7. A hot slap

Dominic’s POV

My feets tapped incessantly against the floor, my fingers rearranging the pens on my table as I tried to focus on the file in front of me. It’s been five hours, five good hours of trying to make a summary for the marketing team but to no avail. My eyes have roamed all around the hallway, seeking the woman that was carrying my child.

Closing my eyes in frustration, I grabbed my screen, pulling it closer to me as I determined to get some work done. But all that played in my head was my unborn child and the space between us.

I felt my head lighten as every minute felt like an eternity as I replayed the conversation I had with her over and over in my head. The hurt in her eyes, the finality in her voice, it was all I could think about. The way her eyes had teared up when I had called her a liar and rejected our child was now something that plagued my mind.

I pulled my shirt away from my chest, trying to soften the suffocation I was feeling inside of me as I remembered the very words I had said to her that day. Every word I remembered uttering to her that day made me realize how impossible it will be to get through to her.

Running my fingers through my hair, I stood up, shutting off my screen. I needed to see her. I needed to show her that I was serious about our child. Mustering all the courage I could I walked towards her newly assigned office, my heart beating fast as I approached the door.

As I reached her office door, I froze, my body stood still in front of the door, motionless and confused as I watched the scene in front of me play out. There they both were, Ruby and Ethan, both standing in front of a giant artwork, admiring it, but that wasn’t what caught my attention. What caught my eyes was Ethan, looking down on Ruby with the most loving demeanor I had ever seen. His eyes held affection, tenderness and care, care so strong that I began to wonder how long they had met. They were standing so close and next to each other, their body language relaxed and familiar. They laughed gently, the sound of their joy echoing through the glass as Ruby rubbed the legs of the elves in the artwork. As they laughed, Ethan remained glued to her, never letting her hand go, his eyes looking at her as if she was the best thing that ever happened to him.

For some reason, I felt a sharp twist in my chest and I shook my head dismissively, trying to get the feeling out of my head. I knew it was probably the discomfort of watching the mother of my child messing with a random man she had just met.

As my fingers gently reached out, slightly grazing the handle, memories of her talking to me flashed in my head and I remembered how she once tried to warm up to me. How she had been there, mopping up my body while I had a fever, how she had convinced me to take my drugs. Seeing her like this just brought those memories back and it further deepened the pang of guilt I was dealing with.

I was supposed to be there, to be the one there for her and supporting her through this pregnancy. But I had pushed her away, and now someone else was very present. I released my fingers from the door knob and took a step back, my mind racing. Maybe this was a mistake. Maybe I should leave and let her be. Maybe she would forgive me with time.

But then I remembered why I was here. I couldn’t just walk away, not again. I needed to show her that I was willing to be there for our child. Taking a deep breath, I knocked on the door twice to get their attention, pushed the door open and I stepped inside.

The door creaked, and both Ruby and Ethan turned to look at me. For a moment, there was a heavy silence. Ruby’s eyes widened in surprise, and Ethan’s jaw tightened, his expression hardening.

“Dominic,” Ruby said, her voice laced with annoyance. “What are you doing here?”

I took a step forward, my heart pounding. “I need to talk to you, Ruby. I needed to see you.”

Ethan glanced at Ruby, then back at me. “Maybe this isn’t the best time,” he said, his tone protective.

“I understand,” I replied, keeping my voice calm. “but just give me a moment.”

Ruby looked at Ethan, who nodded reluctantly. “Alright,” she said, crossing her arms. “What do you want to say?”

“Can I at least speak to you alone?” I asked, my eyes narrowing on Ethan.

“No you can not, if you want to speak, he’ll be here to hear you speak. It’s either that or you just leave.” She said, her tone totally resolute.

Her words took me aback, sending jolts of pain through me. It was like a whole different Ruby, different from the Ruby who cared that I was cheating with Natalie. I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. “Ruby, I know I’ve hurt you. I know I’ve made terrible mistakes, and I can’t change the past. But I’m here because I want to make things right. I want to be part of our child’s life, and I want to support you in any way I can.”

She looked at me, her eyes filled with a mixture of emotions. “Dominic, I’m sick and tired of your apologies. I think I made it clear that I’m not interested in you being this father’s child in any way possible. Just because we work together doesn’t mean you get to walk in and out to see me anytime you want.”

“I know it’s not simple,” I said, taking another step closer. “I’m not asking for forgiveness right away. I just want a chance to prove that I’m much more than you think I am.“

Ethan stepped forward, his expression stern. “Dominic, you heard her. I think you should leave.” He said, crossing his arms and staring at me dead in the face.

Before I could respond, the door swung open, and Oliver Gustavo walked in. He looked around, sensing the tension in the room. His sharp eyes darted from me to Ruby, then to Ethan, before settling back on me.

“What’s going on here?” Oliver asked, his voice firm and authoritative.

Ruby quickly stepped forward, trying to dismiss the issue. “It’s nothing, Oliver. Dominic just came to ask some questions. We were just finishing up.”

But Oliver wasn’t convinced. He studied Ruby’s face, then looked back at me with a suspicious glare. “Is he the father of the child? The one who rejected you?”

Ruby’s shoulders slumped, and she nodded gently. “Yes,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Oliver’s eyes blazed with anger. He turned to me, his body domineering and engulfing as he reached me, and before I could react, his arm shot out, and he landed a stinging slap across my face.

“You silly excuse of a man,” he growled. “If you rejected her, why are you here? What has changed? You left her on the streets to suffer with a child you rejected!”

I stood there, shocked and confused, my cheek burning from the slap. Rubbing my hurt cheek, I looked at Ruby once more, then turned around, feeling embarrassed and confused.

As I walked out of the office, my blood boiled with frustration and anger. How did I just receive a slap in my own company? My heart pounded as I made my way back to my office, my veins pulsating with pure rage. For God's sake, I was indeed an impotent man. How was I supposed to believe that a woman was pregnant for me? Was I supposed to know that my system was suddenly working? Any man in his right senses would've rejected the pregnancy like I did.

With rage and annoyance, I grabbed my laptop and switched it on, trying to get the scene out of my head, but the slap kept playing over and over again, making me feel like less of a man. A part of me wanted to just go back and punch Oliver and Ethan in the face, but I knew that it would only make things worse with Ruby.

Frustrated and unable to focus on my work, I cleared my desk, rolled my sleeves up, and walked out of my office, heading home.