Chapter 25 - Dominik

Dominik headed for the JW Marriott Hotel. Traffic was heavy and that did not help his terrible mood. It was almost eight at night, as he approached his destination, he went through everything that had perspired that day. First, the inconvenient with the paparazzi at the beach, then Samanta's sister lecturing him to wrap things up in style. Right then, his own sister came to mind. Regardless of being a child from another marriage, years before his father met his mother, Karol was around during most of his childhood and a big part of his teenage years. She was always there for him, standing up for him when people would comment on him because of his condition. Then he understood how normal it was for Teresa to react the way she did. Still, Dominik could not help feeling annoyed and frustrated by the way things happened.

Those paparazzi sneaking on them really pissed him off.

The memory of that beautiful woman irrupted into his thoughts, making him remember what went on in that car, as she was listening to that melody and let herself go in ecstasy with the delicious notes in it. He felt a tingle in his stomach as he remembered that stolen, still corresponded kiss.

«God! She's beautiful», he thought to himself and smiled.

A sudden hale of lights pulled out from his dreamland. Without even knowing it, he had arrived to his hotel. He was right at the entrance and the media were expecting him.

“Crap” he said, screeching his teeth. He took a deep breath and remained in the car for a few minutes. «Alright, show time». He took another breath, opened the car door and went out.

“Dominik, a picture” the reporters said at unison. He walked on, without a smile or greeting them. “Hey, Dominik! Tell us about that girl on the beach?” A voice said among the crowd, but Dom ignored it. “Is that your new girlfriend?” Questions kept being shot at him. Dominik stuck to walking even faster towards the inside of the hotel.

He went all the way to the valet and handed over the car keys. He sped up and managed to finally reach the lobby. He wasted no time getting an elevator. Once inside:

“Damn it! I am such an imbecile” he yelled and hit the wall in frustration.

He was frustrated because he did not know how to deal with the press and let them sneak into his private life like that.

The doors opened and he walked to his room.

«Why can you not be any more careful, Dominik?», he reprimanded himself.

He walked into the room, turned the light on and got startled at the sight of Ewald sitting on the couch at the bottom of the room. The man stared at him hard, frowning.

“Just what I needed” said Dominik under his breath, “a lecture from you” he added. “Please, Ewald, not right now”.

Dominik walked towards the minibar in his room, took the tiny bottle of vodka, opened it and drank it in a single sip.

“Dom” Ewald's voice sounded fatherly.

“Chill, I am not drinking any more. I really needed that drink.”

Ewald got up without a word, came to the table where he had his laptop, pressed some  keys and turned it to Dominik...

“What's going on, boy?”

Dominik shrugged.

“I promise I will give my all tomorrow” said Dom and looked at the computer screen. “Crap!” he blurted, opening his eyes big. It was pictures of him and Samanta walking on the beach.

It was so frustrating seeing himself with her from four different angles. It was as if the press had perfectly orchestrated their ambush. But amidst of all the anger he was feeling, he could not help but notice how happy they both looked on those images.

In one of them, you could see Sam touching Dom's face, and he could not stop a silly smile remembering the whole scene. «Lint», he said to himself and laughed. In another one, there was laughing Dominik, tenderly looking at a girl who could not stop smiling herself.

The smile left his face as he read the headline.

"Love in sight: The soccer star, captivated by a sexy American."

“Who is she?” Ewald asked.

“She is…” Dominik did not know what to say. “Not important, I…”

“No lying to me, boy. I have nothing against you dating, having fun, falling in love, living your sexuality to the fullest, I just …

“I can guarantee she will not decimate my performance” Dom interrupted Ewald.

“I do hope so, it would be awful if, when we're about to make it, something came and snatched your dream away.”

“That will not happen, Ewald. I promise.”

“Fine. Get some rest. We have a long day ahead tomorrow.”