DOMINIC'S POVIt was the Sunday after our trip to Milan, and we were back in my Seattle mansion. A plate of toast sat in front of me, beside my signature coffee. Beside the plate was my laptop, open to a Skype video call page.I bit into a corner of my toast as I spoke. "Go on, Matthew.""A lot of work was left unfinished before your trip, Mr Rutherford." Matthew notified me. "I was wondering when we'd be able to get down to it.""When I come to the office." I dropped my toast and took a sip of my coffee. "Which will be later this week; Wednesday, most probably."Gregory opened his mouth to speak again, but was silenced by the sound of footsteps coming down the staircase behind me."Would you like us to reschedule a meeting for you, Mr Rutherford?" Another worker named Mrs Bellick asked. "It seems you have a visitor.""I do." I replied. "I will inform my secretary to schedule a physical meeting on Wednesday and send you all the memo. Thank you."Without waiting for a reply from them,
DOMINIC'S POV“Who the hell is that?” Ruby whispered curiously. "Are you expecting visitors?"Ruby looked even more of a mess than I realised. Her hair was slightly disheveled and her lips were swollen and pinkish from my kisses. Her bathrobe even rode high on her thighs, and her eyes squinted toward the front door where the knocking had only grown more insistent.I cursed under my breath. I hadn’t even told her about Ariel. How could I have forgotten? Guilt stabbed me in the chest as I realized the day had arrived far quicker than I anticipated. Ariel was here.“That,” I said, attempting to sound composed, “would be my daughter.”Ruby’s eyes widened. “Your WHAT?!”“I’ll explain later,” I said quickly, waving her off. “Just fix yourself up.”I rushed to the front door, barely sparing her another glance. My heart pounded as I twisted the handle and pulled it open.Standing there, suitcase in hand, was Ariel. She looked just as I remembered: tall like me, her waist-length brown hair flo
RUBY'S POVThe moment I stepped out of Dominic’s house, tears began to fall from my eyes, and I didn’t bother wiping them away. Let them fall. Maybe they’d take some of the anger and hurt with them. I hated this. I hated feeling so exposed and so raw. Why was it so easy for the people I cared about to keep secrets from me? Was I the problem?The streets were busy. People were bustling past me as I walked aimlessly, clutching my phone like a lifeline. I didn’t care about the odd stares I got from strangers. My thoughts were a mess, tangled between how much I cared for Dominic and how tired I was of being the one left in the dark.First Gabriel, now him. How many times would I let someone shut me out before I learned my lesson?I kept walking until I realized I took nothing from Damien's house, no bag or clothes, not even my favorite lip balm. Just my phone. Great.I pulled it out and stared at the screen, debating my next move. Calling Dominic was out of the question. The thought of li
RUBY'S POVI sat across from Lilac at the little café on the corner. I’d just finished unloading everything on her, from Dominic's dead wife to his daughter and the money. Every little detail spilled out of me like a flood.Lilac as usual, sat calmly, listening without interrupting. It was one of the things I loved most about her. She never cut me off or tried to fix things too early. She just listened.When I finally stopped, my voice was hoarse and my throat was dry. Lilac motioned for the waitress. “One cappuccino and a bottle of water, please,” she said softly, then turned back to me.“You done?” she asked.“Yeah.” I slumped back in my chair, suddenly exhausted. “I think that’s everything.”Lilac nodded, her eyes scanning me carefully. “And you’re sure you’re not leaving anything out? Because this feels like one of those drama series where there’s always one last bombshell.”“Very funny.” I rubbed my temples. “No, Lilac. That’s it. His dead wife, his secret daughter, and the freak
RUBY'S POV"It's probably nothing," I muttered to myself.I tried to shake off the strange encounter and focus on the task at hand. Lilac would probably roll her eyes at me if I came back empty-handed after agreeing to this shopping trip.Stepping into the shirts section, I began flipping through a rack of vintage round necks. A particular dark green one caught my eye, and I reached for it. Just as I was pulling it off the hanger, I collided with someone.“Sorry....” I apologized and looked up. My words froze in my throat when I saw him.It was the same man in all-black.His face broke into that same gap-toothed smile. “Well, fancy meeting you here again.”At this point, I was already growing annoyed. “Yeah, what a coincidence,” I muttered and stepped back.“I swear I’m not following you,” he said with a chuckle, raising his hands as if in defense. “But it’s kind of funny, don’t you think? Bumping into each other like this.”I forced a tight smile, gripping the shirt I’d just picked o
RUBY'S POVLilac drove in silence while my thoughts were all over the place. The man in black was dangerous, I knew that much and I knew it the moment I saw him. His entire look screamed trouble, and now the pieces were rapidly falling into place.The men who dressed like that worked for Ambrose. I remembered their all-black attire, and now that I think about it, the insignia on that man's cap was very similar to the one Ambrose's men usually wore. Gabriel must have gone behind Ambrose's back and sent the man to me, to threaten my peace. My stomach lurched. Of course, he had.Suddenly my phone buzzed in my lap. The sound made me jump, and a sharp yelp escaped my throat.Lilac glanced at me. “Ruby, it’s just your phone. Relax.""Yeah, yeah. Sure." I fumbled for the phone, the screen blurring under my shaky fingers. When I finally answered, the first thing I heard was cold, maniacal laughter.A chill made its way down my spine. I'd recognize that voice anywhere, even in my sleep.Gabri
RUBY'S POVIn a matter of five minutes, Lilac turned the wheel, easing the car into the parking lot of the office building that Dominic had described to us. I kept my eyes glued to the side mirror, watching as the white car came to a slow stop just outside the office building. My heart was still beating rapidly in my chest.“Do you see that?” I whispered to Lilac.She nodded, her lips pressed into a thin line. “Damn right, I see it. He’s either too dumb or too bold to back off now.”The white car idled around for a moment. It was obvious that the driver was confused on what to do. Should he come for us or drive away? I reached for the door handle, ready to bolt inside the building.“Wait,” Lilac said sharply, grabbing my wrist. “Don’t get out yet.”I froze and looked at her in confusion. “Why not? I'm sure Dominic is in there. And if he's not, then that stalker won't be stupid enough to follow us inside. We’re safe now.”Lilac glanced at the car again. “That guy could have a gun. If y
RUBY'S POVThe lobby of Dominic's office building was simple but striking. The walls were painted gray, and the floors were smooth, dark tiles that looked like they’d been freshly cleaned. A sleek black reception desk stood in the center, with a woman behind it typing quietly on her computer.To one side, there was a row of black chairs and a low glass coffee table with magazines spread across it. On the opposite wall, a large digital screen displayed the Rutherford logo and what looked like stock updates.There wasn’t much color anywhere. It was just black, gray, and white but it felt purposeful, not cold. Everything about the space was calm and precise.I glanced at Lilac, who gave a low whistle. “This place is something else,” she murmured.“Yeah,” I replied. It was clear this wasn’t just an office; it was the heart of the Rutherford empire.Dominic turned to me briefly. “Stay here. I need to check something with the front desk.”I nodded, watching as he strode away with that air o
DOMINIC'S POVI got into the car and shut the door with a firm click. Easing out of the driveway, I turned onto the road, heading toward The Basement. That’s what we called it: my home base for the things we didn’t discuss in polite company. It wasn’t just a hideout. It was where I handled my enemies. And right now, Ruby’s stalker was my biggest problem.As far as I was concerned, anyone who threatened her was an enemy of mine.The drive to Chicago was quiet. I stayed focused on the road, my mind already on what was waiting for me. Eventually, I reached a deserted neighborhood and parked a few houses down from The Basement. I shrugged off my jacket, loosened my tie, and stepped out of the car.The Basement was an abandoned warehouse by the river. It looked like nothing from the outside, just rusted metal walls, broken windows and a strong smell of stagnant water carried on the breeze. It was the kind of place people avoided without even needing a reason.I walked down the cracked side
DOMINIC'S POVThe silence after Damien’s exit was oppressive to me. I sat at the table, phone in hand, trying to calm the rising panic in my chest. My thumb hovered over his name in my contacts. Finally, I hit “Call.”No answer.I tried again, and again, but each attempt was futile; I kept getting his voicemail. Frustration made me groan and drop my phone on the table. Damien wasn’t just ignoring me; he was shutting me out completely.I couldn’t let it end like this.One more time.“Damien,” I said when his voicemail clicked on again. “Look, I get that you’re upset, but you don’t understand the full picture. I know I’ve been holding back, but I swear, it’s for a reason. Call me back when you get this ASAP.”I hung up and gripped the edge of the table. Damien wasn’t just my friend, he was one of the few people in my life I could call family. If he walked away from this, from me, it wouldn’t just be a temporary fallout. This could destroy everything.After a few more futile minutes of s
DOMINIC'S POVEarly the next morning, I slipped out of my bed, leaving Ruby in it. I took a quick shower and headed downstairs. Today was the day I'd finally meet with Damien ever since my travel to Italy with Ruby.I texted the address to Damien and slipped my phone into my pocket. The cool morning air brushed over my face as I stepped outside. My driver was already waiting by the car, and he straightened his posture when he saw me.“Would you like me to take you, sir?” he asked.I shook my head, pulling open the door. “Not today. I’ll drive myself.”He nodded, stepping aside without question.Sliding into the driver’s seat, I started the engine and pulled out of the compound. Damien was expecting answers. I’d told him that his sister now resided in Illinois, which wasn't a lie in itself, but which didn't feel like the complete truth either. I'd told myself, promised myself even, that I would end this whole web of secrets. Ruby deserved the truth, and so did Damien.But the timing co
DOMINIC'S POV Something in my frigid heart melted at her words.Ruby stared at me, bright green eyes blazing with emotions I could not name. Her hands caressed my face, sliding down my jaw, and in that moment, I felt safer than ever.I'd asked for a label, and she'd given me much more than that."Sex over the kitchen island," I murmured in a tease. "That's a first."She laughed, the sound like music to my ears. "Not even with your other women? Don't think I don't remember what Ariel said about that."I scoffed, thinking about my daughter. "Ariel doesn't know what she's talking about."Without giving her time to answer, I slung my arm around Ruby's waist, pulling her into my arms."Dominic!" She yelped, and I shot her a wide grin."What do you think Ariel would say if she found us half naked in the kitchen?" I asked. "Come on, time for bed."Ruby giggled as I carted her all the way to the door of her room before setting her down gently. Ruby threw her arms around my neck, and the warm
RUBY'S POVDominic's strong arms came around me immediately and he kissed me back, and oh, I loved kissing him. We fit together so well, we always did. No loose lips or space where it wasn’t wanted. He kissed me with perfect control, and I was pretty sure I could go on kissing him for the rest of my life and be thrilled every time.My hands reached up and tangled between the hair on the nape of his neck. Dominic growled, deepening the kiss. He pressed me against the wall of the kitchen, his hands clawing at my ass.Eventually, though, my breath became short and my involuntary moans more frequent, and kissing was no longer enough. The hot bulge in his pants lay right above the tiny cotton strip of my thong and the warm pressure was driving me completely insane.I broke away from Dominic, his hair a mess all over his head and face from my fingers. It almost felt like I was running from him, but Dominic closed the distance between us again. He yanked at the buttons on my nightdress, so
RUBY'S POVThe morning passed quietly. I made breakfast for Dominic and Ariel, but we ate in silence. Ariel practically cleared off her plate and even stole some food from her father's plate while giggling to herself. Dominic only spoke when necessary, his attention half on his phone, half on his thoughts. I didn’t know if I should try to start a conversation or just let it be. Ariel disappeared into her room after breakfast, slamming the door behind her. Coincidentally, It was the same room with the "keep out" sign. I should have known.I wasn’t sure what to expect from Ariel, but it seemed like she needed space. Maybe she was still processing everything, or maybe she just didn’t want to deal with me.Dominic, on the other hand, brought his laptop to my room. We didn’t talk much. He worked while I lay next to him, watching the way his fingers flew over the keyboard. I’d never been good at pretending not to notice him, but I didn’t want to distract him either. So, we stayed there, in
RUBY'S POVThe car rolled smoothly into the driveway, coming to a stop in front of Dominic’s sprawling mansion. I stared at the grand building, and my nerves crept in again. My experience the last time I met his daughter was still fresh in my mind; It has just been yesterday. That encounter hadn’t exactly gone well. She’d been cold and distant and clearly not impressed by me.I took a deep breath. Ariel was protective of her father, which I could understand. But that didn’t make the idea of seeing her again any less intimidating. Would she even want me here?Was I really terrified of a seventeen-year old teenage girl?Dominic’s voice broke into my thoughts. “You’re quiet. What’s on your mind?”I turned to him and forced a smile. “I'm just thinking about Ariel. I’m not even sure she likes me.”He tilted his head, his lips twitching into a smirk. “Ariel doesn’t like most people. Don’t take it personally.”“Great, that makes me feel so much better,” I muttered, rolling my eyes.Dominic c
RUBY'S POV“Wake up, Kitten. It’s morning.”A light tap on my shoulder and Dominic’s voice pulled me out of sleep. My eyes blinked open, adjusting to the bright light in the room. Dominic was towering over me. His hair was down, flowing over his shoulders, and for a second, I just stared. From this angle, he almost looked angelic.Like an Italian Jesus.“Did you sleep well?” His voice was gentle."Yeah." I yawned, stretching my arms over my head. “What time is it?”“7:12.”“WHAT?” My eyes widened and I blinked at him in disbelief. “You’re kidding. Did I really sleep for almost twelve hours?”He smirked. “You were exhausted. Not surprising.”I glanced around the office, trying to piece together how I had managed to crash for so long. My gaze landed on Rosalie, the blonde secretary from last night. She was cleaning up the remnants of our Italian dinner, moving quickly and with sharp, deliberate movements.She didn’t say a word, but her silence was loud enough. The way she scrubbed the t
RUBY'S POVDominic let go of me and turned to sit behind his desk, focusing on the screen of his laptop. The light from it illuminated his sharp features as his fingers moved swiftly across the keyboard. Every now and then, he’d pause to scribble something on one of the files scattered in front of him.I couldn’t stop watching him. There was something captivating about the way his brow knitted together in concentration, how his muscles flexed whenever he shifted in his chair, or the way he ran his tongue over his lips absentmindedly. It was ridiculous how someone could look so good while working.A knock on the door startled me, and I snapped my gaze away.“That should be Rosalie with the food,” Dominic said without looking up. “Can you get it for me?”“Sure,” I replied and stood up. I was too eager to shake off my wandering thoughts.I opened the door and came face-to-face with a tall woman holding a few plastic bags. She had a sharp blonde pixie cut and was dressed in a fitted shirt