Chapter 56 ~ Demons

                                    

                                          
Cyrus Romano
"And you've got your demons. And darling, they all look like me." 
-Sad Beautiful Tragic (Taylor's Version) 
Award for biggest dickhead in the century goes to me. It pains me, physically pains me not giving into Rose. 

But my head won't. stop. buzzing. 

I'm keeping things from her. From him. And it's eating me alive. 
I need to keep my distance from her. What I found isn't just something little. It unravels. 
As much as I would like to lock myself in my office and avoid anyone who comes near, I have an event tonight and as my wife, Rose is obligated to go. She's already said she's going to get ready with Rebecca and arrive with her. I'm pretty sure it's just a way to avoid being around me. That's my smart girl. 
I spin around in my office chair, my head hanging backwards. I'm so tired of this all. 
A knock at my door pulls me out of my thoughts. "Come in." I say loud enough for whoever it is to hear me. 
Rebecca walks in, anger and stubbornness in her steps. She's on a mission and nothing is getting in her way. 
"May I help you?" I ask, my voice coming out more aggressive than I wanted. 
"Look, I like you as a person, even a friend. But mostly because of Rose. I was ready to run away with her when we first found out about this whole arranged marriage bullshit, but she decided it was okay and that she was going to go through with it. So she did, and now she's here, happier than I have ever seen her and in love. Hopelessly in love you and look at you! You're being a complete ass!" If Rebecca was a dragon, there would be enough steam coming out of her head to fill an entire mansion. 
Hell, it's practically filling my base. 
"I don't know what your deal is or what happened while you were undercover but you need to pull yourself together. Rose does not deserve this." She must see a look on my face because she keeps going, her voice softening this time "And you know that. So why are you doing this?"
"I don't want to lose her." My voice comes out weaker than I want it to. 
"If you keep this up, you're going to either way. Rose is smart and she knows her worth, she will not let you do this to her forever." Rebecca looks sad when talking about her sister. I know she's right. With every fibre of my being I know she's right. 
"I'll let you... Do whatever you need to do now." She heads towards the door, stopping before she walks out and looks back over her shoulder, "Be the man she deserves, not a man she cries over." 
Her words sting like a knife plunging into my chest. Has Rose been crying? She's been hiding her sadness from me? 
Shit. Shit. Shit. 
I'm left alone in my office again, my thoughts taking over the silence in a battle. 
That is until there's a knocking at the door again. One of my workers steps in, "Boss, there's a woman here to see you." 
"Again? Bring her back in." I sigh, preparing myself for another talk with Rebecca. 
Didn't she already do enough damage to me? What would she want- 
"Mr. Romano?" Emily says quietly, stepping into my office. My mind immediately fills with flashbacks from when I was undercover. No no no no...
2 months left before I can finally go home to Rose. Half way done. 
I still can't wrap my head around John Graf, but I will let myself worry about that another day. I need to start planning today. 
Entering a small coffee shop on the side of the road, I find an empty table and sit down before pulling out my computer and typing away. I need to plan everything thoroughly, not a possibility not looked at.