From Frying Pan to Strange Fire

“What?! Five minutes? That’s too short-”

“Your time starts now.” Roman cut her off, and Joan was about to protest again when her father’s voice broke through.

“Who’s this man, Joan, and what business do you have with him?”

“And who’s asking?” Roman asked, turning away from Joan to face Mr. Elvin.

“I am her father.” He answered.

“Her father? The one ordering her to kneel and apologize to her oppressors?” Roman probed

“How did you know about that?” Joan asked, surprised because they had not arrived when her father told her to do that.

“Sweetheart, he wasn’t whispering when he said it. I was right outside the door.”

“What I say to my daughter and how I correct her shouldn’t concern you. She is my daughter, not yours.” Mr. Elvin said.

“Is she?” Roman asked, narrowing his eyes as he took slow steps toward the man. “Tell me, Mr. Elvin Connor, is she really your daughter? Because I see not even the tiniest bit of resemblance.” Roman uttered, catching sight of the shock that registered on Mr. Elvin’s and his wife’s face.

“What are you trying to say?” Mr. Elvin asked, his countenance quickly switching from one of shock to anger.

“Do you want me to go deeper? Because I can, and I will if you just say the word.”

Mr. Elvin said nothing despite how angry he was. He didn’t know who this person was and he was trying his best not to attract more trouble than he could handle.

“That’s what I thought. For someone who subjects a child he is supposed to protect to shame and ridicule just because of what he will eat, I don’t expect you to even speak when or where I speak.” Roman stated, a triumphant smirk forming on his lips.

“Don’t talk to my father like that, Mister. You know nothing about him.” Joan interfered, stopping Roman’s smirk from fully coming alive.

Instead, he clenched his teeth, keeping his attention on the man.

Just then, Trevor returned with a well known priest following behind him. Sensing a hostile atmosphere and seeing Roman standing before Mr. Elvin, he panicked.

“Boss?” Trevor called, and Roman lifted both his hands in a surrender gesture, taking a step back.

“No aggression, Trevor.” Roman assured, turning away from Mr, Elvin to face the priest. “Welcome, Father Edward.” He greeted politely and the priest responded by smiling and giving a nod.

Roman returned his attention to Joan immediately after, his countenance serious this time. “Sorry to burst your bubble, my dear, but I know a lot of things about the man you call father. I know how he is ever ready to sell you to the highest bidder. I know exactly how much I’ll offer and he’ll unhesitatingly sell you off to me. I also know about Tristan and Kelvin.”

At his last words, Joan’s eyes stretched wide in shock and disbelief. “H-how did you…” she stuttered, unable to complete her question.

“Your father’s business feeds off a business I am feeding. You don’t expect I wouldn’t know a thing or two about him now, do you?”

Silence reigned for a moment as Joan reflected on what she just heard. It wasn’t that she didn’t know her father was using her. She was aware but she didn’t want to give the knowledge room to make her see him in a bad light.

He had always reminded her that she was his investment, and the reason his business went downhill. She didn’t know how that was possible, but with the constant reminder, she only thought it wise to pay back what she was given just as he wanted her to.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

But hearing it from Roman’s mouth just made her realize how bad her situation was. She had been living in denial.

“Five minutes is almost up. You have a minute left. Dedicate that one minute to a better life with me. It’s better than a small, dark cell, with a tiny bed and one type of outfit for the rest of your life.” Roman whispered again to Joan’s ears, then took several steps away from her so she could make a decision.

“I wish I could know what she’s thinking.” He spoke in his mind.”

“Well, you already ruined that chance by making me force myself into her head and manipulating her thoughts. That’s the consequence of your actions. Deal with it.” Lazer responded in a pissed manner. “Why is the omega staring? I think she is hiding something.” He added.

Roman looked to his left and caught Joan’s mother staring. She instantly lowered her eyes the moment he looked at her. She had not said anything since he arrived and Roman knew why. Omegas can’t talk in his presence unless he asks them to. They couldn’t even stand in the same space with him if he was in a foul mood. But even as an omega, she was still a level higher than humans. He wondered why she was putting up with a human as terrible as Elvin. Also, he wondered why she was staring at him.

“Time’s up.” Roman declared, ignoring the omega, and Joan shifted her attention from Richard to him.

She had taken the last one minute to look at everybody, beginning from Grace, who had worry written all over her face, to her mother, then father, then Belinda, then Mrs. Charles and lastly Richard.

She looked at Richard the longest, and all the time she had her eyes fixed on him, she recalled how much he had hurt, embarrassed, ridiculed, disrespected and disregarded her when all she ever did was love him.

Even though she knew she had no choice but to accept Roman’s terms, she decided to do it in a more dramatic manner than she would have normally done. After all, it was only fair to let him experience just a little of what he put her through when he decided to take a new wife.

So when she heard Roman say time was up, she moved her gaze away from Richard and settled on Roman.

“The papers, please.” Joan requested and Roman’s lips curled up in triumph.

“Joan!” Richard called out her name in shock.

“Shut it, Richard.” His mother shot him a frown, happy that her son and family would soon be free from the clutches of the gold digger and her family.

“With all pleasure.” Roman responded to Joan’s request, then majestically walked over to her side and handed the papers to her, extending his pen as well so she wouldn’t need to look for one. He watched with joy as she signed the papers one after another until the last one.

Once she was done signing, she pulled out her ring and held it out in front of her while facing Richard. “Thank you for the rollercoaster journey. It was hell while it lasted. I hope you get as much joy as you have given me for the rest of your life.” She said, then let go of the ring, watching it hit the marble floor and bouncing severally until it rolled toward a corner and finally settled.

“And yes. I will marry you, Roman Gavriel.” Joan added, returning her attention to Roman.