A dark expression briefly crossed Roan's face at the sight of Nova crying in front of him, right before he crouched beside her, a gentle and comforting hand on her hair.
He wasn't great with soothing and comforting but he made the effort anyway, noting that Nova quickly stopped crying. She peeked up at him, wet lashes clumped together, pale green eyes glassy.
"I'm really sorry about that," She murmured, sniffling.
He noted that she still kept her face hidden from him, "You say sorry too much," He lightly scolded.
Nova hid her face behind her hands, "I feel that way."
Roan silently gritted his teeth, taking his hand away from her hair and rising to his feet. "I hope you haven't forgotten my offer to listen-"
"Why?" Nova's voice cut him off and he glanced down to see her staring up at him, her face fully visible to him.
"I want to," He replied casually.
Nova seemed to have a difficult time, processing his words, a furrow in her brows.
Roan offered her a hand, "You'll bruise your knees."
Nova took his offered hand and let him pull her to her feet. Roan had to curb the urge to pull her up against him, instead leading her over to a chair.
"I just don't understand why you would want to," She fiddled with her fingers, avoiding his gaze.
Roan moved closer and tipped her face so she was looking at him, "You don't have to," He bluntly said, absently trailing his thumb over the soft skin of her face, taking his hand away reluctantly.
"You said you have nowhere to go so I have to insist that you stay here," He said in a firm voice that didn't give allowance for a protest. "I have way too many empty rooms anyway."
+
Nova couldn't say what pushed her to say it, maybe the shock was driving her mad, she would never know.
"My boyfriend broke up with me," She blurted out, looking the most surprised by what she said.
Although she probably sounded pathetic telling her boy problems to a billionaire, she didn't stop.
"And I found out he's been cheating on me with my best friend for years."
"Levi Thorne." Roan said in an odd tone, making Nova's eyes go wide.
She hadn't expected that Roan would know who she was talking about but she found that she didn't care if Levi's CEO knew about what an asshole he was, he deserved everything coming to him.
"I think what hurts the most is that I should have seen this coming," She continued with a sigh, tucking her legs under her. "Levi treats me like a live-in-maid these days and he's always going on trips with Stella… oh god, she's right," She muttered in a moment of realization, followed by self-deprecating laughter. "I'm so stupid-"
"You're not," Roan's sharp tone cut into her monologue.
Nova had almost forgotten she had an audience, mostly talking to herself at that point. Roan's curt words made her fall silent, she could hear the power he carried in that simple sentence even though it wasn't exactly directed at her.
"I shouldn't have said that," Roan added when her silence stretched on.
Nova shook her head, "No, you're right, and I should stop talking about them, they've already taken enough from me."
Roan's hand on her hair startled her, just like the first time he had done it. His movements were awkward like he wasn't used to comforting people, that thought was enough to make Nova smile. Maybe one thing had gone right today.
She caught herself then, realizing that she was seated in an ungraceful manner. She quickly adjusted, crossing her legs at the angles and scolding herself under her breath. "I'm not put together at all."
Roan didn't take his hand from her hair, "Who said you weren't?"
Nova was about to counter with something she would have usually said, something about standards and aspirations but she had none of that now, she had nothing. Roan's question had sent her spiraling, "But I'm not," She tucked her legs again, voice trembling.
Roan's hand paused in her hair, the other taking his hand away.
Nova truly felt like she was falling apart, she had fallen into a deep ditch, how was she supposed to get out all by herself? Would anyone even help her?
"Breathe," Roan's steady voice broke through the fog in her head.
Nova did as she was told, her panic fading away. Nothing was required of her, Roan had offered to let her stay for as long as she needed, she didn't need to be put together, she needed to breathe.
She didn't think she could ever thank Roan enough for all he had done for her, they had only met for a few hours but he had already done so much, it was unreal.
"Would you like to accompany me for a company dinner tonight?" Roan asked, interrupting her plan to appreciate him.
Nova blinked in surprise, not expecting this offer. A company dinner, did that mean that Levi would be attending?
Roan had a steady look in his eyes as he waited for her response, a look that made her shiver. Was he really about to make Levi pay? Did she want to be present for that?
"Yes, I'd be honored," She accepted without stuttering.
She didn't know what it was about her that caught Roan Reyes's attention but this was her one-in-a-million chance to get revenge - something Nova would never have considered before.
What was the use of sitting down and crying over something that had already happened when she was offered a chance to do something about it?
Roan looked pleasantly surprised by her acceptance, offering his hand to her. "We'll leave at 7 pm but before then, I'll take you to your room."
Nova frowned slightly at that, wondering what he meant by that. She took his hand and let him help her up, about to question it until she was swept off her feet, her train of thoughts coming to a halt.