The Roman Walter Effect

Chapter 9

When Roman walked into office, Lena leaned back in her executive chair.  

Her emotion was obviously not right, on closer inspection Roman saw tears in her eyes.

Beneath that there was anger and frustration.

When she went to Gilbert’s house office, he had actually been having fun with his lover as if he didn't just put her company in shambles.

He had been nonchalant towards her anger. Nothing she said got to him. It was obvious that he never planned on investing in the project just because it would be beneficial but to implicate her.

She regretted being too trusting and believing his words. 

If there was a binding contract between them she wouldn't have to stress over things. The liability will be on him but as it is everything was in Lena’s name. 

Gilbert had left her with just two options, she could either return the money from her pocket before his company go bankrupt or have sex with him as he had hinted earlier in his office.

She vowed never to have sex with such a despicable man but then she couldn't sit back and watch her hard work just go down like that. If she can't return, she could end up in prison. 

She was still thinking of what to do when she heard a knock on the door. She quickly wiped her tears before ushering him in.

She picked up a document on her table to cover up. This was what Roman saw when he walked in. 

“Mr. Roman, you're here. So have you decided? So what's your decision?”

Roman took his seat, his gaze never living hers.

He could see the tears on Lena’s long eyelashes, he reached for a tissue from the coffee table and gave it to her.

She took it, feeling awkward. She wiped the tears on her lashes. Roman felt sorry for her, it wasn't easy for her to hold on to the position of CEO for so long with such an evil man. He saw what he did to Mira which he intended to help before she fucked up. 

And to top it all she was still able to keep it under wraps. No one in the company was aware of what was going on.

“The negotiation with Gilbert fell through, right? I'm not too surprised that in this society men always found ways to extort vulnerable women.” He angrily commented. 

“I'm sure this isn't the first time Ms. Henderson is experiencing something like this, which is why I admire you. From what I've discovered you've never fallen into temptation.”

As Lena wiped her tears she looked up at him in shock.

“How much do you know?”

Tapping his hand on the table, Roman smiled. “I know much more than you think Ms Henderson.”

Lena looked at him not knowing what to do. She couldn't help wondering how he got to know so much only to remember he was his nephew-in-law. 

“I also know that Gilbert was a sly fox and would definitely do something to put you in trouble.”

“Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?”

 “I never knew from the start.”

Lena was taken aback but she knew he was right. She wouldn't have taken him seriously even if he had told her.

“Then why are you telling me now?”

“I'm telling you now because I have a business proposal.”

“Business proposal?” She repeated, sitting closer. 

Her only intention was for Roman to be her company’s assistant manager.

So things were taking a turn out of what she had planned. She looked at him waiting for him to continue.

“From what I know the estimated amount to be refunded back to the company is twenty million, which he demands from you?”

His words left Lena perplexed by his words.

What he said was exactly what was in the proposal for the project. He was not part of the team that handled the project.

Lena's gaze towards him became guarded. 

“Based on what I know, if I invest twenty million dollars I would get fifty percent of the company's shares, you can keep the remaining fifty percent. What do you think of my offer?”

“Roman, I respect you but that doesn't mean I would sit back and watch you insult and humiliate me. Even if you work for a few more years you still won't be able to raise such an amount of money.” For the first time, he was angry at him. 

Roman chuckled, “It's just twenty million we're talking about. It's not a big deal.”

His condescending tune made Lena furious, she was in a dilemma and he was throwing such words at her.

“Merely twenty million dollars? Do you know how many years you'd have to work to raise that amount? Even if you get promoted and your salary increases it still won't make any difference.”

Though he was more than capable of providing the money, looking at things from Lena's perspective he was just talking big.

How could someone who had been working two low jobs to stay afloat suddenly have twenty million at their disposal.

Roman was indeed in a position to help her after all, twenty million dollars was an amount that wouldn't be noticed if it left his account..

“Ms. Henderson, I’m serious about what I said earlier. I'm willing to invest in exchange for the company's share, are you interested?”

The more he spoke the more infuriated Lena became, she felt like he was not taking her situation seriously. 

She was in dire state; the last thing she wanted was for someone she wanted raising up to come before her to boost about something he clearly couldn't do.

She couldn't help reprimanding herself for not being a good judge of character.

“Are you interested, Ms. Henderson?”

“Mr Walter you've overstepped, it's obvious that you have no interest working in this company anymore. You can leave now, I won't stop you.”

Roman sighed, “Ms. Henderson, I’m being serious.”

“Ok.. you want to talk business let's talk business.”

Lena took off her coat. She was still putting on a tight-fitting black gown.

Her boobs heaved up and down as she tried to suppress her anger.

Lena turned on her computer, searched for the contract she prepared for Gilbert and edited it to fit the requirement Roman had started earlier.

She sent it to her printer the moment she was done. She also prepared a share transfer agreement.

The moment the documents were done printing, she stood up to get them.

She signed her name on the two copies of each document before handing it over to Roman.

“Feel free to go through the terms, if there's nothing wrong… Sign it!”

She had added an additional condition to the document. She wanted to see how far he was willing to go to mock her.

She pressed on, “Sign it now! Do you think I will let myself be fooled the second time?

I've had enough of people treating me like a fool. Since you all want me fine…! It clearly stated that not only would you have the company's share, I will also belong to you. Isn't that what you all want?”

Roman was taken aback. He didn't know what kind of blow she had suffered to make her make such a decision.

He looked at her, he could see that her eyes were already red from trying to hold back her tears.

“Ms. Henderson, this is a little….Uhmm.. ..inappropriate…”

“What’s inappropriate about it? You'd be getting everything you ever wanted. Don't worry I'm not loose, I don't sleep around for favors. You won't be making a loss.”

“I prefer sleeping with you than Gilbert.” 

“Just sign the agreement quickly. Let's get this over with, once the money is in my account you can do whatever you want to me and I won't stop you.”

Since Lena willingly offered herself to him, Roman didn’t see a need to reject.

He took up the pen and signed his name on the agreement without hesitation.

Then, he took out his phone. According to the account number provided in the agreement, he transferred twenty million dollars into the required account.

Lena chuckled when he saw Roman seriously checking the company's account details, she found it funny that he was willing to go this far with his act.

“Ms Henderson, confirm the transfer.”

Lena looked at him feeling like he was too shameless to actually say such a thing to her.

Lena's smile vanished but she still maintained a respectful demure. 

“If you say so Mr. Roman, I hope you won't end up making up excuses later..”

As she spoke she logged into the company's accounts. 

The moment the balance appeared, Lena was stunned silent..

She counted the zeros to confirm if the money was complete.

She checked to make sure that the money had not been sent by someone else.

The name on the transaction was as clear as day.

Roman Walter!