Chapter 5 - The Man Behind the Suit
Renovations began the following week.
Claire expected Roman to disappear once contracts were signed.
Instead, he appeared three times in four days.
On Tuesday, he argued with an electrician.
On Wednesday, he brought Elena.
On Thursday, he arrived carrying coffee.
Claire looked at the cups.
“You bought coffee for a coffee-shop owner?”
“The shop isn’t open.”
“Still offensive.”
Roman handed her one.
She took it.
“Thank you.”
He leaned against the unfinished counter.
“That sounded painful.”
“It was.”
Claire had begun noticing things about him she had missed during the ten-SUV entrance.
He never raised his voice.
He thanked construction workers by name.
He never moved Elena’s belongings without asking.
And whenever Elena walked into a room, Roman automatically shifted enough to clear her path without making a production of it.
He was dangerous.
Claire had no doubt about that.
But not careless.
One evening, Claire found him sitting alone inside the half-finished café.
“What are you doing?”
“Waiting for Elena.”
“She isn’t here.”
“I know.”
Claire stopped.
“So you’re sitting in my future café in the dark?”
Roman glanced around.
“The lighting works.”
“One bulb works.”
“Technical distinction.”
Claire sat across from him.
“Can I ask something?”
“You usually do without permission.”
“What exactly do you do?”
Roman’s expression changed slightly.
“Business.”
“That answer sounds illegal.”
“Some of my businesses are entirely legitimate.”
“Some?”
Roman smiled faintly.
Claire leaned back.
“People call you a mafia boss.”
“They call many people many things.”
“That was not a denial.”
“No.”
Claire considered him for a moment.
“You scare people.”
“Yes.”
“Do you enjoy it?”
Roman’s smile disappeared.
“Sometimes it’s useful.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
His eyes settled on hers.
“No.”
The answer came more quietly than Claire expected.
“My father enjoyed fear. He believed it was the same as respect.”
“And you?”
“I learned the difference.”
Claire looked at his hands.
The tattoos continued beneath his sleeves.
“What do they mean?”
Roman looked down.
“Family names. Places. Mistakes.”
“Mistakes?”
“Reminders.”
“Of?”
“That power without restraint eventually destroys the person using it.”
Claire was silent.
Roman looked at her.
“You expected a more dramatic answer.”
“Maybe a skull.”
“There is one.”
She laughed.
Then Elena entered.
“I heard that.”
Roman stood.
Claire looked toward the door.
“You came alone?”
“My driver is outside.”
Roman frowned.
“You should have called me.”
Elena tapped her cane once.
“I survived thirty-five years without requesting permission to leave a vehicle.”
Claire smiled.
Roman sighed.
“Both of you enjoy this too much.”
Elena sat.
“I have news.”
“What?”
“Martin is selling the café.”
Claire blinked.
“That fast?”
“Business collapsed after the video.”
Roman added, “Customers stopped going.”
Claire frowned.
“I didn’t want that.”
Elena turned toward her.
“You aren’t responsible for consequences caused by his choices.”
Claire looked down.
“What about the staff?”
Roman and Elena exchanged a glance.
Claire noticed.
“What?”
Roman said, “We discussed that.”
“We?”
“Elena wants you to interview anyone who lost work.”
“For here?”
“Yes.”
Claire stared at them.
“You’re serious?”
Elena smiled.
“You said everyone in that café watched me.”
“Most of them did.”
“Some may have been afraid.”
Claire understood.
“So they deserve another chance?”
“Maybe.”
Roman added, “You decide.”
Claire shook her head slowly.
“You two are dangerous.”
Roman leaned back.
“Finally, some respect.”
Claire smiled.
May you like
“Don’t ruin it.”
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