Chapter 5 - The Woman at Roman’s Table
Three weeks changed everything.
Nora stopped serving tables.
Instead, she sat at Roman Castiglione’s conference table.
And people learned quickly not to underestimate her.
One morning, an executive spent fifteen minutes explaining why Nora’s restructuring plan wouldn't work.
When he finished, Roman looked at her.
“Nora?”
She turned one page.
“Page seventeen.”
The executive frowned.
“What?”
“Your argument assumes fixed transportation costs.”
“They are fixed.”
“No.”
She slid the contract toward him.
“Fuel adjustments reset monthly.”
He read the clause.
His face fell.
Roman leaned back.
“Anything else?”
Nora smiled politely.
“Several things.”
Roman almost laughed.
Their relationship changed too.
He stopped testing her.
She stopped assuming every question was a trap.
Mostly.
Late one night, Nora found him alone in the conference room.
“You're still here?”
Roman looked up.
“So are you.”
“I asked first.”
He closed his laptop.
“Dinner?”
Nora stared at him.
“Is that a business question?”
“No.”
“Then definitely no.”
Roman raised an eyebrow.
“Why definitely?”
“You're my employer.”
“Consulting client.”
“Still inappropriate.”
“Coffee?”
“No.”
“Lunch?”
“No.”
“Walk around the block?”
Nora laughed despite herself.
“Do women usually make you work this hard?”
“No.”
“Good.”
She collected her papers.
Roman watched her.
“Nora.”
She stopped.
“I mean it.”
The humor left his voice.
“I like you.”
Nora's expression softened.
“That is exactly why I'm saying no.”
“Explain.”
“My life was chaos before I met you. I finally have something I built myself.”
Roman nodded.
“And you think I want to take that from you?”
“I don't know what you want.”
He considered that.
“Then I'll wait until you do.”
No pressure.
No command.
That surprised her more than anything else.
A month later, Nora completed the restructuring Leo had failed to finish.
The company saved millions.
Roman called a meeting.
Twelve executives gathered around the same type of polished table where Nora had once stood holding a tray.
Roman remained standing.
“As of today, Nora Gallagher is Director of Financial Strategy.”
Nora stared at him.
He hadn't warned her.
One executive frowned.
“She hasn't finished her degree.”
Roman looked at Nora.
“Would you like to answer?”
She smiled.
“Yes.”
She turned to the executive.
“You're correct.”
The man looked satisfied.
Nora continued.
“So I'm going back.”
Roman's eyebrows rose.
That was news to him too.
“Night classes,” Nora said. “I'll finish what I started.”
The executive had no response.
After the meeting, Roman caught her by the elevator.
“You didn't tell me.”
“You didn't tell me about the promotion.”
“Fair.”
The elevator arrived.
Roman didn't enter.
“Nora.”
“Yes?”
“Dinner?”
She studied him.
For months, he had kept his promise.
No pressure.
No games.
No arrogance.
Well.
Less arrogance.
“One dinner.”
Roman smiled.
“One.”
“And I'm paying for myself.”
“Absolutely not.”
The doors closed between them.
May you like
Nora’s laughter followed him down the hallway.
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