CHAPTER 25

Dominic's POV

When I came across Liana's post, my heart did not thud. I was in the middle of work so I didn’t pay attention to it, it was just a casual post, mere noise.

But as I sat hunched in my office, sipping black coffee, in the usual hum of subdued wonder that always enveloped workspaces, I stumbled on the post again.  It was hot and trending answered this time I settled to read. 

I read it once. Then a second time. By the third read, my knuckles had whitened on the ceramic mug.

She didn’t call me by my name. Not at all. But each sentence sliced through me like glass.

"The wolves may forget that the lambs recall.

You tried to ruin me, but you forgot something— I don't break. 

Your mistake wasn't coming for me. It was doing it in this manner. You're about to learn that you made the biggest mistake of your life.

And just so you know, I have the receipts”

I remained extremely motionless. I did not stir for several very long moments. I did not blink. My phone vibrated twice. An email from the PR office. A text from a board member. I did not respond.

Instead, I picked up the office phone and phoned Audrey.

She answered on the second ring, her voice fatigued, wary. "Dominic. I believe you've seen it."

"Of course I have. Everyone has."

I stood up, walking to the glass wall behind me. The city lay out before me, too far away to touch.

"It's about me," I said.

She smiled. Not nastily. Just... hollow. "What took so long for you to figure it out?"

"You think this is amusing?"

"No, Dominic. I think it's fair. You should be glad she didn’t even call your name, but it does not matter? Everyone eith a sound sense of reasoning will suspect you have a hand in it. You jealous cheat."

My fist clutched the edge of my desk. I had an answer at my lips, something bitter and evil, but it died there.

"So, now what?" I asked.

"Now?" She chuckled. "Now you burn. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But the fire is already burning."

I struggled to speak but the line went dead. She hung up. I froze, jaw clenched so tight it was painful. What gave her the audacity?

Just then my door flew open without a knock and Serena came in, looking gorgeous as ever. 

She held a pack in hand and she stared at me flirtingly as she walked towards me. 

“Hi baby. I thought you would be hungry so I brought you lunch.”

I plastered a smile on my face, trying so hard to conceal my irritation. I couldn't help but wonder if she had actually seen the post. 

“Thank you.” I muttered as I cleared the table to make space for the meal. 

As she dished the meal, all I could do was stare and out of no where, she asked a question I wish he had just taken to her grave. 

"Dominic," she gasped, rolling the pasta befire dropping the spoonful on my plate. "Have you read Liana's post?"

I grunted a vacant expression, like I'd just learned of it. "What post?"

She handed me her phone. I pretended to check it.

"Who do you think she's talking about?" Serena asked. She was biting her lip. "Fans in the comments are already making guesses. Some think it's about you."

I raised an eyebrow. "Me? That's ridiculous."

"I know," she said in a rush. Too fast. "But… It's getting a lot of attention. And honestly, she sounds crazy. Like she's out for revenge or something."

"Let her rant. It's empty complaining."

But it wasn't. I knew it. And under that over-coated, sugar-high voice Serena always used with me, I sensed something was off.

"Are you cold?" she demanded suddenly.

I blinked. "What?"

"You're always so cozy, and today I feel as cold as ice." She moved closer, opening her arms. "Come here” She said sitting on my laps and pulling the plate closer. “ I would sit her and feed you, that way, I get to feed of the warmth of your body too” she said with a wink. 

The old me would have rolled my eyes and gone along without question. But now, all I could see was suspicion.

Why did she come in acting like she had no idea what Liana was insinuating? Why did she act like she hadn't already formed her own conclusions? And why did she bring me lunch? She hardly ever does that. 

Did she hear me talking the other night? Was she faking being stupid?

I plastered a smile on my face. "Sure. Why not?" I draped an arm around her shoulders and fell in position as she stopped a spoonful and stretched it to me. 

If anyone was watching, he would have seen just Dominic being his usual vibe but in my head, cogs were turning.

I didn't trust her.

Serena was always sweet. Too sweet. She was enthusiastic and compliant. What if it was all an act. Maybe I let her in too far. Maybe she was Liana's eyes and fed her the information. But no, Audrey did and it's unfair to suspect Serena. 

After we were done, we slid through the exclusive lounge, it was an extension of my office, that way, I could sleep in when I had too much work. She pulled into me on the velvet couch, head on my chest. I remained silent. My fingers absently stroked her arm.

She hummed, content. "Everything will blow over. These things always do."

"You really believe that?"

She looked up. "Of course. You’re Dominic. You always win."

……….

When I returned to my office, the post had tripled in shares. Blogs had dissected every line. Insiders were chattering in the comments. Reporters were placing anonymous calls for comment.

I called my lawyers. No one answered on the first ring. That itself set off alarm bells.

A minute or two later, Max my lawyer called back.

"I was in a meeting," he said.

"I want you to find any documents Liana might have. Anything that could be used against me."

"Want us to hack her?"

"I don't know, just do your job."

"We can send a cease and desist, but if she hasn't called you out in specific."

"She doesn't have to. The implication does the damage."

He sighed heavily. "I'll have the team investigate it. But Dominic..

"

"What?"

"If she does have something… perhaps it's time to settle. Quietly, before this escalates."

I hung up on him.

That evening, in my suite, by myself, I read the post again. Every word. Every single one felt carefully chosen.

I have receipts.

What kind of receipts was she talking about? 

And more importantly, who were the people she was working with? I need to know who I'm up against. 

Serena slept in my bed that night. But I didn't sleep. I watched her instead.

And I mentally noted to check the security logs.

If she double-crossed me, she wouldn't live long enough to wish she hadn't.

……….

The morning after, there was a plain envelope on my desk when I got in.

No name. No address. When I opened it, there was only one word scribbled on a piece of paper. 

LOSER