tribalauthor

[tribalauthor]

Double Surprise (roman × sophia one-shot)

Summary: it's Joe's 40th birthday and Sophia decides to surprise him with not one but two presents

Disclaimer: if you want to read more about their story, check out The Wisewoman and the other one-shots about them in my masterlist.

no warnings, it's all cutesy

word count: 1.4k

May 25th 2025

Today is Roman's 40th birthday and he and Sophia planned a big party with his and her family.

Everyone is gathered in the big barbecue of his home in Pensacola.

The women were cooking in the kitchen while the men were outside doing some barbecue, taking turns and competing which one of them would make the best steaks.

"Girls, here are some cocktails for us." one of Roman's aunts brought several cups filled with refreshing Samoan cocktails. Everyone seemed thrilled to try except for Sophia.

"Soph, come on. You love this." she invited her while the young woman shook her head.

"Alcohol makes my stomach burn lately and my nutritionist advised me to completely cut it off." she came up with an excuse.

Sophia is pregnant. She learnt that two days ago and told nobody about it and weirdly it's been 6 weeks yet she is now starting to experience the symptoms.

Her mother gave her a suspicious look.

"So when do you intend to marry Sophia and make her a part of our family?" Sika asked his son. He really loves Sophia and he hopes she marries Joe.

"I bought the ring. I am thinking of taking her to Rome for a couple of days and propose there." Roman spoke quietly and his father patted him on the back.

"You are a romantic just like me."

"This is very delicious." Sophia said as she drank from the vaifala that Lisa, Joe's mother, made for her. It's sweet and most importantly - zero alcohol.

She drank it almost in a blink of an eye.

"Can I have another one? That's the best drink I've ever had." it's made from pineapple juice, coconut cream and coconut water.

Very sweet and refreshing taste.

"Of course, you can. I will make one right away." Lisa said and started making it. She loves Sophia so much and she will make her 20 more Vaifala if she asks to.

"Everyone, thank you so much for being here to celebrate my 40th birthday." Roman gave his speech after all the guests gathered at the big table in the yard.

"I know it's unbelievable that I'm 40. I mean look at least 30 but..." he joked around and everyone laughed.

"Tribal Chief doesn't age." Zilla yelled and Joe pointed his finger at him, grinning.

"I make a toast for even more great things ahead." he put his glass of beer to the front, as did everyone. Even Sophia who was the only one with Vaifala. "Cheers."

"Happy birthday again, Joe." Soph said sweetly and hugged him. Of course, she didn't leave him without a present.

Earlier today Sophia gifted her boyfriend the newest Jordan trainers and on the box, she wrote "I am so happy you walked into my life."

Joe loved it and now he is wearing the trainers.

"Thank you." he hugged her back and kissed her head. "You seem to enjoy Vaifala." he noticed her big glass.

"Your poor mother made her three or four of these." Sophia's mother, Olivia, joined the conversation.

"Be careful with the sugar." Roman kindly warned his girlfriend. "This is a very, very sugary drink."

"I know but it's so addictive.

"You better leave space for the barbecue." Joe reminded her.

"I have plenty, don't worry." she smiled at him. Sophia felt like eating the whole table filled with all those delicious looking dishes.

"This is very delicious." Sophia said as she was on her second big steak.

"My steaks turned out the best, I knew it." Roman said proudly. Then Soph started eating from the side dishes too.

"Sophia, have you been starving yourself?" her uncle, Paul, asked concerned. "Joe, do you feed my niece at home?"

"Of course. But she's been dieting lately and now getting close to the best food ever, it's normal to be like this."

"You couldn't have said it better." Soph said with her mouth full and excused herself.

The women started exchanging some suspicious looks amongst each other and kind of sensing what's going on.

"Maybe you should stop dieting, so you don't overeat." Olivia advised her daughter and Soph just nodded.

"Sophia, you look even more glowy than last time I saw you." Roman's sister remarked.

"Thank you. It's normal when your man spoils you to death." she looked at her boyfriend and he smirked.

"Spoils you...or feeds two people at once?" Olivia didn't take her eyes off her daughter. She may be a surgeon but that doesn't mean she won't know if she is about to become a grandmother.

Sophia froze.

"I knew it." Joe's aunt connected the dots. "The cocktail excuse, that unusual glow, the appetite."

"What?" Roman furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.

"Sophia may be pregnant." his mother leaned to him and whispered.

The whole table went silent and Sophia's cheeks were getting very red from shyness. Also, she isn't quite sure if she wanted Joe to find out like this.

Roman blinked slowly and looked at his girlfriend.

"Are you, Sophia? Should we go to the doctor?" he asked.

"Surprise?" she smiled nervously.

"Oh my God." he grinned ear to ear and immediately pulled his dear girlfriend for a hug and a kiss.

The male part was happy and shocked as hell but gasps and squeals erupted from these news.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier? How did you learn? Did you go to a doctor?" the future father bombarded Sophia with questions.

"I found out a couple of days ago. I went to the doctor while you were working out."

"Is this why you were in the bathroom for so long every morning?"

"Yeah, I felt nauseous."

"Every morning I wake up and she is in the bathroom." the excited man started explaining to everybody.

"It's called morning sickness." his sister educated him. "Which week are you in?"

"Sixth." Soph replied. "And I started to feel the symptoms recently."

"Amazing news." Sika said with happiness. "I've been waiting for this kiddo to give me a grandkid."

"Paul, how are you feeling?" Jey teased the Wiseman who was standing in disbelief.

"I-I- I am profoundly happy for my dear niece and the tribal chief." he finally said.

Roman put his hand on Sophia's belly.

"Hey, little one." he started talking to it. "You are my best birthday present."

"About that..." Sophia started talking and looked around. Everybody was in ears.

"It's not a little one. It's little twos." she grinned nervously and it became loud again while Roman was standing in frozen in shock.

The men all started going to him, squeezing him and patting him.

All the guests were so genuinely happy for Joe and Sophia.

"Two?" Roman put his two fingers up. "Two of yall?" he looked at Sophia's belly again. "Two little Sophias? Or two little Joes?"

"Let's start betting." Jimmy yelled. "Team A - two girls. Team B - two boys. Team C - boy and girl."

Everyone started saying their bets out loud.

"When is the due date?" Joe asked.

"The doctor said January 19th."

The future father put his fist in front of his mouth, getting emotional.

"Around this time two years ago we met." he remarked and everyone did an "aww" sound.

"So poetic." Paul wiped a tear forming in his eye.

Then Roman was calculating.

"January 19th that means...ooh, that night after Wrestlemania, makes sense." he bit his lip and Sophia smacked his head for saying this information.

April 19th was a really crazy night for both of them. Although Roman lost the triple threat match, Sophia made him feel like a true champion afterwards...that all of it resulted not one but two babies.

"Uce may have lost then but now he became the real champ with two babies on ghe way." Jey said and all of the people laughed.

After everyone was done with the dinner and of course, the dishes, they went to their rooms.

Sophia and Joe were lying in his bed, he was stroking her belly and looking at her with so much love.

"Not one but two little babies." he said excitingly and went down, pulling up Sophia's pajamas, so he could kiss her stomach. He gave it lots of, lots of kisses.

"I love the three of you so, so much." he said and Soph giggled.

"We love daddy too, right sweeties?" she asked and then ran her hand through Roman's hair, removing the headband, letting it down.

He smirked and took her shorts and panties off, too.

"Time to pray in the sacred temple." Joe said as he was about to eat Sophia out.

[tribalauthor]

Facetime (roman × sophia one-shot)

Summary: Roman and Sophia are many miles apart and miss each other very deeply, so they have no other option but to facetime.

Disclaimer: if you want to dive deeper in their story of how they got together, you can check my fic The WiseWoman and you can also check the other oneshots of them in my masterlist

No warnings, it's all cutesy (but still dirty talks)

word count: 854

One thing Roman and Sophia didn't get used to is being away from each other.

Right now, Roman is in Australia to shoot his upcoming movie while Sophia is in the US doing her work in WWE. It's been almost two weeks and they feel going crazy from the absence of each other.

Today, Sophia was at a baby shower of her best friend, Cleo. She had a baby boy and gathered her closest friends and family members.

"You are next." Cleo told Sophia while she was holding her son, Benjamin.

"What? No." Soph opposed. "Me and Roman haven't really discussed it."

"He is 40, the clock is ticking." Tina added. She also had a baby last year but hers is a girl.

The girls laughed out loud.

Sophia is at Joe's house, now that she calls home. Yes, they started living together full-time and it's going better than she even imagined.

After she had a shower, did her skincare and bodycare, she headed to the king sized bed. Then something came up in her mind.

She roamed through her wardrobe and found a very sexy, beige silky pajama set with lace at the ends.

Soph had a plan to stress her boyfriend out for a bit. It's morning in Australia and he must be up for a photoshoot.

When Sophia doesn't have a schedule in WWE - she calls Joe at 6-7 pm which is 8-9am in Sydney.

The blonde woman ran to the bathroom mirror and took a photo of her in the not so cute pajamas then immediately sent it to Roman.

No text.

No emojis.

Just the photo.

After less than two minutes, she had an incoming face time call. She picked up after she laid on the bed.

"You are playing a very, very dangerous game, miss Heyman." while he sounded like he is kidding, there was a dose of seriousness in his voice.

Sophia giggled.

"I just wanted to give you a motivation for the day." she innocently defended herself.

"Motivation to fire up the jet and come back to New York, yeah." she laughed out loud.

"How are you?"

"Not good. I need you right here next to me or over me...or under me...or in front of me...or on my face."

"Joseph." Sophia wanted to scold him but she ended up cackling because he is just too funny.

"Look, I don't know how you are coping but for me, it's very bad. Very bad." he shook his head and pouted his lips.

"Don't you have hot female co-stars?"

"Get the hell outta here." he said slowly and she laughed again. Sophia really loves Joe and he loves her.

He is the person who makes her laugh the most.

"I live for that smile and laugh, you know that?" he asked and Soph tried to keep her cool. "And for those pretty tits that want to be free so bad from this top and touched by my hands." Roman shoved his face to the camera so he could have a closer look at Soph's boobs.

"You always gotta ruin everything, oh my God." she rolled her eyes.

"Now don't act like you didn't do everything on purpose. You love playing with me."

"Yes, I did everything on purpose. Cause I usually sleep naked when you are gone." Sophia lied just to prove Roman's earlier statement.

"What? How dare you?" he squinted his eyes to her and shook his head. "I guess you really hate me."

"Stop. You know that's not true." she rolled her eyes. "You are my favorite man."

"Of course I am. I am such a nice guy." he tried to be cute but Sophia laughed out loud again.

"Whatever helps you to sleep at night. By the way, I was at Benjamin's baby shower."

"Oh my God, the cute little guy." Joe beamed. He saw the baby when it was born.

"And my friends are so sure that I am next in line." she shook her head.

"Next in line for what?" he was confused.

"Giving birth."

"They may be right cause the second I come back, babygirl, trust me, I am gonna compensate for all the missed days with you." the tribal chief threatened his girlfriend with a good time. Sophia bit her lower lip.

"How many kids do you want?" she asked him out of nowhere and he started thinking.

"Everything depends on you but like if you ask me for a specific number, probably 4 or 5."

"Pardon?" Sophia almost choked on her saliva.

"That's solely a personal preference. You are the boss here. The tribal chief. You decide when and how many kids you wanna give birth to. I am here to fulFILL you- your wishes." Sophia rolled her eyes once again.

"You are such a considerate asshole, I hate you for that." she yelled at him.

"But you love me, too." he smiled sweetly.

"True." the woman agreed. "When you come back, I'm gonna throw a big party".

"I need a party with just the two of us. In my house."

"Deal." Soph smirked.

[tribalauthor]

roman and sophia side by side in my insta hahahaha (kinda thinking ab a new one-shot)

[tribalauthor]

Hi! Anon who asked about a one shot I just read what you posted and it was amazing. The “drama” between them was fun to read.

I have a question does anything spicy happen between them involving any WWE champion belts? Or does anything spicy happen between the involving costumes or outfits worn in the ring? You writing about the team up with Punk and how Roman lost some titles made me wonder.

heyy, 1) thanks for the request before, after i replied i found i had one started one-shot with roman and sophia and because of you, decided to finish it 2) thank you for liking it 3) sophia is not a wrestler so she doesn't have belts, roman and punk teamed up for real and it's linked with the WWE storyline

[tribalauthor]

All mine (roman × sophia oneshot)

Summary: After Roman Reigns loses his championship at Wrestlemania 40, he loses Sophia, too. However, at WarGames she appears to help him but at what cost?

A/N: if you want more deep dive in Roman and Sophia's story, check out my fic The Wisewoman.

Warnings: age difference, slight smut, unprotected sex

word count: 1.7K

"Roman, what is your plan for War Games?" Cathy striked the OTC with a question once he immediately got out of the room with the Bloodline - Jimmy, Jey and Sami.

"We are gonna go four versus five." he replied with a cool tone. "I think the four of us are strong enough to handle five guys. There is no team like the Bloodline. The original bloodline." Roman underlined as he pointed to the black t-shirt with the red text he is wearing.

"What about the WiseWoman?" now the interviewer put salt in the wound. Sophia has been ignoring Roman's calls for months.

Ever since Wrestlemania 40 ended, their relationship has changed a lot and Roman has gone mad because of that.

"I am not gonna let our relationship die." he declared. "Soph, I know you are watching this." he looked into the camera with his deep brown eyes. "I know I'm not a champion anymore but I beg you to come back by my side. I am gonna take the title back and we are gonna be happy again." Sophia is the only person who can make The Tribal Chief beg because he loves her to death.

"You can either join us..." now it's the ongoing segment between the Original Bloodline and the New Bloodline.

Solo is trying to convince his brothers and cousin to join his forces and become the most dominant faction in the wrestling business.

However, Roman doesn't have plans to forgive his cousin for taking away the Ula Fala and creating a new bloodline team.

"Or the four of you will die where you stand." the new Tribal Chief said with low voice and the crowd started reacting to everything and booing him.

Solo handed the mic to Roman and he slowly grabbed it from him, putting it next to his mouth, ready to give his answer.

"Ladies and gentlemen." a familiar voice interrupted the OTC. A very smooth, angelic voice which is Roman's favourite.

The crowd seemed to have a great reaction as well because the pop is insane. They've been waiting for the WiseWoman too.

"My name is Sophia Heyman." he looked behind and saw his girlfriend looking as mesmerising as always.

Sophia is wearing a blazer dress which is her signature style. This time it is fully black one with red belt and red long boots.

The Bloodline pattern.

Her body straight of the magazine, her legs long like a model's, voluminous blonde hair and lips so red that Cleopatra is pulling her hair from envy.

Roman was looking at her in disbelief or more like double disbelief because a) he can't believe she is actually here b) he can't believe she looks even more beautiful than the last time he saw her.

Make it triple because he is ready to forgive her right here and right now although he has been ghosted for a long time.

"Maybe my math is a little off but there is no way to do Wargames with 4 vs 5." she started explaining and the crowd was strongly reacting.

"That math does not commute with the WiseWoman. No. No. No. No. No." she said five No's for a reason.

"So it's not going to be 4 vs 5. It's gonna be 5 vs 5." Sophia had a smug expression and pointed number five with her fingers. She did everything to help her boyfriend for the upcoming match.

The fact that she has been ghosting him doesn't mean she stopped loving him. She just needed time.

As she pointed her hand behind her, CM Punk's music played.

"Why did you bring this guy out here?" after the segment was over, Roman was mad as hell that Sophia, out of everybody, decided to bring his biggest enemy in the business.

Now it's just the two of them in the locker room. Sophia was a bit surprised that this is his first reaction to seeing her and everything.

"Because you need help. You can't go 4 vs 5. Have you seen Solo's guys?" she asked rhetorically.

"We would have handled them perfectly. Our team is unmatched. I prefer to lose with my people than to win with a guy I can't stand at all." Roman was sure he doesn't want to work with Punk and Sophia doesn't feel an ounce of grattitude from her ex-boyfriend.

"You're welcome, by the way." she snapped at him. "I do everything to help you and rise at the top again and this is how you are thanking me?"

"Thank you for what? For bringing my worst enemy in the picture or for the fact that you have never contacted me for 7 months?"

"My uncle came back to fix all of the mess that happened with Solo and the New Bloodline and now he is in a hospital again but this time because of you who decided not to show up to help him." Sophia raised her voice since her patience has been tested.

Roman Reigns went mute because he knows Sophia is right.

"The fact that I haven't contacted you doesn't mean I didn't miss you. But the circumstances forced me to do that. The circumstances also forced me to call CM Punk, my uncle's best friend, for help because I knew he wasn't gonna say 'no'."

"I got sick watching you getting beaten up every single week. You lost at Crown Jewel. If you lose at Wargames, what's gonna happen? Do you think you are gonna be a Rumble contender or in the Wrestlemania card?" when Sophia Heyman talks business, she gets more terrifying than Paul himself.

Roman got so tensed up from this conversation that he started pacing around the room, heavy breathing and thinking about everything Sophia has told him.

About the alignment with CM Punk.

About Paul.

And mostly, about him and her.

About them.

And the magical relationship they had before the main event of Wrestlemania 40, Night 2.

"I gotta think about this."

"Why don't you and him have a meet up next Friday at Smackdown prior to Wargames?

Roman sighed loudly.

"If I say yes, would you let me back in your life? Put an end to the ghosting thing and come back to me?" he asked with a lot of hope in his voice.

He really wants her back and he is ready to do anything to get her.

Sophia grinned.

"Yes, my Tribal Chief." she said with victory.

Roman followed her with a big smile on his face. He missed her. Her voice, her eyes, her smile, her body.

Everything.

Therefore, he didn't hesitate for a second and brushed his lips against her, both feeling the spark that never left them.

*1 week later*

The relationship became the same as it was. Roman and Sophia were meeting up, going to nice places, giving her expensive presents, working out togetger and having passionate sex.

This week has been full of escapism but tonight is important because Sophia has to stand between Roman and CM Punk.

The long term rivals.

Her uncle has told her amazing stories about CM Punk but her boyfriend told her the exact opposite.

For her, CM Punk was just a friend of her uncle who has seen her couple of times when she was little and that's it.

However, during these months she kept in touch with him, trying to get to his good side and make him agree to be Roman's match partner.

She saw he isn't as bad as her boyfriend painted him to be. In fact, she sees him as a good man with strong values just like Roman and maybe that's why he doesn't like him that much.

Right now the Tribal Chief and CM Punk are in an agreement...sort of, regarding their collaboration on WarGames and WiseWoman being right in the middle of that visible tension going between the two guys.

"One time." the elder man showed his index finger, imitating the sign of acknowledgement. "One favor."

Roman looked around in confusion.

"I owe you a favor?"

"No, you don't owe me anything. My friend, our WiseWoman owes me a favor." that were the last words and CM Punk got out of the table, leaving Roman and Sophia alone.

"WiseWoman." he called strictly.

"Yes, my Tribal Chief." she replied timidly, knowing exactly what he is going to ask her.

"What's the favor?" bingo.

"My Tribal Chief, let's get through WarGames tomorrow night and we'll have all the time in the world to talk about it." Sophia gave the most mysterious response possible, leaving Roman suspicious.

*after the match*

The OG Bloodline with CM Punk scored a victory against the bad guys. They are finally down and everyone seems happy.

When the winners got out of the cage Roman immediately ran to kiss Sophia, more passionately than he has to in front of the camera.

The crowd became even louder because of that.

When they separated, he looked at Punk and mouthed 'All mine'. He is obviously jealous of the elder man. Not only because of Paul but now because of Sophia as well.

He won't let anyone steal her from him.

However, Punk doesn't fear Roman and he doesn't care how he feels, so what he did is pull Sophia for a hug.

The Tribal Chief was mad, his whole face wrinkled making him look scarier than ever, staring a hole through CM Punk.

He wanted to control himself but jealousy is stronger than him. He pulled Sophia out of the embrace.

The madness he was feeling prevented him from hearing the loud reactions from the crowd.

The locker room was full of heavy breaths and strong smell of sex since the Tribal Chief and the Wisewoman were in a very, very heated session.

Sophia's back is against the wall, Roman is deep inside of her, filling her up as if he wants to plant a baby in there.

"Whatever that favor is, I want you to know and to make it abundantly clear that you are mine, Sophia Heyman." Roman grunted while Sophia was moaning from the intensity of her boyfriend's thrusts. "You understand me?"

"Yes, my Tribal Chief." she breathed out and as she felt the climax is near, Sophia tried to cover her mouth with one hand, so she could muffle the moan explosion that was about to occur.

However, Roman grabbed both her hands and put them over her head.

"No, babygirl. You are gonna be heard." he said and Sophia felt the anticipating hit of pleasure.

[tribalauthor]

Hi! I don’t know if your asks open. If they are would you be able to write a little one shot about Roman and Sophia? If your asks are not open sorry for bothering you.

heyy, you are not bothering at all 🫶🏻 glad u like the roman and sophia oneshots but currently i am focused on another story (built for sin) 😭 if i get an idea ab them i will write immediately ✨️

[tribalauthor]

CHAPTER 10 •CAUGHT• (2.5K)

"I am incredibly sorry for that awful meeting." Roman said as him and Monique got back in his car.

"It's okay. It actually went better than I expected." she spoke frankly and he started the engine.

"Oscar literally called you Monica and Willow painted me as the greatest womanizer in human history."

"Well..."

"What do you mean 'well...'? That was the old me."

"Haven't you for a second thought that Willow might have had some feelings for you after your intercourse?" Monique started thinking.

"No. Doubt it."

"She was 21 years old. Her freshman year in college." Monique tried to insert some logic in Roman and suddenly his eyes widened from the realization.

"Oh my God. You have never thought about that?" Monique realized men don't think about anything at all.

"The past is in the past." he decided to get away with that, although that he is right.

"As a woman, I understand her bitterness but still the way she got with Oscar was not it." Monique tried not to take any side in this situation since both of them were wrong.

"You would suck as a judge." Roman remarked and Monique chuckled. "And now we ain't gonna go to the bar, are we?"

"Well, you can always go and see the other girls including the newest angel Adeline who is 22 years old." Monique shrugged.

"Nah, I think I prefer private dance from Bambi...in my house." he said and let out a cheeky smile.

"Your house?"

"Yeah. I am alone tonight."

"With a sleepover or?"

"Well, if you ask me, I'd prefer you spend the whole night at my place like a normal person, so yes, a sleepover." Roman was certain.

"I don't bring any clothes and stuff."

"I am gonna give you one of my T-shirts, problem solved. We got extra toothbrushes, I got toothpaste and for the makeup removal, we can figure something out from Jo's stuff." Roman really wants Monique to spend the night with him since he has an immediate solution for everything and she could feel that too.

"Touching her stuff without asking her?"

"Don't be dramatic. What do yall need for makeup removal? Just a little pad and makeup-removing water. We are not gonna rob her, come on." he spoke as if it's not big of a deal. He really is a girl dad.

"Okay." Monique agreed. She needs company right now more than ever. "But I don't know about the private dance."

She glimpsed Roman making pouty lips.

"I mean, ballet ain't my specialty." she added and Roman's expression drastically changed to annoyed one.

"I want Bambi special dance, not Miss Nikolaeva special dance."

"Oh but you remember her last name, huh?" Monique teased him.

"I gotta shut up." he concluded and chuckled.

"Welcome." Roman invited Monique in his 'modest home' as he described it but in fact, it's not really modest.

A house, cannot be described as that especially in this economy.

"You'd like something to drink? Wine? Whiskey? Bourbon? Tequila?" Monique started blinking excessively from the range of alcohol she is being offered to.

"Don't give me alcohol because that's not going to end good." she said.

two hours later

"Once my boss accidentally sent the whole company an email with nudes of his wife." both of them were already little more than tipsy. They were sitting on the couch in the living room with glass of bourbon on the table.

"Stop."

"Yup. She is 56."

"Freak has no age." Monique started waving her finger.

"True but...it was very embarrassing for our dear boss." Roman shook his head and snorted from laughter.

"Well, we all make mistakes. My first days in Honeyz were lowkey a mess. My first client for private dance had a hell of a time because I kinda didn't know what to do." she covered her face.

"He is still a lucky guy." Roman said and sighed. "But I am the luckiest." a grin appearred on his face and got a little closer to her. "I am waiting for your performance."

"It's time to retire Bambi, huh?"

"No." his deep voice became raspy.

"Samuel said that I can become your personal dancer." Monique got reminded and chuckled.

"Oh, I'd love to. That's an amazing idea."

"Don't take it too seriously." she rolled her eyes and Roman grabbed his phone.

"What to play, what to play?" he started searching around and then the dramatic instrumental of Earned it by the Weeknd started playing.

"You are something else." Monique shouted and got from the couch sitting right in front of Roman, ready to perform. Still with the elegant attire and the heels.

She unbuttoned the one button on her dress and exposed her lingerie all to the sultry beats.

Roman started drooling when he saw the beautiful red lingerie set she put on, making him sure she knew they are gonna lay tonight one way or another.

After that she walked to him, making different kind of movements that turned him on. Then she sat on his lap, looked him deep in the eyes and grabbed his face.

"Okay, time for action." he whispered and devoured her lips. He really is an impatient man as Monique already concluded.

They could feel the burning taste of the alcohol on each other's lips. While they were making out, Monique started unbuttoning Roman's shirt.

"How about you strip dance for me now?" she asked between the kisses, joking around.

"There's no way I get myself off of you." he replied as he went back to devouring her lips and taking her bra off, revealing her beautiful breasts.

"Really?" she asked and got off his lap.

Then she knelt between his spread thighs and unbuckled his belt, looking him deep in the eyes and he was biting his lip from the excitement.

Roman loves Monique's blowjobs. Every time she put her mouth on his dick, he goes in ecsatic mode.

There is literally nothing that could ruin that eagerness and excitement. Most men would feel insecure and would be like 'Where she learned all of that?' but Roman couldn't care less.

He was all for the moment.

Monique also felt excitement. She has that weird kind of attachment to Roman's not so little friend who never failed to make her feel good.

Although she wouldn't like to use the word 'attachment'. Not anymore. Not after everything she went through with Phillip.

Roman, however, likes the word more. He also feels weird attachment to Monique but it's not just her body, it's way more than that.

As Monique slipped down Roman's pants and underwear, she started sucking him off.

...

After a long night of having heated sex, Monique and Roman fell asleep on the couch in the living room and with a fluffy blanket that Roman threw on them.

Right now it's morning, the sun has risen and people start going to work or school yet the lovebirds are in a deep sleep. So deep that they didn't even heard someone entered in the house.

Not deep enough to not hear the scream that came out of Josephine.

Does she know about Monique? Yes.

Did she expect to see her today lying next to her father naked? No.

Once they heard the scream, they woke up abruptly and looked at the teenager with horror as she was looking at them.

"Good morning, Jo. This is Monique. My girlfriend. I um- what are you doing here this early?" Roman tried his best to keep calm yet Monique felt like she wants to shoot herself immediately and Jo was completely flabbergasted since she has never expected seeing this view on a Wednesday morning...or ever.

"I forgot some of my textbooks here." she managed to reply while Monique barely could look her in the eyes and when she did she gave her an awkward smile.

"What's going on here?" Willow flashed in the house as well and as she saw the view, she raised her eyebrow. "Your dad thinks he is still in college, sweetie. I am really so sorry. Gotta make sure to book you a hypnotherapy session to erase this from your poor head. Now go and get your textbooks." the daughter didn't wait for a second invitation.

"Couldn't even make it to the bedroom, huh?" she put her arms on her hips.

"Yes." Roman replied in the most unhinged way possible and Monique was reaching for her underwear which was far from the couch.

As Willow saw the younger woman struggling she came closer to them and took the red lingerie to hand it to her.

"Thank you." she whispered.

"What time is it?" Roman asked while he was looking for his underwear.

"Eight twenty." Willow replied and his eyes widened.

"Holy shit." he muttered and got up immediately, exposing his naked body and Willow turning away.

"Don't act you see something you have never seen before." he got triggered for a bit and started searching for his underwear which happened to be under the table.

"Maybe I don't wanna see it anymore." she clapped back as Roman put on his black Nike underwear and Monique was already all dressed up.

Willow took a look at her and how pretty she looks although her bun is a mess, makeup is obviously erased and her face is slightly puffy.

When Monique and Roman went to the bathroom to brush their teeth, they just exchanged looks of terror since they didn't expect this kind of morning after the amazing night they spent.

"What do you plan to say to your daughter?" she asked quietly after she spat her toothpaste in the sink.

"The version that Willow knows."

"What?" Monique whisper yelled. "You can lie to your ex-wife all you want but your kid?"

"You want me to tell her the truth? She would feel awful. I mean, especially after the things that happened with her mother. Jo mustn't know the truth." these were his last words before he checked the clock. "I really gotta go cause I have an important meeting. You can call an Uber.

They went out of the bathroom and got downstairs.

"Girls, I am leaving since I am getting kinda late." Roman walked fast.

"You want a ride?" Willow asked Monique.

"Nah, I'll just get an Uber, it's fine. Jo is rushing to school anyway." she politely declined.

"Well, we can drop her off and then I will drop you off to your place." as much as Monique didn't quite like this idea she threw a fake smile.

"Okay." she said.

"So...how did you meet my dad?" Josephine asked as Willow was driving. The teen was on the passenger seat and Monique was behind.

"Fun story. So I teach salsa in the gym that your dad goes to. And usually the class is for women only. But one day, as I was about to start with the class, he suddenly got into the room, the only man there and wanted to sign up." Monique told the same story they said to Roman's colleagues.

"Of course. He must have had a feast." Willow murmured.

"And did you sign him up?" the girl continued the interrogation.

"Well...he got quite the attention from the ladies and I think this would have been a distraction for him and them but he said he really wanted to learn salsa, so I suggested giving him private lessons." Willow just let out a loud sigh.

"This is so him." she said.

"Honestly, I knew something was going on because all of the sudden, he fixed his beard, became less grumpy and started using ridiculous amount of cologne." Jo has been connecting the dots.

"And now is he a pro at salsa?" Willow asked, catching Monqiue off guard.

"No. We still got a work to do." she replied.

"When we go to visit grandma, I am gonna make him dance in front of the whole bloodline." Jo said mischievously and Willow giggled.

"I'm gonna wait for clips." she replied and Monique just laughed nervously.

"And are you and dad serious or?" Josephine asked another question but that's the worst question she could come up with.

"Yes. I mean it hasn't been long since we've been dating and that's why he hasn't introduced me to you yet." the ex-stripper tried to reply in the calmest way possible.

"You are very pretty, Monique." Jo remarked as she turned to Monique.

"Thank you, Josephine. You too. Perfect mixture of your mother and father." she complimented the teenage girl.

"Don't even try. She looks just like her father if he didn't have a beard." Willow shook her head as her eyes were on the road.

"Do you have kids?" Jo asked.

"No."

"You are one lucky bastard." Frank said to his dear friend who he was visiting since their workplaces are close. "That shit can happen to you only, I swear to God."

"I didn't know it could happen to meet a woman like Monique, honestly. I have never had hopes, you know." Roman replied.

"But when it happened, everything works for your favor. What do you mean you start falling for a stripper then you hire her to be your fake girlfriend and then mysteriously getting fired."

"I am not happy she lost her job. Because it's kinda because of me. The conversation I had with her boss..." Roman scratched his neck.

"No matter how it happened - most important thing is that now you are the only one who gets her for himself." Frank tried to sound smart.

"She still doesn't wanna get serious, though." Roman slightly pouted his lips.

"Do you have any idea why?"

"Well, she doesn't really share about her past but from what she said, I understood that her past relationship ended pretty bad. I have no idea what that man has put her through but I am positive that he is the reason she doesn't want any commitment." Roman gave his verdict.

"Could be. Could be." Frank nodded his head. "If she decided to become a stripper after their break up...things must be serious. Hasn't she shared more details about that person?"

"He is older than us."

"What? Oh...oh." a lightbulb just appeared in Frank's head. "Here's the deal. She was dating a sugar daddy who wanted lots of lots of sugar but she didn't like that. However, Monique got used to that rich lifestyle and wanted somehow to maintain it...by being a stripper and then find someone younger who would last longer in bed and give her more passion and pleasure. There, you have it." Frank pulled his arms up in defense.

"I think there is something way deeper. She mentioned something about lying-"

"All men lie. What a shocker. He probably was hiding multiple kids and mistresses." Frank shrugged.

"Possibly."

"I mean, it's not that important. I don't know why are you so deep into this. The woman is insanely pretty, she wants you for sex and little hangouts. The perfect life. I don't know what more do you want." the frustrated best friend shook his head.

"I want to know her mind, not only her body, Frank but I guess you just don't get it." Roman sighed and continued with the work he had to do.

[tribalauthor]

CHAPTER 9 •THE EX AND THE EXIT• (3.2K)

previous chapter

Monique and Roman returned from the weekend trip on Sunday night and now Tuesday came aka the meeting with the ex-wife and her new boyfriend.

sunday night

"You could stop here and I will walk." she explained to Roman.

"I don't think so. Look how dark it is. I would be the biggest sociopath if I leave you to walk alone during this time." Roman insisted. "Tell me where you live. I promise, I'm not gonna come to your house unless you invite me yourself."

Monqiue just let out a loud exhale because there is just no way somebody can argue with this man.

"You know, if you tell me you have no lost cases in court, I would believe you, 100%." she said and Roman chuckled.

"I am not a defence attorney. I specialize in corporate law. Representing big companies such as Apple, Chevron Corporation and Ford."

"All three?" Monique seemed shocked and Roman nodded his head.

"Another one was supposed to join us but Virus Law won the deal." the big man sighed in regret and Monique slightly giggled because she loves the inside joke name he created for the rival company.

"Which one?"

"Inenergy." Monqiue's stomach flipped. "This company is in Chicago but now they are spreading around the whole country, Vegas included."

So Phillip wants to create more drug mines in the country, she thought to herself.

"Every cloud has a silver lining, trust me." Monique managed to say.

But that doesn't have to mean Phillip is gonna come to Vegas, right, she asked herself.

"I guess." Roman shrugged and then Monique started giving him directions.

Now it's Tuesday morning but Monique has to go to the bar and rehearse for tonight then she is gonna sneak for a little while. Therefore, it's best for her to take the outfit with her at the bar.

Looking at the wardrobe, however, she has no idea what to wear, so what she did is to call Roman on FaceTime.

"Hey." he said with his deep voice, looking like he is at his office already.

"Hey, can you talk for a while?" she asked.

"Yup. For the next hour until my meeting." Roman replied sweetly.

"What are your visions about my outfit for tonight? What do you want me to give off?" she asked him. "Because I have no idea what to wear."

"Whatever you like, really. I liked that cherry dress I saw you at the cafè." he recalled how beautiful she looked with it.

"But we are not going at a cafè, we are going at a restaurant. So it has to be something more elegant. How does this look?" she took out an assymetric white blazer dress.

Roman gave a nod of agreement.

"With some red pants underneath for example." he gave an idea.

"That's a dress." she corrected him.

"What? Ain't that a blazer?" he came close to the camera and now his face is in a funny frame.

"It's a blazer dress. It's gonna be like this." she put the dress in front of her, so Roman can have a clear vision."

"Perfect. To show off your beautiful thighs a model will envy for." he grinned and Monique slightly shook her head trying not to laugh.

"I am going to listen to your advice and combine it with red heels and a red bag."

"Red is my favourite color." he said with his big grin still on his face.

"Same." Monique squinted her eyes suspiciously. "My hair is going to be straight, though because after dinner I head back to work."

"Okay. Whatever you like, Moni."

"Moni?!" Monique wrinkled her whole face.

"Isn't it cute?"

"No one has ever called me that."

"Cool. It's my original thing then. I am gonna call you that in front of Willow."

"Fine. Whatever you say. You are the director." she rolled her eyes. "What is gonna be my profession?"

"What we said to my colleagues- dance teacher." she really liked her old days as a dance teacher in school.

"Okay. And the same story of how we met."

"Yup. Same script." Roman nodded his head.

"Alright. Then, see ya tonight and good luck on the meeting." Monique wished cutely.

"Thank you. Have a great day." he replied back and they hung up.

"You got a lot to tell us." Vanessa said the second Monique got in the rehearsing room. No 'hi', no 'how are you'.

"Oh my God." she grinned and shook her head. "Well, the whole lawyer community believed we are together but I got another problem. I have to sneak later because I have a meeting with him, his ex-wife and her new man." Vanessa and Maria's jaws hit the floor.

"That hot daddy has an ex-wife with a new man. Girl, he better be Michael B. Jordan cause there is no way." Vanessa said in disbelief.

"And you are gonna act as his fake girlfriend?" Maria asked excitingly.

"She may not be a fake girlfriend anymore, who knows?" Vanessa poked her arm and they started laughing out loud.

"No. Everything is the same. I just know a little more about him. That's it." Monique said. "Anyway, what did I miss?"

"We got a new colleague." Maria replied and she didn't look very pleased.

"Yeah, and she stole the whole bar during this weekend. Do you know why? Because she is a fucking 22 years old, lightskin with big fake ass BBL. Everyone ate her up. The stakes went high this weekend." Vanessa said with bitter tone. They obviously don't like that new girl.

"So Samuel wasn't angry I was away?" Monique calmed down for a bit that he might have forgot about his encounter with Roman.

"No. He is actually very happy from the profits." Vanessa said and there was a big sigh of relief.

"What? You thought he was mad at you?" Maria seemed confused.

"Well, I missed two days also the money Roman gave me is solely for me. He talked with Samuel and somehow convinced him." Monique whispered.

"Get out of here and marry that daddy, I don't know what else to tell you." Vanessa shook her head.

"Stop."

"Girls." Samuel entered in the room. "Monique. In my office." he said and got out of the room and the girl grew a bit worried.

"What's up?" Monique asked as she closed the door of his office.

"Sit down." he said and looked more stern than usual. "Did you have a good weekend with that lawyer who would pass as a wrestler?"

Monqiue furrowed her eyebrows.

"Yes. I am sorry if the meeting with him was uncomfortable. If you want I would give you part of the money-"

"Nah, I don't need a cent from that money he gave you. Don't worry. Did the girls tell you about our newest angel - Adeline?"

"Yes."

"Well, she came here Friday morning, begging for the job. I can't say no to such a beautiful and young girl like her. There is no way, so I hired her."

"Good. Hope she likes it here. I can help her with the training."

"She doesn't need such. The thing is she asked for every-night shift. Poor girl needs some money." Samuel spoke with pity. "And at first I told her that currently I have enough angels here but then I sat down and thought: Hm, maybe one of them has to go away. But who? All of my girls are amazing. Then I recalled that the angel that was supposed to be here that night is making money somewhere else. So, in a way that angel already flew away." he spoke in a narrator's tone as if he is telling a fairytale.

"No, Samuel. You can't do that." Monique was in denial.

"I definitely can especially after the money I made this weekend." he replied coldly. "You can always go to another bar. You are not that old. Better yet you can spend time with the lawyer and work as his full-time fake girlfriend or private dancer thus earn money." these smart-ass suggestions only angered Monique.

"Thank you so much for the ideas." Monique decided she is not going to beg. "I hope Adeline brings a new wave of success in this place. I see, she needs this job more than I do, so okay. I still have to thank you when you took me here when I needed it most." that's the perfect mixture of heartless Monique and graceful Juliet. She stood up.

"Good luck with your future endeavours." Samuel said and she thanked him. "You can say bye to the girls."

After Monique did that, she immediately started going to another bars and look for a job.

"You are extremely beautiful but we are full." one bar owner said.

"You are 31? I think you should consider another profession, darling."

"You are too skinny."

"You are too fat."

"You should think of marrying somebody"

"Isn't it time to give birth?"

She came back to her house and threw herself on the bed, crying. All of this was like a confidence breaker and she really started thinking about everything.

When she started this job four months ago, she didn't realize it really should be a temporary thing.

It's just that because she got away from Phillip, she thought she had all the freedom in the world but rules are all over us, everywhere. Of course, girls in their 20s are going to be preferred. Of course, she has to think about a form of settlement that doesn't necessarily have to include a man or kids.

She had dreams.

Dreams that she never accomplished, not because she couldn't. Phil was more than ready to help her but when she learned the whole truth about him, she realized she doesn't need help from a man like him.

"I know that this job isn't your dream one and there is a specific reason you do it, for example, fast way to earn some money. I can arrange you whatever job you want because I know you aren't going to do this your whole life."

Roman's words echoed in her head. She hated that he is right and more aware about her than herself.

The time has come, so Monique started to get ready for the dinner. She played herself some pop playlist that would boost her confidence.

The pretty woman took a long, everything shower, then started doing all type of self care - body, hair, skin.

Eventually, she decided that her hairstyle is going to be a curly bun to match the elegance with the outfit she picked.

Since Roman mentioned his favorite color is red, Monique decided to put on a red lacy lingerie under the white blazer dress.

The makeup is consisting of light coverage foundation, nude eyeshadow, not very long eyeliner, contour, a little bit of red blush and bright red lipstick.

For scent she used the Cherry Smoke perfume by Tom Ford. She decided she is going to make Roman's head spin tonight.

Just right when she gave herself one last look in the mirror, Monique's phone rang and it's no other than her date.

"Hey." she picked up.

"I am in front of your house, Moni." he said and she almost rolled her eyes from that new nickname he invented for her.

"I am just ready and coming, Romi." she replied back.

"Romi?" Monqiue just imagined his flabbergasted face he did.

"Moni and Romi." Monique said as she was getting out of the apartment, clacking with her stiletto high heels.

"You know what? I like it." he gave his approval and Monique giggled.

"It's cute, yes." she went down the elevator and then went out of the building, seeing Roman's car right in front of it. "I see you. Gotta hang up." she announced and hung up before he could even say something.

Roman took a look at Monique and how mesmerising she looks. Elegant. Classy. And somewhat powerful. She gives off those rich wives you see in the TV series.

Roman got out of the car and went to open the passenger door for Monqiue.

"No need of such formalities." Monique said and hugged him. Roman sensed the pleasent smell of cherries and he completely melted into it.

"You smell amazing." he deeply inhaled from her neck and then placed a few kisses.

"Thank you." Monique replied with giggly voice, since she knew it's going to work.

"What time is it? Do we have time for a little quick session?" Roman took a look at his watch.

"I don't want to be late. I think we left a bad impression to your colleagues." Monique was certain. "Also I don't want anything to get ruined."

"Alright. Alright." Roman put his arms up in defense and let Monique get in the car then he also got in there. "You look...uff. I can't even describe it."

"I thought lawyers have rich vocabulary." Monqiue teased him.

"Ravishing. Alluring. Spectacular. But my favorite word for you is graceful. It describes you best." he spoke honestly and Monique threw a tiny smile.

"Even when I dance?" she furrowed her eyebrows.

"Especially when you dance." he underlined and fired the car. "By the way, we are gonna make this quick and then gonna drop you off to work. I will come just a bit after that if I have to."

"About that...today Samuel fired me."

"What? Why?"

"Because a new younger girl appeared and she made an insane profit this weekend and since I was away, he decided he doesn't need me anymore and yeah." Monique explained, trying not to get too vulnerable in front of Roman but he sensed her sadness.

"Have you tried other bars?" he asked.

"Yes. I tried with at least 20 of them and I got humbled real quick - they are full, I am old, I am fat, I am skinny, I should change my goals and now I don't know what to do."

"First of all, fuck them. Their loss. Look at you, Monique. You are the most gorgeous woman I have ever laid my eyes upon." he said in a matter of fact tone and Monique pressed her lips. "It takes everything in me not to stop this car right now and fuck the shit out of you, with the deepest respect, and ditch this stupid meeting." he specified and the woman couldn't help but laugh out loud. "I'm serious. Don't let these stupid ass fat uncles tell you shit. This is your life and you will do whatever you want. I told you I can arrange you a job wherever you want. I got enough connections. Take your time now, think about it and tell me, okay?" he asked and she jusy sweetly nodded her head like a puppy.

Monique starts to build some sort of comfort and trust for Roman and she hopes he doesn't screw this up.

"Also if you need mo-"

"I have saved enough money. I would be fine for a while." she interrupted him before he said anything. Not small part of that money is from him.

"Okay. But just know, you are not alone. I can help you with whatever you need." he reminded her and quietly thanked him.

The not so fake couple entered in the fancy restaurant where Willow and Oscar were waiting for them.

Monique locked eyes with Willow who looked completely stunning - an elegant brown top with fallen arms which made her breasts pop out. A girl can envy for natural chest like this.

She is also a natural curlie but her hair is dyed in a honey blonde shade. She stood up and the white elegant trousers hugged her natural perfectly shaped butt.

Monique's jaw almost dropped and started walking to them.

"Willow is wow. Can't spell her name without wow. Why you didn't warn me she is so beautiful, what?" Monique whispered to Roman. "And she gave birth, goddamn. I could never tell."

"She does look like Monica Belucci, oh my god." Willow whispered to Oscar as he couldn't stop looking at Monique.

"Young Monica. Yes." he agreed. "But somehow with even more grace." then Willow glared at him.

"Good evening" Roman greeted them as they got near the table.

"Good evening." they replied.

"Monique, meet my lovely ex-wife Willow and her dear boyfriend, Oscar." she shook hands with them saying "Nice to meet you" and all the other niceties. Monique took a good look at Oscar.

He seems a couple years older than Roman. He had a grayish not so voluminous hair, he may go bald sooner than later, rectangular glasses, no beard, fair skin, tall and slim figure. The typical style for a literature professor.

Now Monique realizes that love is such a crazy thing because how do you go from a man like Roman to a man like Oscar.

As long as she is happy, she thought.

"Nice to finally meet you, Monique." Willow smiled at her.

"You are making it sound as if I was holding her in a cage and prevented her from meeting you." Roman remarked as the two couples sat down.

"You look very beautiful." the ex-wife said to the new girlfriend completely ignoring her ex-husband.

"Thank you. You too. I mean, you look amazing for your age." Monique complemented Willow and Roman snorted.

"What's so funny, Roman? The fact that you dyed and trimmed your beard doesn't hide that you look like her uncle." Willow bit Roman back. "How long have you been together?"

"A month." Monique said.

"That's cute and what do you do for a living?"

"I'm a dancer."

"Dancer...yeah, Roman has a thing for dancers. Every single time. In elementary school Josephine had a ballet dance teacher and he was all covered in drool everytime he saw her."

"That is not-"

"At the concert day he didn't even look at Josephine, he was busy looking at the teacher." Roman had his arms crossed and bit his inner cheeks.

"You didn't catch me with the dance teacher in our bed, did ya?" Roman bit back in the calmest way possible and left Willow speechless for a second. Oscar just cleared his throat.

"Well, I am not a ballet teacher. I am more like from the Latin side." Monique replied to the question, hoping she breaks the ice.

"Interesting." Willow drank from her wine. "And how do you feel about Roman having a kid?"

"I mean I used to work as a school dance teacher too, so I love kids. I would like to have one day."

"One day." Willow repeated quietly. "And when do you intend to introduce Monique to Josephine?" Willow turned to her ex-husband.

"Whenever both of them feel ready. Is the cross examination done?" Roman started getting a bit annoyed because his wife became like a prosecutor examining two defendants.

"No. Does your mother know?"

"No. Our relationship is still very fresh and we'd like to keep it lowkey." Roman replied.

"Lowkey but you took her with you for all of your colleagues to see. Doesn't make any sense." Willow started becoming suspicious. "Ain't that weird? Do your parents know?" Willow turned to Monique.

"I am an orphan." she replied and the ex-wife immediately felt bad and Roman was in shock because he also had no idea that Monique has no parents.

Every time she has to say she is an orphan, her heart always cracks, since the grief can never go away.

The ex-husband glared at his ex-wife.

"How about we order? Oh, there is Sunday roast." Oscar said excitingly, looking at the menu but the tension is still strongly roaming around the table.

[tribalauthor]

CHAPTER 8 •MOUNTAIN TALKS• (2.9K)

previous chapter

The annoying noise of the alarm woke up Roman and Monique. She reached her hand to the nightstand to turn it off but Roman turned around and covered himself.

"Come on, Roman. We gotta get up." Monique got in a sitting position.

The man turned around quickly. He forgot for a second he is sleeping next to Monique and now gets to wake up with her.

He saw her messy curly hair, all natural face and sleepy eyes. She looked at him as well. His eyes looking smaller, his man bun almost loose making his hair go down.

"Why are you even more perfect?" he asked with his morning voice which is way deeper than his actual voice, almsot startling Monique.

"Goddamn." she swore. "Good morning to you, too."

"You slept good?" Roman asked as he started fixing his hair into a tight bun but it was too curly for that.

"Yes. You are a natural curly, too, huh?" Monique teased when he saw him.

He looks good, too good even, she thought.

"Yeah. Genes not from my Italian mom but from my Samoan dad." Roman explained.

"You look good like this." she said while staring at him with approval.

"You think?" he asked and made a little curly bun. "Willow used to say I look like a caveman."

"A very hot one, though." Monique added with a smirk.

"Has someone ever told you you look like Monica Belucci? Are you two related by any chance?"

"I actually got this one before, yes. But when I am with my straight hair usually. Not like this." the woman pointed at her voluminous curly hair. "Now I look like Julia Roberts and Monica Belucci had a daughter." she said and Roman took a focused look on her and his jaw dropped.

"You are really onto something, holy shit." he agreed. Then his phone rang. "It's Jo. On FaceTime."

"I'm going to the bathroom." Monique whispered and ran like a thief there.

"Hey, little one." Roman picked up and there was his beautiful angel.

"Hey, dad. How are you?" she asked him.

"I was just thinking of calling you. How is everything?"

"Pretty normal." she shrugged. "How is the weekend going so far?"

"Surprisingly well. I think I kinda underestimated my dear rivals." he explained.

"Did you push all the women away with that strong cologne or it had the opposite effect?" she giggled.

"Let's say it's all normal." he chuckled meanwhile Monique's head is pressed against the wall to listen to their little conversation. She couldn't help but feel bad about that kid and the lifestyle she has to live. "Do you wanna see the room? It's actually sick." the dad started doing a room tour. Monique let out a slight mute giggle while listening to it since he sounds adorable as a dad.

That's a trait she has never noticed in her ex-boyfriend. Although she understood why he didn't want kids, she noticed he is cold towards them too and that's one of the red flags that she decided to put behind.

Now everything makes sense and she thinks a man like him shouldn't have a child anyway. No kid deserves to have a parent who owns mafia business in disguise.

"There you are, guys." Richard said when Roman and Monique appeared to the function in all sporty outfits. Roman is wearing black sweatpants and black Nike t-shirt while Monique is wearing black top, black Nike leggings and a sweatshirt just in case.

They really look like a couple with those unintentionally matching outfits.

"Okay, everyone is here." Harry, another lawyer from Vires Law had a list of the participants' names. "Let's go."

"Before that, let's start the hiking trip with a joke. Does anybody know why mountains have hats?" Kevin started going with the jokes again and everyone looked not so thrilled.

"Because they have peaks." he said and started laughing but the group was sitting there with a poker face.

"I didn't drink enough coffee for this, neither I brought alcohol. Let's go." Roman shook his head and lead the people who laughed at his remark.

"I actually realized I have never connected with Vegas' nature like that." Monique concluded while they were in the forests surrounded by beautiful greenery. Tall trees, beautiful flowers and sketchy bushes.

"For real?" Roman asked her and she nodded her head. He was carrying a backpack with stuff for both of them like the good fake boyfriend he is.

"It's a good workout. We could do this alone sometime." he suggested.

"Definitely." Monique replied because she wasn't sure if they are being listened to.

Roman took a look behind him and there was one of his colleagues staring at Monique's butt. And it was like a motivation for him to keep going.

"Hell of a road, right, Spence?" Roman asked him out loud, startling the shit out of him.

"Yeah, very curvy and well-shaped." he concluded.

"I know. Be careful of the big bumps cause you might trip, you know what I'm sayin'?" the Samoan man asked as he showed off his big biceps.

"Right. Gotta be careful." Spence said wiping the sweat off his forehead.

"He was staring at my ass, was he?" Monique murmured.

"Yup. Shamelessly. I mean, I understand but..." he replied quietly.

"Do you consider yourself the jealous type?" she asked curiously.

"I actually don't know."

"What do you mean?" Monique whisper-yelled.

"Well, I have never been in love to tell. No one has made me feel jealous, so I have no idea." Roman shrugged, leaving Monique in complete shock that a 40-year-old man has never been in love. "What about you?"

"I wouldn't consider myself a jealous type but somehow I've always found myself with jealous guys." Monique explained. "And for the record, I mean long before I even became a..."

"Got it. Although I get that some men are territorial. Jealousy is just a form of self-doubt which I don't have, for example." he explained and Monique agreed.

"That's right. It's one thing to be jealous in a sweet way and another, to cross the line."

"What do you mean 'cross the line'?" Roman furrowed his eyebrows.

"One of my ex-boyfriends didn't even let me speak to other men unless he is next to me or something." she confessed, meaning Philip. He loved her so much to the point he became extra toxic and possessive.

"Pff. That's a heavy form of insecure man. No, that's a boy." Roman was shocked by Monique's narratives.

"Oh, he isn't a boy. He is older than you." she replied back and the eyes of the Samoan man almost popped out of his body.

"A grandpa?" he even stopped from the shock.

"Shh." Monique signified to be more quiet. "Not a grandpa cause he doesn't have kids, to begin with."

"Well, of course, he would be jealous. He was afraid you could leave him for a younger man with fit body, taller, bigger, stronger, more stamina, you know?" he said with a cheeky tone getting closer to her.

"Don't underestimate him. He looks good for his age, works out and his stamina was shockingly high. Everything was perfect but he ruined our relationship." Monique sighed.

"What did he do?"

"Lied about something very important. And if I hadn't found this out, he would have never confessed to me and I would have probably still been with him, living my life in delusion." she suddenly realized how much she has shared with Roman and instantly regretted.

"Does he have something to do with the choice of your path right now?" the lawyer has a lot of questions for Monique, starting to solve the puzzle little by little.

Just when Monique was about to say something to change the subject because she already said more than enough, Richard and his wife Dorothy interrupted their conversation.

"You guys are extra fast." Richard concluded with a heavy breath, leaving Roman annoyed that he interrupted something important while Monique was grateful that he saved her from that conversation.

After the hiking ended everyone went in their room to freshen themselves up, including Roman and Monique.

"You go first or?" Roman asked his fake girlfriend.

"I was thinking together." she replied and took her clothes off.

"Together?" he asked with a surprised tone and raising his eyebrows. "You want to?"

"Yeah, I want to." she replied certainly and was left with no clothes.

Water was dripping from the enormous shower and there they were - Monique's back pressed on the glass cabin which were all foggy from the water and their heavy breathes.

Roman was up against her - their wet bodies glued and ready for the next step. As of now, they are having a makeout session filled with deep and slow kisses.

"Now I have more time, right? There is no rushing." he asked hee while placing kisses down Monique's neck.

"Yes. All the time you want." she replied and when he heard this, he got so excited. Roman dreamt of meeting up with her somewhere else and having sex with her in a place different than that dark bedroom.

Now he can take the best look at the beautiful naked body of Monique as if she couldn't get more perfect.

Same goes for Monique. She looked at Roman's perfect shaped athletic body with a rather oversized not so little friend, his long hair, his tanned skin. Everything about him ignites a fire in Monique - a rather unfamiliar fire she didn't even feel with Phil.

It's something different this time. This is a man she knows almost nothing about yet she feels weirdly captivated and in heat everytime he is around her.

Roman just knelt on the floor, looked at her deep in the eyes and started devouring her down there.

Meanwhile, in the other room right next to theirs there was Sarah, Willow's friend, who were talking to each other.

"Does he look in love?" Willow asked on the other line.

"I can't tell that but they look like they've known each other for a good while." the woman replied.

"He said she is younger than me but didn't specify how much. Is she really that young?"

"Well, she ain't 20 if that's what you mean. I don't know how old is she but she looks very youthful, very beautiful eyes. She reminds me of young Monica Belucci." the friend started describing.

"Monica Belucci?!" there was a shock in Willow's voice. "I shouldn't be surprised. Men are all about looks. She is probably with him because of the money, I fear."

Suddenly Sarah heard a noise. A noise of a moaning woman in the neighboring bathroom, so Sarah went close to check.

"What's going on?" Willow asked her and Sarah shushed her. Yup, that's a woman who is getting the dick and she knows that woman is Monique and the supplier is Roman.

"I don't think it's only about the money, bestie. They are going off in the bathroom." Sarah said the truth.

"Of course. Yeah. That infamous tool I got fooled by 18 years ago." she replied with a rather bitter tone. "His ass better be careful and not get her pregnant, though. I don't think Jo is ready for a sibling."

"Well same goes for you, Willow." the bestie smartened her up.

"I am not the one with the younger partner. That woman probably is fertile as a bunny. I have to discuss this with them on Tuesday."

"Look, just don't look too bothered, okay? You don't love that man, you never did. You found your ideal person, you have an amazing daughter, you are a hot chick, pull yourself together." Sarah gave Willow a hype speech.

"Thank you so much, Sarah. You are so right. Gotta leave you now. Bye."

"Bye."

"Dad has a girlfriend?" Josephine startled her mother. She obviously heard their conversation.

"What? Who said that?" Willow played dumb for a while.

"Don't lie. I heard you." she furrowed her eyebrows, resembling her father and now Willow is flabbergasted because she basically has no other choice but to confess something that Roman should have.

"Yes, he has a girlfriend." Willow exhaled loudly.

"I knew it." the daughter started laughing out loud which brought confusion to her mother because she didn't expext this kind of reaction. "He is such a bad actor, I can't."

"You noticed something?" Willow asked curiously.

"Yeah, lately he has a different glow. Feels like he got a few years younger and sprays himself with way too much cologne." Jo giggled. "I wanna see his girlfriend."

"No. You won't tell him you know about this." Willow said with a strict tone because in that way she will appear as the gossip girl. "Why do you seem excited?" she was still shocked at Josephine's reaction. Usually, teenage girls get upset for things like these.

"Because dad deserves to find his true love as much as you do. You think you are the only one out of you two who deserves to settle?" this question was like a slap in the face for Willow.

"No. That's not the problem. The problem is how is this woman going to act towards you. That's my biggest concern." the mother confessed.

"I trust dad and his judgement. I have told him my requirements for his future girlfriend and that he has my blessings, so I am more than certain, he chose a great woman." Jo spoke wisely and Willow was left speechless once again.

"Girls, are you ready to go?" Oscar shouted from downstairs since they have dinner appointment.

"Coming." Willow shouted and Josephine left the room leaving her mother dumbstruck. She looked at the mirror and fixed her dark curly hair.

The bathroom was filled by Roman and Monique's moans from the orgasm that just hit them both. The sex between them is way too good to be true and way too good for people who are in one way strangers.

They exchanged a deep kiss in this ecstaic for them moment.

More intimate than it has to be.

Stares.

More intense than it has to be.

Bodies.

Still close.

Breaths.

Still heavy.

Big grins on their faces from how good they make each other feel.

They decided to order room service once they were all ready and now there is a big table of various food in there - three course meals.

"I wanna ask you a question." Roman spoke as he ate from his steak.

"Yes?" Monique replied. She was eating a steak too.

"Seeing how much of a good time we have together, why do you think it won't work between us?"

Monique swallowed her bite.

"First, my job. No man would be okay for his girlfriend to do lap dances for other men. Second, my past. Which is a topic I don't wanna talk about. Third and not last, you have a kid who might misunderstand me and hate me. Is this enough to understand?" Monique shoot with the sharp truth but Roman look completely unfazed ready to shoot back.

"First, my daughter gave me her blessings to find myself a good woman, so she isn't a factor. Second, I am not gonna ask you about your past and I don't care honestly. Third, I know that this job isn't your dream one and there is a specific reason you do it, for example, fast way to earn some money. I can arrange you whatever job you want because I know you aren't going to do this your whole life." he immediately replied to everything.

"I hate that you are a lawyer." Monique rolled her eyes. "But seriously I am like this today because of my past relationship. The way it fucked me up...all the lies, manipulations and possessiveness. I don't wanna experience this all over again."

"I understand. I am going to wait until you feel ready."

"Look, I don't wanna waste your time. Your woman can wait for you somewhere and as of now, I can't offer you anything different than sex." Monique was honest and Roman chuckled.

"I don't want any other woman, Monique. I want you. That's why ever since I met you, I have never missed a performance. However, the time we spend there is not enough for me. Also, I wanna know more about you, I already told you."

"But I don't want you to know about me. At least not yet." she declared and then softened the tone.

"Okay. I am not gonna pressure you anymore. We just go with the flow." Roman put his hands up, understanding where Monique is coming from and that the things may be more serious than he thought.

"Thank you." she breathed out.

"But I'd like to take you on dates, too. Cause I might not be allowed in the bar anymore or your boss might tell you something." Roman explained in a cutely guilty tone.

"What did you do?" Monique's eyes widened.

"The money I'm going to give you are solely for you and he agreed. I mean I persuaded him. Maybe threatened him as a legal entity." he scratched his head and Monique slapped her forehead.

"Oh my God. Why did you do that?"

"Because it's unfair for him to get any money from something you do outside of his place. He will get his one way or another. 40% is kinda form of exploitation, considering he makes money for the entrance and drinks alone which are not very cheap." he explained and Monique grew anxious a bit.

"It's gonna be fine. Don't worry." Roman caressed her arm to comfort her since he felt her anxiety. Behind that beautiful and stoic face there is really a pure soul full of anxiety. "You are not alone anymore, Monique."

[tribalauthor]

CHAPTER 7 •LABELS• (2.6K)

previous chapter

"And you know lawyers sleep differently, right? First, they lie on the one side, and tnen we lie on the other." the stand-up lawyer spoke. He is from the host company, of course and his name is Kevin. The audience has been forced to listen to his not-so-good jokes for the past half an hour.

There were some laughs in the hall, most of them fake.

"You owe me big time, Rich." Roman spoke to his friend. They were all gathered in round tables sorted by companies, of course.

"It's not that bad, come on." Monique tried to cheer him up. She's been a witness of far worse things and events she has been with her ex-boyfriend, so this one feels rather refreshing.

At least for her.

"And what does a lawyer order to drink? Just-ice." now suddenly everyone laughed except Roman and Richard.

"Personally, I'd like some more rum." Roman said out loud, poured himself more from the strong liquid and everyone laughed.

"Mr. Reigns, you'd like to join the stage?" the stand up comedy lawyer asked.

"No, thank you." he drank.

"Please, come forward. You are pretty infamous with your humor." the lawyer on the stage insisted.

"Go." Monique whispered to him.

"Kick Vires Law's ass." Richard hyped him up.

"Oh my God." Roman muttered.

"Yes, go off, honey." Monique shouted and started clapping then everyone followed her.

Roman stepped into the stage and grabbed the mic from the stand.

"First off, let's thank Vires Law for gathering us all here and organizing such a special weekend." Roman spoke and everybody clapped again.

"But I am kinda scared, I'm gonna be honest. Y'all have probably seen or at least heard about the movie How to Lose a Guy in 10 days?' Right? Right?" the Samoan man started looking around the audience and a lot of people nodded their heads. "Well, I think I am living in another version of this movie How to Lose a Hot Girl in a Weekend?" there was a sound of laughter.

"I mean take a look at Monique - that pretty lacy dress, we almost got late again because of my men instincts, you feel me? But she is just so gracious and perfect therefore I fear after this weekend she might leave me, I don't know, yall, I don't know." he shook his head and everyone laughed but Monique was making hand gestures indictating she won't leave him for something like that and all eyes were on her. Acting like a loyal girlfriend which she once was.

"Yeah, she is reassuring me now but who knows what will happen on Monday. Damn, I should have prepared a contract for her to stay with me even when I take her to a place full of lawyers." Roman said with note of regret and he received another positive reaction from the crowd. They have more sense of humor than a person would think.

"Of course that applies to all my colleagues who brought new partners or friends with them, too. Us, lawyers can be too much at times, I know. That's why most of the people standing here are aware that two lawyers don't work with each other. I wish somebody told me that 18 years ago but I had to learn this the hard way. Most of us had to learn the hard way." the audience laughed again and started clapping. "Okay that's all from me. Make sure your glass is always full and have a great time." Roman stepped out of the stage.

"In just a few minutes, you outdid Kevin and the whole company." his colleagues praised him.

It's really not as bad as everyone thought it would be. The atmosphere is very nice - just people trying to escape from the gray routine and have some fun time with their partner or friends.

Monique felt weirdly alright. This is like a better version of all the snobby events she attended with Phillip.

One thing is common - she is not being herself.

Right then she had to act extra dilligent and that she cares about boring conversations with the high class and stuff and not to be way too touchy with Phillip who she really loves.

Now, she has to lie that she is the girlfriend of the hot lawyer and act like they are deeply in love which is not true.

But who really is she?

Behind the mask of Monique, Juliet is a really pure innocent, soul. That's why she got triggered when Roman told her to be herself. She doesn't want to show her true self in front of nobody.

She did that mistake with Phillip and she is never repeating it again.

Right now, it seems like the just-ice is starting to break between lawyers (probably because of the alcohol) and you can see different mixtures of groups getting to know each other.

"You are a dancer?" a woman with jet black hair and icy blue eyes was shocked when Monique told them her profession. Her name is Lucy and she is just three years younger than Monique.

"Yeah." the exotic dancer replied.

"What kind of dancing though?" another woman whose name is Georgia, asked her.

"Latin dance." Monique whispered.

"Ooh, you gotta teach us hip movements." Lucy said.

"They are important, yes. If you really wanna drive your man crazy." Monique started explaining and took a look at Roman who was also talking with bunch of people. Suddenly he turned around, sensing someone is watching him and locked eyes with Monique.

The way that dress is showing perfectly how her body is shaped is making him weak. No matter that he already has seen her with no clothes on, Monique still makes him drooling over her.

"Ah, you probably spin Roman's head, don't you?" Lucy teased her.

"Look at how he looks at her. Goddamn." Georgia and Lucy acted a little bit excited.

Suddenly the music became louder than it was and the DJ played Hips don't lie by Shakira and the girls started hyping Monique up to go to the dance floor.

Thanks to the wine, she feels like dancing and she remembered she wanted to dance like Shakira when this song came out, so Monique kinda mastered it.

Roman approached her doing little dance movements and took her to the dance floor.

They both marched to it in such a cool couple-ish way and then Monique started moving her hips like Shakira just possessed her.

"I actually knew she could dance like this." Roman shouted but doubtfully somebody heard him. After that Monique slightly grinded on him, leaving him speechless. He loves the way her hips move. Roman noticed the insane hip technique this woman has. Ever since their first night he knew she is a problem.

A beautiful problem.

More people started joining them on the dance floor and everybody couldn't take their eyes off of the sexy dancing machine. With that black lacy dress and deep cleavage, she is a pure goddess.

Some men were more obvious with the stares. They just couldn't help but look at that gorgeous woman that is Monique. Of course, Roman saw that.

"You can look but you can't touch." the Samoan man said with sass and continued dancing.

The drunk fake couple got back to their room after the party came to its end since the group has to prepare for hiking tomorrow.

There were many positive emotions radiating from Monique and Roman due to the fact that they had an amazing and carefree night.

"We brought quite the attention." Monique chuckled and Roman grinned at her.

"Of course. I mean look at us." he said cockily and the woman laughed.

"I actually had a great time." she nodded her head.

"Shockingly, same. My expectations were very low but this is actually fun. I gotta admit, it's because you agreed to come with me which I am thankful for." the lawyer put his palms together, acknowledging the sacrifice Monique made. "You could have been working but..."

"I think I slightly needed some time away from work, so thank you for persuading me to do this. With all the dancing I did tonight, I remember my younger days, my old dreams that I never achieved and yeah." she sighed.

Roman took a look at her, sensing a note of sadness. He wanted to know what happened to her but wasn't sure if it's the right time to ask.

"You are welcome." he replied politely.

"Can you please unzip my dress?" Monique turned her back to Roman, lifting her hair up. He did what she asked and the zip went down but she didn't take her dress off.

"Are you ashamed of me now?" he teased her as he looked at her.

"Non-working time." she reminded him but then she recalled. "Oh, but you are paying me so-" Monique was about to take off her dress but Roman stopped her.

"I didn't pay you to be my sex slave, I paid you to accompany me. Don't feel obligated. Go and change, do what you like. I want you to feel comfortable." there was a slight sterne in Roman's tone but he wanted to make himself clear.

Monique really appreciated what he said. She quietly thanked him and went to the bathroom.

Why is he like this, she thought, trying not to freak out because she definitely didn't expect that.

Meanwhile Roman was giggling like a school boy because he couldn't believe he is actually spending a full night with Monique.

It was a goal for him because he always has to leave the bar and can't have her fully for himself but right now she is all his and the thing is he doesn't care if he has sex with her or not.

He doesn't want her body right now, he wants to know more about her. He has never been that curious of a woman before.

For now, her sole presence is enough for Roman and he hopes someday she will feel comfortable enough to open up.

Monique and Roman are all washed up and ready to sleep. They are lying on the bed, facing each other.

Roman is getting lost in her beautiful Bambi eyes that captivated him since the very beginning. Meanwhile Monique realized she spent a whole day with him today and she liked it which is a bad thing. But the way he looks at her makes her melt.

Just like the first night they met. She will never forget that exact look.

"I almost forgot. We gotta set up an alarm for tomorrow. How about 8?" she turned around to reach for her phone, ruining yet another beautiful moment.

"Okay." Roman whispered and when she was done, she turned in his direction.

"We better go to sleep cause we have 6 hours. Goodnight." Monique turned around and Roman dragged himself slightly closer to her. "On a second thought." she said and turned back to him again. "I know men's tricks."

The man was actually happy she turned back to him.

"You are smart for your age." Roman concluded and the exotic dancer rolled her eyes.

"I'm 31, not 21." she said.

"You are 31? Damn. I thought you were 25." he seemed quite shocked.

"Is this the age I am gonna be in front of your wife?"

"Ex-wife. Let's be precise." Roman politely corrected her. "The only thing that connects me with that woman is my daughter. I hope my poor baby is okay with that house full of lunatics."

"So she lives with her new man?"

"Correct. And Jo told me some not so bad but rather disturbing facts about that household. I gotta call her tomorrow and check on her."

"You must." Monique nodded her head. "It must be hard for her to have separated parents."

"For sure but she acts like it's all good. I mean the day me and Willow told her we are getting divorced, it was bad but I made sure to arrange the best therapist for Jo. You probably heard the reason behind-"

"Yes. And it's awful. I am sorry this happened to you and to your daughter as well, of course." Monique replied with sympathy. She really feels sympathetic towards this whole situation.

"She definitely hates her birthday month now. The announcement happened weeks before Christmas and her birthday." Roman dived into more detail and Monique's mouth dropped.

a) because that is just so vile thing to happen to a kid

b) she realized this is the month and the year she got together with Phillip

"I am literally so sorry for your daughter...and you, of course. Do you blame yourself...that your ex-wife cheated on you? Cause most of the people do."

"We are both to blame, by the way. We met in college. She was a freshman and I was junior. See, back in my college days I was a crazy man, I admit. I see a pretty woman and she has to be in my bed."

"But...how is that different from now?" Monique got puzzled for a bit because this is how their encounter began.

"Hear me out." he put his long index finger slightly in front of her.

"One night. We spent one night together and then guess."

"She got pregnant." Monique's jaw dropped.

"Mhm."

"No. How old was she?

"20 and I was 22. It was too late for abortion and I am not the guy who would leave a woman be a single mother. So we got married, she dropped out of college, of course. Thankfully, I was already working but I had to lift myself up in the law world and bring money for three and yeah. Then we started living in tolerance. We never loved each other but we had that respect, you know? I mean, we had a whole kid together. Until her white knight appeared."

Monique thought this was a really tough case. As a woman, she understands Willow wanted to find her true love which it wasn't Roman obviously. From a mother's point of view she isn't sure if this was the rightest decision. Cause apparently Roman settled.

"And you were faithful to her all this time?" Monique asked.

"Yes. I swear, I was. Life taught me a lesson. That's why no matter what. The day I married her, no, the day I found out she was pregnant, I swore to stay loyal to that woman, no matter what. I wasn't interested in other women. I was only interested in my family." although Monique was impressed in a way by what she was hearing, she didn't let herself completely to believe in what Roman was saying.

"And after the divorce..." she continued digging.

"After the divorce, in a way, I went back to my old roots, got a little, oh God, teenagers use this word but I'm gonna say situationship. I was in something like that. She caught feelings while I didn't want anything serious, so I left and now...me and you. Now that's a term of a relationship that is yet to be invented."

Monique laughed at his last sentence. He has that witty fun sense of humor that is awfully reminding her of her ex-boyfriend and exactly that trait is what mostly made her fall for him.

"Seriously? What are we?" Roman asked.

"Pretedning couple." she shrugged.

"Not in front of my colleagues and ex-wife. When it's me and you like this? What are we?"

Monique thought for a second.

"Customer and supplier with extra special benefits."

"I can't decide if I love this or I hate this."

"You have time to figure it out. Now let's sleep." she closed her eyes and Roman switched off the lights.

[tribalauthor]

CHAPTER 6 •FAVORS• (2.7K)

previous chapter

"Lawyers' weekend?" Roman's teenage daughter looked confused when he explained her he will be away.

"I am as confused as you." he replied as he zipped his little suitcase.

"How did you even agree to this?"

"Richard signed us up without even asking." the dad explained half of the story.

"Who knows, you might become friends with the attorneys from the other companies." she said jokingly and Roman gave Josephine a skeptical look. "Or even a new fling."

"No chance. Me with a lawyer again?" he shook his head.

"Ey, mom doesn't count." she snapped back.

"She counts. Doesn't matter she didn't become one, I still take it." Roman hit the dad pose and started thinking if he is forgetting something.

"And now I gotta be with her and Oscar." Josephine looked unpleasant because of this fact.

"Is he that bad?"

"He is not a bad person but he is just so pretentious. Everything is a reference book for this guy, it's annoying. He is also very old." she added and Roman chuckled.

"He is just 5 years older than me...but he does look like a grandpa kinda." he continued with the taunting and Jo laughed as well.

"And sounds like it, oh my God. I don't know what mom likes about him. Not to mention that his sons are extra obnoxious. The young one thinks he was British in his previous live and speaks in British accent. It's so cringe." Josephine vented to her father about how weird that family is.

"Good gracious, are you kidding me?" Roman couldn't believe his ears and his daugher shook her head.

"Nope."

"I am sorry I am doing this to you, sweetie." he wrapped his hands around his daugher then kissed her on the head but she started coughing.

"You are wearing unhealthy amount of cologne, dad." she went away.

"Am I?" he started smelling himself.

"Yeah. Like is this a new technique to keep the women away from you?" she normalilzed her breath.

"Something like it." the father smirked slightly.

"Look. I think it's time to have the talk. Don't avoid women because of me. You know I am an accepting person. All I'm asking is for her to be normal and tolerate me. That's it." she spoke and Roman was taken aback by her level of maturity. "And not try to be my mom."

"Why are you like this?" Roman dragged Josephine for a hug again and she held her breath. "So mature and well-mannered. Girls your age usually get crazy, they have boyfr-" as he was speaking, he put Jo away and looked at her in the eyes. "You don't have a boyfriend, right?"

"No." she replied immediately.

"Are you sure?"

"Dad..."

"Okay." he dragged her for a hug again. "If you have a boyfriend, he is dead.

"I can't believe you are gonna spend a whole weekend with hottie." Vanessa said as her and Monique entered in another botique to pick a dress.

"I can't believe that I agreed to this." the Italian woman shook her head.

"Yeah, you let him be inside of you God knows how many times but you are worried about a weekend with him, logical." the dark skinned woman rolled her eyes.

They were looking at the dresses but didn't like anything until they saw the dress.

Monique was waiting for Roman with her little black suitcase she stuffed with the dress, with a tracksuit, pajamas and sexy lingerie. Whatever the weekend brings her.

She still doesn't know why she agreed to all of this. Probably because of the money but thinking about it, how much is this man going to give her? And then almost half of it is for Samuel. She has no idea, however, that Roman made a deal with Samuel not to take a cent from what Monique earns this weekend.

The place they arranged to meet is in front of the cafeteria they accidentally met last week. Monique didn't want Roman to know her place of living.

So there she was - with her black sunglasses, tight, black top with deep cleavage and no bra underneath, slim fit dark blue jeans and black sandal heels. Her natural curly hair was styled in a ponytail and her makeup is natural.

Monique saw a black Porsche pulling up right next to her, the window rolling down and there he is - Mr. Lawyer who is wearing black sunglasses. Roman is completely mesmerised by this woman every time he sees her. No matter what she wears, how she styled her hair, Monique is almost like unreal to him.

"Are you lost, Miss Bambi?" he asked playfully but Monique didn't feel like joking and just got into the car without saying anything.

Then she buckled her seatbelt.

"So what do you want me to be? Arrogant? Obnoxious? Lovey-dovey?" she cut to the chase.

"I want you to be yourself. Surprise me." he shrugged and the stripper chuckled.

"I can't be myself. I gotta come up with fake profession and fake love story about us. So you decide, Christopher Nolan. What do you want me to be?" she asked again with even more attitude and Roman just started excessively blinking from that specific attitude from the woman then fired up the engine.

He thought about this a lot and by his assumptions, she was severely hurt by someone in the past. He could tell that.

"Let's say we met in a dance class."

"You in dance class?" Monique furrowed her eyebrows, trying to visualize a man like Roman dancing. "Okay, dance class." she gave up because he calls the shots - he is the director.

"Think about if you want to use your real name or something else."

"Monique is perfectly fine. You don't like it?" she raised her eyebrow at him.

"Okay. Monique." this is the second time she hears her new name coming out from Roman and he says it just so smoothly that it scratches her brain. "What's the last name?"

"Davis."

"Monique Davis." he repeated quietly and it scratched her brain again. The woman hates the effects Roman has on her, maybe that's why she behaves like this.

"What about you, big guy? What's the full name?" she finally asked him normally.

"Roman Reigns."

"Reigns." she nodded her head. "Okay and how long have we been dating?"

"A month. Oh, a little background information. I am 40 years old and a divorced dad of one."

"What?" Monique tried her best to keep a stone cold expression.

"Divorced." he repeated, underlying. "Long before we even met."

"Okay and what about the kid?" suddenly, Monique started to care. She loves kids, since she worked as a dance teacher in school.

"She is at her mother's who lives in her boyfriend's house." all of the sudden, Monique has a lot of questions about this whole situation but also answers.

This explains why he fucks her so good like he has something to prove. His wife probablh left him for another man and the nonchalant woman became curious why did this happen but of course, she didn't want to ask questions.

"I hope the kid isn't too traumatized." that's all she managed to say.

"She is not a kid, she is a full blown teenager." Roman sense with a note of bittersweetness in his tone.

"You are a girl dad?" Monique was rather shocked and looked at him up and down. "Couldn't have guessed."

"Well, it's hard to guess stuff like this while we do adult activities." the lawyer said in a matter of fact tone and Monique had no other choice but to agree with him cause he is right.

They stopped the car at the bus station. The appointment was for the lawyers to wait for each other there and they are going to travel to the hotel by bus.

"So extra and unnecessary." Roman groaned when Richard told him the setup plan the other day.

"Well, we are here. Get ready to meet people so dry, the Mojave desert doesn't stand a chance." Roman warned Monique and she started laughing.

He is funny, she thought.

"I can play dry and snobby too. I've mastered that role perfectly." the exotic dancer remarked, reminiscing about the days where she was Phil's girlfriend.

"Whatever you like. I told you. I have no preferences." Roman replied and she nodded, getting ready to get out of the car.

"Wait." he said and got out first then went to open her door. Monique got out of the car and suddenly, she became the hot chick from the rom-com movies. Getting out with such grace, revealing herself to the group of waiting people.

All eyes were on her because nobody expected Roman to appear with a woman and also because Monique is an incredibly attractive woman. In the meantime Roman grabbed their bags and then walked together to the big group.

"Hey, y'all." the Samoan man greeted them.

"So in mergers, you guys just merge with concept of time too?" one of the attorneys from Vires Law made aksed a sharp question.

"Correct." Roman replied nonchalantly. "Especially when you have a hot girlfriend to merge with." he replied and pulled Monique by her waist.

One woman was intensely staring at Monique from head to toe. Her name is Sarah and she is Willow's best friend from college, she works in TL Group. They still keep in touch.

"Hi." she approached the couple.

"Sarah." Roman greeted looking at the honey blonde woman with light brown skin.

"Didn't know you would bring company." Sarah spoke as she looked at Monique again. "Does Willow know about her?"

"No. It's none of her business." Roman shrugged.

"Nice to meet you, Sarah." Monique decided to include herself in the awkward conversation. "My name is Monique." the two women did a handshake.

"So when exactly were you planning to tell me you have a girlfriend, you fraud?" Richard was still surprised.

"How brazen of you to call me such names when you were the one who signed us for this absurdity without my permission." Roman replied to him but quietly since they were in the bus already.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our little Law Trip." a rather young man came out at the podium. He looks not exactly like a rookie but like a person who has just a few years in the business. He is approaching his late 20s and he got that boyish look in him. "I know we are in Sin City but since we obey the law, we do not commit any sins. But tonight at the Canon Gala we can do whatever we want. Since we, Vires Law, are the hosts, we prepared some special things such as stand up comedy, karaoke battles and dance battles." Roman and Richard looked at each other with horror.

"These guys completely lost their minds." the Samoan man concluded.

"A lawyer doing a stand up comedy? Bet my butt he asked Chat GPT." Richard remarked and the group that formed laughed.

After the big group was accomodated in the beautiful, luxurious hotel, everyone started preparing for the upcoming gala.

Roman and Monique are in one room, of course and the woman feels a bit nervous from all of this. It's been a while she spent time with a man like that.

They took a shower separately. Monique went first and Roman was second. However, while he was in the shower, his phone was ringing and Monique couldn't help but peek at the screen and she saw the name Willow.

That must be his ex-wife, she thought.

"It's good to wash away the bad energy I collected in this fucking bus." Roman got out of the shower and the view is just breathtaking - his hair was all down and wet, his naked chest was covered in waterdrops, the signature big tattoo.

Monique's mouth slightly dropped. This man's beauty never fails to amaze her and now she knows why she jumped at him the way she did from the very start.

Any woman in her position would do the same thing.

Matter of fact, she feels like getting up, removing that towel and give him a blowjob but she has to keep her composure and tell him what's going on.

"Your phone was ringing." she spoke and looked away.

"Perhaps it's my little angel." he said and ran to check his phone. He got a big storm coming.

"What does she want?" Monique hear Roman murmur.

"Perhaps it's something with your kid. You better call her back." she decided to give him a wise advice and the second she said that the phone rang again.

"No need." he replied and picked up. "Hello." his tone changed drastically - it was a weird mixture between annoyed and cold.

"A girlfriend. When were you planning to tell me? Does Jo know?"

"No. Jo doesn't know about this but I see your source is faster than I thought." he replied and Monique immediately understood what is going on.

"When were you planning to tell me?"

"Whenever you were planning to tell me about your new fling which was never because I caught you, remember?" Roman clapped back at his irritated ex-wife, not caring Monique is listening. All the puzzle piecies start to come with her now. It's an ego crusher to be cheated on, especially if you catch this on 4K.

"She is young, I understood."

"She is younger than you, yes." he said and Monique felt extremely awkward.

"I wanna meet her." Willow declared.

"What?" Roman didn't expect this.

"I have the right to know about the woman you are going to bring in our home to our kid."

"Don't you dare call it 'our home', it's my home and Josephine's. You understand?" Monique felt the pressure and now she realizes the case is deeper than she imagined.

"You got me. I want to meet her. Think about when both of you are free. Let's do a meeting, you, her, me and Oscar."

"Oh my God." Roman rolled his eyes at the absurdity he is hearing.

"Or you are not serious. Is she just a one-night stand or what?"

"She is not a one-night stand. She is my woman. My ideal woman, by the way." he said and Monique looked at him with horror. She didn't like what she was hearing.

"Okay. Good for you. But I gotta meet her first and see if she can hang around with my kid that I gave birth to." Willow snapped back.

"I know you gave birth to her but it's 50/50, you know? She is my kid too."

"Pick a day." Willow said completely ignoring him.

"I gotta talk to Monique first and let you know. Also, don't you dare tell Jo. I am gonna be the one to say this." Roman warned her.

"Certainly I am not doing your dirty work, yes."

"Goodbye." Roman said and hung up then looked at confused Monique.

She heard everything she needed to know what's happening and by the puppy look in his eyes, she was certain he is gonna ask her another favor.

"No." she said.

"Please." he put his palms together in a praying position.

"Not a chance." Monique was certain.

"I'm gonna pay you double."

"Roman...it's not about the money. Let me get this straight, your ex-wife found out about our fake relationship, you had the audacity to tell her we are serious and now she wants to see me and you would want to pretend we are so in love."

"You should have heard her how she sounded, I got to make her even more mad." he giggled and then turned all serious again. "Please, Monique. I beg you."

The view of that enormous masculine man begging desperately, not even in a sexual way, turned Monique on a little bit.

"I hate lies, by the way. They can be very damaging but I will agree to play your little game, alright." she finally agreed and it was solely curiosity - to see how his ex-wife looks like and the man she left Roman for.

He better be Ryan Gosling or something cause it makes absolutely no sense to leave a man who fucks like Roman does, Monique thought. But then remembered that not everything is about sex.

"Thank you." he breathed out and threw himself on the bed. Now his muscular big body is lying there and the white towel hiding the magic wand that makes Monique feel out of this world.

"Should we do a little celebration?" she asked him as she slid her hand in the towel. Roman licked his lips, trying to surpress the wave of excitement that electrified his whole body.

next chapter

[tribalauthor]

CHAPTER 5 •RULES• (2.9K)

previous chapter

Rules.

What is the definition? A set of explicit or understood regulations or principles governing conduct or procedure within a particular area of activity.

Many people love the saying 'rules are meant to be broken' but if that's true, why would they even make it at the first place?

Probably because breaking them wouldn't feel that sweet, knowing they aren't there. This is exactly why there are so many criminals in this world.

There are different kinds of breaking the rules, however. It can be completely innocent, for example, not paying your full taxes but it can be cruel as such as killing, raping and kidnapping.

Every institution has rules. Even the illegal ones. People just have to live to some kind of regulations in order to function properly.

3 months ago

"You are hired." the boss of the bar said. Samuel is a man in his early 50s and he owns one of the most famous strip bars in the neighbourhood - Honeyz. When he saw Monique, he knew she was gonna have a big fan club.

He literally hires women of all races, ethnicities but of course, not ages. Monique is 30 years old but he sees she has plenty of years left since her face looks very young.

Bodywise, he thought she has the curves but there was also a little fat going on but that could be easily fixed with workouts and diets. Samuel has no idea what Monique went through - he doesn't know she isn't even from here, he doesn't know about her ex-boyfriend and the anxiety attacks he put her through and the medications she took that made her gain a little weight.

"Thank you so much, sir." she grinned at him but not many people would notice how much pain hides behind that grin.

"You can decide which days 3 to 4 of the week, you would want to work. Then go meet your colleagues who are practicing for tonight, so they can introduce you to the movements."

"I'd like to work every night. I need money." she said. Juliet came with not so much money from Phil. She couldn't live with that for more than three weeks, so she wants to earn on her own.

"Deal. You start with every day. Forty percent of the money is for me. Oh and also, some clients may ask for private dance sessions and we provide that for them but no sexual intercourses, okay? There is one thing that differs stripper from prostitute."

present

And here she is, practicing with her friends from work for later. When she collected the needed money, Monique started working only four days a week, instead of six and now she has a beautiful apartment and even a car. She earned enough money to make her breasts one size bigger, not going too crazy.

So for 3 months, she accomplished everything a person longs for - home, car and procedures. She liked her new life where nobody knows who she is - away from the snobby rich atmosphere she was locked in with Phillip.

Her life timeline is really bizzare, to describe it best - normal and happy childhood and college years, then the tragedy that happened with her parents made her independent, working two jobs and living a free life. Juliet didn't realize when she met her ex-boyfriend that freedom will be gone or just not at the same level as it used to be. She became something like a doll, always taking her with him left and right, different opinions about their relationship how she is with him for the money and so on or how their social status don't match at all.

Juliet was with Phillip because he made her feel loved and special which she is but back then she didn't realize this. He was a boyfriend, a best friend, a great lover and even a father figure. He was everything to her until she found out she was living in a lie. A man who was known for saving the planet is also not so known for damaging people's health and lives by producing drugs.

6 months ago

The time is almost 6pm. This is when Phill comes back from work. Juliet decided to give him a little surprise and dressed with a long satin black robe with nothing underneath and lied on their king sized bed. She kind of adjusted to the lifestyle of a trophy girlfriend. When she started living with Phillip, he told her it's time to quit her jobs and that he is going to provide for her.

Her days usually go like this - getting up, sometimes early to say 'goodbye' to Phillip who is leaving for work, having breakfast which is prepared by one of the most famous chefs in the country.

After that she goes to the gym which is in the Royal Palace - the building she lives in. Its residents are the most richest in the city.

A shower is followed after the workout and then she meets her friends from the palace (whose husbands are friends of Phil). They either go to lunch dates or shopping together but sometimes Juliet does that alone. Then she makes sure she is always home by the time her boyfriend comes back from work, greeting him with a hug, kiss on the cheek and even something else especially if he is stressed.

Juliet makes sure to make him feel good and happy whenever they are together. Her presence is just enough for him to be okay.

Of course, he wanted to help her accomplish her biggest dream which is creating a dance school and they found the perfect place for it, constructions are about to start. Phil is willing to do anything to please his woman and she appreciates that.

Their relationship was just like in the fairytales and it lasted for almost a whole year until this day came.

It's only a week before Juliet and Phillip's first anniversary and she feels really excited.

How did one year pass, she asked herself.

"Jul, where are you?" she heard her boyfriend looking for her and the second he opened the door and the view of his reward as he calls her is there.

A reward from hard work days.

A reward so beautiful and feminine and graceful and innocent.

And his.

Juliet is all his not only in a physical way but mentally too.

"Hey, Phil." she greeted him seductively, as she was lying on her side with the robe but it was exposing her medium-sized breasts and a little bit from her thighs.

The man bit his lower lip.

Her curly dark ginger hair, deep brown eyes and the beautifully curved body. She looks like she came straight out of a painting.

"Neither Picasso, Da Vinci or Michelangelo could come up with an art like this, my God." he sighed at the perfection and Juliet laughed.

His romantic comments always come up with a little smartness in them too and she loves this so much.

One of the million things she loves about him.

"Are you coming or you are just gonna sit there and watch?" she giggled, he didn't wait for a second invitation and started undressing himself.

Juliet arched her back, letting out one long and deep moan from the ecsatic pleasure her boyfriend provided for her once again.

They are in a lap dance position which is Juliet's personal favorite because she feels most connected to Phil.

There is everything - intense eye contact, skin to skin, unlimited touch access. Also, she noticed this specific position brings her the most explosive orgasms.

present

Right now she is in the almost same position with Roman but instead of being face to face, Monique's back is facing his chest.

Roman's right hand was on her clit, rubbing on it and his left hand was on her breast. His face dangerously close to her head.

"I want you to cum for me, Bambi." he whispered to her ear and just like a citizen obeying to his king, her body sumbitted to Roman's orders, making her scream from pleasure.

Monique has never heard herself like this. She didn't realize she could sound like this.

6 months ago

"I love you." Phillip breathed out when they were both normalizing their breaths from the orgasms.

"I love you, too." Juliet replied and the couple exchanged a sweet kiss. "Shower together?"

"Of course." Phil replied and she got up from him, going to the bathroom but suddenly his phone rang. "Jul, I have to take that, it's important. You go or prepare the bath."

"Okay." she replied, understanding his busy nature. Juliet is very used to this that they cannot enjoy their alone time with no interruptions. That's one of the burdens women have to get used to if they get themselves a rich man.

The redhead decided she will prepare the spacious round bath but she didn't know what bathbomb to use - the cherry one or the vanilla one, so she decided just to take the two of them and go back to the room to ask Phil which one he prefers, just to point with his finger.

When she got close to the door already, she heard him slightly shouting, sounding angry.

"I don't care. Just kill him. I can't let him expose me. I don't give a shit how you do it. I just want him gone." he snapped and definitely hung up the phone.

And just like that Juliet's whole world crumbled in pieces, knowing that her boyfriend lied to her all along and is apparently a killer.

present day before Roman and Monique's meeting

Roman is in his office right now reviewing contracts from multiple companies that want to work with the one he is representing.

"Have you heard?" one of his colleagues, Richard, got in the office unnanounced.

Richard is closest colleague of Roman...sort of. He is ten years older than the Samoan man with a bit more experience in the field. Richard's hair is silver gray and his beard starts to become white.

"I didn't hear you knocking, no." Roman moved his eyes to his colleague direction for a second and then got back to reading.

Richard rolled his eyes.

"Vires Law are organizing an event." the elder man came to Roman's desk and threw him an invitation.

"Virus Law?" Roman said the inside joke. These are one of the biggest rivals of the company he is working at - The Powerhouse.

"Yup. An event like no other. They are gathering all the lawyers from the big companies - us, TL Group and and CLS for a weekend in Sunrise Manor." Roman was so confused because all of this sounds extra random.

"Yeah, pass." he said and proceeded with his work.

"Two nights in a luxurious hotel. Night one is the event and hiking in the next day. They planned everything." Richard continued explaining.

"Cool. I am still not interested." the working man shrugged.

"You are not but everybody else is. You gotta come, I already signed us." Richard almost started begging.

"You signed me against my will?" the long haired man started to get angry. "What made you think I want to spend a second with these people?"

"Take it as a fun time, Roman. Escapism. Breaking the rules. Whatever." his friend continued convincing him.

Roman scoffed in annoyance.

"It's late to unsign myself, isn't it?" he asked and Richard nodded his grey head. Roman felt defeated.

"I also signed us with plus ones." he continued.

"What?!" the big man yelled and got up from his chair.

"I am taking my wife."

"Jo is gonna hate me. A teenage girl with lawyers, hell no." Roman ran his hand through his forehead.

"Then think about taking a date." Richard shrugged innocently.

"If we weren't in an office, I would have whooped your ass hard, hope you realize that." the fiery Samoan man snapped at his elder friend and then started thinking about Monique.

now

Monique and Roman started dressing up since it's time to leave the room. She makes sure their sessions don't last more than an hour because it will create a lot of suspicions.

"Hypothetically, if I want to take you for the whole weekend, how much it would cost me?" now this is a question she has never seen coming.

"Hypothetically, I have no idea." she replied. Monique is very confused why he is asking this. Does he want to take her somewhere for the weekend and spend more time with her?

"I need a favor." Roman started speaking. "A rival company organized a lawyer weekend and my dear colleague signed me up with a plus one without even asking me."

"Okay and what am I supposed to do?"

"To come with me and be my date. I will pay you. Name the price."

"Wait. All of this sounds absurd. First of all, why are you asking me, a stripper, when you can have every woman do the same for free? Second of all, I am not a woman for rent." Monique didn't know how to feel about this whole situation. What she does know is that she doesn't want to spend time with him, learn about him or things that could make her attach.

"First, because I want you specifically and second, I know you aren't woman of rent but this is an easy way to earn some more money. I pay you solely to come with me and just slightly pretend you are my girlfriend." Roman gave precise answers and Monique took a second to think about it. "It's a favor I am going to pay for."

"I don't know. I usually work at Fridays and Saturdays." she said but Roman knows her schedule all too well. "I have to ask Samuel if he is gonna give me two free days."

"I will negotiate with him if I have to. I am ready to spend obscene amount of money. More than you would earn for two nights in here." Roman clarified as he got dressed and gave Monique a cheeky wink. Then he started fixing his bun.

"Okay, Richard Geer." the stripper rolled her eyes, sensing the Pretty Woman reference Roman just did.

"You are a loyal client." Samuel smoked from his dark brown cigar as he looked at Roman. They are in his cabinet.

Samuel is not the strip club owner stereotype of the fat, musty drug addicts who abuse their girls and do illegal stuff. He is actually a decent looking man, pretty much - he fixed his receeding hairline and now he has a voluminous hair for a person his age, he also dresses pretty formally and his manners are decent.

"I have never had a case like this." the boss was in a state of shock when the man and the woman explained him the drill. "So Fridays and Saturdays Bambi usually makes approximately two thousand dollars, sometimes even more." I usually get 40% of that."

"In this case she is going to work outside of this place, so don't you think you gotta lower the percentage a little bit?" Roman challenged the boss and he squinted his eyes at him.

"But you want to take her away from the place she is supposed to be and that means I am gonna be at loss."

"You have other employees who are gonna make up for the loss." Roman shrugged. "How many girls work a night?

"Ten."

"So if one girl earns one thousand a night, that means you take four thousand, just from the girls' hard work."

"Sometimes less, sometimes even more."

"Okay. So you will get to this amount of money with or without Bambi for those two nights. Therefore, not a single cent from what she makes outside of this place belongs to you." Roman concluded and Samuel was standing there speechless trying to come up with a clapback.

"Does she have a contract or something? Let me check that up." Roman requested.

"Who do you think you are, young man? Are you a cop or something?" Samuel started to get irritated by this loyal client.

"Just a lawyer. And if I, by any chance, understand that you hire people with no contracts or exploit them, I might do several phone calls and this whole place will be closed." the big Samoan man not only can intimidate with his looks but also with his words. "I have a friend. We call him The Hound. Do you know why? Cause he is famous for smelling businesses where workers are being exploited. Shall I?" Roman pulled his phone.

"No." Samuel yelled. "Sir, please, let's keep the good tone."

"So do we have an accord?" Roman stood up from the chair.

"Of course. Do whatever you please."

"That's what I thought." the lawyer flashed his beautiful smile at the defeated businessman and they exchanged a strong handshake. Roman Reigns is a person who spent almost half of his life dealing with businessesmen of all kinds but all of them had one fear - rules.

Or most specifically, being exposed that they don't play by the rules, so now he made sure that for this weekend Monique is gonna get paid and all the money goes for her and her only.

next chapter

[tribalauthor]

CHAPTER 4 •CONFESSIONS• (2.3K)

previous chapter

"I shouldn't be thinking about him", Monique said out loud as she was drinking her morning coffee in her beautiful studio apartment she rents in Paradise.

It's Sunday and what she does on this day usually is going to church. The most visited places in Las Vegas after the bars and the casinos are churches.

It's a city full of sinners after all. Monique is no different. There is a reason why it is common to go to church on Sundays. People have to repent for the sins they commited during the week and start all over again.

She has always been religious but ever since she came to Sin City, she started going to church mostly because she is doing confessions in front of the priest - Father Gabriel.

Juliet has to vent to someone, she has to share her deepest and darkest secrets. Her friends are not an option neither is the therapist. The person who would keep her secrets forever is only the priest. The secret of confession is the most powerful one and whatever she tells Father Gabriel, she knows it will die with him.

"Bless me, Father, for I have sinned." Monique was in front of the tribunal. She said this after she knelt down and crossed herself. "It's been two weeks since my last confession."

"Hi, Monique. It's been a while." the churchman spoke. They grew close together during these months. At the beginning she didn't expect him to be so acceptable of what she has been doing and so on. But that's his job - to listen to the people and don't judge. Kinda like her job in a certain way.

"I have a problem." she cut to the chase. "There's one client. I met him last week. He came in the bar for the first time. I danced a bit for him but then he asked me for a private session. He asked me if he could touch me and when I said 'yes' I let him do everything with me." Monique pressed her lips and from the little holes she could see the not so shocked expression of the priest.

"And do you regret, daughter?" he asked her.

"No, it was the best sex in my life." she replied and he cleared his throat from the word she just used. "I'm sorry. It was the best intercourse in my life."

"But you went against the work rules, Monique. That's not good." he started lecturing her.

"Screw that. That is not the problem. He came back again the other day and we did it again...multiple times. The problem is, father, that I might like him." Monique felt dirty saying all of this out loud. She was whispering but still she didn't like saying her thoughts out loud.

"Why do you like him? Is he a good person?"

"Father, I know nothing about this man except his name and his profession...and that he is a half Italian. That's what I know. Oh, and that God gave him a gift down there."

"Monique." the priest was triggered by what he was hearing. "You can't say you like a person you know absolutely nothing about."

"I know it's weird but I think that there is something that connects us." she tried to defend her feelings.

"Yes, lust. The fifth of the Seven Deadly Sins." he gave her a religious reply. "You can't rely on lust. Perhaps, because you needed...a special intercourse, that's why you feel this way."

Monique breathed out heavily. She knows he is right and she has no idea if this is comforting her or making her feel bad.

"You are right."

"If he comes to visit again, and asks for a private session, you have to decline." that won't do it.

"We don't decline to clients."

"Then you don't take your clothes off in that room and do only what you are supposed to." he gave another solution and now, Monique realized she doesn't like that idea. "The best way to deal with temptation is to fight it."

"But what if I like where we are and want to stay like this forever?" she asked a hypothetical question.

"This is impossible. Want it or not, you two are gonna learn about each other step by step and then you will realize if you actually like him or it's a pure lust. Not pure but you got me." the sinful woman hates how right is the priest.

"And I don't want a relationship especially after everything that happened with Phillip."

"And it's understandable, dear. You know nothing about this man. He may be a serial killer and you have zero idea. He might have a wife and kids at home sleeping while he is pleasing you. How would that make you feel?"

"I will just enjoy the ignorance." Monique shrugged and the priest shook his head.

"Ignorant people get what their foolishness deserves, but the clever are rewarded with knowledge."

"For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow." Monique fought back by quoting the bible. "Enough sadness, father. I just want to be happy for a little while. Maybe God sent me this man to feel something even just for a little bit."

"You are right. He is a test. A lesson." the priest agreed.

"That's all, Father. Thank you for absolution" with this Monique concluded her confession.

"Make sure to pray for forgiveness. Go in peace." these were his last words and Monique thanked him again.

As Roman was going back from the gym, as his usual Sunday morning goes, he passes through a bakery. Sunday is a cheat day. Furthermore, he is in a desperate need of water and perhaps another coffee.

When he is not at work, his style is really sporty. Right now he is wearing a black Nike hoodie and black Nike shorts, exposing his muscular thighs. The hair is in a man bun as always but this time it's a bit of frizzy.

Roman entered in the first bakery his eyes saw because he is hungry and thirsty. The place is pretty neat, smells of pastry mixed with a bit of coffee and as he saw the three tables available were all busy.

One of them was occupied by a mother with her little daughter which was dressed like a princess. Roman couldn't help but smile at that cutie, he loves kids.

On the other table there were two grandmas drinking coffee with milk and probably gossiping about the neighbourhood or their families.

And on the third table, he spotted a woman sitting alone. Brown, naturally curly hair, and a white dress with cherries on it from what he could see. She was having a smoothie and a croissant on the side, while reading a book.

Roman furrowed his eyebrows in puzzlement because this woman looks oddly familiar.

"What would you like, sir?" the cashier interrupted him and made him turn around to see the menu.

"Americano, cherry cupcake and a water, please." he ordered.

Since the place isn't very big, and since they were only women, his deep voice drew some attention.

As Monique was scrolling on her phone, she lifted her head up, thinking if she heard right. She couldn't mess up Roman's baritone voice and when she saw a big man with a manbun, she was 99% sure that's him.

A man like Roman is hard to be mixed up and she knows it. That voice, that hair and the physique can not be repeated unless he has a twin brother or something. Monique didn't like the way she was sweating from the anxiousness she started feeling.

Chill, he won't recognize you, she said to herself and proceeded with reading her book she bought on her way out of the church. It's named Original Sin and The Fall.

When Roman grabbed his things, he took a look at her again. Monique took a look as well, thinking he is leaving but no, he is standing right there, in front of her, staring. The second Roman saw her eyes, he knew who this was, so with full confidence he went to her table.

"Excuse me, Miss, is this seat taken?" he asked her.

"No." she replied and went back to read her book but she understood nothing. For a second English became a foreign language to her because of the strong heartbeats.

Roman sat, not taking his eyes off of her because she looks extremely different and a normal man probably wouldn't have been able to recognize her but he is an attorney after all. Plus, those big Bambi eyes cannot be confused with somebody else.

He also took a look at what is the woman reading and when he saw the title, he couldn't help but let out a quiet chuckle but no matter how quiet it was, Monique still heard it and took a better look at him.

Her client's sporty outfit made her assume he definitely finished an intense workout in the gym. She could tell he works out regularly ever since she sat on his thighs for the first time.

"Is there something funny?"

"Actually yes." he replied. "Are you like...living a double life or something?"

"It's none of your business, sir. We are strangers." Monique replied coldly. Of course, he would think this is funny, everybody would. Even she thinks this is all absurd.

"I don't think so. I know more about you than you can imagine...Bambi." now she is certain he recognized her. "About your body" he whispered this extra quietly, so only she could hear it.

How the hell did he manage to recognize me, she asked herself.

"Alright but whatever happens at the bar, stays there, Roman." she gave him a logical answer and he turned to the side, grinning at her nonchalance. "Business, remember?"

"I remember a lot of things but the one that sticks out to me is when you nodded your head with almost no hesitation after I asked you for consent."

Touchè.

She regrets making it clear for him that she doesn't sleep with clients and Roman looks like he is having fun. He decided it's time to try his cherry cupcake and he made sure Monique is watching.

The man wanted to look seductive in a way, so he literally ate it like he ate her cherry out the other day. Monique got some war flashbacks going on and there were tingles in her lower body.

"I love cherries, by the way. My favorite fruit." he remarked as he swallowed and then the woman took her croissant and took a bite aggressively, making Roman flinch.

"Non-working time." she said with her mouth full.

"Of course." he put his hands up in defence and she continued reading her book.

"Is the book interesting, Monique?" the second she heard her name coming from him startled her. Before she could ask how does he know her name, she saw that it's written on her smoothie cup.

"Quite." she replied with one word.

"What do you think is the biggest sin you have ever commited in your life?" he asked her. Monique started wondering if this is the same man from the sheets.

"Sleeping with a client...twice." she replied with a sharp tone and continued reading.

"Technically, it's more than twice." he corrected her and she gave him a blank look. "Like twice as a whole but if we start counting the rounds..." although Roman was speaking extra quietly, Monique still looked around to see if somebody is listening to their conversation.

"See, that's what drove me crazy for you ever since night one." he said as he just made a new discovery. "Your job is one of the most sinful but you still got that innocence in you perfectly mixed with fierce. That's exactly what drives a man crazy. I don't know if you know but you are a phenomenon."

"Thank you. Is that what you wanted to hear?" she raised her eyebrow.

"No. I am just saying how I feel about you." this sentence triggered Monique in the worst way possible because she stated she wants to live in ignorance about this guy. But it's like God is joking with her right now, sending Roman here at the same place she is at, talking with their mouths instead of their bodies.

"Okay." the nicely dressed woman nodded her head and drank from her smoothie.

"Aren't you gonna say how do you feel about me?" Monique was taken aback by this question because men do not usually ask this and if they do, they do it for manipulation tricks.

"Just a client."

"I'm not just a client if you let me be inside of you...more than twice, breaking the rules in work." he whispered.

"Don't act like you haven't broken the rules ever." Bambi looked at her client straight in the eye and crossing her arms.

"No. I live by the law. I'm a lawyer." he reminded her and she just laughed, knowing well he is lying about the first two things.

Two lies. One truth.

"Believe it or not, that's how things are."

"I think I like you more when we are at that room, almost no talking, just fucking." she whispered, although a part of her wanted to say this out loud.

"And aren't you tiny bit interested in what type of guy you are letting inside of your temple?" Roman challenged her again.

"No, because you know why?" Monique stood up, indictating she is leaving. "All men are liars." she turned around in her pretty dress which also made a turn on its own, looking like a princess, and left.

Roman was sitting there admiring the fading view, thinking that he suddenly likes her even more but also that she hides a lot of grudge and trauma.

next chapter

[tribalauthor]

CHAPTER 3 •AGREEMENT• (2.6K)

previous chapter

*18 months ago*

Phillip and Julliet are situated in Prime & Provisions restaurant. The atmosphere of this place takes you back to the glamour of 1920s mixed with a little bit of modern design. This type of place is unfamiliar for a woman like Julliet who was born in Roseland, not the richest neighbourhoods in Chicago.

Her parents are immigrants from Italy but sadly they were brutally killed by a drugged driver on the road, leaving Juliet an orphan at the age of 26. Three years passed so quickly.

She has no siblings, just her best friend from college - Diana. They graduated in Dancing at the Columbia University. Diana made a name for herself. She is one of the most famous professional dancers right now. Many people look up to her.

For Juliet, things didn't work out like this. She didn't necessarily wanted any fame or that kind of stuff. She wanted to create a dance school where she teaches kids and people of all ages how to dance the stress away.

To achieve that, she needed money, so she started giving dance classes in public schools but the income from that wasn't enough. That's why she started a second job as a bartender.

That's how she's been living for the past years, work and work. Now, she has a bit money collected but there is so much stuff she has to do in order to build that school.

One day, at her way to grab her morning coffee after the night job before the morning job, Juliet met a man who she had no idea would end up as her boyfriend - the infamous Phillip Brooks, who owns Inenergy - a company that is an operator of sustainable energy solutions.

Of course, she had no idea that this is actually him. Juliet isn't familiar of rich men, CEOs and so on. He is also significantly older than her bit that morning in the cafè sparks flew between them.

They have been seeing each other for a while and now they are in that glamourous restaurant. Phillip always took Juliet to nice places for their dates but this one, especially, is going to be really special.

While eating the extra delicious steak, the elder man started speaking.

"I like spending time with you, Juliet." he remarked.

"Thank you. I like spending time with you, too." she replied, flashing her beautiful smile at him which drives him crazy.

There is an obvious mutual physical attraction between them. On the one side, there is the beautiful brunette Juliet and on the other, the gracefully aging Phillip who visibly has plenty of charm left.

The nicely styled dark brown hair, gray-white beard, beautiful green eyes and pretty smile. He looked like a dream.

His maturity adds even more to the level of attraction. Juliet has been dealing with immature men all her life and suddenly, she meets a man like Phil and she is taken aback.

"I know my name is not Romeo but for I ne'er saw true beauty till this night." he, of course, quoted one of the most famous lines in Romeo and Juliet.

She laughed at his creativity.

"I am serious, Juliet. You are an amazing woman and I am a selfish man who wants you for himself only." he continued with the confessions.

Juliet's stomach flipped in the best way possible because Phil is just speaking so beautifully, obviously with sincerity.

"I know we have quite an age difference and I look like I am your uncle...sort of but would you be my girlfriend?" Juliet smiled at his comment of self irony and also just the way he is proposing her as a whole.

She thinks he is very cute especially for a man of his age and status.

"Lest that thy love prove likewise variable." she decided to reply with one of Juliet's most famous lines.

There was a big grin on Phillip's face. It's like sun just rised in the night. He really likes Juliet, there might be something even more than liking. She makes a man like him feel happy, forget about his work problems and loneliness.

And he makes her forget about the sadness and hollow in her life.

The same night Juliet received her first present as Phil's girlfriend - a big Cartier necklace that complimented the no sleeve black tight dress she was wearing.

He also made sure, of course, to drive her home safely with his black Lamborghini. They are in front of the apartment complex which didn't look very modern or new but inside, Juliet made sure it looks cozy and neat.

Phillip didn't have any interest in checking out but he wanted something else. After the sweet kiss of goodbye that turned into a little makeout session, he said:

"Pack your things, tomorrow you come to live with me."

"What? Isn't it too early?" she was taken aback.

"Do I look like a man who has all the time in the world, Juliet? Plus, I want to make your life the most comfortable it will ever be, so please." he grabbed her hand slowly and kissed it.

Then they started kissing again.

The same night was a way more different for the Reigns family. The 3-member family was gathered for dinner and it's been a couple of days since Roman caught his wife, Willow, cheating on him. They decided to tell Josephine the news.

It was all silent and the spouses were exchanging some looks, trying to decide who to start the conversation.

Roman was certain that it won't be him because he wasn't the one that cheated. Despite everything he stayed loyal to his family. Yes, he knew Willow isn't the love of his life but she gave birth to his daughter, after all, so there was a major respect in him.

Settlement too. He didn't care about finding his true love because he had a family to provide for. Roman just made sure to work hard and earn enough money, so he can take care of his daughter and his wife who had to sacrifice her education and youth to give birth.

Willow is an attractive woman - brown skin, honey blonde curly hair, hazel eyes and body like a goddess. Sixteen years ago Roman went head over heels for her, she liked him as well and one night they hooked up at the campus party.

They had no idea, however, that this hookup would result a child. Not only that, it was too late for abortion, so Willow had to stop her education. She, as Roman, wanted to become a lawyer, but only one of them succeeded in achieving their dream.

When all of this happened was sadly, when they realized what they had was pure mutual attraction and nothing more. People say you can't be with a person if you are not slightly physically attracted to them but you also can't be with a person with whom you are solely physically attracted to.

However, they had to try and be tolerable towards each other since they are about to raise a kid together.

Sixteen years later, Willow continues being a very hot chick. Men still go crazy over her whenever she goes out, with or without her daughter. She met her new man at the literature club she is attending.

He is a literature professor in University of Nevada. The way he was talking so smartly and the way he was sharing her viewpoints about the books made her fall for him. He wasn't more beautiful than Roman, but still had charm.

Enough to go against her morals and cheat on her husband for months.

"Your mother wants to tell you something." Roman spoke as he looked at his beautiful daughter. He loves her to death.

This is the most precious human being for him and he is trying his best to be a good father. Looking at Josephine, she resembles him a lot but she has her mother's smile.

A smile that cannot be seen right now because the girl was sensing something is not okay.

"Am I gonna have a little brother? What's going on?" she asked, seeing her parents don't spill the beans although her father is a lawyer.

"No." Willow replied. During those years they've been thinking about a second kid but many people told them it's not gonna solve their problem. "Me and your father are going to part ways."

"What? Why?" Josephine's forehead wrinkled because she didn't see this coming, for sure.

"Because she met the love of her life." Roman replied and Willow looked at him, mad because of his choice of words.

"What do you mean 'love of your life', mom? Isn't father enough for you?" Josephine started screaming. Sixteen is a fragile age - puberty, hormones, boyfriends, friend break-ups, and now adding a divorce.

While Willow was searching for words to say, her daughter got off the table to go to her room.

"Great choice of words." she looked at her husband with hatred.

"Did I lie, though? She deserves an explanation." Roman crossed his arms. "She is not a little kid anymore and what I hope for is that her mental health doesn't get damaged."

So Roman made sure to find the best therapist for his little girl.

*present*

All the trauma Juliet and Roman have been through is being temporarily erased when they were having sex.

They are in the same room again, in a lap dance position, thematic for their situation - a stripper and a client but with benefits.

Client with benefits - another new term for a relationship between a man and a woman.

Both of them craved for each other and honestly, Monique didn't expect Roman to come back whatsoever and even that soon after their first intercourse.

On the other hand, Roman didn't expect Bambi to agree to another private session while according to her words, it's not allowed.

The horny people were having unprotected sex again since they shouldn't leave any trace.

Once they finished, moaning and groaning from the pleasure, they fell on the bed facing each other, normalizing their breaths.

It's insane how after the animalistic sex they have, you can spot intimate moments, too, like they've been together for some time but they are not.

It's like an addiction. Some people cope with alcohol, some with cigarettes, others with drugs but Roman and Monique cope with sex.

Only with each other.

"Sometimes I wonder if you really have back and knees or that's an optical illusion." Roman implied the flexibility of his...his...what is Monique to him?

Friend with benefits? No, they are not friends. They know nothing about each other except their names and jobs, yet he doesn't know her real name...even less her birth name.

Acquaintance? Not exactly. Acquaintances know basic information about each other with tiny bit of details but have no idea how they look like without their clothes on.

Somebody should invent a word for knowing only a person's body but not the soul. The word would describe them perfectly.

Monique smirked faintly at his remark.

"My job requires it, yes."

"And if your boss finds out about this..."

"I am probably gonna be fired but who cares?" Roman was surprised at her nonchalance.

"Well, probably your wallet." the lawyer replied.

"I am gonna find another bar, not a big deal. We are in Sin City after all." Monique shrugged and Roman downturned his mouth, agreeing with her.

"But you gotta tell me where your new job is." he said and the stripper laughed out loud.

"Of course. Will do."

"We need a contact information for that, though." oh, so he is searching for her contacts now. He is right but Monique gave him a suspicious look. "I'm not gonna bother you...unless you ask me to."

Monique chuckled at his explanation. She eventually got up, separating her private parts from his. Maybe both of them haven't realized they were still body in body until now when the dancer got up.

She went to the nightstand, looking for a paper and pen to write down her number. However, she bent in order to grab the needed stuff not realizing her butt is facing Roman.

He licked his lips, enjoying the view of Bambi's perfectly shaped behind. The impulsive thoughts were telling him to go and fuck her again, the conscious ones, however, told him to calm his dick down, indicating there might be something wrong with him.

Once she wrote her number on the little piece of paper, Monique turned around and was surprised Roman still isn't dressed, his eyes were sparkling.

"If show was a person, it would be you, goddamn." he groaned, biting his lip. "You are such a trouble."

"Trouble? What did I even do?" Bambi played dumb, getting closer to him, giving the little list. "Business only, okay?" she specified again the reason she is giving her contact information to him.

"Business only. I can even prepare a contract if you want and next time I am gonna bring it." Monique laughed at how funny this guy actually is. Very funny for a lawyer. "Or leave me an email and I can send it to ya."

"No need of contracts." she replied and caressed his muscular shoulders. Monique loves Roman's body - it is way too perfect, some people may say it's a bit too muscular but that's how she likes her man.

Phil also had quite the muscular body. Similarly to him, Roman is also tatted but just one big tattoo which almost resembled an armor. Monique thought it's cool.

The lawyer noticed a tattoo the last time on Bambi's underboob but it was written in cursive and he couldn't read it quite well. Now that she is sitting in front of him, almost on his lap, he took a better look at it - La vita é bella or translated in English 'Life is beautiful'.

"Are you Italian?" he couldn't help but ask.

"Yes." judging by his look, she knew he saw but how does he know it's Italian. "How'd you know it's Italian?"

"My mother is from there." Monique was surprised that they share ethnicity...or at least half. Mother is Italian but father has to be and islander or something because that man is extra huge. However, Monique didn't want to ask any questions.

"I could never guess." she confessed and then Roman placed a kiss on her beautiful yet small and elegant tattoo.

Monique liked it. She could do this for another few hours, it's a beautiful moment but she has to ruin it.

"It's time for me to get back to the stage." and she did it, she ruined everything or at least she thought she did.

"What if I pull out more money and you stay here?" the loyal client asked as he started kissing Monique's soft skin around her breasts and stomach.

She was dazed by the way this man wants her.

Am I that good or is he as lonely?, she started asking herself. When you see how this man looks, walks and talks, nobody could guess he is lonely. But another lesson she learned is that men who come here are in fact, lonely - not necessarily in a physical way, but more like mentally.

Thus, her assumptions about him seem to get more and more prone to be the truth but her question is "What or who made him feel like that?"

"Okay, Mr. Attorney, we have a deal." Monique giggled and he pulled her on him, throwing themselves in the bed but then he switched positions, making sure he is at the top this time.

next chapter

[tribalauthor]

CHAPTER 2 •FLASHBACKS• (2.4K)

previous chaper

Monique had no idea that a simple nod can shake her whole life. Most specifically, the things that followed her nod. The sex she had last night, having zero business being this passionate, raw and...perfect.

It wasn't just one round. It also wasn't just sexual intercourse.

Monique's head was full of how good that stranger ate her out and made her scream from pleasure. And the way his a little too big stool filled her insides, almost making her feel like he stuffed the hollow in her soul.

Roman and Monique are on the red fluffy carpet having sex, her being on top. Using the insane technique in her hips, riding the enormous man like the bull he is.

She shook her thoughts away.

It was just sex, Juliet.

She is not completely sure if she really liked the sex with Roman or she just missed doing it in general...or she missed getting filled up by Phil.

Although their sex life was amazing, with love, passion and pleasure, doesn't make their relationship perfect.

Another lesson Juliet learned is that good sex shouldn't make her attach to a man and she decided to apply it now. Even less to a stranger. All she knows about Roman is his name and she might never see him again.

The man in question right now is at his best friend's wedding. It's one of those garden parties and there weren't too many people.

Roman got flashbacks of his wedding back in the day where all of his Samoan and Italian side were present and they alone were twice more the guests here.

But this flashback went away quickly. The constant repeating picture in his mind is last night with Bambi.

He understands why her nickname is Bambi - it's because of the eyes but in bed, she is far from that. She is a pure tigress. The way she moves, the way she tastes, the way she feels like. The man didn't expect to be left with such a strong impression.

A part of him even wants more. Although they had quite the session, he still wants more from her but he isn't sure if it's gonna be safe since Bambi had to go against the rules.

Monique is on top of him, letting out soft moans from the way he feels inside of her, her hip movements driving him crazy, ready to explode.

"Get off, I'm gonna cum" he warned her but she didn't listen to his order.

"No, no, no. You are gonna cum inside. There mustn't be any trace" she said as she continued smoothly moving up and down.

"Wait, is this really against the rules?" he asked with a little sign of concern.

"Yes. We don't have sex with-" the climax interrupted Monique's thoughts. Both of them exploded in pleasure.

Now that Roman is thinking about it, she better have contraceptives because the least he wants right now is history to repeat itself.

A crazy night with the hot freshman chick from his college 17 years ago cost him a daughter and a marriage.

Did he ever love his ex-wife? No but there was a sort of tolerance between them and somehow, they raised a child together.

What Roman didn't tolerate, however, was when he found another man in his bedroom more than a year ago. That's when a divorce followed up.

Right now, his ex-wife is living with that man and they juggle the kid from one house to another. Unfortunately, in situations like these, the ones who suffer the most are the children.

"You didn't say anything about last night." Frank interrupted Roman's flood of thoughts. Somehow, the group is together again.

Without Chris, of course, because he is enjoying his time with Amelia who became his wife.

"Whatever happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." Roman raised his glass, full of champagne and drank from it.

"Come on, that only applies to people who don't live here and use the city as an excuse of being sinful." the blonde man rolled his eyes.

"The woman just gave me a dance in private, that's it." he obviously lied and shrugged.

"You can't fool me, bruh." Bradley chimed in. "Look at you. That grumpy ass unc grimace is nowhere to be seen." Roman furrowed his eyebrows and thought if these are really the vibes he gives off.

"What?"

"You should thank us. We told you that all you need is a private dance if that's how it's called these days." Frank patted Roman on his shoulder and started laughing.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Let's enjoy the beautiful moment of our friend becoming a husband, shall we?" the divorced buddy suggested.

"Uh-oh. Bridesmaids at 12 o'clock. Gotta go. Samantha." Bradley left started looking for his wife.

"You're on your own." Frank said and left Roman to deal alone with another wave of single women who want to flirt with him.

When is this gonna end?, he asked himself

He turned around and gave them a wide grin.

"Hey, how are you?" they were three. All of them with beautiful dresses, not necessarily attractive or more specifically, not Roman's taste.

"Good, ladies." he took a good look at them. "What about you?" Roman hates small talks more than anything.

The ladies started explaining some stories for the wedding preparations from the bride's side point of view and he pretended he listened while his eyes were wandering around the garden, looking for his daughter.

Instead of a date, he brought his daughter with him exactly for situations like these. A lot of women are attracted to Roman but once he says he has a daughter, the ladies take a step back...some even more.

He spotted his daughter having conversations with teenagers her age and he prayed she turns around to see him.

"The makeup artist got stuck in a traffick and Amelia almost got late for her own wedding. Can you imagine if that happened?" the bridesmaids were continuing and Roman just threw them an empathic nod and phrases, still hoping his daughter to see him.

"We heard you are an attorney."

"Correct." he nodded his head and took another look and she was staring at him. He signaled he needs help and she was making her way to him.

"And you are probably very good." one of the women said in the most annoying way possible.

"The very best actually, and the money is big." he specified and the girls started giggling.

He is a corporate lawyer aka one of the biggest money makers in the law field. Working with the big shark companies and institutions, Roman really built a name for himself. One, because he is charming. Two, he knows how to talk about business.

But every person has his weaknesses. Roman's are small talks and temptation.

"Now all you need is a woman right by your side who would support you."

"I actually have one. My daughter Josephine. There you are." he seemed so happy to see her especially when she comes to save her dad from awkward situations.

"You have a daughter?" the girls obviously frowned.

"Yup. Jo, say hi to the ladies." he invited her and that's what she did.

"She is beautiful."

"She looks like you."

"Yeah, I get that a lot." Roman chuckled. His daughter truly resembles him - his dark curly hair but that's from her mother as well, her eye shape and smile, are all his.

Josephine is wearing a beautiful floral dress a little under the knees and her curly hair is styled into a half ponytail.

"Also beautiful name."

"Yeah her mother was obsessed with Napoleon and Josephine back in the day. Ever since we found out she is a girl, she declared her name is gonna be Josephine and I just submitted because women give birth, their choice." Roman put his hands up in defence.

"Respecful, too." one of the women sighed.

When they finally decided to go away and got the message, the dad thanked his daughter.

"You can't expect me to always save you, dad." she rolled her eyes playfully.

"You want some of these women to be your stepmother?" he asked back, knowing the answer.

"No but you should learn alone how to get out of these situations. You are a lawyer." Josephine reminded him.

"You are my best weapon." he remarked and kissed her on the head.

Chicago, Illinois

"Phill, it's been over three months, you should get over Juliet already." Bambi's ex-boyfriend was having a night out with his most trusted partner, John.

"No. I can't. How am I supposed to move on from the woman I love the most? Especially after she ran away and all she left me was a note." the attractive elder man still thinks about Juliet.

During these months, he got sent pics of women who kind of resemble her but they weren't her. Little does he know, she changed her appearance a bit.

"I start to wonder if she is even alive at this point." Phil said in a worried tone. "What if something happened to her? What if on her way to escape she was killed or kidnapped? What if there was a shooting somewhere? She might be dead and I don't even know." he tried everything to keep his composure since he is out in the bar.

"Or she just got out of the country and started a new life. She used you to collect some money and start again somewhere else, maybe even with someone new." John threw his point of view but he just can't see his best friend like this.

"No." Phillip was in denial. "She loves me. There is also no way she is out of the country since no airport has data of her getting on a plane. Juliet is here, somewhere in the country and I will go through every state possible if I have to until I find her."

He can't rely on institutions like police or FBI for help because he is their target, so he can only rely on his people around the country to find the love of his life.

"There is nothing more dangerous than a man in love." John sighed and drank from his whiskey. "I miss the old Phil when we used to have fun. Ever since you got with that woman it's like something possessed you and when she left, you went completely mad. Look where you got, Phil. You are at the top. Everyone is at your feet. Don't let a woman ruin you." as his best friend, who has known him for decades, John has never seen Phillip like this, so he decided it's time to pour some wisdom into his best friend's graying head.

"Hello, gentlemen." two strippers with 6-inch heels just approached them, looking for clients to please. Phillip seemed so disinterested but little does he know that his dear Juliet is living the same life as them.

Las Vegas, Nevada

"Not gonna lie, I wanted to be the one dancing for that beefy daddy but he obviously liked you and you only." Vanessa spoke as the girls were getting ready for tonight.

"His friends were pretty, too but can't really compare with that hottie." Maria added.

"Yeah, instead I got on the one that never stopped telling me how much he loves his wife." the dark skinned woman rolled her eyes.

"And I was with the bachelor who isn't anymore. The wedding must have ended." Maria said.

"Oh, it was a bachelor party?" Monique asked confused since Roman didn't dive into any kind of explanations.

"Yeah. Didn't the hottie tell you?"

"His name is Roman." Monique replied with rolling her eyes.

"Oh, excuse me. We didn't get to learn this information. But you probably learned how big his dick is." Vanessa decided to be unhinged and Monique looked at her with horror.

"No. That's against the rules." she replied and she thanked Jesus that it's just the three of them for now.

"You can't fool us. It's written all over your face 'I had a good dick'. Maria said and Vanessa laughed.

Monique started thinking if it's really that obvious.

"Okay, maybe." she decided to speak up.

"Details!" Vanessa demanded.

"I don't really wanna talk about it. I might lose my job." the brunette woman said with fear.

"Oh come on. Samuel doesn't care about that stuff as long as we earn money and from what I saw Mr. Roman stacked you a lot." Maria is a very, very observant woman...even a little too much but that's typical for Slavic people.

"Okay, what do you wanna know?" Monique surrendered.

"How big is it?" Vanessa asked.

"No. How he works it? Size is not important." Maria opposed.

"Obviously he works it good. Look at her."

"Well I didn't pull out a ruler. But it was quite painful at first. He made sure to give me a good preparation for it." Monique giggled as she was speaking.

"Foreplay? Oh my God. For paid sex? Men don't even do it when they get it for free, my goodness." Maria was taken aback.

Monique felt how Roman started touching her down there as she took her clothes off and that brought a surprise to her.

"Oh, so you think because I paid for this, I'm gonna fuck you like an animal with no foreplays and just couple of thrusts and leave?" he immediately sensed what her eyes were saying.

"Well..."

"Okay, little missy. You want me to make a statement for you. You will get it." the horny man said with threatening tone as he continued with stroking Monique's pussy that was already crying out from Roman's touch.

Now that she is thinking back, maybe he fucked her so good because of that surprised look she gave him and really wanted to prove a point that he is not like typical men who pay for sex.

Or he had something to prove to someone else. Another woman perhaps. It is pretty common for men to have sex with women through other women. Therefore, this could be a big possibility.

"Girls, don't make me think about this, aghh." Monique really didn't want to have any memories because when she starts thinking how good this sex was, she starts yearning for more, and something like a hope that Roman comes back again...one day.

next chapter

[tribalauthor]

CHAPTER 1 •BAMBI• (2.7K)

Working as a stripper is not a job that can be described as pleasent of fulfilling...at least not by the majority of people. For Monique, however, this job is exactly that.

She likes her new life in Las Vegas - flexible work, time for herself, new friends and most of all, good money. No need for a second job because the income is more than enough.

Especially for women like Monique Davis - long brown hair, perfectly curved body, long legs, her slightly done chest and natural lips but the highlight of her whole self must be her big, brown eyes.

Her stage name is Bambi for a reason. Those brown eyes captivated so many clients of the Honeys bar but they also once captivated one of the biggest CEOs in Illinois and the country as well - Phillip Brooks.

However, he doesn't know about Monique Davis. He knows about Juliet Ricci. And he still yearns for her, looking for her high and low in the past three months.

She wonders if he finally moved on and found a new woman to obsess over. She hopes he did because she doesn't want to see him ever again.

Juliet has changed so much that even if he finds her, he won't be able to recognize her. Her once ginger, naturally curly hair is now dark brown and straight, her body leaner and more fit than ever but what will shock him the most won't be on the outside.

At least in relationship aspect. She is very dedicated to her job and being a stripper taught her a couple things:

The sweet, lovely and sensitive Juliet transformed into the heartless Monique.

a) all men cheat

b) they are lonely as heck

Some of the clients who paid for private performance, didn't actually pay to watch her dance. They just need someone to vent to and sometimes a stranger is the best option.

Therapists should start fearing strippers. These women may break marriages but they also fix ones.

Ever since she left Phillip, Monique decided no more relationships, no more sex, just dancing seductively and make money.

Aside from her job, she also made new friends who she loves so much. But do they know about her past?

No.

Nobody does and it will stay that way. Who is ever going to confess being an actual ex-girlfriend of one of the biggest mafia in the country, changing her name and escaping from him, so he could never find her.

That's not an information you just spill. Although she is very close with her friends, she mustn't bring them into this at all. It's for their own safety because she knows best what Phillip is capable of.

Another thing Monique learned is that a man is the most dangerous creature.

He can pretend he is the biggest gentlemen, owning a business which helps the environment hence earning the love of the people but in reality, he is a criminal.

Of course, she didn't know all of that when she started dating Phillip. This is something she learned by accident.

She knew about the big age difference they had which is 16 years but that's literally the least of the problem.

"Monique, can you pass me the brush?" Vanessa yelled out, getting Monique out of her thoughts.

The girls are getting ready for another show night.

"Sure." she replied and got up from the fluffy chair. Their makeup room is amazing. Probably the brightest one in the whole building with the big shiny mirrors and messy desks full of make-up, lotions and perfumes and of course, wardrobes which store the provocative outfits of the dancers.

Vanessa is a dark skinned woman with super long curly hair which she mostly covers with wigs, the perfect curvy dream all natural, big brown eyes and natural full lips. Her nose, however, might be slightly done.

She is 29 years old, just two years younger than Monique.

"I think I did my eyeliner too thick." Maria spoke with disappointment and turned to us to look at her.

She is like one of those Slavic dolls - natural blonde hair, deep blue eyes as the ocean and skinny body but in a perfect way and unnaturally big lips. Maria is really loved as well.

All of the girls receive lots of attention since every man has a different cup of tea. Nobody is ignored, nobody is cut from money.

"You literally look stunning, Mimi. You are being overdramatic." Vanessa rolled her eyes.

Maria's phone rang.

"Hey." by the way she changed her voice, the girls judged this is the man Maria's been seeing for the past few weeks.

They exchanged some helpless looks knowing that this relationship is doomed to end.

"Let's switch it up for tomorrow night." she suggested. Yup, she still hasn't told him what her job is.

"Bye." she hung up.

"So when do you plan to tell him?" Vanessa asked.

"I don't know." Maria sighed. "I really like this man and I kinda don't want to lose him. I know I gotta tell him sooner or later.

"Actually, I agree." Vanessa said.

"Or just don't." Monique shrugged and her friends looked at her crazy. "Men can lie to us, live a double life and other crap, so can we."

Lights are dimmed, music is on, girls are dancing, men are all gathered.

The dancers were moving sexy on the poles, money flying across the bar and cigarette smoke fighting the remnants of normal oxygen.

Just like every night, the girls are killing it with their hypnotic moves and perfect bodies.

A group of four men walked into the bar. They are about to have a bachelor night out. However, only one of them is happily married. One is in a miserable marriage, the other is divorced and of course, the future groom.

Quite a group.

They went to the table with the leather couches they booked. All of them are around the same age - in their late 30s, and honestly they look like complete gentlemen. Not that you can't find gentlemen in this type of place but still, it's an important remark.

"I want you to take a good look at this place, Chris." the miserable man whose name is Frank, started explaining to the bachelor. "Enjoy it to the max because once you say 'yes' tomorrow, you are only going to dream about the view in front of you."

The thing with Frank is that he is the typical stereotype of a married man. Is his marriage that bad? No. He is just a bored man, his wife is too but they don't do anything to resolve this. He is somewhat attractive - natural dark blonde hair with not so long blonde beard, blue eyes. Even if you don't like your men blonde, you would think he is cute.

The future husband is almost like a prince. Prince Eric, to be exact, but with a beard. He has his eyes, slightly longer hair and nicely trimmed beard. His future wife is a lucky woman.

"Oh, Chris, don't listen to him. Once you and Amelia start a family, you won't even have the time to think about places like these." Bradley tried to bring positivism. He is a dark skinned man with short, black hair and big brown eyes. He is all glowing and you can tell he is a happy man, in love.

"If she is the right one." and here is the divorced buddy - Roman. The Samoan genes make this man stand out a lot since he is over 6 feet tall, big and has an immaculate face card. Long, black hair that he mostly ties in a man bun, dark brown eyes and a beard that is slowly but surely becoming gray. It's also longer than his friends' yet it suits him well.

Although those men are dressed in pretty similar styles - trousers and dress shirts, their views about marriage are incredibly different.

"Of course, she is." Chris said.

"Now we gotta get one last lap dance for you." Frank remarked as he glued his eyes to the dancers. All ten of them were dancing at the polls, making a man wish they could experience a woman like these. "Which one of these girls stands out to you the most? It's on us." he slapped the bachelor's shoulder.

"Lap dance? Oh no, no. I will just watch from afar." Chris replied and all his friends laughed at his face.

"Wow. Amelia got herself a loyal man." Roman wiped his formed tear. "If only you knew if you get this energy back."

"If you don't do it tonight, you will become like him." Bradley threatened Chris as he pointed at Frank. "Is this what you want?"

Chris just shook his head.

"It's your last night as a bachelor. Enjoy it." Roman advised him.

"What about you, Don Juan? Somebody grabs your eye?" Frank asked his divorced friend.

In the meantime, a waitress came with a bottle of whiskey and four glasses for the men and they all thanked her.

"Y'all know I am beyond that stuff." Roman waved his hand when she left.

"Oh, excuse me." Frank rolled his eyes. "Have you even touched a woman since the divorce?"

"I don't want a relationship." he made it clear and the woman raised her head slowly, so she could face him and there was rage.

"I want us to be together forever" Emily sighed as she had the best sex of her life. The blonde woman cuddled into Roman's huge, muscular arms.

This phrase is the most painful a man can say...especially after you give him your time and most importantly, your body.

But Roman is a freshly divorced man. How is he supposed to want a new relationship? He just saw Emily at the bar, liked her at the time and slept around, no serious intentions.

So with no more time wasting, he got up from the bed, dressed quickly and left, without looking back.

"Well, then we are at the perfect place. Who is less serious than a stripper? Nobody." Frank continued the discourse. "Have fun, friend." this was his last sentence before the men had a toast for the bachelor.

"One but she wanted to get serious but I was like 'nope'". Roman briefly told about his situation with no details.

As the men were laughing at their dumb jokes, and the alcohol started slightly but surely kicking in, they felt they aren't alone anymore.

Four beautiful women dressed with leather corset bodysuits and insanely high heels were standing in front of them.

"Good evening, gentlemen." Maria called them and the men felt like they just went mute from the amazing view they are getting.

"Good evening, ladies." they finally said all together.

"Y'all need company?" Vanessa asked.

"I think they seem to do good without us, so maybe we should go." Monique said, putting on a show as if they are leaving.

"No." they all shouted.

Monique locked her eyes with Roman and she read in his look that he really wants them to stay. She started thinking if she ever saw such a good-looking man before.

All of these men are good-looking but he definitely stands out, she thought.

Monique threw him a tiny, seductive smile and he just patted his large thigh, indicating her to come and sit on him. She didn't waste any time and at first, she just sat on him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Roman is just amazed by the beauty of that woman and most definitely, her eyes. He examined her even deeper once she sat on him and he thought that's the most unique look he saw in a woman.

A stripper, so sinister yet her eyes radiate pure innocence. The man started feeling a fire igniting in his head. That woman is so perfect - her body, her hair, her face but the saddest thing is he can't touch her.

"What's your name, sweetie?" Monique asked him as she leaned a bit closer to his face.

"Roman." he replied and his voice is so deep that it sent shivers ti her whole body. "What about you, pretty?" he flashed her with his pearl-white smile.

"Bambi." Monique replied, as she leaned to him again, sensing the smell of male cologne and not the basic Dior Sauvage but the Givenchy Gentlemen. It was so good that Monique wanted to enhale him whole right now.

She just enhaled deeply from his neck without touching him in any way and she moaned.

"You smell amazing." she remarked and then looked at him again.

"Thank you." he started having a little thinking process that she probably says that to every client but he doesn't know that Monique really meant it this time.

Now, she sat all over his crotch, towering over him and never leaving his gaze. The woman just gave him a mute warning she is gonna start working.

She got up from him but just got to the front and started moving to the beat and making slow moves with her perfectly shaped butt.

Roman's biggest problem right now is that he wants not only to touch her but there are rules around here and he knows that. Perhaps that's the reason strip clubs aren't really his thing because when it comes to women, he wants to touch and to feel everything. Watching doesn't satisfy him at all. It just drives him even crazier.

When Monique turned around to face him, she got on her knees between his thighs and Roman put a fat wad of cash in between her breasts, going right in the corset.

"Do you give private dances, babygirl?" he decided he is gonna take his shot.

"Then can I request?" he pulled out another fat wad of money and there was a big smile on Monique's face.

"Of course." the dancer replied as she smirked. She, however, didn't have a clue about his not so pure intentions.

They got in a free room which is all in red with dimmed red lights, a pole, a black bed and black curtains.

This is not the first private session a client is asking her to do. Some just prefer to be in a more intimate place and just him and her. So this is no surprise.

"What I want from you is to lay there comfortably and leave the rest to me." she instructed him and got on the pole doing inhumane movements that Roman thought it takes years to learn but little does he know, Bambi is new to this business, so it didn't take her a lot of time.

There is something about the way he looks at her, that drives her crazy. Monique can't quite explain it - all men that come here look at her as an object, as an animal in the zoo but Roman's look was different.

Admiration is the closest description she could come up with. He doesn't look at her as a sexual object but like he's known her all his life.

Definitely something she has never felt from anyone here.

When she finished with the pole, she came closer to him again, she placed her thighs around his left thigh, sitting on it. It is quite comfortable.

Then she saw the look even more closely. Those big brown eyes full of lustful admiration but she could also sense a little heartbreak going on. He must have gone through something terrible and now he expects her to make him forget just for a little bit.

Funniest thing is that Roman sensed something similar in her, too. That the reason Bambi is working here might be very, very deep - lots of debts or ill family member but he could never guess the actual reason she is here.

It's not clear if they both realize that there is something that connects them - heartbreak. The cases are different but the pain is just the same. Coping mechanisms as well. Both of them let themselves to be consumed by work and call it 'home'.

For Monique that place is the bar, For Roman - court and office since he is an attorney. But right now they need something more than that and they are fully aware.

"Can I touch you?" he asked, almost sounding as a whipser. The second Monique nodded her head, giving consent, Roman grabbed her by her butt and pulled her for a deep kiss.

The tension between the man and the woman is so high that the furniture and the walls could talk, they would have spicy gossip sessions.

next chapter

[tribalauthor]

BUILT FOR SIN (fem oc with roman reigns and cm punk)

A/N: lowkey can't believe i am starting a second fanfiction. it is kinda like a spin-off for a story i wrote couple years ago and never posted (it wasn't even wwe related) but i was checking out my notes and thought about re-doing it. Also I did a little playlist for Roman and Monique/Juliet inspired by The Weeknd since I think these songs perfectly describe the characters and their relationship ✨️

story description: Monique is enjoying her new life as a stripper in Las Vegas, away from her toxic 16-year-older mafia ex-boyfriend, Phillip Brooks, who is still trying to find her. In the meantime, however, Monique meets Roman, a handsome lawyer, who sweeps her off her feet but neither she, or he is ready for a new relationship.

warnings: sexual themes, age difference, smut, violence

chapter 1 chapter 2 chapter3 chapter 4 chapter 5 chapter 6