As much as I loved being home with Hannah, after another week of healing, I knew it was time to start our new normal. I had to return to work. Of course, that meant there had been enough time that past that every tabloid, newspaper, and broadcasting station was reporting on the FBI operation which brought down some of the biggest players in human trafficking in the States. And what news reporter didn’t love the twist of romance that Hannah and I brought to the story?

We had dipped our toes into the water of going out in public over the weekend, and it had been seldom that camera shutters weren’t sounding somewhere nearby. But hey, I would much rather be shot that way than in the kind that resulted in blood. I think I would live a happy life if I never again had to experience what it was like to be shot.

But, it was back to normal. Or rather, starting a normal.

Waking up at a quarter till five, I kissed Hannah’s forehead as she slept soundless before sneaking off downstairs. Finding my way to the home gym, I put my injury to the test through a workout. I did my best to avoid the area, knowing that the strain of moving around would be more than enough to test it without risking any further damage. Thankfully for myself, I managed to even work up a sweat without being in too much pain.

Then, it was upstairs for me for a quick breakfast that Geoffrey had prepared for me; eggs, bacon, toast, and a protein shake. Heading to the bedroom, I took a brisk shower, shaved, styled my hair, and put on one of my best navy suits.

As I fastened the cufflinks in the mirror, I stopped for a moment to admire myself. Damn, I looked good. It had been such a long time since I had been able to feel myself, and it was exciting. It was the same sort of feeling that I’m sure kids got on their first day’s of school. It was nothing special, but it was still enough to give you a nervous kind of positive energy.

Heading over to the bed, I glanced at the clock before kissing Hannah goodbye. She moaned happily and tried to tug me back into the bed, but I had to get going. I smiled and kissed her head again before gently prying myself away. That was a part of a morning routine that I could really savor. Heading downstairs, I snagged a to-go coffee from Geoffrey and headed to the car.

The sun was still in the process of rising when I started down the driveway, making the sky a beautiful gradient of deep orange, red, and a bluish purple. How could a morning be so perfect? It truly was the calm after the storm, even if it wasn’t how the saying went. I was excited for work the way I had been when I first started at the company.

Still, there would be people to face. People that had seen my name entangled with a human trafficking scandal. I wondered if anyone would have the wrong idea, or the faint of heart avoid me like the plague. I had known quite a few people in my day to believe when you were around things like serious crimes, you picked up that energy and carried it with you. Only to bleed negativity over others. That wasn’t the case with me, not that time. I was filled with an unbridled happiness and warmth.

Parking in my marked spot, I climbed out of my car and made my way toward the front of the building. Already I could hear the sound of footsteps stop, and then quicken. I kept my face forward, however, not wanting to be distracted or caught up in the blitz that was attempting to take hold. When I walked through the front doors of the building, the craziness outside was left behind a keycard swipe.

However, the lobby came to a still. I panned around to see entry-level employees, receptionists, and security guards all staring at me. I didn’t let it break me. I continued on my way to the executive elevator and as I passed, someone started clapping. As I stepped in and turned toward the lobby, I witnessed the whole lobby applauding. My face managed to stay flat until the doors closed. I smiled to myself, allowing myself to drink in the praise in private. It had always been something that was rather uncomfortable for me, and I normally didn’t think I was worthy of it.

But I let it wash over me. I had been a key component in bringing down some of the top human traffickers in the country. It was just a shame one had once been a friend. You think you know a person... I shook my head to rid myself of the thought.

When the doors opened to my floor, I was greeted by a group of the top executives. All of them were cheering, hollering, and even passing around Bloody Marys’ and mimosas.

"Roman! Think we can get together and talk figures?" one asked.

"Nah, Rome, come on man let’s take a few drinks back to my office and talk marketing," another spouted off.

Everyone in there suggested I take the morning to speak with them. I knew two things for sure. One, if I went with any of them, I would be drunk by noon and wouldn’t talk a single word of business. The second, there was only one man I wanted to see that morning. "How about everyone form an orderly line at my secretary’s desk, and we all get work-related appointments. If you think I’m going to spout off the same story to each of you, I’m afraid you’d be wrong," I called out in a friendly tone.

There was a collective awe of disappointment, but it didn’t bother me any. I peered through the crowd at the man I wanted to see. "Gerald, would you mind talking with me?" I asked, nodding toward the door of my office.

"Of course," he nodded.

We walked in and closed the door, leaving the other executives to party in my honor. Sighing, I walked over to my desk and gestured for Gerald to sit down. "I see you’re a man of reason," I joked, lifting up my own coffee. I was pretty sure we were the only two on that floor not drinking liquor at seven in the morning.

"Too early for me, almost always is," Gerald chuckled weakly.

I sipped my drink and then sat it to the side. Clasping my hands together, I looked at him with grave seriousness. "Can you tell me where we stand? In the public eye, the stocks... I haven’t been able to bring myself to look at them in a while."

"Fear not, Mr. Thaddeus," Gerald stated with an easy smile. "Things are fine. Actually, they are more than fine. The company is in a positive spotlight. Almost every day in the past week, the company has been mentioned in every major news outlet. The stocks have not only repaired, but have skyrocketed. I don’t our place in the market has ever been so healthy. Of course, it’s a bit of excitement right now so things will level off in a bit, but..." His smile grew. "You have absolutely nothing to worry about at the moment."

I relaxed back in my chair and let out a breath. "Well, that’s fantastic," I breathed. I soothed my hair and tried to calm my racing thoughts. It had been quite a bit since my mind had been such a mess in a positive way. I chuckled then and shook my head. "I just about feel like a drink after hearing that news."

"If there was anyone in the building who deserved a drink, Sir, it would be you," Gerald replied.

"Oh, cut the formalities Gerald. Call me Roman. Rome is fine if you’re tipsy or tired," I grinned at him.

"Sounds good," he laughed.

I sat there and drank it in for a moment, but I was filling alive with energy and pure giddiness. "I feel like I owe you a steak dinner or something," I commented.

"If anyone owes anyone a steak dinner, it would be me to you for making my job in PR so easy," he grinned widely. "I don’t think it’s every PR executive that gets to tell the press their boss is a hero."

A hero? That didn’t sound right. I wouldn’t have ever called myself a hero. As I thought about it, studied Gerald’s expression of admiration, and listened to the cheers going on outside the door, I began to ponder if there was anything else to call it. Hero wasn’t a title you gave yourself, but that others gave you. Was this what being a hero felt like?

I wasn’t sure what to call it, but it felt dizzying, confusing, and invigorating.