Chapter 61

Munich, Germany. Three months later.

I've paid my dues

Time after time.

I've done my sentence

But committed no crime.

And bad mistakes

I've made a few.

I've had my share of sand kicked in my face

But I've come through.

Dominik opened his eyes and let the song keep playing. For some reason, he enjoyed it this time. He got out of bed slowly, trying not to wake the woman sleeping next to him. He headed for the bathroom, he took a quick shower, brushed his teeth and put on a black sweatshirt, his favorite jogging pants and a pair of black Nike boots, his favorite. He made one of his delicious energy shakes and drank it in one sip.

He loved fall in Munich, the colorful landscapes, having to put on a coat to head outside to jog and disconnecting from the world, at least for the hour his session lasted.

It had been three months since the Germany team had become world champions and Dominik was enjoying his vacation. The day after he would leave for Stockholm, to meet his sister and the week after, he would go to Italy to spend some time with his girlfriend, Dihanna. They started dating again one week after the final. Dominik moved on with his life and give himself a chance with somebody else, after all of Friedrich's failed attempts to contact Samanta.

In his despair, Dominik had scheduled a weekend to go to Egypt to find her. He went through the whole campus, but to no avail. Thing was, Friedrich gave him one wrong piece of information. He knew Samanta attended the American University of El Cairo, but he took Dominik to the University of El Cairo and stuck to his lie until the end. Dom went there hoping to find her, but, once again, Friedrich lied to him.

The moment Dominik insisted on looking at the other University, his companion claimed there were over a dozen Universities where they studied Archaeology in Egypt. He was very clever to persuade him and make him return to Germany, convinced she was no longer part of his life. That she was gone forever.

Treadaway procured to hide every single detail regarding Samanta, looking for the right time to come out to him, and tell him what he felt. But, once again, he had to keep it to himself, seeing Dominik resumed his relationship with the Canadian singer. None the less, he carried on doing his thing, the only difference was, his victim was another girl.

When he returned home, Dominik had thousands of engagements to attend. Interviews, photo shoots, meetings with the federation and training.

Tired from all that, he requested a two month vacation.

He needed a breather.

His leave was approved the day before and Dominik wanted to enjoy each and every minute of his time off. He would visit his mother, his sister, and he would take Dihanna to spend a few days in Italy.

He went back home and found Dihanna in the kitchen, making breakfast.

“You left, once again, on an empty stomach” she reprimanded him, shaking the spoon and pointing it at him.

“I don't like to eat before working out” he responded and hugged her in his arms.

“Ew. You're sweating. Go shower” she said, pushing him away.

“You were not complaining about my sweat last night” he commented naughtily.

“That's different” she answered, pushing Dominik to let go of her.

“Okay. I will go shower” he said and kissed her neck.

When he was heading for the stairs that took to his room, someone knocked on the door, so he went back to open it.

Friedrich rushed in, shaking the water off his coat.

“Won't it ever stop raining?” Said the publicist. Dominik smiled. “Here” he handed him an envelope. “We're leaving tomorrow at 8am.”

“We?” Dominik frowned.

“Yes. You, Dihanna and me. Something wrong?”

“I figured you would stay here with Ewald” said Dom, shrugging.

“Why would I stay with Ewald? You're my client.”

In the past few days, Dominik started feeling uncomfortable with Friedrich's presence, he started acting weirder than usual. Calling him all the time, asking where he was, coming over unannounced and, dared Dominik go out without telling him, he would lecture him like a jealous girlfriend. Dihanna let him know she, too, was uncomfortable with Friedrich hanging with them all the time.

When Dominik contemplated a vacation, he thought of getting away from everything and everyone, including Friedrich. How could he tell his best friend he did not want him to come along? Easy. Saying it.

“What are you planning to become my shadow now? Give me a break! I am with you 365 days a year.”

Friedrich opened his eyes big as plates from Dominik's response. What was new? He knew Dominik. Still, he refused to accept it.

“I…” Treadaway tried talking, but he just mumbled.

“Do not get me wrong” commented Dom. “I love you. You are my best friend, but I am planning to take this trip with Dihanna. A romantic getaway. Get it? Three are a crowd.”

To Friedrich, it was very hard being away form Dominik.

Every time he did, it was like a nightmare.

“What do I do with my ticket?” He argued.

“I don’t know. Return it. I don’t want you coming with us” he sentenced.

“Okay” responded Friedrich, on the brink of tears.

“OK. I will go shower. Dihanna…” he called. “Friedrich is here” he looked at his friend. “Be nice to her, please.”

“Sure” said Treadaway.

Dominik walked away towards his bedroom and Friedrich went into the kitchen, to meet his new opponent.

«What does he see in her?», he asked himself. «It should be me waking up next to him. Not her».

“Hey, Frie” she said, without looking. She was unaware of how much Friedrich hated nicknames.

“Hello, Dihanna” he greeted with fake emotion. “I don't understand why you can't pronounce my whole name” he said, crossing his arms.

“Oh, come on! It's cute. You should loosen up a bit.”

“Loosen up? That word does not fit within my vocabulary. I work 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Not all of us get to be pop stars, with juicy bank accounts that allow us to live off of doing nothing all year round.”

“Gee! We're a little grumpy today” she joked.

How would he not? Dominik made him take a long walk down a short pier.

The only reason Treadaway refrained from snapping back at her was because Dominik asked him to be nice to her. He could not help it. He loathed this woman. Dihanna was the typical Barbie girl. One of those women with a pretty face they can bewitch anyone with. But she was pretty as she was dumb. It was beyond him how Dominik would ever be back with her. Actually, he could not explain why Dominik would ever be with someone like this instead of being with him. A cultured man, dedicated, entrepreneurial who would do anything for him. The answer was simple, Dominik is not gay. Something his obsession forced him to overlook.

Dominik's phone rang and Dihanna answered.

“Hello?”

She got no answer, so she hung up. Dihanna stared at the screen and felt very confused when she failed to recognize this number—. Wow! That was weird. I don't know this code.

“Allow me. IT may be one of Dominik's new sponsors.”

Dihanna handed the phone over to Friedrich.

“Two-zero? Let me check” he took the phone in his hands, trying to use the browser. “Egypt? Who the hell does Dominik know in…” Friedrich opened his eyes big as plates. “Oh no!” he mumbled.

“Something wrong?” She asked.

“Dear Dihanna, you shall forget somebody in Egypt tried calling Dominik.”

“I don't know. I don't like lying to Dominik.”

“Well, you must” he said, at the same time as he deleted the number from Dominik's call log.

“Friedrich… What is going on?”

“I'll tell you something I might not tell you in a regular situation. Trust me.”

Dihanna frowned and put her hand out to Friedrich.

“Give me that phone. I'm not lying to Dominik unless you explain to me, what is going on?”

“A ghost from the past has returned. Dominik must never find out that this person” he shook the phone before the woman's confused eyes, “has tried to contact him. Unless you want him to ditch you. Bye-bye romantic getaway in Italy, goodbye everything else.”

The phone rang once again, but instead of answering, Friedrich slid his finger to the left, hanging up.

“Who's calling him? Friedrich, talk to me.”

“Remember that passionate romance Dominik had in America?”

“I don't know about "passionate," but I do, I remember.”

“The thing is, Dominik had a very intense fixation on that girl. If you don't want to lose your boyfriend, you do as I say. Not a single word about this to Dominik.”

Dihanna nodded.

The phone rang, he just received a new W******p message.

Friedrich opened it without a second thought. If that was Samanta, he had to know why she was trying to get in touch with Dominik.

Treadaway felt like he could faint any second due to what he had just read. Dominik should never find out. If he did, they would both lose him forever, and he could not allow that. In his head, an evil plan was developing in a matter of seconds.

“What does it say, Frie?” She asked.

“It's better you don't know. Make sure Dominik does not come while I reply.”

“I don't like this at all” muttered Dihanna, feeling very nervous.

“What makes you think I do?” Responded Friedrich pretending to feel offended. “It's all for the sake of Dominik. That girl will make him lose his mind. We don't want that for him, now, do we?”

Dihanna denied with her head.

“Make sure he's not coming” he ordered and she complied.

Pure evil oozed out from Friedrich's eyes, whom only took two minutes to respond to this text from Samanta, making her think this was Dominik himself, replying. A harsh blow, straight to the heart of the woman who threatened to destroy everything.

He had to get her out of the way once and for all.

He smiled with satisfaction as he pressed “Send”.

«I hope that is enough for you to leave my Dominik, alone for once».