh. His eyes followed the moment, his eyes darkening with every inch. A tortuous groan escaped his throat, he dragged his hand down his face and blew out a breath. He dragged his hands in his slack and shamelessly adjusted himself.

“I'll let you have this one, Ashanti”

“Of course, you will-" My voice trailed off when my eyes landed on the man who just entered the room. If I thought Mason was handsome, then this man was. This man is the epitome of beauty. He's muscular, about six feet seven inches tall. His long hair is tied into a neat man bun. His appearance commands attention. The entire atmosphere changes from warm to hot, from chattering to complete silence. He's wearing a two-piece black Suit with black shoes. There's a white shirt tucked into his pants. His eyes dragged around the room in a bored manner, Probably spotting what or whom he was looking for, he took slow and determined steps in that direction. His muscular thighs move with every step. Every eye in this room is on this man, and he's not even uncomfortable with it. If anything, he looks smug. Damn, I wish I had his confidence.

“Shanti, a new man enters, and I don't have your attention anymore” my head turns to Mason and his lips are pushed forward into a pout. How could I even forget this man's presence? Who the hell is the man who just entered?

“Awww Mason's jealous” I cooed teasingly, watching his expression, silently begging myself to not look in the direction of the man that put every man in here to shame.

“Definitely" came Mason's answer almost immediately “you're the prettiest woman in here, and I'll like to be the center of your attention" too late, and even though I'm not looking at the man my eyes are begging to see, I'm aware of his location. He's moving around the room, engaging in small talk.

“You don't have to worry about him, Mason" I lied through my teeth, reaching out my hands, and caressing his cheek. His skin is so soft. He tilted his head and placed a kiss on my palms. His expression is different from usual. This is almost in awe or something, I don't know.

“You know, we could be a power couple if you'll just let me in, don't you think?”

“Yeah? Wouldn't you miss having up to five different girls in your bed? I teased, even though I know he's being serious.

“No I won't" he whispered, watching me intently. “Besides, I know you have feelings for me as well. Shanty, what's the hold on?

My heart skipped a beat at that question. There are far too many answers to that question. Surely being with Mason is not a bad thing. He's a remarkable man, well, sometimes, but I'm too damaged to be with him. Besides, I have a job to do, and being with him will only get in the way of my plans. I look away because his eyes are dangerous to look into for a very long time.

“I do like you, Mason, you know that "I admitted quietly, his eyes turned hopeful “but I don't think we should act on what we're feeling, maybe it's an attraction that'll fade, and I don't want to lose the friendship we have”

It's the half-truth, but he doesn't have to know that. He knows I have feelings for him, acting on it is a different thing. That whole process of letting your guard down and allowing someone in completely is scary. There are too many “What Ifs”.

If that's the truth, why does the man standing on the other side of the room make my heart skip a beat? I haven't looked in his direction because I don't want to hurt Mason further.

“What are you so afraid of? If we don't try, we won't know if this thing” he points his finger back and forth between us” is an attraction or if it's real. I know what I'm feeling, and I know I want you”

Suddenly the room is so small, I look away, afraid that I'll pour my deepest fear if I look into those eyes for a minute longer. I heard him sigh, and from my peripheral vision, I saw him turn and was about to walk away. I turned my head quickly to face him, and he stopped and looked at me. His eyes are full of pain.

“Whatever it is, remember you won't get over it if you don't try to” he whispered before walking away. Tears cloud my vision, but I blink them back. I promised myself to not cry but to be reminded that there's something wrong with me, that is so painful. It brings back memories I've tried to bury. I watch him walk away until he disappears through the double doors.

He's wrong, I won't ever get over what is going on with me, even if I attempted to. Losing both parents is something nobody will get over, it gets easy over time, but there's no getting over it. More so, if they died in front of you at the age of ten. If you watched them struggle to take their last breath. There's no getting over that. My chest burns with the sudden rage I'm feeling. This is all his fault.

Roman.

He did this to me. Scanning the room, I realize it's his fault I'm here. He's the reason I'm damaged. Him. He did it. He's the reason I'm carrying the knot in my throat that constantly tries to suffocate me. Like now. I need fresh air.

I gulped the wine's been nursing in one go and headed to the balcony. There's nobody out here, the night is dark and quiet, save the chattering from inside the room. I watched the trees sway to the winds. A sudden realization hit me like a bus, I have no idea what Roman looks like, so even if he was here, I wouldn't know. I was hoping someone would call his name.

Turning to head to the room, my feet stay frozen as I look at the man standing not far from me.

He's watching me like I'm prey, up close I can see his eyes clearly, it's turquoise green with a speck of brown. They're beautiful. His eyes roamed my face, then my body, and returned to my face. I opened my mouth to say something and found out for the first time I'm speechless. He takes a step and his lips are tucked into an amused smile. Damn, he's beautiful.

“Are you alright?” His voice. I feel tingles spread throughout my body. Who the hell is this? Why the fuck is my body reacting this way. He tilted his head to the side and arched an eyebrow, waiting. It was then I realized he asked me a question.

“What?” I completely forgot what the question was, what did he ask me again?

“Are you okay?” He asked slowly, “I saw you leave the room rushing, you didn't look okay. I thought to check on you”

He saw me leave? Was he looking at me?

Why was he looking at me? I look back at him and see his eyebrows are still raised, I quickly compose myself.

“Yes, I'm fine. I didn't know there were gentlemen in their” I replied slowly, my gaze turned to the door before returning to him, His lips curled into an amused smirk.

“Maybe not, but I am”

“I see”

“Okay,” His eyes are watching me. None of us is breaking the silence, his lips slowly spread into a smirk like he got me figured out. Deciding to be bold, I spread my hands forward. His eyebrows raised in question,

“I'm Ashanti. Ashanti Dunbar, and you? “

His eyes watched my hands longer than I felt comfortable with, I was about to withdraw them when he covered them with his hands.

His hands are big, my hand fits perfectly into his like it was made for this. I mentally scold myself for thinking such. Before I could wander further into my thoughts, his deep baritone voice came.

“Roman. Roman Domino "