CHAPTER XII: Back to Reality
1158 Words
The glass doors parted with a soft hiss.
Maxine stepped inside first.
The familiar chill of the office greeted her, along with the faint scent of coffee and paper—routine, structured, predictable. Her heels clicked against the marble floor, each step measured, composed. Behind her, Roman followed at his usual unhurried pace, his presence as steady as ever.
For a brief second—
Everything went still.
Then the whispers began.
“They’re back…”
“Is that really them?”
“They actually got married?”
“No way…”
Maxine kept her gaze forward, chin slightly lifted, as though she couldn’t hear the murmurs swirling around her. As though nothing had changed.
As though everything hadn’t changed.
Roman, on the other hand, didn’t bother pretending. His expression remained indifferent, unaffected by the attention, as if this entire situation was beneath acknowledgment.
They reached the elevator without a word.
The doors closed.
Silence.
Maxine exhaled softly, her shoulders relaxing just a fraction.
“…This is going to be exhausting,” she murmured.
Roman glanced at her briefly.
“You expected anything else?”
She huffed under her breath.
“…No.”
The elevator chimed.
And when the doors opened—
Reality truly began.
Their arrival on the department floor was like dropping a stone into still water.
Ripples spread instantly.
Heads turned.
Voices hushed.
Eyes lingered.
And then—
“MAXINE!”
Janine’s voice cut through the tension like a firecracker.
Maxine barely had time to brace herself before Janine rushed toward her, eyes shining with excitement.
“You’re finally back!” she exclaimed, grabbing Maxine’s arm. “And married?! To him?!”
Her gaze snapped dramatically toward Roman.
Roman lifted a brow.
Maxine sighed.
“Yes, Janine. Married.”
Janine looked like she might faint from excitement.
“How? When? Why?!” she demanded breathlessly. “You were supposed to marry someone else!”
Maxine forced a polite smile.
“I’ll explain later.”
Janine narrowed her eyes, suspicious but intrigued.
“You better.”
Roman had already walked past them, uninterested, heading straight toward his desk as if none of this concerned him.
Janine leaned closer to Maxine, lowering her voice—though not nearly enough.
“…So?” she whispered. “Secret relationship? Enemies-to-lovers? Hidden feelings all along?!”
Maxine closed her eyes briefly.
“Janine…”
“What?” she grinned. “You can’t blame me. This is the biggest scandal in the company!”
Maxine pinched the bridge of her nose.
She’s not wrong…
____
If their co-workers were shocked—
Management was worse.
“You’re… married?”
Boss Jeffrey stared at them from across the conference table, disbelief written plainly across his face.
Roman nodded once.
“Yes.”
Maxine sat beside him, back straight, hands folded neatly on her lap.
“It was… sudden,” she added.
“That’s one way to describe it,” another manager muttered.
A pause lingered.
Then—
“Well,” Boss Jeffrey cleared his throat awkwardly, “congratulations.”
“Thank you,” they both said at once.
Their voices overlapped.
They paused.
A glance passed between them—brief, almost accidental.
Then they looked away.
___
The moment dissolved.
The company expected change.
Softness.
Affection.
Something that resembled a newlywed couple.
Instead—
They got exactly what they had always seen.
“Your proposal doesn’t align with the projected timeline,” Maxine stated firmly during the meeting.
Roman didn’t hesitate.
“That’s because your timeline is unrealistic.”
Maxine’s gaze sharpened.
“It’s not unrealistic. It’s efficient.”
“It’s rushed.”
“It’s strategic.”
“It’s flawed.”
The air tightened.
Silence fell.
Everyone watched.
Familiar tension crackled between them—sharp, precise, unyielding.
Like nothing had changed.
If anything—
It felt even more intense.
Boss Jeffrey shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
“…Perhaps we can revisit this later.”
No one argued.
Because clearly—
Marriage hadn’t softened them.
____
By midday, conclusions spread faster than rumors.
“They’re still the same.”
“No sweetness at all.”
“Maybe they just separate work and personal life.”
“Yeah… that makes sense.”
“They’re probably different outside the office.”
“Definitely.”
Probably.
Maxine sank into her chair in the break room, exhaustion catching up with her.
“This is ridiculous,” she muttered.
Roman sat across from her, composed as ever.
“You argued first.”
She shot him a glare.
“You provoked me.”
“I corrected you.”
“You challenged me.”
“I improved your plan.”
Maxine crossed her arms tightly.
“You’re impossible.”
Roman shrugged lightly.
“And you’re predictable.”
She inhaled sharply, ready to retaliate—
“MAXINE.”
Janine appeared again, tray in hand, eyes gleaming with mischief.
Maxine felt immediate dread.
“…What now?”
Janine sat beside her, leaning in conspiratorially.
“So,” she said, drawing the word out, “how was the honeymoon?”
Maxine stiffened.
Roman remained silent, but his gaze flickered briefly toward her.
“It was fine,” Maxine replied carefully.
Janine gasped.
“Fine? You went to Paris!”
Maxine shrugged.
“We toured. Ate. Slept.”
Roman coughed softly, hiding it behind his hand.
Maxine kicked him under the table.
Janine’s eyes narrowed with suspicion.
“You’re hiding something.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
Maxine groaned.
“Janine…”
But Janine wasn’t done.
She leaned closer, voice dropping to a whisper laced with mischief.
“…So,” she said, “how is he?”
Maxine blinked.
“What do you mean?”
Janine wiggled her brows.
“In bed.”
Time froze.
Roman choked on his drink.
Maxine’s face turned bright red.
“JANINE!” she snapped, mortified.
“What?!” Janine laughed. “You married the hottest guy in the office—of course I’m curious!”
Maxine covered her face.
“I am not answering that!”
Roman cleared his throat, setting his glass down with deliberate calm.
“Good choice.”
Maxine shot him a deadly look.
“You stay out of this.”
“I intend to.”
Janine pouted dramatically.
“You two are no fun.”
Maxine dropped her head onto the table.
“I hate you.”
Janine grinned.
“You love me.”
Roman stood, already done with the conversation.
“I’m leaving.”
“Coward,” Maxine muttered.
He glanced at her briefly, something unreadable passing through his eyes.
“Survivor.”
Then he walked away.
Janine watched him go, then leaned back toward Maxine, smirking.
“…You’re blushing.”
“I am not.”
“You are.”
“I’m not!”
Janine laughed, delighted.
“This is going to be so entertaining.”
Maxine groaned softly, pressing her forehead against the table.
What have I gotten myself into…
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