A Year and 365 Days

Chapter 25

The next morning

"So this man just took you out to dinner?" Amber asks while getting off the window sill

"Yea, it was strange."

"You mean he didn't try anything?"

"No, he just put his arm around mine or around my waist, nothing like the usual.."

"He sounds suspicious, I wouldn't put my complete trust in him."

"I know, I know Amber, he was just so kind and open."

Amber shook her head as she dug through the drawers. I was on my back with my arms and head hanging off the bed while I kicked my feet up and down.

"What's his name?"

"Roman"

"Wow Olivia, I thought you'd be a bit more cautious with these kind of guys."

"And you're point is?"

Amber slammed the drawer shut and made her way over to me. She stood looking down at me.

"My point is that you're being brainwashed by this man, once you put your trust in him, he's gonna do something."

"You don't know-"

Amber came to the side of me and forcibly turned me around and I eventually sat into a sitting position. She had her hands on my shoulders and looked me straight in the eyes.

"I know what it's like because I've trusted someone like that and it didn't end well. I just don't want you to end up like I did."

She stared into my eyes and started to tear up until she opened her mouth again.

"Just be careful." She said squeezing my hands

I nodded.

Later that day

"Olivia, Roman called in again, you'll be with him again." Damien says while I walk down the staircase

Alex looks down at me and winks at me, sending shivers down my spine. I wear a pastel blue dress with soft material and long sleeves. It's form fitting as all my dresses are. It's one of my smallest sizes compared to the first dress I was given in Rome. I had tried that one on at some point and it had been too big. Losing nearly forty pounds throughout the year had been a progressive the since I hadn't ate much here.

"Alright." I respond quietly

The door opens and Roman stands outside while Amber eyes me. I keep in mind what she had told me while I walk out the door to where Roman stands. I take in the black hair and brown eyes he has. He's wearing black dress pants and a while blazer with a white shirt and red tie.

"I'll see you" Roman says to Damien

Roman leads us to a town car instead. We don't walk and we get into the back of the town car. My usual driver is there and I get uncomfortable instantly. I remember the driver and I had had a few disputes. He found a way to solve them anyways. It brought flashbacks to my mind. Roman leaves the middle seat open between us as the driver eyes me in his rear view mirror.

"Just leave us downtown please" Roman says

In ten minutes we are downtown and Roman exits the car first. He opens my side of the door and puts his hand out. I give him a questioning look until I take his hand and step out of the car in black pumps.

"You want me to pick you up later?" The driver asks out the window to me

"Uh-" I hesitate

"It's alright." Roman says