Shadows of Deception Ch. 05

"Oh my God, Belladonna, what happened?"

Thank you, Daisy.

It could never be said of Belladonna's assistant that she wouldn't give the shirt off her back, the last dollar in her wallet, or cause a scene to draw attention to a perceived threat. Daisy's sharp, observant eyes zeroed in over the deep split on Belladonna's rose-tinted lip, the angry purple bruise blooming like a dark flower marring her otherwise flawless complexion. The smoothness of Belladonna's skin was now interrupted by the discolored marks, making her appear surprisingly vulnerable and human in Daisy's eyes. It was a side of her boss that Daisy had never seen before; usually so composed and put together, now she looked like a wounded bird.

And Daisy couldn't just stand by and say nothing.

She'd left Roman's penthouse last night feeling like a queen, only to be promptly crushed under her father's designer shoe.

She had never truly grasped the weight of the phrase'so quiet you could hear a pin drop' until it was directed towards her. Daisy's question wasn't exactly shouted, but it definitely wasn't whispered either. It carried through the room with all the subtlety one might expect from one using a megaphone, causing all eyes to turn towards Belladonna as she entered. Her colleagues hastily looked back down at their work whenever their eyes met in passing, pretending not to stare while still sneaking glances at her. Whispers spread like wildfire throughout the room, adding to the already uncomfortable atmosphere.

Belladonna already wasn't in the mood to talk as she remained silent with every intention of simply ignoring it until Daisy stopped asking. As if her refusal to acknowledge the physical proof on her face would somehow will it to go away. But then, Daisy asked a dangerous question, one that could potentially unravel everything she had carefully built with Roman.

"Did Roman do this?"

The spinning globe of Belladonna's world slowly came to a halt, her wide eyes fixed on the accusing gaze. Annoyance flashed across her features as she responded firmly, her voice full of frustration. It irritated her to no end that the first instinct was Roman did it, the moody club owner was far from the only problem in Belladonna's life and Dasiy knew that.

"Of course not." Her reply was sharp and annoyed.

Daisy, however, remained unconvinced and continued to press the issue.

"Look, Belladonna, we all saw him yesterday, I mean, come on, he was pretty intense, men like that..." Her words trailed off with an unspoken truth that both women understood well. "The tabloids... They say things about him... Everyone knows he's got a temper."

She could see the fear in Daisy's eyes growing as Belladonna scrambled, she needed to do some damage control. If she wanted to keep her promise of salvaging Roman's reputation, she had to act fast.

"Daisy, you have to understand that Roman isn't like that. Our dynamic is just... intense," She said with hesitation, knowing how cliche it sounded. It was what every victim in an abusive relationship said. She needed to reframe things.

"Daisy, last week I asked Roman to tie me up and blindfold me and I gave him twenty minutes to do whatever he wanted to me and when his time was up, I rode him like he was my own personal jam pony express." Daisy blinked rapidly. "But Roman didn't do this."

Daisy's expression was a mix of astonishment and doubt. Belladonna wasn't secretive by any means but she also rarely talked about her personal life, much less her sex life. She hadn't wanted to talk about what happened last night to anyone but that wasn't an option now.

She spoke in a hushed tone, quickly scanning the area to make sure no one was close enough to hear. With no other options, she decided to play her only card: honesty.

"I got a visit from my father last night."

Daisy's mouth fell open and her eyes went wide.

"Your father? How... How did he find out where you live? Are you okay? Is it safe for you to go home?"

Daisy was one of those people who needed all the details, she hated cliffhangers, ambiguous answers, and the great unknown. So her questions went off like rapid fire, coming faster than Belladonna could answer them.

A lightbulb went off in Daisy's eyes as Belladonna shrugged looking uncertain. "People were talking and snapping photos as you two left. A few people said you guys were looking pretty cozy in the conference room too. I saw it this morning across my feed. He must have seen it."

Belladonna's face tightened, the pain of her past and the present converging in her eyes. The explanation made sense, in all the chaos surrounding the recent upheaval in her life, her father finding her had been the last thing on her mind. She chided herself for being so careless.

"I don't want to talk about it, Daisy. I just want to work, to focus on something else." She brushed off Daisy's concern, attempting to shield herself from the vulnerability of the situation. "It's one of the busiest weeks of the year, there's plenty of work to get done."

Daisy anxiously pressed her lips together, torn between respecting Belladonna's wishes and her own instinct to help her friend.

"Does Roman know about this?" She asked tentatively, her voice filled with worry. "I mean, does he know about your father?"

Belladonna scoffed, mingling with bitterness and astonishment. "Are you crazy? Of course, he doesn't."

"Well, he's gonna. You can't exactly keepthis a secret from him." Daisy replied gesturing to the bruises. "There's no concealer that can hide that and the way he looks at you; he'll notice if you're trying to cover up something."

"I'll think of something, Daisy."

"What about if he visits today?" Daisy's words were like a punch to the gut, reminding Belladonna of how little control she had over the situation. As far as she knew about Roman, if he said he would do something, he would follow through.

"I don't know." She hated those words. "I guess that's a 'we'll cross that bridge when we get there' type situation."

"Belladonna, maybe you should tell him. I mean, your dad is a piece of work but Roman's a pretty intimidating guy, maybe he could help you?"

She scoffed again and held up her hand, her voice was firm and determined. "Daisy, no. Listen to me. I need you to have my back on this."

"You know I do, Belladonna." Daisy's worry struggled with her loyalty, but she nodded. "But for the record, I think this is a terrible idea and your boyfriend should know."

"Noted."

The atmosphere in the studio remained tense throughout the morning. Whispers fluttered like hushed wings, curiosity, and concern. Daisy, ever watchful, kept an eagle eye on Roman's lack of communication. As time passed the absence of any text or call from him became conspicuous, until, ultimately it was sort of forgotten.

But every time the door opened Belladonna's head snapped back looking for Roman but each time it was just a model, or a photographer, or an assistant. She hated feeling so jittery but she knew Roman becoming involved with the situation regarding her father would only make things worse because the fact was Roman had all the tact of a bull in a china shop.

She allowed herself a small glimmer of hope that maybe she wouldn't have to face Roman today. Because at 11:45, he was still nowhere to be seen, along with Mercer. Maybe he'd gotten so busy with his own day that he simply didn't have time to play mysterious boyfriend. Out doing, who knew what? Shaking down mobsters, getting lapdances, or kicking puppies for all she knew. The tension in her body was slowly fading; maybe things would turn out alright after all.

Of course, even if he didn't show up today, she still wasn't completely safe - she wasn't entirely sure what she would say when she did inevitably see him. It wasn't like she boxed or played aggressive sports or anything, what would she say? She fell down the stairs and into someone's fist?

Problems for tomorrow. That was what she told herself.

Problems for future Belladonna, letthat bitch worry about it.

Yeah, it was wishful thinking, wasn't it? The studio doors swung open, and Roman strode in confidently at ten past noon, a cup of steaming hot coffee cradled in his hands. His charm was on full display, a practiced smile playing on his lips as he made his way towards Belladonna.

"Hello angel, so sorry I'm late," he began, his voice smooth and honeyed. "Your favorite coffee place was--"

But whatever had happened at the cute little coffee place she liked to frequent, she would never know. His words fell away as his gaze landed on Belladonna's face, the warmth in his expression vanishing in an instant, his eyes grew cold and the shadows over his face darker making him appear more grim. Her heart sank with dread. A storm of anger brewed within him, evident in the way his jaw clenched. The act dropped, along with the cup of coffee, which spilled onto the floor in a careless splash. At that moment, the genuine displeasure that lurked beneath Roman's charismatic facade was revealed.

Shit.

Roman's reaction was just as Belladonna expected; his broad shoulders squared in an angry stride across the studio, his voice rising but not quite reaching a shout.

"Who the fuck did this?"

His words pierced the air like sharp arrows, demanding attention from everyone present, if her condition had escaped the notice of even the lowliest assistant; it couldn't now. Only thing left to do would be to take out a billboard...

Roman's shadow loomed over the studio floor as he advanced towards Belladonna, his brow furrowed and jaw set in a hard line. The bruising on her delicate face sparked a flicker of anger in his dark eyes. Reaching her, his rough fingers were unyielding as they tilted her chin upwards, examining every angle. His other hand clamped around her arm, steel hidden beneath velvet, ensuring she remained rooted to the spot, uncaring or not seeing the small crowd of people watching.

Roman may have been a smart man, but impulsiveness was undeniably his Achilles heel.

Belladonna's heart hammered against her ribcage, acutely aware of the intensity emanating from Roman. She could feel everyone's eyes on them, the quiet murmurs of speculation buzzing like flies. In a deft movement, driven by survival and an instinctive understanding of public perception, she launched herself at him. Her arms wound around his neck in a display of affection that broke his grasp and shifted the narrative.

A collective gasp punctured the hum of the studio, piercing the bubble around Roman and reminding him of the audience they had attracted. He stood stock-still, the warmth of Belladonna pressed against him, their every move was under scrutiny.

For a moment, confusion etched itself across Roman's features, his arms hovering in mid-air before they encircled her in a reflexive embrace. It was a strange dance of caught and catcher, of protector and protected. His body tensed, ready to disentangle himself from this unexpected show of vulnerability.

But then, her voice, a harsh whisper meant only for him, cut through the tension.

"Kiss me!"

Her grip tightened; a silent plea etched into the action.

"Everyone is watching and taking pictures, and more than half of them probably think you did this. So play the role of the concerned boyfriend and kiss me!"

She held her breath, waiting for his understanding, his compliance.

Roman quickly regained his composure after being taken aback by her unexpected request, understanding the gravity of the situation and how she was trying to direct perception of him.

He followed through, taking her hand in his and placing a soft kiss on her palm before tenderly pressing his lips against her forehead. The kiss was a performance, but it was executed flawlessly. A convincing display of affection that could sway any onlookers. He shook his head in disbelief and brushed her hair out of her face, his expression shifting from bewilderment to concern and fear.

Roman's lips twisted into a sneer, but he played along. His hand slid up to cradle the back of her head, fingers tangling in her hair.

"Angel, who did this to you?"

Its authenticity resonated through the room, loud enough for all close by to hear. He played his part perfectly, projecting the image of a concerned lover, protective and deeply invested in her well-being.

But it wasn't love. Hell, it wasn't even affection. It was possessiveness veiled as concern, a complex blend of emotions that only he could truly decipher. And as always, she couldn't help but feel a tinge of exhilaration at his ferocity, not towards her but for her.

But it was a show.

She took a deep breath, lacing her fingers with his, and leaned in to place a kiss upon his knuckles; knuckles which were taking on a strained pale color that belied the intensity of his grip.

"Roman, I'm fine," Her voice was filled with determination and a touch of vulnerability. "I already called the cops, filed a report, and made a statement."

No one else could see it, but she did. The way his eyes narrowed, the brown overtaken by a dark abyss as his lip twitched in barely contained rage. She could feel the violence emanating from him, a warning sign that only she was privy to.

There were too many people, way too many sets of eyes now watching this drama unfold and the room felt small. But their gazes, once filled with judgment and condemnation, now held a mix of worry and empathy as they observed the unfolding drama. Roman's dramatic display had clearly shifted their perspective, but now she knew they needed to talk and it couldn't be here. Time for another trip to a conference room as their last one there had gone so well...

Even with its large windows and the numerous people shuffling past them constantly the conference room visibility offered little assurance than before that Roman might behave himself. Roman's presence alone was enough to make anyone feel like they were trapped in a cell with a dangerous predator. And as the seconds of silence ticked on the atmosphere became suffocating.

He wasn't happy. And happy Roman, although macabre and unpredictable was preferable to the man who she was now standing before.

At first, he was quiet and his intense gaze seemed to strip away all of Belladonna's defenses, leaving her feeling exposed and vulnerable. But by far, the worst bit of it was he never really stopped smiling and a man who could deliver bone-chilling threats all with a smile on his face wasn't someone to fuck with.

His smile finally faltered a bit when he spoke, his words icy and tense.

"Who. Did. This?"

He repeated, each word heavy with a sense of danger, his tone low and on the quiet side, which was far worse than yelling. At least yelling meant he wasn't hiding anything. Here, he was calm and collected but that could fracture at any moment. And from what she had seen, Roman's anger was something to be both marveled at and feared.

Belladonna took a deep breath, trying to think of how she could salvage the situation. She knew that revealing the truth would only anger Roman further and to be frank, she didn't need his particular brand of drama in this aspect of her life. It wasn't any of his business, right?

"It...it was an accident," She stuttered out, hoping that he would believe her. How original.

That was when his face fell. The smile vanished and there was the tiniest tick of his jaw. He moved even closer to her, towering over her small frame.

"Bull. Fucking. Shit."

Roman's voice cut through the air, filled with a dangerous edge, and it took everything to not take a step back from him.

"Angel, do notlie to me" He growled, his tone a blend of fury, possessiveness, and offense.

She didn't look at the ground but rather off to the side, the table, the boring artwork, the coffee pot, anywhere but his gaze, she wasn't entirely sure she wouldn't be immolated on the spot if she looked into those eyes of his. But strangely enough, she wasn't even scared - just exhausted by their tumultuous relationship. She didn't know why he was so pissy anyway, she didn't do anything wrong.

Well, apart from lying to him just now.

"Are you fucking around on me?"

Roman's accusation hung heavily in the air, dark and dangerous and full of anger, casting a shadow over their already complicated relationship. Her response was swift, filled with genuine surprise and indignation, her mouth dropped open and she finally looked at him.

"What?"

She spluttered incredulously, unable to process the absurdity of his accusation. She was flabbergasted, and for a second her denial was delayed due to the absolutely ridiculousness of the question. She had a bruised face and a busted lip yet somehow that meant, what? Infidelity? If that was the case, she sure knew how to pick 'em.

"Of course not!" Yet, Roman was unrelenting and not convinced the weight of his doubt threatened to destroy the fragile trust between them.

"Why should I believe you, Belladonna? You'vejust lied to me!"

Roman's voice was a hiss of pure venom, evoking memories of the night they first met when he showed no mercy in taking three lives, almost four. She could see the anger in his eyes, a wildfire threatening to consume them both.

"Ok, ok," Desperate to calm him down, she placed her hands on his chest, trying to anchor him with her touch. "You can't kill anybody." Her voice, a plea to temper his anger. "I'm handling it."

Roman scoffed, and his tone softened ever so slightly, he tilted his head and shook it, "Angel," he murmured, bringing her hand to his lips in a deceptive gesture of gentleness before crushing it in his grasp. "I'll do whatever Idamn well please."

Belladonna took a deep breath, "Roman, I'm not cheating on you," She asserted firmly, her own frustration seeping through "How did you even come to that conclusion? Not that it matters, this isn't real anyway!" She hissed as she tried to yank her hand back.

"It doesn't matter if it's real, Angel," He interjected, his voice firm and unwavering as his grip on her hand. "Until it's not, you belong to me."

She overlooked his archaic declaration of ownership, finding the notion of her own honesty being called into question far more offensive.

"I amnot a cheater, not even on afake boyfriend." She spat back, her anger surging up like his and it gave Roman pause, she finally succeeded in jerking back her hand.

"I had a visit from my father last night," Her voice was suddenly a bit weaker than she liked. "He was waiting for me when I left your place."

His fury momentarily subsided, replaced by a flicker of curiosity.

"And we weren't pleased to seedear old dad?"

Belladonna's face twisted into disgust.

"We don't get along," Weakness was replaced by bitterness. Roman tilted her chin up, his gaze intense as he studied her face. She could feel his scrutiny, the silent demand for the truth. "Am I lying?"

"No, Angel, I don't think you are," He took her hand again, gently caressing it, soothing any residual discomfort.

He surprised her with his admission. His fingers gently intertwined with hers as he brought her hand to his lips, placing a tender kiss on her skin. The gesture felt affectionate and protective, and most certainly possessive. Something any loving boyfriend might do when he was wrong, but she couldn't understand why he was doing it; no one else was around to see it.

"Tell me exactly what happened, and don't lie to me again,Belladonna,"

Her voice was steady but traces of resentment were audible as she recounted the strained visit with her father the previous night. The fact that they hadn't spoken in several years, he hadn't even known where she was living and how he was the type of man who, when pushed, didn't push back; he punched.