Roman-
I was back at work. I had Nattie put up Everly's project on display, her second place ribbon stapled to the corner. I had a file open on my desk and these papers needed to be signed today, yet I couldn't get passed the first sentence. Eva's words were spinning in my head. I thought about all the times I spent with Delilah. Did I treat her as more than a deal?
"Roman", I shook my head and blinked a few times.
Seth stood in front of my desk, hands in his pockets and a weird expression on his face.
"You done with that file? I need it", he said.
I looked down at it and I sighed, rubbing my eyes.
"Sorry, no", I said.
"Everything okay?", he asked, taking a seat.
"Yesterday, Delilah's friends asked if I looked at Lila as more than a deal", I said.
"And you said?", he asked.
"That it was just a deal, which it is", I said.
"So then why would they think it's more? Did you do or say something that would make them think that?", he asked.
"Not that I know of, maybe it's the way I treat her. She did mention none of her clients were like me, all the others treated her like crap", I said.
He nodded. Growing up around women, they made sure to instill that I be respectful towards any and every woman. 'Treat a woman how you would want a man to treat your sisters' my father would say. My mother would beat me if I did anything to hurt a woman. I was a momma's boy and her disappointment in me would kill me.
"You should really talk to Lila, let her know that this isn't a relationship or ever going to be one, this is strictly a deal", he said.
I glanced at him for a second and it was like something clicked in his head.
"Whoa wait, you do want this to just be a deal, right?", he asked.
I opened my mouth to answer, but I didn't know what to say.
"Rome, do you like this girl?", he asked, a hint of a smile on his face.
Dean and Seth always asked when I was getting ready to settle down, trying to fix me up with their wives friends.
"No, she's a stripper and an escort", I said, looking over the papers in the file.
"So?", he asked.
I looked up at him.
"It might not matter to you but to my dad, it does", I said.
"So then you do like this girl?", he asked.
"She's beautiful alright", I said.
"That's not what I asked", he said.
I cleared my throat and fixed my tie. He smiled and chuckled.
"We all have a past Ro, you've slept with other women, more than I can count on one hand. The only difference is, you didn't charge and neither did the girls. You said she takes care of herself, gets checked, I liked her for you and so did Dean. Her daughter likes you, sorry to say, but fuck what your dad thinks. He's not the one falling in love with her and spending the rest of his life with her. She likes your friends, meaning me and Dean", he said.
"No one said anything about falling in love", I said, shifting in my seat.
He laughed.
"Talk to her. Paige invited Brie over this weekend for a small dinner. She's about ready to pop and doesn't feel like going out. Bring Delilah", he said standing.
I nodded.
"Did you read this?", I asked, pointing at the papers I had spread out on my desk.
He nodded.
"And?", I asked.
"I liked it and so did Dean", he said.
I nodded and grabbed my pen, signing my name and fixing the papers. I closed the file and handed it to him.
"Think about bringing her over, I'll let Paige know", he said, before walking out.
I leaned back in my seat and sighed.
Delilah-
I was wiping down the counter when the door opened. Antonio walked in and looked around. He spotted me and walked over, he didn't look too happy.
"What's this I hear about Roman Reigns going to Everly's business fair?", he asked, his tone angry.
I shrugged.
"She invited him and he said something about not being able to decline a child, so he showed", I said.
"Son of a bitch", he growled.
"What's wrong?", I asked.
He looked at me.
"Stay away from him Lila, I mean it", he said, pointing a finger in my face.
I pushed his hand out of my face.
"Give me a good reason why", I said, now I was getting angry.
"Because he's using you to get to me. I won an investment he wanted and he hates me for it", he said.
"He didn't seem like the vindictive type", I said.
He rolled his eyes and placed his hand over my shoulder and behind my neck. He gently but firmly pulled me to him.
"Stay away from him Lila or I'll", he was quickly stopped.
"Or you'll what?", a deep voice asked.
We turned to see Roman standing there. He was glaring at Antonio and his fists clenched and unclenched. His grey eyes darker.
"Take your hand off of her", he said, warning Antonio.
Bayley came out from the back with Eva and she was trying to pull me away from Antonio. He smirked.
"Tell Everly I'll see her this weekend", he said, before letting me go.
He brushed down his suit and faced Roman. He walked passed him and out the door. Roman looked at me.
"Are you alright?", he asked.
I nodded and rubbed the back of my neck. He came around the counter and placed his hands on my hips, then slowly lifted them to my neck, moving my head from side to side.
"Anything hurt?", he asked.
"No", I said softly.
"He won't get near you again", he said.
"You can't stop him, he's Everly's father", I said, walking passed him.
He gently grabbed my arm, stopping me and turning me to face him.
"Has he hit you?", he asked.
I can see the rage behind his eyes, ready to come out if I say yes.
"No, never, he just grabs me", I said, which was true.
He relaxed and nodded.
"Its not your lunch time, what are you doing here?", I asked.
He smiled.
"Well I do own the company and I'm running it so if I feel like taking a drive in the middle of work, I take a drive. Also, seeing as I met your friends, your closest friends, that you wouldn't mind meeting mine or well their wives, small dinner", he said, pushing his hands into his pockets.
"Is that in our contract?", I asked.
He chuckled.
"Yes in small print at the bottom, you must have missed it", he said.
I laughed.
"So they know I'm a, you know", I said.
"I'm sure Dean and Seth told them, so yeah expect a lot of questions and if you don't feel like answering any, just say so, they won't push it", he said.
I nodded.
"What happens if they don't like me?", I asked, biting my lip.
His thumb softly brushed my bottom lip.
"I don't see why they won't. I like you, they will too", he said.
I smiled at him.
"I'll pick you up, same time", he said.
I nodded and he pressed a kiss to my forehead.
"I have to get back to work. Can I see you before your shift starts at the club?", he asked.
I nodded.
"I'll be at my apartment at four", I said.
He smiled and was about to leave.
"Wait, take this, I'm sure you're hungry", Eva said, handing him a bag.
"Oh but", Bayley stopped him.
"Take it, it's fine. There's enough in there for you and your CEO and COO", Bayley said.
"Thanks", he said.
He kissed my cheek and waved to the girls before walking out.
"So what did he want?", Eva asked, with a smile on her face.
"Invited me to meet his friends since he met my closest friends", I said.
"What did Cesaro want?", Bayley asked.
"He wants me to stop seeing Roman and came to yell at me for inviting him to Everly's business fair", I said.
"And you said?", Eva asked.
"That I'm not seeing Roman and Everly invited him", I said shrugging.
"I can't believe that asshole is married and he still thinks he can control you and not let you move on. He knows you can do way better than him, jealous man whore", Eva said, crossing her arms over her chest.
"So are you going to meet Roman's friends?", Bayley asked.
"It won't hurt would it. I mean, he said they were nice. What do you think?", I said.
"Like you said, it won't hurt", Bayley said.
I nodded.
Roman-
I finished eating when Nattie's voice came over the intercom.
"Mr. Reigns, there's a Antonio Cesaro here to speak with you", she said.
I tapped my pen on the file. I pressed the button.
"Let him into the meeting room and I'll be right there. Let Dean and Seth know as well", I said.
"Yes sir", she said.
I leaned back and sighed, rubbing my hand over my face. I stood and brushed down my suit, heading right for the meeting room. Nattie smiled.
"He's in there now", she said.
I nodded. Dean came out of his office followed by Seth.
"What does he want?", Dean asked.
"I'm sure I know and it's not to make an investment", I said.
They followed me to the meeting room and we walked in. Antonio stood and smirked.
"Couldn't meet me alone", he said.
"They're here to make sure I don't kick your ass for putting your hands on a woman", I said.
Dean and Seth glanced at me. Antonio chuckled.
"Relax Roman, I'm here to apologize and maybe make a deal", he said.
"What?", I asked.
"I'll give you back that investment deal I won, if and only if you leave Delilah alone. Don't go near her or ever speak to her again. She is off limits", he said.
I raised a brow. Dean and Seth chuckled.
"She's a free woman, a beautiful free woman and she can do as she pleases. That includes me fucking her for as long and hard as she begs me for, screaming my name at the top of her lungs. So you can stick your little deal in someone else's slot", I said.
His fists met the table and veins popped out on his head, his face red with anger.
"Stay away from my woman", he growled.
"Does your wife know that?", Dean asked.
Antonio's jaw clenched.
"Now you listen to me", I said, leaning over the table.
He stood up straight.
"Don't come to my office and try to buy me off, it won't work. Delilah is mine. You will not put your hands on her again or you will have me to deal with. Go home to your wife Cesaro and stay away from Lila", I said.
Dean walked over to the door and held it open for him. He gestured for Antonio to leave. He grumbled something in a different language and left. Dean slammed the door behind him and turned to look at me.
"So Lila's yours now?", he asked.
I rolled my eyes.
"He challenged me, I had to say something", I said.