"Mommy!"
Roseanne nearly had a heart attack when she saw the tiny figure sprinting toward her, his short legs moving as fast as they could carry him.
"Kaden!" she instinctively crouched just in time to catch him as he collided with her. "What are you doing here?!"
"Mommy, I tried to call you from the teachers' office with Miss Martha, but you didn't pick up! I was sad and then we went back to class, and Emma was there, and she said she was about to meet you, and I asked if I could come too because there's something I really, really want to tell you, Mommy!"
Kaden looked up at her with wide earnest eyes, breathless from his endless rambling. His chest rose and fell rapidly, face flushed from running and speaking too much at once.
Roseanne glanced at Emma who stood a few steps away smiling softly at the boy, then she turned her attention back to Kaden. "And what is it, sweetheart?"
Kaden lowered his head. "I'm sorry I was a bad kid this morning, Mommy," he murmured. "I screamed and cried and Mommy was almost late for work. I don't want to make Mommy sad."
She let out a soft sigh and wrapped her arms around him, patting his back gently. "Thank you for coming all the way here for Mommy, Kaden. Mommy isn't sad at all. Actually, Mommy feels sorry too because you couldn't watch your morning cartoon today. How about tomorrow we wake up early so you can watch it, okay?"
Kaden's eyes brightened, and he nodded eagerly. "Okay, Mommy."
"Here, I brought your dress." Emma handed Roseanne the white dress Czar had requested this morning.
"Thank you, Emma," Roseanne said, taking the dress carefully. "I'll be a bit late picking up Kaden today."
Just as Roseanne was about to reassure Kaden, two cars pulled up to the drop-off in front of the office. A sleek, expensive car came first, followed by a larger, heavier one.
A dozen men in black suits stepped out of the bigger car. They quickly formed two straight lines on either side of the entrance and stood perfectly still. Then a familiar figure walked out of the building.
The man wore a long coat that fell to his ankles, covering his perfectly tailored expensive suit. He climbed into the waiting car without so much as glancing at Roseanne.
"Mommy," Kaden whispered, eyes wide with awe. "Is that person Mommy's boss?"
"Kaden, for now go back with Emma, can you do that? Mommy will pick you up later after work."
Kaden nodded. "Okay, Mommy!"
Emma gently took his small hand, leading him to leave the building. The boy waved goodbye for a long moment before finally disappearing from sight.
Roseanne stepped inside just as the two cars started to pull away. She glanced toward the darkened windows, but the tint was too deep she couldn't see Czar at all. He had mentioned earlier that he had something to take care of before dinner tonight, this must be it.
What kind of matter required a dozen men in black suits?
Then again, she remembered the first time they met four years ago. Czar had been surrounded by bodyguards back then too. They had lined the hallway outside the hotel room, standing guard right in front of the door while Roseanne and Czar were… well.
Roseanne shook her head, brushing off the thought, and moved inside. She had to change into the dress and get some documents ready.
What she didn't know was that inside the car, Czar had turned slightly, stealing a brief glance at the small boy as he waved at Roseanne.
"Find everything on her."
"Yes, sir."
· · ·
She didn't understand what was happening, but the moment Czar stepped into the room, Mr. Larson and his secretary fell completely silent.
They had reserved a VIP room at the usual restaurant, but outside, Czar's bodyguards lingered in the hallway guarding the door like hawks. Roseanne had arrived earlier, brought by a driver sent by Czar, while he himself had just arrived with all those men in black behind him.
"Mr. Romano, I didn't know you'd be coming. We should've reserved a nicer place if we'd known," Mr. Larson said, his voice strained with forced politeness. Then he turned sharply to Roseanne. "Do your job properly, Ms. Leclair! Isn't that your responsibility?!"
Roseanne was ready to respond, but Czar's low, heavy voice cut through the room as he pulled a cigarette from his coat.
"Shut your mouth."
Mr. Larson froze, then immediately fell silent.
"Everyone out. Now."
The command came from Czar. Roseanne and Mr. Hansley—Mr. Larson's secretary—didn't hesitate as they immediately rose and walked out of the room, leaving the poor old man behind, sweating and shrinking under Czar's piercing gaze.
"Ms. Leclair, would you follow me and wait outside?"
She glanced at Mr. Hansley and nodded. "Yes."
Once they were outside, he grabbed her hand and pulled her into a quiet alley, away from the bodyguards' sight.
"What the fuck are you guys planning?!" he whispered, his voice tense with panic.
Roseanne frowned. "What?"
"Why is he here?!" Mr. Hansley hissed, his frustration barely contained. "We didn't do anything!! It was an order the higher-ups, for fuck's sake, we did nothing!!!"
She didn't understand a word he was saying, but she hated how painfully tight his grip on her hand was. "Let me go," Roseanne warned, struggling.
"You fuckers! All of you are fucking monsters!" Mr. Hansley hissed, his anger raw and furious.
"I don't understand what you're talking about!"
"Do you seriously not know who that is?!"
"Who?! Mr. Romano?"
Before she could say more, Mr. Hansley slammed his hand over her mouth, silencing her. He quickly glanced around, making sure no one was close enough to hear them. "Be quiet."
Roseanne nodded slowly.
"I don't know how much you know about the family," Mr. Hansley continued, "but you do not play with him." He glanced over his shoulder once more before adding, "He's the king of the Dragons. No one walks out unscathed. And I bet that's exactly what's happening to Mr. Larson right now."
"What… are the Dragons?"
The question sounded almost silly to Roseanne, but the man in front of her looked deadly serious.
"The Romanos. They're the Dragons."
The Romanos?
"Ms. Leclair."
They both turned at the sound, noticing one of Czar's bodyguards standing a short distance away.
"Mr. Romano has finished his business. He wants you to ride with him."