Dominic

Dominic

“Nat.. open the door.”

I checked my watch, irritation creeping in. Natalia was still locked inside the dressing room. If we didn’t leave now, we’d miss the entrance.

“Five more minutes!” she called out.

“We’re here to close a deal, not win a pageant,” I said coldly. “Hurry up.”

The door finally opened.

Natalia stepped out in a glittering gown, flawless from head to toe. Beautiful. Fragile. Like a porcelain doll that needed careful handling.

She smiled and placed her hand on my chest. “Relax. You never lose a bid, Dominic. Why start tonight?”

“I don’t plan to.”

“I can’t wait to win Best Actress,” she whispered. “I’ll blow you a kiss from the stage.”

She was ambitious. Hungry. She believed the lead role was already hers now that Obsidian Holdings had swallowed Little Orange Productions.

In the limousine, she clung to my arm.

“One more thing,” she said softly. “My father’s media company is struggling. The Vance name doesn’t carry weight anymore. Can you help him?”

“I’ll look into it,” I replied.

A small price to keep her happy.. It was useless to invest in her dad’s advertising agency.

The event hall buzzed with cameras and flashing lights.

Natalia tightened her grip on my arm, deliberately angling her massive diamond ring toward every lens. She loved this world.

She knew the worth of the title she would be having soon.

“Congratulations, Mr. Montgomery,” Director Chapel said, handing me a glass of red wine. “Obsidian is officially backing our new film.”

“Thank you,” I replied.

“We’ve been eager for you to meet our lead actress,” Chapel continued, steering us through the crowd.

“Lead actress?” Natalia murmured near my ear. “Hope she’s ready to be replaced.”

I gave a faint smile.

Then we stopped.

A woman stood before us in a blood-red gown. Long golden-brown hair spilled down her back, catching the chandelier light.

She had her back to me, but the room bent around her presence.

Every other man was drooling over her. Some were staring straight without blinking.

She stood like she belonged at the center of everything.

“Allow me to introduce—”

She turned.

The glass in my hand nearly shattered.

My breath stopped.

The world tilted.

“Seraphina…”

“It’s Serah,” she corrected calmly before I could finish.

The name hit me like a blade.

Impossible.

The woman I had thrown out five years ago was standing in front of me—but she wasn’t broken. She wasn’t pleading. She wasn’t small.

She was radiant. Polished. Unrecognisible

She looked expensive.

“How…” My thoughts spiraled. Mr. Enzo didn’t associate with nobodies. How did she climb that high?

She tilted her head slightly. “Nice to meet you… Mr.?”

She didn’t recognize me.

Not pretending.

Her eyes were cold. Distant. Like I was just another man in a suit. Like she had never seen me before. Like I was a complete stranger.

Director Chapel smiled. “This is Dominic Montgomery, CEO of Obsidian Holdings. Your new partner.”

“Oh.” Her lips curved politely. “Interesting.”

That was all.

Her phone rang. She pulled it from a gold Chanel clutch and excused herself with effortless grace.

Every movement screamed power. Elegance. Every man stared at her until she disappeared behind the walls.

I took a step forward, heat surging through my veins—

Then someone grabbed my arm.

I had forgotten Natalia existed.

She looked terrified.

Her face had drained of color, her fingers trembling.

“Natalia?” I asked sharply. “What’s wrong?”

“Why is she here?” she whispered. “Dominic… you remember what she did five years ago, don’t you? She’s dangerous. She’s a monster.”

“I won’t let her hurt you,” I said automatically, though my eyes followed the red dress moving away. “Go get something to eat. You look unwell.”

Natalia nodded stiffly and walked away.

I turned back to Chapel, fury boiling beneath my calm.

I didn’t care how famous she was.

I didn’t care who was backing her.

“Chapel,” I said coldly, my gaze locked on Seraphina’s retreating figure.

“We need to talk about replacing the lead.”

“Now.”