The Roman Walter Effect

Chapter 8

He paid no heed to their rant. Roman returned to his desk, he felt that there was no need to go back to Lena's office to wait.

While waiting, Mario and Mira returned to the office. They had also taken a leave but Mira insisted on returning to the office to show off the things Mario got for her.

As soon as Mira walked into the office, Jace rushed up to her and started complaining,

“Mira, it's good your back, ask your husband to return our money to us.”

“Yes, ask him to give us back our bonus. This idiot talked bad about us to Ms. Henderson. I don't know what he said to her. In the end all our bonuses for the month were cancelled.”

Mira couldn't make sense of what was happening. She was overwhelmed with everyone surrounding her and laying complaints.

“I detest the idea of calling him my…. husband,” she stammered, angrily. 

But she was eager to know what happened. 

After a while someone was able to explain clearly to her what was happening. According to what she was told Roman had reported them to the boss which led to her canceling their bonus.

She was shocked by what she heard, she couldn't believe that Roman could do such a thing.

Mira was upset that she was pulled into this mess. She couldn't believe that even after cutting ties with him he would still end up embarrassing her.

Out of anger and in order to not be involved with him she took out the open marriage certificate and handed it to the lady near her.

“As you can see, we are already detached, whatever he did has absolutely nothing to do with me. I'm focused on Mario at the moment. So I can't help you guys!”

The whole office became quiet instantly, they were all in shock. It never occurred to them that their leave was to get an open marriage certificate. The proposal they thought was a carefully crafted out prank to hurt Roman was real. 

Everyone turned towards Roman waiting for him to say something but he sat there quietly with his hands crossed.

Jace snatched the open marriage certificate from the lady and read it in a hurry.

“Wait, you weren't joking? You guys are indeed legally open to others now?”

She snatched the certificate from Jace and placed it back in her bag, to her that was her ticket to freedom and she didn't want to lose it.

“I'm sorry I can't help you, I myself have been through a lot these past three years because of him.

“In the three years we were solely married to each other, I didn't know what a life of comfort looked like. We were always managing. I've never worn brand new clothes ever since I met him. Except for the ones Mario brought me. Why would I stay with such a wretched woman?” 

“It was hell, eating out was a luxury. That aside, you all should know the mockery I was faced with whenever I came to work just because I was married to him.”

“I have put up with a lot because of him and I'm tired. Even after we're detached now, he still wouldn't give me peace. He paid someone to embarrass me in front of so many people at the civil affairs bureau. Even crush my fiance’s Ferrari.” 

“Urghh?” Escaped from the lips of many. 

“You needed to see the stunt he pulled, talking big about the million dollar gift he had prepared for me along with the life of luxury that would have been mine. I don't know where he got all the fake things just to show off and make me come back to him.”

Laughters erupted and they were staring at Roman like a stupid fellow. 

“So you guys are not the only one he owes, he owes me a lot for humiliating me in public. You lost your bonus and I lost my pride and self worth being married to someone like him.” 

Seeing Mira like this they all turned towards him, some muttering about how incompetent he was and couldn't take care of his own woman.

They all decided to seek justice for Mira first. To them she had suffered a lot in Roman's hand.

Roman's gaze on them did not falter as they became more aggressive instead his gaze was filled with mockery.

He stared coldly, with a slight smirk, watching them make a fool of themselves. He knew this was just an excuse to redirect their anger back at him after all they wanted to vent for losing such a huge bonus because of him.

 “Roman, you’re just a piece of trash! I still don't know what you are doing in this company, destroying the air with your foul stench.” Jace was the first to comment, he was angry that Roman could marry such a beautiful woman like Mira.

“I knew it was a waste from the start for you to marry such a beauty.” Jace’s friend backed him up, he was one of the many men that had a crush on Mira.

“Not only did you torment her for the three good years you were married, you wouldn't even let her off when you guys got an open marriage, pulling the billionaire stunt just to humiliate. Who the fuck do you think you are?”

After Jace was done, other colleagues continued mocking him, calling him all sorts of names.

The whole office was filled with voices hauling insults at Roman for something that had absolutely nothing to do with them.

Roman's gaze met Mira's, he could see the smug smile playing on Mario’s lips. His acne filled face looked disgusting as he tried to show his smug expression.

Roman turned towards the crowd and chuckled, “all this because of Mario right? With John Carlos as the Vice president nothing his son did was wrong.

“I'm sure you all are fully aware of Mira's betrayal long before our open marriage but you all kept quiet to suck up to Mario.”

“Now that we’re finally free from each other, you still find a way to twist logic and push the blame on me.”

They were offended by Roman’s word, who would like their crime being pointed out in public.

Instead of shutting up and leaving him alone they double down insisting that it was his fault for not being able to provide the best for his woman.

But then they had nothing to prove that Mira wasn't leaving a good life other than what she had said.

Seeing that things were getting out of control, Mario held out his hand for everyone to quit.

Everyone kept quiet waiting for Mario to speak.

With a face full of pride, Mario walked to where Roman was seated. 

He leaned in closer to his ears and whispered. “I guess with your smart brain you've already figured out that Jace works for me.”

He breathed. “I went through a lot to get Mira to my side! How would she have accepted an open marriage if she didn't endure a large dose of humiliation?”

Roman said nothing. But Mario wasn't ready to call it quits. 

“You're not worthy to have such a wonderful woman by your side. With this meagre salary how can you take care of her?”

“I'm doing you a huge favour and you should be happy.”

By this time, Roman was beginning to lose his patience, his eyes mellowed low, no longer just staring but with rising anger. He couldn't help wondering how Mira could endure it.

Seeing that Roman didn't react the way he wanted, he stepped away from him. Hurt and sad. That's what he really wanted. 

“By the way, Roman, my car is the latest Ferrari. I don't know what you plan on doing about it but I will not accept that scrap. You're going to replace it and I don't care how you do it. Sell your asset if you have to but I need a brand new car.” His voice raised a threat. 

“If not then we will see each other in court. Oh.. how could I forget, you're rich this shouldn't be much of a problem to you right?”

Before Roman got the chance to say anything hurried footsteps sounded along the corridor followed but someone's reminder.

“Ms. Henderson is back! Everyone returned to your post immediately." Someone said. 

Everyone dispersed and returned to their desks.

They all pretended to be serious with their work as if they were not the ones hauling insults at Roman a while ago.

“You better get me a new car if you don't want to rot in jail!” Mario muttered before he returned to his own desk.

Mira walked away, she knew she exaggerated everything she said. Her life with Roman wasn't as bad as she made it seem, though it wasn't the life of luxury she wanted. Roman took good care of her.

He provided the best for her as much as she could. She felt guilty for the accusations labeled against him.

But again she knew she wouldn't have escaped their gossip if she didn't throw the blame on Roman. Her guilt only lasted a minute before vanishing.

It was either him or her and there was no way on earth she was going to speak up for Roman and put herself at a disadvantage.

Roman chuckled as he glanced at Mira, he didn't miss the guilty look that flashed across her face.

Then he turned his gaze towards Jace. He was glaring at him. He sat unbothered by him, it was only a matter of time before he made him regret what he had done.

Before his aim was just told to quit his job and get the hell out over there and the rest would be a distant memory to him.

But now, he really wanted to torment them.

Not long after they dispensed, Lena returned to the office. Roman stood up and walked after her.

“Don't tell me you're going to tell it again. Ha… dumbass what else can you do?” 

As Roman walked past his desk he reached out and grabbed onto the back of Jace's head and slammed it against his desk and continued walking towards Lena's office like nothing happened.

The whole office froze in silence for a few seconds before they all erupted in chaos as they all rushed towards Jace to check on him.

“Fuck.. that bastard if he comes out I'll deal with him!”

They were still in shock at Roman's action.

This was the first time a Roman was reacting like this. The cool, silent bullied victim was now reacting back. 

He was different from the person he always was.

Even Mira, who had been together with him for the past three years, was surprised by what he did.

His action not only left them in awe but it magnified the fear they never knew they felt towards Roman.

They looked at each other and came to a conclusion.

Maybe, they should not have played with him.