Chapter 6

Dominic’s POV

After leaving the office, I was done for the morning.

No meetings, no calls nothing could keep me from handling this. I drove straight to the Foster house, my grip tightening on the steering wheel with each passing block.

I didn’t even bother going home to clean up. Maybe I could use that as an excuse to leave early anything to get out of the trap they’d set for me.

As I pulled into the driveway, Leo, my right-hand man, was already waiting. He opened the SUV door without a word, his eyes scanning me like he could feel the fury rolling off me.

“You good?” he asked.

“No,” I said flatly. “Stay close.”

I entered the house, my footsteps heavy on the polished floors. The air smelled like some cheap attempt at a fancy meal. It reeked of desperation.

The second I walked in, Hayley came running, her heels clicking against the floor.

“Hey, baby!” she squealed, wrapping herself around me like a damn snake.

I didn’t move. Didn’t hug her back.

Her perfume was choking me.

Pathetic.

This woman had no dignity. Clinging to me like she had any claim to my life.

Leo stood by the door, silent as always, but I caught the way his jaw clenched. He hated this mess just as much as I did.

As we walked toward the dining room, I whispered to Hayley, “Get off me.”

She flinched but kept walking, her hand tightening around my arm.

The whole damn circus was gathered at the table.

Carlos my father sat at the head, like a king waiting for his court.

Marcus Foster, Hayley’s father, leaned back in his chair, smug as hell. My sister Joan and her husband, Luca, sat quietly.

No Kelly. Of course not. She was too smart to show up for this shit.

I took my seat, tapping my fingers against the table as everyone stared.

Carlos didn’t waste time.

“We need to talk about your future.”

“Do we?” I shot back, leaning into my chair.

“Yes.” His gaze hardened. “Hayley and Dom need to get married as soon as possible. I need grandchildren.”

Hayley beamed like a damn idiot.

I smirked. “Grandchildren?”

Carlos narrowed his eyes.

“This isn’t a joke, Dominic.”

I leaned forward, locking eyes with him.

“I have no intention of having kids,” I said slowly, letting each word cut through the room. “And I sure as hell have no intention of marrying her.”

Hayley’s smile shattered. Her face crumpled as if I’d slapped her.

“Dom!” she gasped, grabbing my arm. “We’re supposed to”

I yanked my arm away.

“Don’t touch me.”

Marcus cleared his throat. “Son, let’s keep this civil.”

I snapped my head toward him, my voice a low growl.

“I’m not your son. Don’t ever call me that again.”

Hayley’s voice cracked.

“But we slept together!”

I barked out a cold laugh.

“Yeah? And? That makes me yours now?”

Tears streamed down her face.

“You bastard,” she whispered.

“Maybe,” I said, standing up. “But at least I’m honest.”

Marcus rose from his chair, his voice firm. “You’re disrespecting my daughter.”

I took a step closer, my eyes never leaving his.

“She disrespected herself the second she spread her legs thinking it would trap me.”

The room went deadly silent.

Carlos stood, his voice booming.

“Dominic! That’s enough!”

I turned to him, shaking my head.

“No. You brought me here. You wanted this circus.”

I glanced at my sister Joan, who looked away, embarrassed. I softened for a moment.

“It was nice seeing you, sis.”

I kissed her cheek, then turned back to the table.

“I’m done here.”

Without another word, I walked out, Leo right behind me.

Later That Morning

Back at the office, I couldn’t focus.

Samantha filled me in on the interviews, but her voice was just noise. My mind was elsewhere.

I stood up, needing to move. As I walked toward the conference room, I was too distracted to notice someone walking in my direction.

We collided.

I froze.

The woman in front of me…

That girl.

The stranger I couldn’t forget.

Those almond hazel eyes that plagued my damn mind.

That face hit me like a punch to the gut. I hadn’t seen her in three years.

I opened my mouth to speak, but she was already moving, stepping into the elevator before I could say anything.

I reached out instinctively, but the doors shut in my face.

Damn it.

I rushed to the lobby, desperate to catch her. My heart was pounding, my mind racing with questions.

By the time I got outside, she was gone.

I spotted her climbing into a cab, her phone pressed to her ear. Her voice sounded panicked, her hands trembling as she gestured to the driver.

And just like that, she disappeared again.

I clenched my fists, frustration boiling in my chest.

Three years.

I searched for her for months after that night.

I couldn’t get her out of my head — those eyes, that crazy, wild hair, and that body. God, that body drove me insane.

But I never found her.

I had nothing to go on. No name. No clue where she was from.

All I had were memories of hazel eyes, brown hair, and curves that made me lose my mind.

And now she was standing in front of me.

I wasn’t about to let her slip away again.