12: Dinner Confrontation

Nova was at a loss, was it that uncommon for a lady to accompany Roan? Why were these ladies making such a big deal about it?

She quickly left the bathroom when she was allowed to, relieved that their confrontation didn't turn into something physical. With the three of them against her, she wouldn't be surprised if they put all of the blame on her.

She hurried back to the ballroom, her searching eyes immediately finding Roan who was still by the wet bar. He saw her before she saw him, his gray eyes steady. She let out a breath she didn't even know she had been holding in, pushing down the encounter she just had in the bathroom to a dark part of her mind.

Nova wouldn't spend enough time around Roan for his employees' threat to be an issue, no doubt that by the end of the next day, they would have gone their separate ways and she would never encounter those ladies again. She should take this as a life lesson and learn new experiences.

So she put a casual smile on her face as she walked up to him, "Sorry to keep you waiting," She said smoothly, taking the drink Roan offered her.

Roan's face was a passive mask, his piercing gaze studying her intently, "You didn't," He reassured her, straightening up from the bar to offer her his arm. "We're about to get a special guest though, why don't we receive the guest in person?"

Nova was caught off-guard by this, completely distracted from her tryst in the bathroom by this. She took his arm, noting that the guests on the floor instantly cleared a path for Roan.

She bit back her budding questions, although she was curious, she didn't feel that it was her place to ask questions, willing to go with whatever Roan wanted.

So she didn't at all expect who she saw walk through the doors next… It was Levi, dressed in a suit she had never seen before - and she should know, she did all his laundry - right next to him was the last person she expected to see… Stella fucking Larson.

Nova was momentarily blinded by anger, Levi had never taken her to a company dinner before but the very day he dumped her, he took Stella??

She didn't know when she strutted over to them, Levi and Stella looking more surprised to see her, terrified even, considering that she had been right beside the Roan Reyes. "Is this what you've been waiting for? For me to be out of the picture?" She asked Levi quietly but her voice carried years of anger and pain.

+

Stella's witty comeback was silenced when Roan walked up, he said nothing though, he didn't even look upset although Nova was livid, merely mildly amused.

Levi had a difficult time coming up with words, he should have known that there was something fishy with the personalized invitation to this particular company dinner. He was by no means an outstanding employee, at least not enough to catch the attention of the movers and shakers in the company.

He had just thought of it as a stroke of good luck that getting rid of Nova had brought but now he realized that wasn't the case.

Levi was by no means stupid, he knew exactly what this meant. He didn't know how someone as plain and uninteresting as Nova had caught his boss' attention but he knew for sure that he would be getting fired.

"What does it matter now? You seem to be doing well for yourself," He said wryly, throwing a wary glance at Mr. Reyes, expecting him to join the conversation.

He didn't however, he only placed a possessive hand around Nova's waist that had Levi's eyes narrowing.

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Nova's pained but quiet voice brought his attention back to her, she didn't even react to the physical contact that Mr. Reyes insinuated - just how long had they been together?

Levi's expression was remorseless as he stared Nova down. She was doing a really good job of acting heartbroken when she had also been cheating on him, and with his boss no doubt. "You know what, I don't want to hear it." He cut her explanation off, "We both cheated, let's call it even."

+

Nova needed a moment to process Levi's words - he thought she cheated? The nerve of the bastard. Her response was scathing laughter, "Of course, you never fucking listen to me."

Levi seemed stunned by her response which was no surprise, Nova was always passive and soft-spoken around him but right then, she was right at the edge of her patience.

"I never cheated on you, not even once, I didn't even consider it." She said firmly, pale green eyes ablaze. "Yet you…" She couldn't get the rest of her words out, her throat closed up from the intense emotions.

She had thought this would be cathartic, Levi would see her on the arm of his boss and be humiliated and she could get her pound of flesh back. But all she had gotten was concrete evidence that she never meant anything to Levi, he wasn't even remorseful and he had the nerve to accuse her of cheating.

For the first time, she noticed that Roan had moved closer and he had his arm around her waist, the gesture grounded her. She straightened up and smiled, daggers in her eyes. "This was a lovely conversation," She lied glibly, "Roan, why don't we return to our seat?"

Roan didn't hesitate to lead her away, leaving Levi and Stella stunned behind them. To everyone else in the ballroom, it looked like they had just had a simple exchange of pleasantries.

…Well, to everyone but the three ladies who were aware of Nova's and Levi's true relationship.

Hidden away in a corner was Mia with her phone out, she had immediately hurried over the moment she noticed who the newcomer was and she took the video in a way that Roan's face didn't show, just Nova and her ex who just dumped her.

Her smile was wide and dangerous, she had no plans for the video yet but she knew that it would prove useful very soon.