Dominic’s POV“This offer is the best in the market. You won’t find a better deal anywhere else.” I negotiated.I sat back in my leather chair, my voice low and gravelly, my features all stone. Mr. Fonzie and Mr. Demetrius exchanged a silent glance and nodded to each other across the table.“We accept the offer, Mr. Dominic,” Mr. Fonzi said at last, gripping the pen in his palm.“Then we have a deal,” I replied bluntly.We signed and shook hands. Matteo trailed behind, rising from the signed documents, and walked to escort them out of my office.“Pleasure doing business with you,” Mr. Demetrius said as elevator doors opened.“Same,” I nodded, keeping my eyes on my office.I watched the elevator doors close and turned back to return to my office. Once I walked in, my eyes noticed the black blotch on my freshly washed white T-shirt.I hadn't seen it earlier and it must have spilled when I wasn’t paying any attention. I ignored it and returned to business.A knock on the door took my att
Dominic’s POVSophia had become a problem I could no longer ignore.She was relentless. Always watching. Always waiting. Always scheming.At first, I let it slide. I thought I could control the situation, keep her in check. I was wrong.Sophia didn’t just want to be part of my life, she wanted to own it.She had spent years manipulating, twisting, and forcing her way into places she didn’t belong. And when I tried to pull away, she dug in her claws deeper.I should have never agreed to the engagement plans. It was a stupid idea from the beginning.“What are you going to do about her boss?” Matteo asked. “She's not going to stop.”“Anything I see fit. She's starting to become a problem,” I answered.“Do you think she knows about Alessia?” He asked.“Of course, she does,” I answered.“And the new location?” Matteo asked.“I suspect she might know. That reminds me, I checked the CCTV footage yesterday and it seemed cut,” I answered.“You're thinking someone in the house did it,” Matteo s
Alessia’s POV“Thank you,” I said, as I took the champagne glass from the waiter. I took a sip to hide my nervousness.Beams from above danced like splintered diamonds, spreading a forced light throughout the ballroom. Laughter and conversation wafted around me like poisoned honey. It was sweet, yet deceptive, and choking.I remained at the center of it, my fingers clenched around the stem of the champagne glass. My spine erect, and a blank expression on my face.But beneath that grin, my blood was boiling.Eyes burned into my skin. Women whispered behind their jeweled hands, their eyes darting between me and Sophia with barely restrained glee. Men leered at them, some with curiosity and some with glee, as if vying for a show. And Sophia? She basked in it.Dominic’s grip on my waist was tight but not painful, his fingers pressing against me lightly as if reminding me to keep calm. He didn’t need to. I had long since mastered the art of keeping my cool.But Sophia was testing it.She
Alessia’s POVThere was an agitated buzz in the ballroom, the air heavy with tension that had been in the air all night. The whispers snaked, venomous, among the guests, wrapped around me, constricting like an invisible noose. No amount of pricey perfume and expensive champagne could cover the fetid aromas of pretension.I had stood tall, unmoved, but inside, my patience was wearing thinner.The presentation for the charity had begun and the focus moved to the stage where the host, a classy older gentleman with gray hair, cleared his throat.“Ladies and gentleman,” he said, his voice heavy with practiced elegance, “this evening, we are graced with the generosity of some of the most powerful people in this city. Let us begin the donations."One by one, the society’s finest stood up and threw around obscene donations like confetti at a parade. Five million, seven million, or even a comically inflated twelve million from some tycoon pulling out all the stops.Then, it was Dominic’s turn.
Dominic's POVAt the instant Alessia uttered her last words, the room became heavy. Gasps surged through the crowd, cameras burst like a thunderstorm, and eyes zeroed in on her. I could feel the stares, the keen curiosity, and the slow dawning acknowledgment rippling through the spectators. But none of it mattered.What mattered was her.Sophia froze, mouth parted slightly, trying to hide the fury contorting her face. That carefully polished mask of poise and arrogance shattered in an instant. The self-assured woman who had once been certain she owned the stage now seemed a damn fool."You bitch!" She said.Alessia gasped as she served the best stink eye I've ever seen, and I struggled to stifle my chuckle."Be polite to people, Sophia. Maybe you won’t get slapped again,” I said sternly."You..." Sophia quivered. "You're my fiance. You're supposed to be on my side.’”“I am not a fan of evil, Sophia. It’s about time you stopped being a shit to people, and you just might get some nice t
Dominic’s POVI downed the remainder of my whiskey, warmth spreading through my chest, before setting the glass down with a dull thud. The evening stretched long, but fatigue never came easy to me. Alessia was already in bed, and for the first time in ages, I was loath to get up and go to her.As I pushed my chair back and rose to my full height, Matteo stood against the wall, eyeing me with the same craggy gaze he had previously displayed.“Should I investigate the reporter?” he asked, his voice low but firm. Should I keep him at bay?”I played with the cuffs of my shirt, thinking about it. “No,” I said finally. “Not yet.”Matteo’s eyebrows knitted a little. “I don’t like him, Dominic. He’s trouble.”My facial expression was neutral as I turned to him. “I know.”We exchanged silence, and I gave him a curt nod, then turned on my heel and walked away.The bedroom was dark, the city lights softly gleaming through the curtains. Alessia was curled under the covers, her breathing slow and
Dominic’s POVI heard Sophia inhale loudly from the other end. “How could you?”I leaned back in my seat, rubbing my temple. “You’re going to need to be more specific,” I said.“You humiliated me,” she said curtly. “In front of everyone.”I let the silence linger, waiting. She wasn’t finished.There was a softness to her voice, the anger tinged with something in it. “Do you still even love me?”I closed my eyes briefly. “You know what the answer to that is.”A second breath, the first one quakier. “So, that’s it? You’re canceling our engagement as if it were nothing?”“It never meant anything.”A sharp gasp escaped her over the line. “You’ll regret this.” Her voice fell to a hissing whisper. “I swear to God. I’ll make you pay.”The call ended.I looked at the phone for a long moment and then put it down. There was no remorse, no guilt. If anything, I felt lighter.Sophia was my past. I wish she had dismissed the engagement because she was not going to be calm. She was never calm.If s
Dominic’s POVAs soon as I laid my eyes on him, I knew there was no peace for the night.Damn it. How far can this mad man go?Diego was seated at a table across from ours. I knew what he wanted and I knew I wasn’t going to give him any story.Charity work news, my ass. He’s onto something else and I know that one of those lunatics sent him to Me. Are they attempting to get him killed? Or is he that foolish?I watched him, swirling a glass of wine in his hand as if he had all the time in the world. His eyes were fixed on me with an annoying smirk as a challenge hung in the air. The bastard was having the time of his life. I reclined back against my chair, twirling the glass of wine around my fingertips, neglecting his existence. He was trying to bait me, and I had no intention of falling into whatever sick trap he thought he was setting to win.But Diego had other plans.He stood, with a bottle in hand, and walked toward my table with an air that belonged to a man who believed the upp
Dominic’s POVThe vibration of my phone against the polished oak desk broke me out of my thoughts. I had been looking at financial reports before, but when Matteo’s name came across the screen, I recognized this was more important than the numbers.I answered, calmly. “Talk.”“You’re not going to like this,” Matteo’s voice crackled over the phone, his tone layered with the sort of weight that told me whatever he was about to say would be more than just bad news. “Diego Maze has been doing a bit of digging around. “Not only into you but also Alessia.”“What?” I railed and ground my teeth. The mere name was enough to make my hands tighten around the phone.Diego Maze!The self-satisfied journalist known for digging things up that should be best left to remain buried in the ground. I had not foreseen how far his curiosity would lead him.“What exactly has he found?” I spoke in low tones, but something dark curled inside under the calm.“He’s been tracking her history, Dominic. He’d flown
Diego’s POVAs soon as I stepped out of that restaurant I knew that Dominic Rossi was lying. Not a single man it takes to reach the top of the food chain, without stains of blood in his hands. His success was too slick and too clean, and I didn’t trust clean. It meant that something was being hidden.Men like him in the high ranked business men were not always clean. I just needed to find what they were hiding so everyone could see.I needed proof. Well, Mr. Rossi, I am going to dig up your closet dirt. Get ready, because your sweet days are going to be over.I chuckled and went immediately to my personal office that evening. It was a small, nondescript building just on the edge of Rome where I did more of my sensitive work. The hum of servers greeted me inside and my computers booted. I poured myself a drink and readied for a long night.I went with the obvious one which was Dominic. His name was associated with dozens of legitimate businesses, involving real estate and high-end tech
Dominic’s POVAs soon as I laid my eyes on him, I knew there was no peace for the night.Damn it. How far can this mad man go?Diego was seated at a table across from ours. I knew what he wanted and I knew I wasn’t going to give him any story.Charity work news, my ass. He’s onto something else and I know that one of those lunatics sent him to Me. Are they attempting to get him killed? Or is he that foolish?I watched him, swirling a glass of wine in his hand as if he had all the time in the world. His eyes were fixed on me with an annoying smirk as a challenge hung in the air. The bastard was having the time of his life. I reclined back against my chair, twirling the glass of wine around my fingertips, neglecting his existence. He was trying to bait me, and I had no intention of falling into whatever sick trap he thought he was setting to win.But Diego had other plans.He stood, with a bottle in hand, and walked toward my table with an air that belonged to a man who believed the upp
Dominic’s POVI heard Sophia inhale loudly from the other end. “How could you?”I leaned back in my seat, rubbing my temple. “You’re going to need to be more specific,” I said.“You humiliated me,” she said curtly. “In front of everyone.”I let the silence linger, waiting. She wasn’t finished.There was a softness to her voice, the anger tinged with something in it. “Do you still even love me?”I closed my eyes briefly. “You know what the answer to that is.”A second breath, the first one quakier. “So, that’s it? You’re canceling our engagement as if it were nothing?”“It never meant anything.”A sharp gasp escaped her over the line. “You’ll regret this.” Her voice fell to a hissing whisper. “I swear to God. I’ll make you pay.”The call ended.I looked at the phone for a long moment and then put it down. There was no remorse, no guilt. If anything, I felt lighter.Sophia was my past. I wish she had dismissed the engagement because she was not going to be calm. She was never calm.If s
Dominic’s POVI downed the remainder of my whiskey, warmth spreading through my chest, before setting the glass down with a dull thud. The evening stretched long, but fatigue never came easy to me. Alessia was already in bed, and for the first time in ages, I was loath to get up and go to her.As I pushed my chair back and rose to my full height, Matteo stood against the wall, eyeing me with the same craggy gaze he had previously displayed.“Should I investigate the reporter?” he asked, his voice low but firm. Should I keep him at bay?”I played with the cuffs of my shirt, thinking about it. “No,” I said finally. “Not yet.”Matteo’s eyebrows knitted a little. “I don’t like him, Dominic. He’s trouble.”My facial expression was neutral as I turned to him. “I know.”We exchanged silence, and I gave him a curt nod, then turned on my heel and walked away.The bedroom was dark, the city lights softly gleaming through the curtains. Alessia was curled under the covers, her breathing slow and
Dominic's POVAt the instant Alessia uttered her last words, the room became heavy. Gasps surged through the crowd, cameras burst like a thunderstorm, and eyes zeroed in on her. I could feel the stares, the keen curiosity, and the slow dawning acknowledgment rippling through the spectators. But none of it mattered.What mattered was her.Sophia froze, mouth parted slightly, trying to hide the fury contorting her face. That carefully polished mask of poise and arrogance shattered in an instant. The self-assured woman who had once been certain she owned the stage now seemed a damn fool."You bitch!" She said.Alessia gasped as she served the best stink eye I've ever seen, and I struggled to stifle my chuckle."Be polite to people, Sophia. Maybe you won’t get slapped again,” I said sternly."You..." Sophia quivered. "You're my fiance. You're supposed to be on my side.’”“I am not a fan of evil, Sophia. It’s about time you stopped being a shit to people, and you just might get some nice t
Alessia’s POVThere was an agitated buzz in the ballroom, the air heavy with tension that had been in the air all night. The whispers snaked, venomous, among the guests, wrapped around me, constricting like an invisible noose. No amount of pricey perfume and expensive champagne could cover the fetid aromas of pretension.I had stood tall, unmoved, but inside, my patience was wearing thinner.The presentation for the charity had begun and the focus moved to the stage where the host, a classy older gentleman with gray hair, cleared his throat.“Ladies and gentleman,” he said, his voice heavy with practiced elegance, “this evening, we are graced with the generosity of some of the most powerful people in this city. Let us begin the donations."One by one, the society’s finest stood up and threw around obscene donations like confetti at a parade. Five million, seven million, or even a comically inflated twelve million from some tycoon pulling out all the stops.Then, it was Dominic’s turn.
Alessia’s POV“Thank you,” I said, as I took the champagne glass from the waiter. I took a sip to hide my nervousness.Beams from above danced like splintered diamonds, spreading a forced light throughout the ballroom. Laughter and conversation wafted around me like poisoned honey. It was sweet, yet deceptive, and choking.I remained at the center of it, my fingers clenched around the stem of the champagne glass. My spine erect, and a blank expression on my face.But beneath that grin, my blood was boiling.Eyes burned into my skin. Women whispered behind their jeweled hands, their eyes darting between me and Sophia with barely restrained glee. Men leered at them, some with curiosity and some with glee, as if vying for a show. And Sophia? She basked in it.Dominic’s grip on my waist was tight but not painful, his fingers pressing against me lightly as if reminding me to keep calm. He didn’t need to. I had long since mastered the art of keeping my cool.But Sophia was testing it.She
Dominic’s POVSophia had become a problem I could no longer ignore.She was relentless. Always watching. Always waiting. Always scheming.At first, I let it slide. I thought I could control the situation, keep her in check. I was wrong.Sophia didn’t just want to be part of my life, she wanted to own it.She had spent years manipulating, twisting, and forcing her way into places she didn’t belong. And when I tried to pull away, she dug in her claws deeper.I should have never agreed to the engagement plans. It was a stupid idea from the beginning.“What are you going to do about her boss?” Matteo asked. “She's not going to stop.”“Anything I see fit. She's starting to become a problem,” I answered.“Do you think she knows about Alessia?” He asked.“Of course, she does,” I answered.“And the new location?” Matteo asked.“I suspect she might know. That reminds me, I checked the CCTV footage yesterday and it seemed cut,” I answered.“You're thinking someone in the house did it,” Matteo s