The car had been moving for five minutes, yet ever since Roseanne stepped inside, Czar hadn't uttered a single word.
A partition separated them from the driver. She stayed quiet and stared out the window thinking about what he had just heard from Mr. Larson's secretary. As much of a jerk as he had been, Mr. Hansley looked terrified and desperate enough for Roseanne to know he wasn't lying.
She had always known, more or less, that the Romanos were billionaires. Their name was tied to power and influence in business circles. Still, she never imagined that Genevieve and the company she worked at would be connected to that family.
Yet now, she was seated right beside the head of the Romanos himself.
And what exactly did Mr. Hansley mean by 'the Dragons'?
She made a mental note to look it up online later.
"How long are you going to play dumb, Ms. Leclair?"
The deep voice made Roseanne turn slightly to take a glance. "I don't understand what you mean, sir."
Czar chuckled without sparing her even a single glance.
Trying to redirect the conversation, she asked, "How did it go with Mr. Larson?"
"We're done with them."
She frowned. "What should I tell them if they call?"
"They won't."
That single answer was enough. Roseanne didn't know the full details of what had happened in the restaurant room after she left with Mr. Larson's secretary, but judging by Mr. Hansley's reaction, she could get a faint idea of how things had gone.
He's the king of the Dragons. No one walks out unscathed.
Mr. Hansley's words lingered in her mind.
"Enough about that fool. Shouldn't you be paying attention to me, sweetheart?" Czar's finger gently tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.
Instinctively, Roseanne tried to pull away and it made him chuckle.
"You pull away from my touch while wearing the dress I want you in. Tell me… are you obedient or are you a brat?"
"I'm simply being professional," she said, forcing a polite smile.
Czar hummed. "Do you live alone, Ms. Leclair?"
"No, sir."
"Where do you live?"
"Not in Moncascia," she replied vaguely. "I commute by train."
"By train," he sounded amused. "Then where exactly? We can drop you off."
"No, it's fine! It's really far from here."
"That works better for me," he said with a low chuckle.
Roseanne bit her lower lip, trying to find a reason to refuse him. Why was he so intent on finding out where she lived? Could he already know about Kaden? Her mind grew heavy with questions.
"It's… I need to meet a friend before going home," she tried to sound casual.
"I see," Czar hummed. "Then that can't be helped."
She let out a quiet sigh of relief. How much longer until they arrived? The drive back to the office felt unbearably slow.
"You said you don't live alone. Are you married?"
Why did it feel like she was being interrogated? Roseanne wanted to jump off the car. "No, sir," she answered.
"But I heard he called you Mommy."
At that, Roseanne's chest tightened. She didn't realize her conversation with Kaden earlier had been loud enough for Czar to hear from inside the car.
"H-He's—"
Before she could finish her sentence, Czar cut her off. His deep voice and piercing gaze held her in place as he said something that truly made her heart stop.
"You have many things to hide, Ms. Rousseau."
The surname felt foreign to her ears. Rousseau. She had left that surname behind years ago when she walked out of that house. The fact that Czar knew it could only mean one thing; he had run a background check on her.
It was her mistake. After everything she knew about Czar, she should have been more cautious. He was never someone she could treat lightly. From the way he carried himself to the look in his eyes, everything about him screamed danger.
And the words Mr. Hansley had said earlier kept echoing in her mind, repeating like a warning she had failed to follow.
Just like how Lucian often mentioned having the resources to run a quick background check, Czar would have his own resources as well.
"I don't use that name anymore," Roseanne said firmly. "I'd appreciate it if you used the name I go by now."
In one swift motion, he pulled her closer and lifted her onto his lap. She gasped, startled by the sudden movement. She tried to pull away but his hand tightened around her waist, keeping her in place as he stared at her.
"Sir, I don't think—"
"What's a Rousseau doing here?"
She frowned, confused by the question. "What…?"
"Once could be an accident," he said. "But twice?"
Roseanne didn't fully understand the reason behind his question, but she understood the message. He wasn't asking out of curiosity. He was questioning her purpose.
From the way he said it, it was clear that someone from the Rousseau family like herself wasn't supposed to be 'here'.
"Careful, Ms. Rousseau." Czar's eyes darkened, sharp and cold as they pierced through her. "I don't take kindly to strangers wandering into my territory. And I certainly don't hold back in dealing with rats."
Roseanne clutched his coat tightly. "I really don't understand what you're saying, Mr. Romano. I'm here to work and I've spent years working with Ms. Gjorgiev. I'd appreciate it if you let go of me."
There were only a few inches between them and she could practically feel his breath on her cheeks. His hand on her waist was warm and their chests pressed lightly against each other. Czar's eyes never left hers, flicking between her eyes and lips.
After what felt like an eternity, he finally let go. She sank back into her seat as the car pulled up in front of the company building.
Just as she stepped out of the car, he spoke again.
"Good night, Roseanne."
For a moment, she was caught off guard by the sound of her name, but she quickly composed herself and smiled politely.
"Good night, Mr. Romano."
Then the car drove off, leaving her standing there.