Chapter 49

While Karol conversed with the hostess and she looked their names in the guest list, Dominik grabbed his phone, tempted to text Samanta, but he refrained.

The pretty lady who identified as Amanda, asked them to wait for 15 minutes while their table was ready. The Weigands agreed and headed for the waiting lounge. Regardless, the girl could not stop staring at Dom, wondering "Where have I seen that face before?" This went on for five minutes until she remembered. Her eyes opened up big like plates when she realized this was one of the biggest celebrities in every sense.

Dominik Weigand was not only captain of the Germany football team and the one player who had scored more goals this season. He was a beacon between hot guys. There is a phrase: “Hotter than Dominik Weigand in his underpants” it was one of her most used phrases with her friends. She had to go up to him and apologize, claiming she had not recognized him. Dominik asked for her discretion, he did not want anyone else recognizing him. She abided and had a their table set up at the VIP room.

As they were being ushered in by Amanda, his eyes were set on a specific point. A beautiful woman in a blue dress rushing towards the elevator. Dominik felt his heart race, about to jump out of his chest.

“Sam?” Whispered Dominik to himself, trying to appease his heart.

His sister looked back at him and followed his eyes. Noticing a girl running out as though she had seen a ghost …

“Dominik?” Karol was confused. “Is something the matter?”

“Give me a moment” her brother replied, going after the girl.

“Samanta!” He shouted, making Samanta stop right on her tracks.

Sam turned towards his voice and her face lit up, but immediately after, her face turned to a grievous grin. She turned around once more, ready to take the elevator. She had to leave. Immediately.

»Wait” Dominik paced wider in order to reach her. “Hold on a minute” he stood right behind her. Samanta was slamming the elevator button desperately. “Hey! Are you alright?”

She kept her back to him, wishing the earth would swallow her. What the hell was Dominik doing there? Shouldn't he be in Santa Clara? Or maybe even on his way to Orlando. At least, that was what she had heard on the last ESPN live broadcast, that the German team would face Uruguay at the Citrus Bowl in only 3 days.

She took a very deep breath, trying to keep herself from crying. She was very frustrated, nervous and … confused.

The elevator doors opened and Samanta took a step into it but Dominik not willing to let her walk away.

“What is going on, Samanta? I should be the one to be upset here.”

“Upset?” She shook her head, forcing her neurons to make contact again. “Why would you be upset?” She turned to him. “You, upset, with me? You don't say!” She said sarcastically. “You did nothing when those two idiots came slandering names at me and just left without even saying goodbye. No explanation needed here, we were just a passenger thing.”

“I went after you that night, after the Hard Rock. What did I find?” Dominik said loudly. Samanta frowned. “You” he pointed his finger at her. “Kissing that guy. What was I supposed to do?”

Samanta's face turned pale at the realization that this was how he had seen it. Everything made sense now.

The loud noise of someone clearing their throat made them both turn towards it. It was Karol.

“Brother? I reckon this is not the best place to argue with your girlfriend.”

Dominik's elder sister realized this was a lover's quarrel.

“I should leave” said Samanta trying to free her arm of Dominik's grip, but he would not let go.

Dominik did not know what he was feeling. But he could say he was relieved to see her, ecstatic to be with her, even for a couple minutes, but something kept him from enjoying this encounter.

“Let's talk” he asked.

“We are talking” She replied. Struggling to be released. “Let go, Dominik. I need to leave.”

“Let her go, you asshole” a man's voice made them turn around, as soon as he did, a strong punch hit him on the left cheek.

Dominik released Samanta and stumbled. As soon as he saw the person who hit him, it was like the devil had taken over. He jumped on Alan, hitting him hard and flat on the nose.

In a matter of seconds, the place was in utter chaos. People began to scream and gather around the two men fighting, Samanta and Karol were just screaming, asking them to stop or for someone to hold them apart.

Camera flashes started shooting out of nowhere.

Alan held Dominik from the waist, trying to knock him down, but he was going a much taller opponent, so he failed. He resorted to a cowardly trick. Kicking Dominik in his soft parts, making him drop on the ground, twisting in pain.

When Alan was preparing to kick Dominik, as he was on the floor, Sam got in the way.

“STOP!” She yelled, standing between them.

Alan's eyes glowed in pure madness. And she knew. Samanta knew he was the same Alan. Violent, abusive. Her friend Carlos was right. She did not recognize herself. She would have never agreed to see this man ever again.

Samanta got on her knees and put her hand on Dominik's cheek, where Alan hit him.

»I'm sorry, Dominik. I didn't mean any of this to happen. Please, forgive me” she asked. Dominik was just growling, still holding his groin looking for relief. Sam nailed her eyes on Alan. “Go away” she said.

The flashed kept going and onlookers were mumbling.

“But, Sam… I was just standing up for you.”

“Get out! You're just the same animal you always were” Alan looked around. Everybody leered at him. He started the fight, after all.

“What is everybody looking at? Show's over” he said and left.

“Excuse me. Who are you?” Asked Karol when she walked up to them.

“His girlfriend” said Sam by inertia.

“My what?” Dominik reacted.

“Oh, Dom! Are you alright?” She leaned in to touch his face, but he dodged her hand.

“Don't touch me” he muttered.

Two employees came out to make sure everybody was alright and helped Dominik get on his feet.

»Karol, meet Samanta.”

Dominik's sister extended her hand out to Sam.

“So you're the girl who turned my brother's world upside down?” Karol tried joking to lighten the mood.

“Karol!” Dominik glared at her.

Samanta giggled. Dominik frowned.

Their eyes met, and after many long days, there was sweetness and complicity between the lovers.

“I think we should go” said Karol. “You gave them enough snaps. If you wanted to keep this from Friedrich, you just failed. Your social networks will collapse.”

Dominik looked back at the people staring. Some were taking pictures, some were recording the ordeal.

“Yes. We should better go” he agreed.

All three of them got into the elevator.

No one said a word on the way down. Karol stood in front of the couple, while Dominik and Samanta said the sweetest things with only their eyes.

“I'll wait outside” said the elevator when they reached the ground floor. “It's been a pleasure meeting you, Samanta” she said as she rushed out.

“The pleasure is mine” said Sam, rising her voice slightly.

“So? Will you tell me who that guy is?” Dominik got closer to her, leaving her with her back against the wall.

“What are we playing, Dominik?” She felt intimidated and tried to sneak away, but Dominik got his arm in the way.

“What? The person playing games here was you” although he seemed mad, his voice sounded so sexy. “Who is he?” he whispered.

“He's my ex” Sam had to look down in order not to succumb to the temptation Dominik's lips represented.

“Why were you with him?” Dominik got even closer to her.

“He's a douche bag. Alright? Carlos was right, I shouldn't have…”

Samanta couldn't finish Dominik's lips cut her off. He had been longing for this for days. Holding her in his arms, touching her skin, savoring her…

He backed off a few seconds later and his heart rejoiced realizing all those feelings caused by the woman. Samanta had her eyes closed and breathed with difficulty.

»Alright, dear girlfriend. May I drive you to your humble abode?”

“Girlfriend?” Sam opened her eyes in awe. “Are you asking me to be your girlfriend?”

“No. You said it yourself, back at the restaurant, that you were my girlfriend. Are you?”

“I… ehmmm” Sam hesitated.

“Samanta Andrade, I want you to be with me, I want it to be you who people see walking beside me on the street, holding hands. I want you at the bleachers, cheering for me every game, going to parties with me, sleeping in my bed, traveling the world with me …the woman I can introduce to my family. I want that to be you, Sam, I want you to be my girlfriend and figure out what could happen next, what destiny holds for us…”

“Yes” she said, interrupting him. “Yes, I want that, Dominik” she repeated herself a couple times. “That's what I want.”

“It is?” He backed off even further. He was in disbelief. “Are you serious?”

She jumped into his arms and took over his lips.

“Yes” kiss. “I want” kiss “to be” kiss “your” kiss “girlfriend.”

The couple shared a tender kiss, forgetting the bitter moment they had just been through.

*****

Karol had the slight suspicion that she would have to go back to her hotel that night, and the text she received while she waited for her brother outside the Downtown, just confirmed it.

“Change of plans. Do not wait”. Dominik wrote.

The eldest of the Weigand siblings smiled broadly and relieved she had witnessed her brother's first real love.