“Not exactly. I just need one chance to talk to you and tell you everything. I miss you so much, Dominic,” I blurt out before I can stop myself.
“Miss Vasco. We are colleagues. That’s all,” he replies, his tone says there is no room for argument. He’s made up his mind and there’s nothing I can do to change it.
“To be effective colleagues, there are some things that we need to discuss,” I rephrase my original message. Trying a different tactic may work, but in all honesty, all I’m feeling right now is desperation.
“I will consult my attorney and get her guidance on the matter,” he replies dryly, shredding my heart all over again. “She may agree to it if she’s present.”
“Anything, Dominic,” I agree. “Whatever you say, I will do.”
There is complete silence for a full thirteen seconds. It is the longest thirteen seconds of my life. The only way I know he hasn’t hung up on me is because I can still hear the background noise. My fingers grip the phone receiver tightly, holding on for dear life and praying this is my life preserver, saving me before I sink into the black water below.
“I wouldn’t count on it, Miss Vasco,” Dominic finally says. “Goodbye.”
The line goes dead and I wish I were dead along with it. I have nothing now.
Spendingthe rest of the day reviewing every word of theD-Force Gamescontract, I am confident in the soundness of the language. Rich Daltry is panicking and grasping for straws, but I copy the necessary sections, highlight the appropriate wording, and leave the paperwork on Darren’s desk. He’s already gone for the day, as are most of the others, but I just can’t bring myself to leave yet.
Sitting alone in the executive condo is just not my idea of fun. I’m hiding from my life by working as much as possible. But, my life is the very man who owns this business and being here doesn’t help me forget him. There’s no way I can win. The pull to go to Dominic’s office is too strong for me to resist. Silently, I approach his door and turn the handle. It’s unlocked and dark inside, so I flip on the lights.
His large, oak desk sits proudly in his office and it mocks me. So many memories of my Dom and me on that desk flood my mind and my heart. Tears escape my eyes even though I thought there was no way I could cry ever again. Wrapping my arms around me, I hug myself tightly and just let the tears roll and fall where they may. Sitting in his chair, I can still smell his manly Armani cologne and I curl up in a ball.
It’s well past dark before I leave the office building. That’s fine with me since it gives me less time alone in the condo before I come back to work tomorrow. Making the drive back on autopilot, I’m pulling into my parking spot before I even realize I left the office parking lot. No radio, no music, nothing to distract me from this pain.
Just as I reach my condo door, my cell phone starts ringing. My only hope is that it’s Dominic calling me back to tell me he’ll hear me out. I dig my phone out of my purse in a hurried frenzy and my heart drops when I see the name on my display.
Harrison.
At first, I decide to ignore it but I know Harrison. He’ll just keep calling and calling until I answer. I’d rather get it over with now and have the rest of the night to be left alone. Hitting the green button, my voice is hollow as I answer.
“What do you want?”
“That’s no way to speak to your Sir, Sophia. You will be punished for that,” he threatens.
I don’t care. But, I don’t respond and give him the satisfaction of threatening me again.
“So, where’s Dominic?” Harrison asks, drawing out my Dom’s name in a mocking tone.
“What do want with him, Harrison? I’ve already told you that I’m not helping you with anything ever again. I’m done. Find someone else to threaten.”
“Oh, no, little girl, that’s not how it works. You signed the contract so you belong to me. I am your Sir,” Harrison taunts.
“I’ve learned a thing or two about submissive contracts, Harrison, and that one is not a real contract,” I challenge him. “You are not a real Sir. You are not my Dom. Don’t call me again.”
“You think your precious Dominic is just perfect, don’t you? I bet he fed you some bullshit line about my sister committing suicide, didn’t he? Said the police found a note. He’slying, Sophia. He killed her and he’ll kill you, too, as soon as he gets the chance.”
This is the story that Harrison has told me since I met him. It’s never changed from this version. Harrison is convinced that Dominic killed Carol Ann and he had convinced me of that at one point in time. He’s wanted revenge on Dominic for his sister’s death. But, Dominic says that Carol Ann committed suicide by jumping from their twenty-third floor balcony. Could Dominic really have killed her? I can’t believe that. Ever.
“I read the suicide note, Harrison. It wasn’t a bullshit line,” I reply, but my words lack conviction.
“Did the note say that she was committing suicide, Sophia? Did she write the words? Did she even say goodbye? She didn’t leave a note for our parents or for me! Do you know how hard that’s been on us for the past year and a half? We know she didn’t do it on purpose! We knowheis to blame. But he covered it up with his money and his connections,” Harrison continues to try to persuade me.
“I have proof that he did it, Sophia. I’m taking it to the police and he’ll be arrested when he gets back from his little trip. He will finally go down for what he did to my sister!” Harrison yells.
“What proof?” I ask, sitting up straight and suddenly interested in what he has to say.
“Like I’d tell you so you can run and tell him,” he sneers. “You need to come over and see it for yourself. Make up your own mind. But, you’ll see, Sophia. You’ll see that I’ve been telling the truth the whole time.”
“I’m not coming over to your house, Harrison,” I refuse.
