bound | reus

19.

Romessa rose an eyebrow, feeling her chest burn. He's punishing me, she realized. He's punishing me for interacting with Marco. And he's warning me, too. "B-but I did help him. He got over his ankle injury—"

"A medical examination was done. The reason he slipped was because of a loose ankle, and his ankle was loose because it hadn't properly healed. And that was your objective—to properly heal him."

Romessa drew in a breath. "William," she spoke, "This is bullshit. How could you let them do this to me?"

"I don't have a say, Romessa. It's the board's decision. The people who pay me, and you, and—"

"Bullshit," repeated Romessa, her voice increasingly frustrated. "You are the CEO, William. You have power.  The board would never let me go—this program is worth millions!"

"And yet you haven't got a single investment," responded William, matching her frustration. "Because you refuse to accept Robert Lewandowski's—"

"I can get others." Romessa felt her body burn with anger, gripping onto the hem of her pencil dress. It was demoting and absurd; William's lack of support. "If you really loved me, then you would've defended me before they made this decision. You would've used your influence to help me. What happened to you and I being a team?"

"We are a team. But I can't act purely out of my love for you. Not this early on in my career here. I can't have that type of reputation," he spoke, rounding his desk. "Romessa," he softened his voice, placing his hand on her cheek and stroking it softly. Romessa felt her body grow warm with slight embarrassment. It was easy to resent him from afar; much less so when he was before her, gazing at her with dreamy cerulean eyes that seemed to see every part of her. "This isn't a big deal. All it means is that the league will no longer offer your program any sort of trial funding. But we still want to sponsor it, should it prove to be worth it. You'll keep your position at Borussia, helping the players. If you can secure your own funding, everything can go back to normal. I've already arranged for you to meet with Robert. He'll be here in—"

Before William could finish his sentence and before Romessa could object to it, a soft knock sounded at William's door; he hastily went to open it before gazing at his new assistant. Romessa narrowed her eyes as she observed the woman, a svelte blonde with dark green eyes. "Herr Seifert," she stated, "Mr. Lewandowski is here." 

"Send him in, Gabrielle." William stepped back and allowed his eyes to linger a little too long on his assistant's frame before he closed the door and turned to face Romessa, whose lips parted in envy. There's no way I can be jealous of an assistant, thought the Moroccan—nevertheless, she felt her eyebrows knit in a frown before speaking, her voice coming out more like an accusatory hiss.

"Who is she?"

"What?"

"Who is she, William?"

William blinked. "Gabrielle? She's just my assistant, Romessa. You can't possibly think I'd ever be so stupid." Slowly, he approached the Moroccan before kneeling beside her. "Look at me," he whispered, causing Romessa's cheeks to grow warm as her eyes met his. "I love you, Romessa. You are the most incredible woman I've ever laid my eyes on. I would never throw it away."

Romessa opened her mouth, then closed it. She bit her lip, feeling a mixture of guilt and jealousy. Why does it matter, anyways? You shouldn't care about who he looks at. After all, you're the one who's in love with another man. Before she could say anything, she watched as the door to the office was opened; in walked Robert, causing Romessa to stiffen as she watched William go to shake his hand as though they were the best of friends. It was her turn then, but she clearly wanted no contact with the Pole, forcing her hands to remain glued to her side as he extended his. It wasn't until William said her name with the tone of a warning parent that she cleared her throat and briefly shook his hand, immediately retreating it after a mere second of contact. "Thanks for flying in, Robert. I'm glad we could finally all meet to discuss this," stated William, as he went to sit behind his desk.