The PROXY Groom

CHAPTER X: A Day in Paris

Morning came quietly, wrapped in soft light that slipped through the sheer curtains of the hotel room.

Maxine stirred.

Warmth surrounded her—steady, solid, unfamiliar.

Her brows knitted slightly as she shifted, her fingers tightening unconsciously around something firm. For a moment, she stayed there, half-asleep, clinging to that warmth as if it grounded her.

Then—

Awareness struck.

Her eyes snapped open.

And froze.

Her arms were wrapped around Roman.

Her face pressed lightly against his chest.

Her leg—somehow—resting over his.

Maxine’s entire body went rigid.

Heat rushed instantly to her cheeks.

What… what am I doing?!

Slowly—very slowly—she lifted her head.

And met his gaze.

Roman was already awake.

Watching her.

Calm. Silent. As if he had been waiting for this exact moment.

Her heart jumped.

“…G-Good morning,” she said quickly, her voice betraying her composure.

Roman raised a brow slightly but didn’t comment.

“Morning.”

That was it.

No teasing.

No remark.

Which somehow made it worse.

Maxine immediately let go of him, pulling herself away as if burned. She turned to the other side, sitting up and fixing her hair, trying to act as normal as possible.

“Asking before assuming,” she muttered under her breath, then cleared her throat. “What time is it?”

Roman sat up as well, stretching slightly before glancing at his watch.

“Eight.”

Maxine blinked.

“Eight?!” she repeated, surprised. “That’s perfect.”

Excitement flickered across her face for the first time since yesterday.

Paris.

She had almost forgotten.

She turned to him, a hint of eagerness in her voice.

“I… I want to go out today,” she said. “Explore. Tour around.”

A small pause.

Then—more carefully—

“Can I?”

Roman looked at her.

Not confused.

Not questioning.

Just… observing.

“I’ll come with you,” he said simply.

Maxine hesitated.

Her excitement faltered slightly.

“…You don’t have to,” she said quickly. “You were working last night. You might still be busy. I can go alone.”

Roman’s expression didn’t change.

“I’m done,” he said.

She blinked. “Done?”

“The work,” he clarified. “I finished it last night.”

Maxine stared at him for a second.

“You… finished everything?” she asked, surprised.

He nodded once.

“And I’m not letting you wander alone in a city you’re not familiar with.”

There was no room for argument in his tone.

Maxine opened her mouth—

Then paused.

For a moment, she studied him.

He’s serious…

Something about that made her chest feel… lighter.

“…Fine,” she said finally, a small smile forming. “Let’s go together.”

Paris looked even more beautiful in the daylight.

The streets were alive—filled with people, laughter, the soft hum of a city that never truly rested. Cafés lined the sidewalks, the scent of fresh bread and coffee drifting through the air.

Maxine’s eyes lit up.

“This is… amazing,” she whispered.

Roman walked beside her, hands casually in his pockets, his gaze occasionally shifting toward her.

Watching.

Not interrupting.

Just… there.

Their first stop—

The Eiffel Tower.

Maxine stood beneath it, looking up, her breath catching at the sight.

“I’ve only seen this in pictures…” she murmured.

Roman stepped beside her.

“Now you’re here.”

She smiled faintly.

“Yeah… I am.”

They took pictures—awkward at first.

A polite distance between them.

But then—

“Come closer,” Maxine said suddenly, glancing at him. “It’ll look weird if we’re too far apart.”

Roman didn’t argue.

He stepped closer.

Close enough that their shoulders brushed.

Maxine felt it.

That slight contact.

Her heart skipped.

But she didn’t move away.

The camera clicked.

One picture.

Then another.

And somehow—

The stiffness began to fade.

They wandered through the streets, stopping at small shops, laughing quietly at random things, sharing observations.

No arguments.

No rivalry.

Just… conversation.

“Try this,” Maxine said at one point, holding out a small pastry.

Roman looked at it.

Then at her.

“You’re feeding me now?”

She rolled her eyes. “Just take it.”

He did.

And after a small bite—

“…It’s good.”

She smiled, a little too pleased.

“I told you.”

Lunch was at a well-known restaurant, elegant but not overwhelming.

Maxine looked around, taking everything in.

“I can’t believe I’m actually here,” she said.

Roman leaned back slightly in his chair.

“You’ve always wanted this?”

She nodded.

“A honeymoon in Paris…” she said softly, then paused.

The word hung between them.

Honeymoon.

Her smile faltered—just slightly.

But Roman didn’t comment.

Instead, he simply said—

“Then enjoy it.”

Maxine looked at him.

And for a moment—

She did.

By the time the sun began to set, painting the sky in shades of gold and orange, they found themselves walking along the Seine.

The atmosphere had changed.

Quieter.

Softer.

Maxine slowed her steps.

Then stopped.

Roman paused beside her.

“What is it?” he asked.

She turned to him.

Her expression was different.

Gentler.

More open.

“…You’re a good person,” she said suddenly.

Roman blinked, slightly caught off guard.

“That’s new,” he replied.

She let out a small laugh.

“I mean it,” she continued. “And… I’m sorry.”

He frowned slightly. “For what?”

“For how I treated you before,” she said honestly. “At work. I always saw you as a rival. Someone I had to beat. I didn’t even try to understand you.”

Roman said nothing.

Just listened.

“And now…” she continued, her voice softening, “you helped me. When I needed it the most.”

Her gaze lowered briefly.

“If it wasn’t for you… I would’ve been a mess. A complete laughingstock in the company. I wouldn’t even have the courage to face anyone.”

Her fingers curled slightly at her sides.

“I don’t think I could’ve handled that.”

Silence.

Then—

Roman spoke.

“You would’ve.”

She looked up.

“What?”

“You’re not as weak as you think,” he said calmly. “You just needed time.”

Maxine stared at him.

Then smiled.

A real one.

“Maybe,” she admitted.

A gentle breeze passed between them.

For the first time—

There was no tension.

No competition.

No walls.

Just two people… standing side by side.

And somehow—

Maxine found herself enjoying it.

His company.

His presence.

This quiet version of him.

And it scared her a little.

Because for the first time—

Roman Estillore didn’t feel like a rival anymore.

He felt like something else.

Something she wasn’t ready to name.

Yet.