NICOLE

Roman hasn't taken his eyes off me since Esmeralda left the office.

I go between looking right back at him and staring at the floor as I try to make sense of what I just experienced. His staring isn't helping.

"Roman," I begin, "please stop."

"What can I do?" he asks tenderly as he finally closes the distance between us. It has probably only been a couple of minutes since she left the office crying but in my mind, it feels a lot longer. "Tell me what to do to make this ...