Seth knew something very bad was coming. Dolph's smirk was creepy, Hunter was angry, Stephanie looked disappointed and Paul was nervous.
Sami handed out several folders to everyone present. Seth looked at the documents, it was all the information of the advertising campaign of Legit Boss beauty products. Sasha Banks was the most important client at that moment and the campaign for her products was millionaire.
"But this campaign is perfect." Roman said looking at the photos. "The client approved everything and the party for the release of her new beauty line will be in two weeks."
"Everything was perfect, but it was ruined completely." Dolph said visibly angry. "Keep looking at the documents in that folder."
Everyone was in awe. The documents showed mails with pics all sent, by many people of other companies, there was all the information of the campaign for Sasha.
"The information leaked, is in the hands of everyone," Roman didn't understand anything.
"But how did this happen?" Seth was horrified. "Sasha knows this?"
"Of course she knows. She was the one who called us yesterday after receiving an email with the leaked information. She was hysterical and rightly so." Dolph complained. "It was supposed to be a surprise, something shocking and now everyone, even the press knows what the ad campaign is about, two weeks before actual party!"
Sami was hesitant, but decided to intervene as Dolph was losing control. "The shipments were made by Seth while he was at the front desk. It was confidential information and he knew it." Sami looked at Seth with concern. "In fact I told you that you had to protect that correspondence jealously. The shipments were all wrongly made, you confused confidential information and not only Sasha's, but information from other less important campaigns."
"But even if Seth got confused, that doesn't mean that people had the right to spread that information." Roman intervened.
Sami shook his head. "The correspondence was sent back by the recipients who received it erroneously but had already been seen by the employees of those companies. We are in the era of the internet where if someone finds some information, they spread it immediately. Seth was in charge of verifying that all correspondence had been properly delivered, but he didn't."
"If he had done his job well, we would have known all this at the right time and we could have done damage control." Dolph complained again. "The creatives and I have worked for months making the perfect campaign that would give a huge amount of money for this company. Besides losing money, all this will also make the company looks ridiculous because who will trust us now after this mistake? the reputation of this company is at stake for his fault. For now, we have lost our most important client and I'm sure we'll lose many more. Now you understand the level of damage that this company has suffered?"
Seth remembered those shipments perfectly. "But I'm sure I did everything correctly. I admit I didn't make the calls on Friday because..."
"Because you wanted to go with Dean who came to see you." Dolph grunted.
"I think we were wrong to move you so fast from one place to another." Stephanie said disappointed. "One month was not enough."
"Please, work at the front desk is not even difficult." Dolph said to Seth. "You only had to pay attention, but you couldn't, because you never joined this company to help us, your only intention was to draw another of the men in your long list in your bed. You've never loved this company, you never loved the legacy of your family!"
"Don't talk to him like that, you have no right!" Roman was angry now.
"I've got the right! It's my job that Seth ruined! The creative team and I have been in this company for years, doing everything perfectly to produce the money that Seth spends on parties and cheap fucks. The money for paying your debts at the hospital, Roman. But now we have a huge loss of money!" Dolph threw at Roman another document with the amount of the loss written on it, and when the samoan saw the amount he was pale, it was too much money. "Now you see the level of damage. Our best client left us, thanks to the spoiled brat who has never done anything to earn the money he receives for being the son of Hunter and Stephanie."
Seth looked at his parents. Stephanie didn't say anything, she was disappointed. Hunter only nodded at every word Dolph said.
"Can we do something?" Roman clenched his fists in despair. "Perhaps we can convince Sasha Banks not to leave the company, we could offer a deal, charge less money. Another campaign based on the ideas that were discarded, add something surprising. As Sami said this isthe era of the internet, scandals and mistakes can be used to our benefit. If it attracts attention is good for the business and all this has attracted attention enough. If, despite the information leaked, we can do something new to show at that party, not only we won't lose the best client but we would also show that we can do something good from bad things and so the company wouldn't lose money. Maybe there would not be a large profit margin but there would be no losses either."
Dolph narrowed his eyes. "That's a good idea. It seems like you're not just Seth's fuckboy like everyone says."
Sami couldn't contain a grunt. Dolph was insufferable. "Roman is college educated and holds a degree in management."
"Then why was he cleaning floors and greeting people in the elevator?" Dolph asked curiously. "If he is prepared, he should be helping us."
"Because he wanted to be close to me." Seth admitted defeated.
"We will also have to make a budget cut to make up for lost money." Said Paul, who was the financial manager. "In case we cannot recover Sasha's account and the other accounts affected. Anyway if we recover the profit margin would be lower, so we will have to make some cuts."
Seth opened his eyes disproportionately. "Budget cut..."
"We will have to reduce administrative expenses and expenses that have nothing to do with the company." Paul explained. "For now only in theory, as we see if all of you can solve this."
Roman sighed, if things didn't work they would stop helping him. "I understand, I am very sorry for all this. I never wanted something like this to happen. No matter what happens, I thank you for what you have been doing for me."
Seth ran toward his parents. "You can't do this. For God's sake, if it was my fault, punish me somehow. I don't know, take everything I have left, but don't stop helping Roman!"
Hunter finally spoke. "I thought that if you had the right motivation, you could become a better person. We could get you to do things right, that you value this company and all that you will inherit someday. I know that you are very intelligent and vivacious, if you really wanted to do things right you could do it. If this happened it's because you clearly don't care."
"Even Roman was harmed because of your carelessness." Dolph said, making feel Seth even worse.
"I don't know what will happen when we are no longer here. All your grandfather's work, ours, all will go to hell in your hands." Hunter was very, very disappointed. "And above all what will happen to you! What will you do with your life if you continue to live like this!"
The words were like daggers buried on his heart. By God that the disappointment and sadness of his parents hurt. It hurt to know that he had harmed Roman like this. All for not making a few phone calls that in fact didn't seem to be so important. Because Seth was sure that he had sent that correspondence rightly.
Seth looked at Dolph, the young executive had a satisfied face. God, he had proven that Seth was a good for nothing and didn't deserve to be the heir to his family's fortune.
"You must be very happy." Seth told Dolph. "You have always wanted my life. You have been envious of my life for years. You want to prove that I deserve nothing and that you are the one who deserves what I have. You want to be the Golden Boy in the eyes of my parents, to have everything you assure has been handed to me. You want everything that belongs to me!"
"Are you crazy?" Dolph said indignantly. "I've worked hard, overtime, and weekends to get that campaign completed on time while you spent Daddy and Mommy's money to led all kinds of men in your bed. To hurt this company is to hurt my hard work for three years. My job, Seth! That's why even if I don't like you, it's impossible for me to be happy about all this!"
Roman was very angry. "Seth is not the good for nothing, selfish that you try to expose at all costs. He attended the best schools and spent a couple of years in college. He has shown that he cares about other people and was trying hard. Stop treating him like he were a selfish brat. He made a mistake but that doesn't make him what you try at all costs to prove he is!"
"A mistake that costs a stupid amount of money and the prestige of this company." Dolph said just as angry.
"Calm down!" Hunter shouted. "Dolph has been a great worker for three years. I've never had a complaint about him. Seth, you accuse Dolph of wanting everything you have." Hunter said with disappointment. "When you don't value what you have, Dolph has shown that he loves this company, you have only shown how much you love to spend money that you don't work for. I would like to be able to defend you, Seth, refute what is said about you here. But how? You have done nothing good, you don't finish what you start. You don't love what is around you. You only use the things and people that surround you."
They were all against him. Seth struggled to contain the tears of anger and helplessness he felt. Roman looked at his boyfriend, hated to see him suffer. The Samoan looked at Dolph, it was obvious that the blond enjoyed seeing Seth humiliated.
Seth wanted to scream, wanted to fight but then he remembered something that was crucial in the middle of all this discussion. "You never clarified what will happen to Roman and William Regal if things cannot be fixed."
"William's debt is paid in full. As for Roman..." Steph didn't know how to say this.
"Even though Seth thinks I'm a selfish bastard, the truth is I do have a heart." Dolph intervened. "I must admit that Roman's idea is very good, and a good way to help him is to keep him in the company. He needs the job, and without Seth's negative influence Roman might be very helpful. I want him to help me to convince Sasha to give us another chance, and in case we can do it, I want Roman to help me in these two weeks while we prepare everything."
Roman didn't trust Dolph at all. There was something about him.
"Roman, if you can convince Sasha, you will have to work full time." Hunter warned. "At least until we have the new campaign done. You'll even have to stay overtime because we'll have a lot of work."
Roman closed his eyes in despair. Besides needing the job, he needed to fix this mess for Seth. "Okay, I'll talk to my cousins they'll help me take care of Paula."
Seth felt his heart breaking. Paula had relapsed and Roman couldn't be with her. How could things end like this?
"What will happen to Seth?" Roman asked.
"Hunter, I know you've given him thousands of opportunities that he's wasted. But maybe now that he can see the level of damage his oversights caused, maybe he finally try to do things right. Give him a last opportinity." Dolph asked.
Seth looked at him in horror. Dolph wanted to look good in the eyes of his parents and also become his savior. Seth didn't want to owe Dolph anything, but he couldn't argue now. He was cornered.
"Roman was trying to protect him all this time and maybe that was a mistake. I think the best thing for him will be to start over, to do it like everyone else: without help." Dolph explained. "He can do simple things that don't require responsibility and where he can't ruin anything. he can be the internal messenger of the office, attend the visits and help the secretaries, they can instruct him."
"And everyone would see that the heir is a useless one they will never respect..." Seth thought.
"You're right, Dolph." Hunter nodded. "We can't waste any more time. Seth, go and do all the work assigned to you."
Seth felt like giving up and starting away from his family, but the thought of being away from Roman stopped him. Besides, now that Roman was going to work with Dolph, Seth was worried. He would have to endure this.
"Okay, Dad, I'll do whatever you ask." Seth said, holding back tears of anger and helplessness.
…
They spent the whole afternoon preparing a portfolio with new ideas. Roman noticed that Dolph was very proactive, along with the creatives had put together several proposals, all of which were interesting and innovative. It was as if Dolph had already been prepared for an eventuality like this. Apparently Dolph was a genius as Hunter thought.
Roman sighed, a work like this was enriching, working with experienced people and contributing with ideas. But Roman was worried about Paula's health, about Seth's situation, and because if things didn't go well, he would need money again to cover the debt he still owed in the hospital.
The only people he wanted to see were his boyfriend and his daughter, and he could not see them all day.
"We have to do everything we can to convince Sasha." Dolph said as he drove the car. Roman was in the passenger seat. "As always, I have to fix Seth's shit."
Roman grunted. "I didn't continue to argue at the meeting to not make things worse, but... if we're going to work together, I hope you stop referring to Seth in a contemptuous way."
Dolph cocked an eyebrow. "I didn't say anything that wasn't true. You met him a month ago. I know him from high school. I have nothing against you Roman. All of us here have realized that you are a good man. I think Seth has blindfold you, you are infatuated by his supposed good intentions and the help he has given to you, and also for his mmm charms. But you don't know him, I have seen him being sweet and loving to each one of his lovers only to use them and then... dump them."
"I don't know what Seth's personal life and past has to do with our work today." Roman was annoyed. "I don't ask you anything about your personal life that I don't care about. I demand that you don't stick your nose on mine, much less on Seth's."
Dolph pursed his lips. "I just wanted to warn you. I would hate to see a good man who is in a delicate situation like yours, destroyed by Seth Rollins. It's something I have seen before and sadly I couldn't do anything to help those poor guys. But it seems that you want to learn in the hard way... who am I to stop you?"
"Let's work! That's the only thing I want to have in common with you." Roman wasn't trying to hide his despise for Dolph.
Dolph smirked. "I hope when we visit Sasha, you don't be rude to me. It would look really bad."
Roman rolled his eyes.
With the portfolio ready, Roman and Dolph went to visit Sasha Banks. She was a very busy woman, however she had received them. Dolph and Roman had been very insistent and although Roman would never admit it aloud, the blond was really efficient in his work. Now they just had to sell the idea, make a good offer and wait for her to accept and thus save the account and with that the reputation of the company and not lose money.
"I think we should get straight to the point." The woman didnt want to waste time. "Be convincing."
Roman and Dolph explained the new ideas and how they would make them work. Sasha seemed satisfied and after posing ideas and fixing things she thought were wrong. Both men managed to convince the businesswoman.
"I'm going to give you one last chance. If you can de-fuck this mess, we'll continue working." Sasha said somewhat arrogantly.
...
Roman and Dolph left the place. Night was falling and Dolph had told Hunter that everything was going well. Sami had managed to salvage some small accounts, and others were definitely lost. But at least the most important ones were still in progress, with less profit but at least they had not lost them.
"We must go to the office to show the changes that Sasha proposed. Tomorrow the creatives should incorporate them into the project," Dolph explained.
Roman's cell phone rang. It was Naomi. Roman answered. Dolph glanced sideways as Roman tried to keep his voice modulated, but being so close it was impossible for the blond to not hear the conversation.
"You must come immediately Uce. It's Paula." Naomi sounded desperate.
Roman closed the call. "Stop, I must get out of the car."
"I can't Roman. We should go to the office. All employees are there. Everyone should work overtime to start up all the projects we almost lost."
"Stop!" Roman was not asking, he was demanding. "Even if I lose my job I must get off."
Dolph squinted his eyes and slowed down the car. "It's about your daughter, right?"
"It's not your problem yo-"
"Yes it is!" Dolph had to shout for Roman to hear him. "It's sweird how you ask us to stop judging Seth for his past bad deeds, when you've done nothing more than judge me for mine."
"You said it. Past actions." Roman clarified. "You are arrogant and cruel right now and you don't care about anything other than making money and prestige."
Dolph grunted. "Well, it's true that I can be like that but there's nothing wrong with having ambitions. I like to work, what could be wrong about it?"
"You can work without making others inferior to you for it," Roman was tired of Dolph. "And I don't have time to waste on you. Stop the car."
"If Seth could make you change his mind about him, I can too." Dolph started to take a different road, he was going to the opposite side straightforward from the office. "I know you think I'm a heartless bastard just because I'm ambitious. Obviously something happens to your daughter, I'll take you to the hospital. Even more, I'll talk to Hunter. After all, you did a great job today, losing you would be stupid. This company needs you. Besides, I'd like to meet your daughter."
Roman looked at Dolph suspiciously. What did this man really want? The Samoan didn't trust him. Even if he did a good deed, there was something about him, something that made Roman want to keep him away. However he needed to go to the hospital, so he stopped arguing and let Dolph take him there.
Dolph had explained the situation to Hunter and had indicated that he would leave Roman in the hospital and that if the situation was serious he would return alone. Hunter understood and Roman went to see his daughter.
When they got to the room, Jimmy and Naomi were very sad. Roman began to be afraid. Paula looked asleep, but she was still in asisted breathing. She was so pale and had dark circles on her eyes. Dolph had followed Roman and when he saw the girl, he was petrified. It was the first time he saw something like this.
"What's wrong?" Roman demanded.
Dr. Anderson approached. "Listen Roman, I've known you for over a year and I don't know how to tell you this."
"How is she?" Roman thought he would faint.
"She doesn't get better, in fact her situation is getting worse. We must get the marrow donor or I don't think she..." Dr. Anderson was nervous.
"But everyone in the company did this testing stuff." Dolph intervened. "I can't believe anyone is compatible."
"These things are very complicated," The doctor explained sadly. "Roman, we must subject her to a more aggressive treatment, perhaps we can get more time... until we find the donor. But…"
"But what!" Roman was desperate.
"But the treatment is experimental, it's much more expensive and even though you've paid off a portion of the debt, you should at least have half of the debt paid to start right now." Obviously the doctor was sad to give this news to Roman. "The moment you solve this, you should let me know and we'll start with the new therapy."
Roman put his hands to his face. This was so awful. He closed his eyes. All this happened at the worst time.
Dolph walked over to him and put his hand on Roman's shoulder, Samoan jerked his body, refusing the gesture. Naomi and Jimmy noticed the interaction.
"Where's Seth?" Naomi asked.
"At the office," Dolph answered. "He made a very serious mistake and the company is experiencing certain problems. Now we must all work many more hours if we don't want to lose a huge amount of money."
Naomi and Jimmy looked at each other.
"Lose money?" Naomi asked. "But then what about the money they were going to give Roman?"
"We have to work hard to fix those mistakes and if we get it maybe we can continue to help him, but for now we can only give him a job," Dolph said softly.
"Let's find out how much money you need to pay half of the debt. Jimmy said desperately. "We can talk to the rest of the family. Maybe if we sell some things..."
"I have a property I inherited from my mom," Naomi said. "We can sell that."
"Even if you sell your things, we won't cover the debt." Roman seemed about to cry. "Moreover... it's unfair that you have to sell your things for us."
"Do you know what is unfair?" Dolph intervened. They all looked at him. "That you continue defending Seth after this. You can hate me all you want, but if he had done his job well, at this point the company could give you the money you need. I know you think I'm a bad person but even if you don't believe it, it hurts to see you like this. I don't think there's anyone who doesn't feel pain watching this situation. I feel pain."
"So it was Seth's fault?" Jimmy murmured.
"It was his fault," Dolph insisted. "I'm going to talk to Hunter, I think with all the changes we've made, we're going to be successful in the accounts we were able to save. Moreover, I'm going to check every step to make sure there are no more mistakes. I will guarantee Hunter that we won't lose money, so he will at least give you what you need to pay half the debt and start the treatment your daughter needs."
Roman was desperate but still didn't trust Dolph, there was something about him.
"Uce, this is no time to be proud. I think this young man wants to help you." Naomi said.
"Even if you don't believe me, I'll help you." Dolph was typing Hunter's number on his phone. "Hunter trusts me and will give me what I ask. I'll put my job as a guarantee if he asks me to."
Roman looked at Dolph and nodded. Despite everything that happened today, he was helping him. Maybe his feelings for Seth were making him misjudge Dolph. Maybe his ambition was not such a bad thing. And he had to admit that Seth has made a big mistake.
"Do it, help me please. I don't want to lose her, I can't." Roman collapsed on the chair next to his daughter's bed and several tears came from his eyes. He gently took one of her hands. "I can't lose her."
First of all let me tell you that I am writing a new fic rolleigns. At first it was just a one shot, but I decided that it would become a series of nonrelated one shots, all inspired by songs that I like. I started with "Still Loving You" by Scorpions and I plan to post another chapter inspired by the song "Black" by Pearl Jam. If I receive support, I'll post more chapters in that fic, so if you like the idea, look for "Rolleigns one shots".
That said I thank you for the support you have shown for this story and I ask you to leave me a review to encourage me to continue with it. Things start to get complicated and hard times will come for rolleigns, let's see if they can stay together.
Thank you for your support and apologies if anything is poorly written, remember english is not my former language.
