Chapter 18 - The Dance He Owed His Wife
One year after the gala, the Imperial Hotel hosted the same annual charity event.
Three hundred guests returned beneath the same chandeliers.
The organizers expected Roman and Serena.
They did not expect them to arrive holding hands.
Photographers captured them entering together.
Roman did not look toward the cameras.
Not because he was hiding.
Because he was looking at Serena.
“You’re staring,” she whispered.
“I’m married.”
“You’ve been married seven years.”
“I recently discovered certain benefits.”
She smiled.
They entered the ballroom.
Several people approached.
Some conversations were awkward.
Public perception of Roman remained complicated.
Some admired his cooperation with investigators.
Others believed accountability should have come sooner.
Roman accepted both reactions.
That, too, was new.
Halfway through dinner, Serena noticed him checking the exits.
She touched his wrist.
“You okay?”
He nodded automatically.
She waited.
Roman caught himself.
“No.”
“Better.”
He leaned closer.
“I don’t like anniversaries.”
“Because of last year?”
“Yes.”
“Nothing is happening.”
“I know logically.”
“And emotionally?”
“My nervous system disagrees.”
Serena smiled gently.
“Thank you for telling me.”
Roman looked at her.
That simple sentence still felt unfamiliar.
Later, the orchestra began the same song Serena remembered from the previous year.
Middle-aged couples moved onto the floor.
A gray-haired man pulled his wife close.
Serena recognized them.
The same couple.
She smiled.
Roman followed her gaze.
“Is that them?”
“Who?”
“The people you watched.”
Serena looked surprised.
“I told you that?”
“In therapy.”
“You remembered?”
“I remember everything you say.”
“That is occasionally inconvenient.”
Roman stood.
Extended his hand.
“Dance with me.”
Not a question this time.
Serena raised an eyebrow.
Roman corrected himself.
“Would you like to dance with me?”
“Much better.”
She placed her hand in his.
They joined the dance floor.
No scandal.
No jealousy.
No threats.
Just music.
Roman’s hand rested at her waist.
Serena leaned closer.
“You’re getting better.”
“I practiced.”
“With whom?”
Roman looked offended.
“Marcus.”
Serena nearly stopped dancing.
“You practiced dancing with Marcus?”
“He complained extensively.”
She laughed against Roman’s shoulder.
Across the ballroom, Marcus heard her laughter and immediately realized what Roman had admitted.
He glared.
Roman smiled.
Then his expression became serious.
“Serena.”
“Hm?”
“There’s something I haven’t told you.”
She lifted her head.
“You understand that sentence is extremely dangerous in our marriage.”
“I know.”
“What?”
Roman seemed nervous.
“I bought something.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“What did you buy?”
“Not your sister’s house.”
“Roman.”
“A building.”
She sighed.
“Of course.”
“It’s small.”
“You own hotels.”
“Compared to hotels, it’s small.”
“What building?”
“The bookstore.”
Serena stopped.
“What bookstore?”
Roman looked at her.
The one.
Where they met.
The old bookstore had closed two years earlier.
Serena had mourned it.
“You bought it?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I was thinking the foundation could use the upper floors.”
“And downstairs?”
“A bookstore.”
Her eyes filled.
Roman smiled slightly.
“You’re crying again.”
“Stop noticing.”
“I can’t.”
She looked at him.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wanted to ask you something first.”
Serena’s heart began beating faster.
Roman reached into his jacket.
She stared.
“If you pull out another wedding ring, I’m leaving.”
He laughed.
“No ring.”
Instead he produced an old brass key.
“The building needs someone to decide what it becomes.”
Serena looked at the key.
Then at him.
“You want me to run it?”
“If you want.”
“Roman.”
“No expectations.”
She took the key.
For years Roman’s gifts had been expensive.
Jewelry.
Cars.
Trips.
Things purchased because he knew how to provide.
This was different.
This was a memory turned into possibility.
Something built around who Serena was rather than who Roman needed her to be.
She wrapped her arms around his neck.
In the middle of the ballroom.
In front of everyone.
Roman held her.
No hesitation.
Then Serena whispered, “I love you.”
Roman closed his eyes.
“I love you too.”
They began dancing again.
Later that evening, Roman made a speech for the charity.
At the end, he surprised Serena.
“My wife taught me something this year.”
Every head turned toward her.
Serena mouthed, What are you doing?
Roman smiled.
“I spent most of my life believing strength meant giving people nothing they could use against me.”
His gaze remained on Serena.
“I was wrong.”
The room quieted.
“The strongest thing I have ever done is admit that there are people I cannot imagine losing.”
Serena’s eyes filled.
Roman raised his glass.
“To the people worth being vulnerable for.”
The room applauded.
Serena laughed through tears.
Roman returned to her.
“You enjoyed that.”
“A little.”
“You’re becoming dramatic.”
“Marriage.”
They stepped onto the balcony later.
Same place.
Same city.
Different marriage.
Serena placed her hand against Roman’s chest.
No fear.
He covered it.
Then Roman smiled.
“Touch me in public.”
Serena laughed.
“That is a terrible attempt at romance.”
“I’m still learning.”
She kissed him beneath the city lights.
May you like
And this time there was nothing left to hide.
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