The Roman Walter Effect

Roman had imagined this day for three whole years.

It was meant to be grand. He wanted something small, a moment that belonged just to the both of them.

He couldn't help imagining how Mira’s brows would knit when she was surprised. 

The pause before she smiled, the softness that would return to her eyes once she realized he had never stopped striving for her, for the company, for the life that had been taken from her piece by piece.

The American Express card laid in the inside pocket of his worn uniform jacket. 

Black. Minimal. Worth more than it looked. 

It had cost him everything, sleepless nights, pride, years of swallowing insults without lifting his head. 

With it, Mira could buy back the shares her uncle had seized when he pushed her out of the CEO’s office and reduced her to a normal employee in the company that belonged to her dad. Being less educated in this field, he hired another CEO to take charge while he ruled from the background. 

Roman wanted to give it to her today.

Their third wedding anniversary.

Ever this happened, it had affected her happiness and this caused them the sweet bloom of their marriage. Here, he intended to remind her quietly that he was not useless. 

As he pushed the garbage cart through the lobby, heads turned. They always did. He was the lowest of the low in the company. 

The janitor. The trash collector. 

Mira Donaldson's husband, the most ironic joke in the building.

He ignored them as always.

However, today, something felt off.

The executive floor was crowded. Employees gathered in clusters, excitement humming through the air. 

Phones held up their phones from a distance. For those faces that turned, the smiles were wide. 

“Something is definitely going on,” he said within himself. Because he's regarded as nothing, no one cared to tell him. 

The closer he went, it became obvious that this was a proposal as there were flowers everywhere, far too many flowers lined up along the hallway leading to the conference room.

Roman footsteps slowed down.

His heart suddenly started beating rapidly.

He had a bad feeling about everything.

He followed the sound of applause.

And then he saw her.

His wife, Mira stood in the center of the room, radiant in a cream colored dress that hugged her curves like a second skin.

For a fleeting second, the world went blurry. He stood breathless, rubbing his eyes to check if he's just imagining things. 

It was real. 

Roman looked before her. The man kneeling in front of her. 

Her acclaimed best friend, Mario.

Time still. 

Mario held a velvet box open in his hands. Inside, a diamond ring glittered.

“Mira Donaldson,” Mario said, his voice echoing amidst the cheers of everyone around them. “will you marry me?”

Cheers exploded.

“Say yes!” 

“Say yes!” 

“Say yes!” 

They cheered, clapped, others stood by the side watching quietly but with supporting smiles on their faces. 

Roman was shocked. 

He had never seen such a thing before. People supporting the proposal of a man to a married woman. 

He stepped forward, unable to bear this in silence.

The wheels of the cart squeaked as he pushed it forward, drawing attention towards him. A few people noticed him and snorted.

“What’s the trash guy doing here?”

“Is he lost?”

Roman ignored them.

“Mira,” he called out in a gentle voice he had always used to speak to her.

Mira turned and suddenly annoyance flickered across her face, her eyes turned colder.

“What are you doing here?” she snarled.

Roman ached a brow in shock. “Don't tell me he's proposing to you….. a married woman?” 

“Are you blind?” Mira barked while Mario burst out into laughter. 

Roman’s eyes drifted to him. “You’re proposing to my wife. How dare you do that?” 

“Why won't I?” Mario hissed. “I'm even helping you, you ungrateful asshole.” 

“How?” Roman snarled, palms fisted. 

“When you can't take care of the woman you call a wife?” 

Roman went speechless. The crowd booed. 

Mario crossed his arms, openly amused. “Man, have you looked at yourself? What exactly do you have to offer her, huh? You can’t even offer yourself dignity.”

“You’re married,” Roman said. “Please come back to me.” The hurt could be detected from his voice. 

Mira laughed, clapping. 

“Married?” she scoffed. “If you think I wanted to marry someone like you, you’re delusional.”

His jaw dropped. 

“You were nothing but a scholarship student,” she continued. “I was your best friend and only that. My granddad forced me to marry you!” Her voice rang sharp and firm. 

“All these years I've been enduring living in the same house with a mouse-smelling garbage man.” 

“Urgh! Really?” Roman's voice tinted with cold fury suppressed to shock, with the earnest feeling that this is a prank. He honestly loved her and didn't envisage this happening at the moment he wanted to make her happy. 

“When the company fell apart,” Mira went on, “You couldn’t save it. I was humiliated. Stripped of my position. And you?” She looked him up and down. “You could do nothing. Do you think I want to spend the rest of my life with such a husband?” 

Mario slid an arm around her waist. “She deserves better,” he said smugly. 

“Someone of her level. Someone who can actually provide for her.”

Mira nodded. “I need a man above me,” she said. “Not someone I have to carry.”

Roman listened to every word without flinching. It was no longer a joke. Her eyes, her words and his said everything. 

He felt like the American Express card could burn a hole in him should she have it.  

“Honestly, with this, you don't deserve it.” The decision was made already, within him while standing still. 

“I understand,” he said out, though quietly. Then he turned to leave.

Mira narrowed her eyes, still. Suspense rushed through her veins, but not enough to overwhelm her burning desire for Mario. 

“Roman,” she called.

He stopped but didn’t turn.

She stepped closer, her voice lowering, a smile curling her lips. She placed a hand on his shoulder, leaning closer and for a moment, it felt right. 

Like a prank. 

 “There’s a solution that benefits everyone.”

Roman turned to face her slowly. “What solution?”

She met his gaze, eyes sharp. “An open marriage.” Roman jerked off her grip. She grinned. “You stay where you are. Mario and I…live together.” Her words came louder than normal. 

The room erupted into shocked murmurs.

“Ridiculous!” He growled with fury but managed to control himself. 

“No problem!” He smirked, walking off leaving everyone staring. 

In shock.