CHAPTER 8: THE ELEVATION AND THE SECRETS

Dominic's POV

I sat under the large umbrella in the picnic resort I had bought for our honeymoon. Katherine rested her head on my arm as we watched the lapping of the sea. The waves were calm. Everything was perfect. Everything was exactly as planned.

"Babe, you know sometimes looking at those waves reminded me of my childhood days," she said, her voice soft and dreamy.

"Really?" I asked, not really listening. My mind was elsewhere. On the empire I was building.

She looked up, the hat making her face smaller, more delicate.

"Yes, you know, being an heiress to my royal family... You understand," she said.

"Of course I do, my love," I replied, kissing the top of her head.

She rested back on my arm, sipping the fruit juice on the fancy table beside us. For a moment, I felt nothing but contempt for her. She was useful. She was beautiful. She was a means to an end. 

"I heard someone caused some trouble at the reception," she asked suddenly. I raised an eyebrow to her question, not expecting it.

"Do not worry about it. It's just some useless girl trying to ruin our special day," I said, trying to divert her attention.

Katherine looked up, a frown crossing her face.

"Who is she? You told me I was your first love. You never had a girlfriend," she said.

I smiled and held her face, kissing her lips slightly.

"Yes, you are. I have always loved you. It was just my secretary, I think you know her," I said carefully, choosing my words with precision.

"Oh yes," she said.

"Well, she did something terrible. I had to sack her and she decided to cause trouble that day," I continued, satisfied with myself.

"Holy shit, that bitch?" Katherine said, her expression hardening.

"Yes, she is a bitch. I got her fired," I said.

She turned back to her juice, seemingly satisfied with my explanation.

"Mother would be leaving next week," she said.

I got interested. "Oh, I should meet her one more time before she leaves."

"No, you do not worry. Mother would think I am still depending on her," she replied.

I chuckled and patted her head. "Of course she would think like that. You are still her little daughter who just got married."

She smiled. "Alright then, we go see mother."

Seagulls made their sounds as they flew about on the water, landing on the ground.

"After this honeymoon, we are making our first grand entrance, auctioned by my mum," I said.

"Really?" She giggled, grabbing my hands.

I nodded. Everything was falling into place. Everything was going exactly as my father and I had planned.

"Well, I have to inform my agency soon. Everyone. There is another party coming up soon," she said.

I relaxed back. "Anything for you, babe."

My phone rang beside me. I stared at it. The caller ID read Dad. I looked back at Katherine, who was already lost in her world of the upcoming event. I stood up, picking up the call.

"Hi, Dad," I said quietly.

"Yes, good," his husky voice responded, expecting what I had to say.

"I told her already, just as predicted. I am sure her uncles would be there on that day," I said quietly, turning briefly to look at Katherine.

"Good. You just have to be a good husband. I will handle the rest. I have people prepared. I heard one of the uncles who had the password to the project server loves women a lot," he said.

I understood immediately. My father had a plan. He always did.

"I trust you, Dad," I replied.

"This is a golden opportunity to expand your business to that man's position," he said.

"I understand, Dad," I responded quietly.

"Hey Babe, come over. I need you to help me select dresses we can match together on that day," Katherine called.

"I need to go, Dad," I said.

The line went off.

All my life, all I ever wanted was just a means to my end. I had built my business world on my father's supervision. Met people I had used to get to this level of position to beat Sebastian Ashford. I needed to put that bastard in his place. He felt like he was the only one who knew how to do it all.

Using people to achieve what I wanted. That was the game. And I was a master at it.

The only secret I had kept from my father was Sienna. I needed something from her. I had to use her to get what I wanted. And she was just too dumb, too naive to know what was going on.

I chuckled to myself. Such a waste.

"I am coming, dearie," I called out to Katherine.

Sienna's POV

I sat in front of the mirror as my hair and makeup were being done by the stylist who had suddenly appeared at my room door. Other stylists were moving in and out of my room, dressing me in a way that corresponded to meeting an in-law. But I couldn't focus on any of it.

What the hell was wrong with him?

I found myself reminiscing about what happened earlier this morning. What was with that expression in his eyes? I mean, if he wanted to check me out or whatever he wanted to do, he could just check me from meters away. My cheeks felt hot again, my heart fluttering. I shook my head, reminding myself of what this was all about.

I am not allowing any other person near my heart. I am not falling in love with anyone. Not someone who is Dominic's rival.

"Ma'am, can you raise your head a little?" the makeup girl asked.

I did what she said, pushing down every feeling that might be lurking around. I needed to stay focused. I needed to remember why I was here.

  By 7:30 PM, I was looking different. I stood before the mirror staring at my reflection. I was a different person. Someone not like old Sienna.

The dress was stunning. It was a flowing gown in deep emerald green, fitted at the waist and cascading down to the floor. The neckline was elegant, not too revealing but enough to show confidence. My hair was styled in soft waves pulled to one side, exposing my neck and shoulders. The makeup was flawless. Smokey eyes. Defined cheekbones. A nude lip that made me look sophisticated and mature.

"Is there anything you want us to change or adjust?" the stylists asked.

"None. It's a hundred," I said.

They nodded at each other, packing their tools and leaving me alone with my reflection. I breathed in and out slowly.

"You can do this, Sienna," I muttered to myself.

I took a last look at myself, picking up my purse. If anything came up, I was ready for any questions his mother might throw at me. I was Sienna Lopez, not Rossi, for his parents. That was the story. That was the lie I had to maintain.

I walked out of the room and pressed the elevator button for the ground floor.

Ding!

The elevator chimed as the doors opened. Sebastian's back was turned to me. He was tall. Broad. Solid. A young man was discussing something with him, something business-related by the sound of it.

"Is it time?" I asked subtly after several seconds of debating what to say to draw his attention.

It worked. He turned slowly. And I had to catch my breath.

He was wearing a stone-washed denim jacket over a white crisp shirt. His dark hair was styled back, different from the way he had worn it this morning. His jawline was sharp. His eyes were dark and intense. He looked powerful. He looked like someone who could destroy empires with a single word.

He was hot. Handsome. I shouldn't be thinking those words, but I was. And admitting a person is pretty or handsome isn't so bad, I told myself. It's just an observation.

His expression changed from the serious one he had turned with to a gentle one. He checked me out, his eyes moving from my face down to my dress and back again.

"Woah," he muttered, folding his arms across his chest. His eyes still weren't leaving me. I felt so shy. I fondled with my fingers like an eight-year-old girl.

"Is it bad for a first impression?" I asked nervously.

I noticed the young man had left the living room, leaving the both of us alone.

"The stylist picked this. I felt it was better if I needed to have a good impression in front of your mother," I said quickly, filling the silence.

"No, no, no," he said, cutting me off. "You look amazing. The dress and everything looks good on you."

Warm color spread to my cheeks. Not again. This is just a compliment, I reminded myself. Just words. Nothing more.

"Yes, it is," I paused. "You... you look good too."

He shrugged. "I look like this every day," he said.

He chuckled. There was silence between us. Not awkward. Just that flowing silence that held my gaze with his. I lowered my eyes, unable to maintain the intensity of his stare.

"Shall we leave? They are expecting us," he asked.

I looked up again and smiled.

"Of course."

We walked out to the already running limousine. One of his men opened the car as he guided me into the back seat. He followed, settling beside me. Soon the car left the curb, joining the traffic of Manhattan.

"Do not need to be intimidated by my dad," he said gently. There was something unwritten in that statement. Something deeper. Something I couldn't quite understand.

I nodded. He turned his head at me.

"Just stick to what we rehearsed together," he said.

"Okay," I replied.

Just an hour drive. We reached an automated gate that glided open as we approached. The car entered and we were faced with a massive estate. Tall, expensive buildings. This was another level entirely. Another world that I was about to enter.

"We are here, boss," the driver announced.

I looked out at the sprawling grounds. The perfectly manicured lawns. The fountain in the center of the driveway. The staff moving about in the distance. This had enough resources to take Dominic down. More than enough.

New plan, I thought to myself. I must get on the good side of his parents. Since I was in his world already, nothing could stop me. I turned to him.

"I have something to request," I said.

The car slowed down as we approached the house curb lined with model cars.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Make me the CEO of one of your companies," I said.

I didn't know where that confidence came from, but I was sure of something. If I was going to bring Dominic down, I needed to be in a position equal to him. I needed power. Real power. Not just the power of being someone's wife.

Just then, my phone vibrated. The unknown number from this morning. The caseworker.

The message read: "What are you going to say about what I told you? I needed to tell you something important."

I lowered my phone, facing him, reading his expression. I needed this quickly. This woman. Everything needed to have a clear tunnel for me. Everything needed to make sense.