<b>Chapter </b><b>90</b>
Dominic
I know I’m getting <b>a </b>little hostile right now, but Patrick is getting on my fucking nerves by constantly staring at Vanessa.
“I didn’t <b>say </b>you weren’t taking <b>care </b>of her,” he <b>says </b>with a nervous chuckle.
“Then what did you mean by that<b>?</b><b>” </b><b>I </b>raise my chin, my forehead creasing.
“I <b>was </b><b>just </b>saying that she deserves the <b>best</b><b>.”</b>
“And I’m giving her the best<b>.”</b>
“Obviously, that’s why she’s <b>so </b>happy. I’m sorry if <b>I </b>sounded like I was out of line. I just feel awful up until this day. I just want her to be happy after everything that I put her through.”
“She’s definitely happy with me. I’m sure you can <b>see </b>that.”
<b>“</b><b>Yes </b>and that’s why she always talks about you when we meet.”
“She <b>does</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>I <b>clear </b>my throat<b>, </b>the <b>creases </b>on my forehead fading.
“<b>Yes</b>, she does.” He slightly tilts his head, his <b>gaze </b>a little intense as he smiles. “Honestly, <b>if </b>I could go back in time, I’d do things differently with her and I’d never let her go. Thank the universe that time travel doesn’t exist.”
I can’t tell if he’s being serious right now or if this <b>is </b>supposed to be a joke. If it is, it’s definitely not funny.
The <b>air </b>is thick with tension between us and I don’t want it to carry on<b>, </b>so I change the subject.
“I’m curious about your current love life.”
“No, I haven’t been in a rtionship for so many years. I didn’t have the time or energy for it. I didn’t <b>see </b>myselfmitting to someone when I <b>have </b><b>so </b>much to <b>work </b>on and <b>I </b>still do.”
<b>“</b><b>I </b><b>see</b>.”
<b>“</b><b>Vanessa </b><b>has </b><b>such </b>a big heart. She <b>cares </b>and <b>loves </b>deeply.”
<b>“</b>She <b>does</b><b>.</b>” I smile a little<b>, </b>thinking about how the children love her so much.
“That’s why <b>she </b>offered to help me and I won’t <b>let </b>this opportunity go to <b>waste</b><b>.</b><b>”</b>
<b>“</b><b>You </b><b>better </b>not.” <b>I </b><b>get </b><b>a </b>little <b>serious</b>.
<b>“</b>She <b>could’ve </b><b>just </b>let me be with my job the <b>day </b>we met at the orphanage, but she offered to give me <b>a </b><b>fresh </b><b>start</b>. I’ve <b>never </be <b>across </b>anyone like her. I remember seeing <b>her </b>on TV when she went to the children’s hospital and had a problem with her leg, but she still went around to see everyone<b>.</b><b>”</b>
I <b>furrow </b>my <b>eyebrows </b>in <b>surprise</b>. “<b>That </b><b>means </b><b>you’ve </b>been seeing her around for a while<b>.</b><b>”</b>
“Of course I <b>have</b><b>. </b><b>I </b><b>just </b>didn’t <b>want </b><b>to </b><b>appear </b>before <b>her</b><b>. </b><b>I </b><b>asked </b>myself where I would even <b>start </b>and if she would be <b>nice </b><b>to </b>me. <b>I </b><b>guess </b>I <b>was </b>worried for nothing<b>, </b><b>because </b><b>here </b><b>I </b><b>am </b>now<b>.</b><b>”</b>
He looks outside <b>again</b>, stroking his chin with <b>delight</b>. I know he’s looking at her but this time, his <b>head </b>movements and <b>eyes </b>slowly change direction and <b>that’s </b>how I know she’s on her <b>way </b><b>back </b>inside<b>. </b>Doesn’t he <b>care </b><b>that </b>I’m right <b>here </b>and seeing this? I’d <b>call </b>him out for it, but <b>it’s </b>not like that’ll stop him <bter </b><b>on</b><b>.</b>
Now <b>that </b>I’ve seen him looking <b>at </b><b>her </b>so <b>lustfully</b>, I <b>have </b>this <b>desire </b>not to leave her alone with him.
“Hey<b>, </b>did I take too long?” she says as <b>she </b><b>approaches </b>the <b>table</b>.
“Not <b>at </b><b>all</b><b>.</b>” Patrick and I say in unison and <b>it </b>makes me look <b>at </b>him with a poker <b>face</b><b>, </b>then <b>back </b>at Vanessa.
<b>I </b><b>get </b><b>up </b>from <b>my </b><b>seat</b>, hold onto her chair so she <b>can </b>sit back down and <b>once </b><b>again</b>, she doesn’t <b>even </b>thank me. What the hell is going on with <b>her</b><b>?</b>
“<b>I </b>guess I came back <b>just </b><b>in </b><b>time </b><b>because </b>our order is here<b>!</b><b>” </b>she <b>says</b>, looking over at the <b>waiters </b>as they bring our food.
emo<i>”</i>
Before they <b>can </b>even set everything down at <b>our </b>table, <b>the </b>aromas get me
it’s on the <b>table </b><b>and </b>it’s just as it <b>appeared </b>on <b>the </b>menu.
<b>“</b><b>Well</b><b>, </b>babe<b>, </b>what do <b>you </b>think?” she asks.
“This looks amazing. I’m certain I’m <b>going </b><b>to </b><b>enjoy </b><b>the </b>taste<b>.”</b>
<b>1/4</b>
watering and <b>I </b>can’t wait to try it out. I look down at my food after
<b>Chapter </b>90
“Then <b>let’s </b>dig in,” she <b>says</b>, pulling her te <b>closer </b>to the edge. <b>Her </b>perky breasts <b>are </b>right above her <b>te </b>and it makes it hard not to look. In only <b>a </b>few seconds, <b>I </b>realize that <b>if </b>I’m looking, then Patrick’s looking, so I nce <b>at </b>him and it’s just <b>as </b>I thought. He keeps ncing at them.
“I hope you enjoy your meal,” he <b>says </b>to her with a smile, stealing another nce<b>.</b>
“I definitely will.” She chuckles.
I tighten the grip on my fork, stabbing into the beef. <b>Based </b>on their reaction, <b>it’s </b><b>a </b>little extreme, so I shift in my seat topose myself.
As the meat <b>gets </b><b>closer </b>to my lips, they both look at me in anticipation and I realize it’s because they want to see my reaction to the taste.
A few seconds after I taste the beef, I’mpletely blown away by the vor.
“Wow, this <b>is </b>the <b>best </b>beef I’ve ever had.” I nod with approval.
“I told you earlier that you’d enjoy it,” Patrick says, looking proud that I’m blown away.
While we all enjoy our food, he keeps talking to her about the funny moments from their <b>past </b>and I wonder why he’s doing this right now. He still has those lustful eyes each time he nces at her.
<b>Does </b>she even realize it? Of course she does. That’s why she was so close to him and let him hold her the way he did when she stepped out of the
<b>car</b><b>.</b>
“Babe,” Vanessa begins, grabbing my attention. “Patrick told me that he saw you yesterday.”
Patrick suddenly coughs a few times, like he’s just choked on his food.
“Are you okay?<b>” </b>She leans toward him with concern.
“I’m fine<b>,</b>” he assures her <b>as </b>their eyes lock.
It makes me want to stab some beef again, but I’ve already run out of it.
“So, where did you <b>see </b>me yesterday?<b>”</b>
My question breaks their <b>eye </b>contact as I turn curious.
“Oh…uh…<b>I </b><b>was </b>walking along the <b>street </b>and spotted you in your car which stopped at a red light. I could’ve said hi but we <b>were </b><b>strangers</b><b>.</b><b>”</b>
<b>“</b>Well, not anymore<b>.” </b>I shake my <b>head</b>.
“Well, <b>I </b><b>can’t </b><b>eat </b>as much <b>as </b><b>I </b>want to,” Vanessa chimes in, her gaze mostly on Patrick. “I had something to eat a few hours <b>ago </b>and now <b>I </b><b>realize </b>it <b>was </b>a <b>bad </b>idea<b>. </b>I <b>would’ve </b>loved to finish <b>all </b>this now.”
<b>It’s </b>only now that <b>I </b><b>realize </b>I didn’t actually know what her favorite meal was. <b>If </b>she mentioned it back when <b>we </b><b>were </b>getting to know each other<b>, </b><b>I </b>must’ve forgotten about it <b>because </b>I had little value for her.
<b>“</b><b>You </b>can always order <b>it </b>again the next time we <b>have </b>lunch together<b>.”</b>
Is Patrick <b>seriously </b>asking <b>her </b>out right in my <b>face</b><b>?</b>
<b>“</b><b>Yeah</b><b>, </b><b>you’re </b>right.” She nods with enthusiasm.
At this point<b>, </b>I <b>don’t </b>think <b>I </b><b>can </b><b>take </b><b>any </b>more <b>of </b>this. Is he being so bold <b>just </b><b>because </b><b>they </b>have a history together? Or <b>is </b>it because <b>of </b><b>how </b>she hugged him<b>? </b><b>Whatever </b>the <b>case </b><b>is</b><b>, </b>it <b>makes </b>my blood boil<b>.</b>
Just as I put down the fork <b>since </b><b>I’ve </b><b>lost </b>my appetite<b>, </b><b>I </b><b>receive </b>a phone call from my personal assistant<b>, </b><b>so </b>I excuse <b>myself </b><b>and </b><b>head </b>outside.
Though my <b>n </b>was to <b>stay </b>with <b>Vanessa </b><b>as </b><b>long </b>as <b>she’s </b><b>around </b><b>Patrick</b><b>, </b>it’s something <b>I </b><b>can’t </b>do anymore as I need to <b>get </b>on my private <b>jet </b><b>as </b>soon as possible. There’s <b>an </b>important meeting in <b>three </b>hours.
<b>I </b><b>pace </b>around while my assistant <b>gives </b>me the <b>details </b>and the <b>entire </b>time<b>, </b><b>I </b>watch <b>Vanessa </b><b>and </b><b>Patrick </b>through the <b>ss</b>. She <b>can’t </b>stopughing <b>with </b>him and <b>they </b>seem <b>even </b>more <bfortable </b>with <b>each </b>other now <b>that </b>I’m not there <b>with </b>them.
After the <b>call</b><b>, </b>I head back inside <b>and </b>it’s only when Patrick sees <b>me </b><b>that </b>he <b>leans </b><b>back </b>in his <b>seat</b>.
<b>“</b><b>Well</b><b>, </b>I’d love <b>to </b><b>stay </b><b>much </b>longer <b>but </b><b>I </b>have to leave<b>. </b><b>Something </b><b>urgent </b><b>just </b>came <b>up</b><b>. </b><b>It </b>was good <b>seeing </b><b>you</b><b>, </b>Patrick. Let’s <b>keep </b>in touch so <b>we </b><b>can </b><b>y </b>that tennis <b>game </b><b>and </b><b>I </b><b>can </b><b>win</b>.”
Though my <b>lips </b><b>curve </b><b>into </b>a smile<b>, I’m </b>furning inside.
“You’re right <b>about </b>that<b>.</b><b>” </b>He nods, grinning <b>at </b>me.
<b>Handing </b>him <b>a </b><b>card</b>, I say<b>, </b>“<b>Here’s </b>my number. Give me <b>a </b><b>call </b>sometimeter. Babe, can I <b>speak </b>to you outside<b>?</b><b>”</b>
<b>Chapter </b>90
She looks a <b>little </b>surprised. <b>“</b><b>Yeah</b><b>…</b><b>sure</b><b>.</b><b>”</b>
<b>As </b>soon <b>as </b>she <b>gets </b>up from her <b>seat</b>, I firmly hold her hand, looking <b>back </b>at Patrick and he <b>doesn’t </b>seem too amused by the sight <b>of </b>me doing this<b>.</b>
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I bring her right outside <b>where </b><b>he </b>can <b>still </b><b>see </b>us, releasing her hand but still standing close to her.
The bodyguardse <b>closer</b><b>, </b>assuming <b>we’re </b>about to <b>leave</b><b>, </b>but <b>I </b><b>gesture </b>to them to give us some <b>space</b>.
“What the hell <b>was </b><b>that</b><b>?</b>” <b>I </b><b>ask </b>her<b>, </b>poking my cheek.
“I don’t <b>know </b>what you’re talking about.” She shrugs, pursing her lips.
“I made <b>it </b><b>clear </b>in the <b>car </b>and <b>we </b>agreed that there would be no hugs and you’d just shake his hand.”
“I got <b>carried </b><b>away</b><b>, </b>okay?” she says, boldly rolling her <b>eyes </b>with her head high.
“<b>Here’s </b>something you need to understand.”
I tuck her loose hair strands behind her <b>ear </b>and she closes her eyes for a moment, as if it’s just sent a shiver down her spine. Without saying the rest of what I want to <b>say</b>, I hold onto the back of her neck and tilt my head, leaning closer.
Widening her eyes<b>, </b>she <b>says</b>, “What are you d-”
“Shut up,” <b>I </b><b>say </b>to her, smashing my lips on hers for a slow and sensual kiss. Then, I pull away, stroking the side of her face<b>. </b>“You’re my fucking wife.
<b>Act </b>like it.”
She parts her lips <b>to </b><b>speak</b>, but it seems <b>to </b>take forever<b>, </b>so I kiss her again. This time, I hold onto her <b>waist </b>and she moans against my lips. She wraps her arms around my neck and I smirk, feeling her perky breasts against my chest.
After I pull away, I nce at her cleavage<b>, </b>then lock eyes with her.
“I might be back tomorrow. Is your dress ready for theunch?” I nce at her lips, wanting to taste them again.
She nods<b>. </b><b>“</b><b>It’s </b><b>ready</b>.”
“Make sure you look perfect.”
“I <b>will</b>.”
<b>“</b>Good. Now<b>, </be here<b>.”</b>
<b>“</b>What?<b>”</b>
“<b>Just </b>kiss me<b>.</b><b>”</b>
<b>As </b>I <b>kiss </b><b>her </b><b>a </b>third time<b>, </b><b>I </b>feel a <b>stir </b>in my groin. I need to stop this.
I pull <b>away </b>from <b>her </b>lips and before she opens <b>her </b>eyes and drops her arms from my neck, she subtly bites <b>her </b>lip. Fuck.
“I’m leaving now<b>,</b><b>” </b><b>I </b><b>say </b>to <b>her</b><b>.</b>
? ? ? ? ?? ????
Opening her <b>eyes </b>and looking right into mine<b>, </b>she only manages to nod as she <b>clears </b>her throat.
I nce <i>at </i>Patrick and he’s been watching, <b>just </b><b>what </b><b>I </b>wanted <b>to </b><b>see </b>and it makes me smirk <b>as </b>I <b>head </b>to my <b>car</b><b>.</b>
<b>Just </b>before <b>Vanessa’s </b>out of sight I look <b>back </b><b>at </b>her and that <b>fucking </b><b>dress </b>continues <b>to </b><b>tease </b>me.
The ride home is a little <b>faster </b>tha
<b>usual </b><b>so </b><b>I</b>
<b>can </b>quickly <b>freshen </b>up<b>, </b><b>get </b>changed and <b>leave</b><b>.</b>
<b>Now </b>that <b>I’ve </b><b>met </b>Patrick <b>and </b>seen their body <bnguage </b>when <b>they’re </b><b>together</b><b>, </b><b>they </b>still <b>have </b><b>feelings </b><b>for </b><b>each </b>other<b>. </b><b>That </b><b>wasn’t </b>the time, but I’m definitely going <b>to </b>bring it up with <b>Vanessa</b><b>. </b>I wonder what they’re talking about now that I’m not around. <b>If </b>only <b>I </b>could <b>keep </b><b>an </b><b>eye </b>on <b>her</b><b>. </b>I don’t <b>want </b>anything <b>getting </b>in the <b>way </b><b>of</b>
ns. I <b>need </b><b>her</b>.
The <b>car </b>pulls <b>up </b>in my front <b>yard </b>and right <b>when </b>I’m about <b>to </b><b>step </b><b>out</b>, my phone <b>beeps</b>, making <b>me </b>look <b>down </b>at <b>the </b>screen with <b>raised </b>eyebrows. It’s the <b>person </b>who’s been <b>texting </b><b>me</b><b>. </b>I <b>haven’t </b>heard from whoever this <b>is </b><b>ever </b><b>since </b><b>I </b><b>asked </b>them when to meet. <b>It </b><b>seems </b>they’ve <b>finally </b><b>settled </b><b>for </b><b>a </b><b>day</b>.
“WE’LL MEET THIS <b>SUNDAY</b><b>. </b>I <b>CAN’T </b>WAIT TO <b>TALK </b>ABOUT YOUR <b>BIGGEST </b>SECRET