Chapter 12: “Rachel Is Out Of The Country”Dominic's pov:I stilt, my ears alert to what Desmond was about to say. “My team discovered that Stella had made a post on the day of your wedding day.”An awkward silence lingered on both sides before he continued. “She wrote that her bestie was now Mrs Khan.” my forehead creased and my jaw twitched in anger and disappointment. “I really thought there was a spy in your household, but thankfully there isn't.” He added.“Alright then, thank you for being competent and reliable once again,” I complimented him, and ended the call before he could say another word.I decided to take a stroll into the big garden in my courtyard. Walking out through the hallways of my mansion I heard a soft moan which made me halt.Taking a sharp breath I walked towards Suzanne's room, where I suspected the sound to have come from. When I neared her door I heard another moan but this time there sounded like sobs, so I pushed in without thinking about knocking.“Za
Suzanne's pov:I stiffened as a voice came from behind me.“What is going on here?”I turned sharply, my heart still racing from the secretary’s strange reaction. Standing there, arms crossed and watching me with an amused smirk was Desmond.“Desmond,” I breathed out, still trying to process everything.He stepped closer, glancing at the nervous secretary before looking back at me. “What are you doing here?”I squared my shoulders, forcing myself to sound casual. “I came to see Dominic.”Desmond’s smirk deepened. “Let me guess, this was Stella’s idea?”I let out a small laugh, shaking my head. “It was more of my idea. Stella just gave me the motivation.”He chuckled, shaking his head. “Figures.”Before I could say anything else, Desmond gestured toward Dominic’s office. “Come on, then. Let’s go see the boss.”We walked in together, still laughing at our little exchange, but the second I stepped into Dominic’s office and saw him sitting behind his massive desk, the laughter died in my
Dominic’s pov:As we stepped out of the office, the cool evening air barely registered. Suzanne was saying something, her voice soft, and casual, but the words blurred together, drowned by the storm in my mind.Why did I let the secretary go? Why did I listen to her?That wasn’t me.I didn’t listen to anyone. I didn’t bend. Yet the moment Suzanne spoke, something in me… hesitated. I should’ve been furious, should’ve made an example of that idiot for interrupting me. But instead, I let him walk away.Because she asked.My jaw tightened. I hated how easily she had swayed me. Had it been anyone else, I wouldn’t have given it a second thought. I would have issued the punishment without blinking. But with her? It was different.Dangerously different…I barely noticed when we reached the car. She slid into the passenger seat, her silk dress gliding effortlessly against the leather. I forced my eyes forward and started the engine. The low purr of the car filled the tense silence as I pulle
Suzanne’s pov:The morning sunlight streamed through the windows, bathing the dining table in warm gold. The air smelled of rich coffee, buttered toast, and fresh fruit. It should have been a comforting start to the day. But instead, an unsettling silence settled between us.Dominic sat across from me, his posture rigid, his movements calculated. He wasn’t reading the paper like usual. He wasn’t looking at me, either.I tightened my grip around my fork, pushing my eggs around the plate.It was strange.Last night, I’d seen another side of him, a man burning with a different type of desire, one who didn’t just take but gave. I had seen his hunger, his restraint, the cracks in his armour. For once, I thought I was getting somewhere.But now? Now, it was like none of it had happened.I swallowed down my frustration. Maybe I was imagining it. Maybe I was reading too much into things.I tested the waters carefully.“You look like you barely slept,” I said softly, my eyes on him. “Is ever
Suzanne’s pov:The rest of the day dragged on in agonizing slowness. Even after Stella left, her words lingered in my mind. Dominic was avoiding me. That was clear. But what wasn’t clear was why. Why was he reacting like this? What exactly had changed?I paced around the house, restless. Dominic still hadn’t come out from his study, and I refused to go knocking on his door like some desperate woman begging for his attention. I had my pride.By evening, I curled up on the couch with my phone, mindlessly scrolling through social media. That’s when I saw it.A picture.Dominic and a young woman.As I looked closer, my stomach dropped. It was Rachel.They stood close together, him in a sharp suit, his hand resting lightly on her shoulder. She was beautiful, her smile warm, her eyes gleaming with admiration.The caption beneath the image read: Rachel and Dominic Khan spotted at a private charity event overseas last year. The ever-elusive CEO has always kept his personal affairs private, b
Dominic’s pov:I watched her leave, her back rigid, her steps hurried as if she couldn’t escape fast enough. The door clicked shut behind her, and for a long moment, I just sat there, staring at the space she had occupied. My fingers curled into a fist against the polished wood of my desk.Damn it.The call I had been on cracked back to life. “Dom?”I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Yeah.”Desmond exhaled on the other end. “So, are you finally going to tell her, or are you going to keep up this act and let her drown in her own conclusions?”I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes. “It’s none of her concern.”“She’s your wife,” he countered. “Contract or not, she’s living in your house, in your life. You can’t expect her to sit in silence while the whole world speculates about you and Rachel.”I clenched my jaw. “I told her not to believe everything she reads.”Desmond scoffed. “That’s not enough, and you know it. If you don’t tell her, you lose control of the situation.
Suzanne’s pov:Guilt was a heavy thing. It sat in my chest like a boulder, suffocating and unrelenting. I had stormed out of Dominic’s study deeply offended, convinced I had been wronged and betrayed. But now, as I sat curled up in bed, staring at my phone, the weight of my assumptions pressed down on me.I had been so sure, so utterly convinced that he was hiding some grand, devastating secret. And yet, the truth had been something else entirely—something deeper, something that spoke of responsibility and loyalty, not betrayal.With a groan, I buried my face in my hands. I jumped to conclusions. Again.Before I could talk myself out of it, I scrolled through my contacts and tapped Stella’s name.She picked up on the second ring. “Well, well, well,” she drawled. “To what do I owe the honour of this late-night confession?”I sighed. “I messed up, Stella.”There was a pause. Then, “Tell me everything.”I did. From the moment I saw the article, to the confrontation in his office, to th
Dominic’s pov:The dining room was quiet except for the occasional clink of silverware against the delicate plates. I stared at the plate in front of me, my appetite conflicted with the weight of my emotions. Suzanne had cooked for me.I wasn’t sure how to feel about that. Normally I would have ordered her not to enter the kitchen. She sat across from me, serving Kaii small spoonfuls of mashed potatoes while stealing glances in my direction. I didn’t look at her, but I felt it—the nervous anticipation in her body language, the way she pressed her lips together every time I lifted my fork but didn’t take a bite.Finally, I cut a piece of the steak, speared it, and brought it to my mouth. The moment the flavour hit my tongue, I froze.It was incredible.Rich, perfectly seasoned, cooked just the way I liked it. I had eaten meals prepared by the best chefs in the world, but this… this was different. It was warm, comforting, and oddly personal. Before I knew it, my plate was empty, and
Dominic’s pov:I didn’t realize how long I’d been sitting in that chair.The office was dark now, painted in shadows, the only light spilling in from the city skyline beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows.The once-busy hum of staff had long since faded.Phones stopped ringing. Emails went unanswered. Even the steady ticking of the antique clock on the wall felt like it was echoing louder than it should.I hadn’t moved since the ruling.My fingers were still clenched around the edge of the armrest, knuckles bleached white. I felt detached from my body, like I was a ghost hovering above myself, watching the slow unravelling of a man who’d never been allowed to lose before.My heartbeat thudded in my ears like war drums, but everything else was quiet.Too quiet.The courtroom played like a reel in my mind, frame by brutal frame.Linda’s entrance is like a queen returning to a throne that never belonged to her.The judge was already in her pocket.The smug politicians, their loyalty boug
Dominic’s pov:The courtroom wasn’t unfamiliar to meI’d been in and out of them for years, lawsuits, zoning battles, acquisition disputes.But this one was different. This wasn’t about money, or concrete, or blueprints.This was personal!!!I walked in, flanked by Peter Black and Ford.The weight of tailored silence followed me.My presence was enough to make heads turn and mouths shut. Cameras lined the marble corridor outside. Linda wanted the media circus. She wanted the public eye. She was probably somewhere smiling already.My eyes scanned the room.She was already seated, radiant in a navy pantsuit that hugged her curves like sin, her golden hair pinned in a deliberately messy chignon that made her look effortlessly powerful.Her lips curled when our gazes locked like this was a game and she had the upper hand.I didn’t blink. I didn’t give her the satisfaction of a smirk or a glare.The judge entered, an aging man named Harold R. Linley.I’d met him years ago. Back then, he w
Dominic’s pov: The envelope wasn’t hand-delivered. That would’ve been too loud. Too messy. Too traceable.Instead, it came folded in thick ivory paper, nestled inside a black leather folder and passed to me by Desmond, who looked as if he’d seen a ghost.“It’s from her,” he said grimly. “Linda.”I took it. No expression. No words. The weight of it was heavier than the folder itself.I cracked it open, my hands steady even as my heart slammed against my ribs.A formal letterhead. A lawyer’s name I recognized was Greaves & Hanley. One of the most vicious corporate litigation firms on the East Coast.I scanned the first page. Then the second. My jaw tightened with every line.She was filing for administrative control over Khan Architectural.Citing “neglect of fiduciary duties,” “executive mismanagement,” and “shareholder endangerment.”Bullshit. Crafted, polished, and loaded with legal jargon, but still bullshit.Desmond was already pacing behind me. “She’s aiming for a hostile takeo
Linda’s pov:The rooftop bar was empty, private, exclusive, and overlooking the glowing skyline.The kind of place reserved for power plays and whispered betrayals.A steady wind tugged at my silk coat as I crossed the deck toward Tavon, who sat alone in the corner booth with a glass of whiskey in hand like a man planning a revolution.I didn’t sit immediately.I stood at the railing, overlooking the city as if it were mine to command.In a way, it still was. These buildings, these men, these stories? I’d been part of their foundations long before they started pretending I didn’t matter.“Took you long enough,” Tavon muttered, not even glancing up.I finally turned, sliding into the seat across from him like I owned the night. “I had to make sure I wasn’t followed. Dominic’s hounds are everywhere these days.”He smirked. “That’s because he knows someone’s playing chess with his life. I crossed my legs, fingers toying with the gold chain at my throat. “He will soon.”“What’s this meet
Dominic’s pov:The conference room was silent, eerily so.The only sound was the soft hum of the AC and the occasional click of Desmond’s fingers flying across his laptop as he mirrored the contents of the flash drive onto the secure screen.Everyone watched the black window flicker to life, revealing what looked like simple folders. Just names. Some were labelled “Suzanne.” Others, “Dominic K” One was marked Contract in bold.My jaw clenched.Desmond’s eyes narrowed. “Something’s wrong.”Ford stood from the corner, arms folded. “It’s too clean. Too organized. This wasn’t put together by Linda.”Desmond nodded slowly, fingers halting over the keys. “It’s a decoy.”I stepped forward. “Open it.”“I’m not sure that’s a good—”“Do it,” I ordered. My voice echoed in the room, hard as steel.He clicked.At first, the folder opened like a normal file.A few documents popped up, screenshots, edited contracts, and old bank records that meant nothing. But then Desmond’s entire screen flickered
Dominic’s pov:The boardroom was filled with chatter, screens glowing as Ford gave his report. I sat at the head of the table, my gaze unreadable, jaw tight, arms crossed.The room buzzed with low voices, papers rustling as updates rolled out, but my mind wasn’t fully in it.Not after the message Desmond forwarded earlier this morning, an anonymous tip about a possible breach in our private server.I’d already ordered the team to trace the source. My gut told me it wasn’t random, not with how quiet Tavon had been lately.And Suzanne… the way she looked last night, wrapped in my sheets, clinging to sleep like it was her only safe place… I couldn’t get it out of my head.She hadn’t said much this morning, but her eyes said everything. She needed peace. And I would burn the whole world to give it to her.“Dominic?” Ford asked, catching my attention.I blinked once. “Continue.”The glass windows overlooking the city reflected a pristine skyline, one I had built, piece by piece. Brick by
Suzanne’s pov:I was curled up in the armchair beside the balcony doors, one of Dominic’s throw blankets wrapped around my shoulders… The soft rumble of distant waves rolled through the partially opened doors, the morning sun casting faint golden streaks across the marble floors.I wasn’t reading. I wasn’t scrolling. I was just… sitting. Letting the quiet be enough.Everything about last night still lingered, his hands, his breath, the way he looked at me like I was the only thing in the world that made sense.After everything that had shattered between us, something felt stitched back together, like some part of me that had gone numb was warm again.Still fragile, still trembling at the edges, but healing.My fingers traced slow circles over the fabric on my lap.I hadn’t spoken to Dominic yet this morning.He’d gone to handle some business, or so he’d said when he left our bed at dawn.But he didn’t leave like a man escaping. He kissed my forehead, tucked the blanket around me, a
Tavon’s pov:The text had come at dawn. No name. Just a number I hadn't seen in months. But I knew that tone. Sharp. Calculated. Dangerous.“We both know how much your pride matters. But if you don’t pick up my call, I’ll send your precious videos to your mother first. Then your church group.”Fiona.I stared at the message for a full minute, my mind still foggy from the restless night before.The audacity. She really had the nerve to crawl back from whatever cave she’d vanished into, after ruining everything and leaving me like a fool.I let the phone ring twice when she finally called. Just to let her wait.Then I answered. “You got some balls, showing up now.”Her voice came in cool, unbothered. “You always did like my balls better than your own.”I chuckled bitterly. “Still a bitch, I see.”“And you’re still a fool. So nothing’s changed.” She didn’t laugh. “But let’s not waste time with banter. You know why I’m calling.”I slumped deeper into the leather seat of my rented apartme
Dominic’s pov:The morning light seeped through the curtains like a silent witness to the night before. Golden slivers danced across the sheets, casting faint shadows over the woman lying beside me.Suzanne.Her breathing was soft, steady—peaceful in a way I hadn’t seen in a long time. Her lashes fluttered slightly, lost in whatever world sleep had drawn her into.I sat up slowly, careful not to wake her. My hand braced against the mattress, muscles tensing as I watched her for a long moment. There was something sacred about this quiet. A rare pause in the chaos.But peace had never been mine to keep.I brushed a thumb across her cheek, lingering just long enough to memorize the softness there. And then I rose from the bed. The cold air met my skin like a jolt back to reality, to everything I’d tried to bury in the heat of last night.Tavon.That bastard’s voice still echoed in my head. “Let’s see how loyal he stays when he sees the real you…”I clenched my jaw, grabbing a clean s