The Billionaire's Redemption

"Spit it out, boy. I don't have all day." Richard banged his fist on the table.

Roman hesitated slightly as he gathered his wits.

"I want a raise," he said slowly.

"What?" Richard questioned him. He leaned back into his chair with a scowl on his face.

Roman twisted his fingers nervously as he stared at his boss.

"I need a raise."

"I heard you for the first time." Richard snapped.

Roman waited for him to say something but Richard kept mute and played with his phone.

"Sir?" Roman prompted.

Richard scoffed, "Why do I have to give you a raise? Are you more special than any employee here?"

Roman wanted to say he was one of the best employees, he had worked hard and benefited the company a lot in numerous ways, it was all facts, but he didn’t want to show off in front of Richard who disliked him already.

So Roman simply shook his head, "Sir, you know I have been loyal to the company and have worked hard, and I think I deserve a raise. Besides, my mom needs the money to continue her chemotherapy. It's been..."

Richard silenced him with a hand, "Save me your woes. I don't have time for it." he snapped.

Roman clenched his fist and forced himself to relax.

"What do I care if your mother is sick? Is that why I employed you?" Richard asked.

"No, sir," Roman answered.

Richard glared at him, "Now that you brought it up. There is no raise…

"And I am laying you off. You will be compensated for your time here of course. The company prides itself on taking care of its own."

Roman's eyes widened, "What? Why?"

"The company is going under and I need to lay off some workers."

"No, I have done nothing wrong!"

Roman felt like crying, but Richard shrugged.

"I can't afford to keep paying you. I have to let you go."

Roman clenched his fist again, "How much are you going to pay if I stay?"

Richard smirked when he realized he had Roman by the balls.

"$1000" he shrugged.

Roman's eyes widened, "No, that's too little. Please, sir, have mercy."

"There is nothing I can do." he turned back to his phone and ignored Roman.

"Richard, please..."

"Get out of my office if you came here to whine. Others would jump at this offer."

Roman thought long and hard. $1000 was a far cry from the normal $3000 they paid him.

Finally, he clenched his fists,

"I accept,"

Richard looked up with a grin, "That's my boy. I knew you would make the right decision." he clapped Roman on the shoulder.

He steered Roman out the door. "Now, if you excuse me, I have a visitor coming to see me. Make sure to lock up."

He shut the door in Roman's face.

Roman dejectedly dragged himself back to the employee lounge, he had no idea what he would do.

His mother was in urgent need of healthcare and he was hoping for Richard. would take pity on him.

Instead, he got the shorter end of the stick.

Roman cleaned up and clocked out. Before leaving, he needed to hand Richard the document he had asked for.

He walked to the other wing where Richard's office was. He stood at the door and remembered that his boss said he was expecting a guest.

He might be interrupting them. Roman didn't want to give Richard any more reason to lower his wage.

He shook his head and backed away from the door, intending to come back a few minutes later.

Just when he turned, he heard a giggle followed by a familiar voice.

"Richard, you treat me so well." the voice moaned.

Roman shook his head, maybe he was hearing things.

"Jessica darling, you’re as juicy as ever."

Roman couldn’t believe what he heard, and when reality sank in, he was more than furious. Without hesitating or knocking, he bumped the door open with great force.

And there in the middle of the room was his girlfriend and boss making out.

"You lowlife! Get out of my office NOW!" Richard roared in rage while Jessica quickly picked up her pink pants and put them on with slight fear and guilt.

Roman breathed heavily, his face red and smoking with anger, “You shameless b*st*rd! That’s my girlfriend!”.

"So what? You’re my employee! What’s wrong with the boss making out with his employee’s woman? I am just generously taking care of your girlfriend since you are not man enough." Richard sneered.

Roman felt uncontrollable anger seize him at Richard's words.

Without thinking, he charged toward Richard with his fist.

However, he found himself on the ground, pain exploded through his body. Turned out one of Roman’s men had thrown him into the wall.

Richard looked down at him with a sneer, "You are pathetic. You cannot throw a simple punch. What a loser."

He motioned for his men behind to pick Roman up.

"After all the money I paid you, you can’t even allow me to make out with your woman? How ungrateful! I will make sure you get punished for this." Richard let out a sneer-like chuckle.

"Go to hell," Roman spat. He promised he had never met someone as shameless and evil as Richard.

Richard chuckled and ordered his men, "Make sure to teach this bozo a lesson he would never forget."

He turned and left.

Roman was dragged outside like a ragdoll and beaten from head to toe. "Stop, please!" he croaked.

Soon, they left him lying there in pain.

Roman's heart and brain were broken.

He covered his face with utter pain.

He had not only found his girlfriend cheating with his boss, he had also offended the boss entirely which might lead to him losing his job anytime.

Now what? What was he going to do?

Just when Roman lay silently on his back, wondering what to do next, a luxury car abruptly stopped beside him.

His jaw dropped when an extraordinarily beautiful woman stepped out of the car and smiled at him.

She was wearing a classy dress, her lips painted red, and in a scowl.

"Are you Roman?" she asked.

Roman looked around to be sure she was talking to him and there was no other man named ‘Roman’ around.

"Yes, how can I help you?" he answered with unsureness. Who was she?

The woman looked at him carefully before she asked, "How would you like to work for me?"

Although full of suspicion, Roman's eyes brightened, "Yes, but how?"

The woman's lips lifted in a smirk. "Marry me."

Roman stared at the woman expecting her to burst into laughter and call it a bad joke but she just stared at him.

He burst out laughing even when his sides protested.

"Good god, I needed that.  You would not believe the day I have had," he said.

"I wasn't joking." the woman said.

Roman turned wide-eyed to look at her, "You are not?" he asked.

She shook her head. Roman ran a nervous hand through his hair.

It was crazy. A marriage proposal out of nowhere. 

He wasn't that desperate to get married to a stranger, was he?

"I am surprised you don't remember me." the woman said.

Roman squinted to get a good look at her. With her impeccable features, he knew he wouldn't forget such a face.

It didn't ring a bell.

He remembered everyone he had been in contact with, but he couldn't remember her.

"Huh? Do you know me?" Roman asked.

The wom