Marriage Of Convenience: Her Heart, His Obsession

After leaving Roman's room, Alana went straight to the kitchen to make breakfast for herself.

She poured cereal into a bowl and added milk to the bowl. Making herself comfortably on a stool, she began eating.

A minute later, Erin entered, tapping on his phone.

From his attire, Alana could tell that he had just returned from a morning run.

With her head no longer clouded with various thoughts, she could now discern the man's distinctive features. His jet-black hair perfectly complemented his brown eyes. He had a lean build yet was still toned.

He was also quite tall, though not as tall as Roman, who stood at about 6'6 ft, if her estimate was correct.

She refocused on her plate when she noticed him approaching her, not wanting to seem like she was gawking at him.

"Good morning, Miss Gates," he greeted.

Alana raised her head to meet his gaze before nodding in response, as her mouth was filled with cereal.

"Would you like me to prepare a proper breakfast for you?" Erin offered, but Alana simply shook her head.

"Thanks, but it's fine," she replied politely.

Eren nodded and was about to leave when Alana stopped him.

"Is it possible for me to have my own room?" Alana asked.

"I don't think I'm in a position to answer that question. You will have to discuss that with Roman," Erin replied.

Alana simply nodded and resumed eating. The expression on her face revealed her lack of enthusiasm for talking with Roman.

Not wanting to interfere, Erin left without saying anything. He assumed that she and Roman might have had an argument or something. He had returned to discuss something with Roman, but it seemed that would have to wait.

As Roman's assistant and friend, Erin was always informed about everything that went on in Roman's personal and business life. What he just couldn't understand was why Roman hadn't told him about his relationship with this girl. He had only been gone for three days, so when and how had this relationship even started? Was it not only a few days ago that there had been a misunderstanding that escalated into an incident with her?

Erin's eyes narrowed as he went up the stairs to the second floor, he felt like he was missing something.

After finishing her meal, Alana went directly to Roman's bedroom to talk to him. She was completely convinced that there was no way they could share a room. Once again, she was reminded that morning of his unpredictable nature.

Upon reaching the door, she paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts before raising her hand to knock. Just then, the door swung open suddenly, leaving her hand suspended in mid-air.

Roman wore a look of surprise when he saw her standing there.

"Have you been standing here the whole time?" he asked.

"No, of course not," Alana quickly replied, lowering her suspended hand to her side.

Roman's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before he brushed past her. Alana hurriedly followed him.

"I wanted to talk to you about something important," she said, trailing behind him.

Roman glanced back at her over his shoulder.

"What is it?"

"It's about the bedroom. I can't-"

"Have you had breakfast yet?" Roman interrupted, cutting off Alana's words.

Alana fell silent, dumbfounded by the sudden question. Hadn't he just treated her coldly for no valid reason a moment ago?

"I'm sure you heard me, right?" Roman inquired when she didn't respond.

"Um, yes," Alana replied.

"What did you eat?"

Alana stared at his back with a blank expression, puzzled by his abrupt change of focus.

"Cereal," she replied simply.

"That doesn't really count as a meal, Alana. I'll make you some pancakes."

Alana shook her head. "I don't really like pancakes," she lied, despite loving them.

"What about bacon?" Roman inquired as they entered the kitchen.

"I do like bacon, but as I mentioned earlier, I've already had breakfast," Alana replied.

"And as I also mentioned earlier, that doesn't count," Roman retorted, gathering the ingredients he needed. "You're not six, Alana. Cereal isn't a sufficient breakfast. Besides, I need you to gain some weight; you're too thin as you are."

A frown creased Alana's face.

"I'm not thin," she shot back.

"Right," Roman said simply as he heated up the pan.

Alana raised her wrist and examined it before holding it and gently stroking it. Perhaps she was a little skinny after all, but she had always considered herself to be slender.

Her gaze lingered on Roman's back as he worked. She didn't think he had any plans to go out, given his casual attire.

She took a seat on a stool and propped her right elbow on the kitchen counter, resting her chin on her palm.

Her thoughts shifted to her stepsister. Alana was certain that the spoiled brat would be terribly bored now that she wasn't around for her to torment anymore.

As for her stepfather, she had heard that he was in New York. The very thought of him made her stomach churn with disgust.

Lost in her thoughts, Alana didn't notice when Roman placed a plate of bacon in front of her.

"What are you thinking about?" Roman's voice snapped her out of her reverie, and she turned toward him, her gaze settling on the plate before her.

"Nothing," she replied in a low voice, picking up a piece of bacon and biting into it.

Roman observed her as she ate in silence.

"You were talking to me about something concerning the bedroom, right?" he finally said after a while.

Alana nodded, chewing on the bacon. "Can I have my own room, please?"

"No," Roman replied promptly as soon as the words escaped her lips.

"Why?" Alana inquired.

"The only guest room is being used by my assistant from time to time, so there are no rooms available at the moment," Roman explained, and Alana nodded in understanding.

"Why do you want a separate room?" Roman asked. "Is the current room unsuitable for you?"

"It's not that. I don't think it's appropriate to share a room with you. Besides, our relationship is merely a facade," Alana expressed her concern.

Just then, Erin entered the kitchen.

"That is precisely why we should be sleeping together," Roman insisted.

Alana coughed, almost choking on her drink when those words escaped his lips. She glanced at Erin, who seemed busy rummaging through the fridge, but she was certain he had heard what Roman just said.

She shot a small glare at Roman, who wore an expression of indifference.

"I'm sure you agree that it is essential in every relationship," Roman said as he poured some milk for himself.

"Yes," Alana replied quickly, hoping to silence him.

However, as soon as she realized what her answer implied, she immediately corrected herself.

"No!"

Roman raised an eyebrow at her, his expression as serious as ever, even though he was only teasing.

Alana immediately stood up, her face red with embarrassment. "I'm full. Thank you for making me breakfast, Mr. Ashford," she said, and left without another word, as if she were being chased from the kitchen.

Roman smirked wickedly as he watched her scurry away like a frightened kitten. His smirk quickly dissipated when he felt a pair of questioning eyes on him.

"What?" He glanced at Erin, who had just taken Alana's former seat after clearing her plate.

"Nothing," Erin replied with a shrug, picking up the plate of pancakes that had been in front of Roman and beginning to eat.

Sitting opposite Erin, Roman rested both elbows on the counter. He didn't mind that Erin had taken the food he had prepared for himself; he had no intention of eating that morning, as he simply didn't have the appetite.

"You clearly have something on your mind, so go ahead and say it," Roman prompted, looking at Erin intently.

"Why didn't you tell me about her before yesterday?" Erin asked. It had come as a shock to him when Roman instructed him to pick up the young woman the previous evening.

Initially, he had been expecting to meet someone in their twenties, but this girl looked like she was under twenty.

"Our relationship is simply an arrangement, and it only started yesterday," Roman replied.

Erin paused eating. He could already grasp the situation without needing further details from Roman.

"Does Ryan know about your arrangements with her?" Erin inquired, looking at Roman with a curious expression.

"No, Not yet," Roman replied.

"You should have informed him about your intentions before finalizing the contract with her," Erin remarked, shaking his head. "Ryan will be furious when he discovers this."

"Likely," Roman replied, resting his forehead on his palm, his gaze fixed on the countertop as if he were seeking answers from it.

Erin's phone buzzed in his pocket, prompting him to reach into his pocket to retrieve the ringing phone.

His expression subtly shifted upon seeing who the caller was. He glanced at Roman, who remained in the same position, before excusing himself to answer the call.

Upon his return, Erin wore a slight frown between his brows.

Roman raised his head to look at him.

"Who was it?" he inquired, noticing the expression on Erin's face.

"It's your grandfather," Erin replied.

Roman frowned.

"What does he want?"