Chapter 2 - The Deal She Never Expected
Lydia Bennett had negotiated with landlords, angry customers, collection agencies, and even her own father.
But she had never negotiated with Roman Mercer.
Because Roman Mercer didn't negotiate like normal people.
Normal people asked questions.
Roman Mercer already knew the answers.
"What exactly do you want from me?" Lydia asked.
The billionaire mafia figure sitting across from her remained silent for several seconds.
That silence bothered her more than any threat.
Men like Tyler Voss tried to intimidate people by talking louder.
Roman Mercer did it by saying nothing.
Finally, he placed his glass down.
"I want you to stop pretending."
Lydia frowned.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Roman glanced at her sweater.
"The glasses."
Then her hair.
"The fake accent."
Then her cardigan.
"The woman you created tonight isn't real."
Lydia leaned back.
"Maybe she is."
"No."
His answer was immediate.
"She's a shield."
The word hit harder than she expected.
Because it was true.
Lydia had spent years building shields.
Against disappointment.
Against disappointment from her father.
Against men who saw her as something useful.
Against the constant fear that if she stopped being strong for one day, everything would collapse.
Roman watched her expression carefully.
"You came here expecting Tyler Voss to reject you."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because rejection is safer than interest."
Something changed in Roman's face.
Not much.
But enough.
"You really believe that?"
Lydia looked away.
"I know that."
Roman leaned forward.
"No. You survived that."
The words caught her attention.
"What?"
"You learned how to make yourself smaller because people only hurt what they can reach."
Lydia stared at him.
For a moment, the restaurant disappeared.
The expensive lights.
The music.
The people around them.
All gone.
Because Roman Mercer had just described her better than anyone ever had.
She hated that.
"You don't know me."
"I know enough."
"No, you don't."
Lydia's voice sharpened.
"You know my father's debt. You know my last name. You know how desperate my situation looks."
She pointed at herself.
"But you don't know me."
Roman didn't react.
"Then tell me."
The challenge surprised her.
"What?"
"Tell me who you are."
Lydia laughed softly.
"Why?"
"Because everyone in this city lies to me."
His eyes hardened.
"Your father lied. Tyler lied. Business partners lie."
A pause.
"You walked into my restaurant wearing a ridiculous sweater and pretending to be someone else."
Lydia looked down.
"Exactly."
Roman's expression softened slightly.
"But your lie is different."
"How?"
"Everyone else lies to gain something."
He looked at her hands.
"You lied to lose something."
That sentence stayed between them.
Lydia didn't know why it affected her.
Maybe because nobody had ever understood the reason behind the disguise.
They only saw the disguise.
"What happens to my father's debt?" she asked.
Roman reached into his jacket and placed a folder on the table.
Lydia looked at it.
"What is that?"
"Your father's account."
She didn't touch it.
"Why show me?"
"Because you deserve to know what he did."
Her stomach tightened.
Slowly, she opened the folder.
The numbers were worse than she expected.
$240,000.
But beneath it were other transactions.
Loans.
Payments.
Transfers.
Her face changed.
"What is this?"
Roman watched her.
"Your father didn't owe Tyler Voss $240,000."
Lydia looked up.
"What?"
"He owed more."
The room became silent.
"How much?"
Roman didn't answer immediately.
"Almost half a million."
Her fingers tightened around the papers.
"No."
"It's true."
"My father told me—"
"Your father told you what he needed you to believe."
Lydia felt anger rising.
Not sadness.
Not shock.
Anger.
Because she had spent months trying to fix a problem.
A problem that had never even been the real problem.
"He was going to marry me off to Tyler to cover this?"
Roman's expression became colder.
"Yes."
Lydia laughed.
A bitter, broken laugh.
"Unbelievable."
Roman watched her.
"You're not surprised."
"No."
She closed the folder.
"I'm disappointed."
"Why?"
"Because somewhere stupid inside me, I still thought my father would choose me."
For the first time that night, Roman Mercer looked away.
Only for a second.
But Lydia noticed.
"You understand that feeling, don't you?"
Roman's eyes returned to hers.
"No."
The answer was too fast.
Which meant it was probably a lie.
Lydia almost smiled.
"You're terrible at lying."
That surprised him.
Most people were afraid to say anything like that.
"You think so?"
"I know so."
A small silence.
Then, unexpectedly…
Roman smiled.
A real one.
Brief.
Dangerous.
But real.
And Lydia hated that she noticed.
"So what's your deal?" she asked.
Roman pushed the folder aside.
"Your father's debt disappears."
Her eyes narrowed.
"In exchange for?"
"You work for me."
She immediately laughed.
"No."
Roman raised an eyebrow.
"You didn't even ask what the job is."
"Because I already know."
"Do you?"
"Powerful men never offer simple jobs."
Roman leaned back.
"Smart."
"So?"
"I need someone I can trust."
Lydia almost laughed again.
"Then you picked the wrong person."
"Why?"
"Because I lied to you."
"No."
Roman shook his head.
"You protected yourself from me."
A pause.
"There's a difference."
Lydia looked at him.
"And what exactly would I do?"
"My company needs someone to audit several internal accounts."
"Why me?"
"Because you notice details."
She frowned.
"What?"
"Your father stole from you for years."
Roman tapped the table.
"Yet you still noticed every bill, every payment, every mistake."
His eyes narrowed.
"You survived because you pay attention."
Lydia didn't know whether to feel complimented or insulted.
"You want me to investigate your company?"
"I want you to find who is stealing from me."
"And if I say no?"
Roman looked at her calmly.
"Then you walk away."
That surprised her.
"No consequences?"
"No."
"Why?"
Roman held her gaze.
"Because unlike your father, I don't believe desperation is permission to control someone."
For the first time that evening…
May you like
Lydia didn't know what to say.
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