DOMINIC’S POV.
From the moment, she walked into the club, she held me spellbound.
“Who is she?” I asked one attendant.
The attendant stared at her and was drooling at her beauty. I smacked his shoulder lightly to snap him out of it.
“Stop ogling her like a fool and tell me who the hell she is,” I barked.
He stammered, “S-sorry, sir. She seems like a new face. I don’t recognize her.”
A smirk tugged at the corners of my mouth. “New, huh? Perfect. I should take my chance before these ravening men begin to take their chances with me. You can go.” I dismissed him.
To my surprise, she took over the dance floor putting herself on the spotlight. I saw the way other men fed their eyes on her body and I knew I shouldn’t wait any more time before approaching her.
As I approached her, I wanted others to know she belongs to me and me only. So I had placed my hands on her waist.
Her fierce eyes locked with mine. “Take your hands off me.” She snapped.
I loved the fierce look on her face and imagined what she would like on bed.
Imagine my surprise when she landed a slap on my face just because I touched her waist.
“She isn’t like the other women.” Was the first thing that came to my head but seeing how she slapped me publicly, I couldn’t afford to let it go at that.
I had threatened her to make her shivered, rather she took my words with a pinch. As she swirled her hips and turned back dancing, I chose that moment to vanish among the crowd.
I returned to my private section of the bar, not taking my eyes off her.
I was angry, maybe even embarrassed but I found myself even more intrigued. “She isn’t just any woman, this is someone worth chasing.”
The slap still stung, not just my cheek but my ego. Yet, as I watched her reclaim the dance floor, it was impossible to feel angry. She moved like she was born to own the spotlight, every sway of her hips making the entire room feel insignificant in her orbit.
“Who the hell are you?” I muttered under my breath, l asked sipping my drink.
She walked towards the bar table and downed another drink, her head tilted back, her long hair cascading over her shoulders like a curtain.
Men hovered nearby, hoping for a chance, but none of them dared to approach her after what she’d done to me. Smart of them.
I moved out of my private section to get a clearer glimpse of her, that was how much grip she had on me.
One of the men leaned closer to me. “She’s something, huh?” he said, a little too casually.
“Stay out of it,” I snapped.
He raised his hands defensively. “Hey, no need to bite. Just saying you’ve got competition if you’re thinking of going for her again.”
I didn’t respond. My eyes stayed glued to her as she grabbed another drink from the tray of a passing server.
Her steps were starting to falter, eyes teary as she ran her hands through her hair. I could tell she was going through a lot of pain.
She finally stumbled toward the exit, “ma’am, you haven’t paid.” An attendant wanted to go after her but I stopped him and tossed some cash at him and followed her.
Outside, a valet attendant approached her with a polite bow. “Will you be needing a private driver, Miss?” he asked.
She nodded without a word. The attendant didn’t hesitate, immediately pulling out his phone to make a call.
Moments later, a sleek black car rolled up to the curb, the driver stepping out to open the door for her.
She almost missed her step but the driver was quick to help from hurting herself. He helped her into the car and closed the car behind him before jumping to the driver’s corner.
I couldn’t stop myself. I jumped into my own car and followed, careful to keep enough space between us. The streets grew quieter as we moved into more affluent neighborhood.
And then, we arrived.
My heart skipped a beat as her car stopped in front of towering gates that were all too familiar. The Newman mansion.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered, parking a short distance away.
She stepped out of the car, her figure illuminated by the mansion’s lights. Even in her intoxicated state, she exuded grace.
I watched the driver handed her the keys and leave while she made her way in.
“No. No way.” I leaned forward, gripping the steering wheel like it might give me answers. “Don’t tell me she’s Alex Newman’s daughter.”
The name felt like a curse on my tongue. Alex Newman wasn’t just powerful; he was ruthless, a man rumoured to have killed his own brother to take over the family business. If she was his daughter, I wasn’t just chasing a woman, I was walking straight into the lion’s den.
As I sat there in my car, I know I should drive my car and forget all about her, that is what any sane person would have done.
But it seems I wasn’t sane after all, not when it came to her. “I will finally make you mine.” I vowed.
*
I got home and meet my parents waiting for me. I barely stepped into the house when my father’s voice boomed across the room.
“Where the hell have you been, Dominic?” He shouted at me.
My mother stood up and walked towards. “Where have you been all day?” Her facial wrinkle became more obvious with worry written all over her.
“Do we really need to ask?” my father, Noah Leo, the chairman of woods furniture snapped.
“Just look at him,” he said pointing at me. “He reeks of alcohol!” He walked towards me. “While you’ve been out drinking yourself into a stupor, do you have any idea that we are at the brink of bankruptcy right now?”
I sighed, shrugging off my jacket and tossing it onto the couch. “What is it this time, dad?” I retorted. “It’s not like that news is strange to anyone.”
“What is it?” My dad voice rose, his anger barely contained. “Our company is on the brink of collapse, Dominic! Investors are pulling out, and our competitors are circling like sharks. And you my so called son, the deputy chairman is out there partying like none of this matters!”
I poured myself a glass of water, unbothered by his outburst. Taking a sip and sighed before walking back to them. “Relax, Dad. I’ve got it under control.”
“Under control?” he roared, slamming his fist on the table. “You’ve been out drinking and wasting time with God knows who! Tell me, how exactly you’ve got this under control.?”
“Take it easy, Noah.” My mother cautioned him.
I smirked, setting the glass down. “You’ll thank me later, Dad.”
My dad looked at me like I was out of my mind, clearly unconvinced. “Stop playing games, Dominic. What the hell are you talking about?”
“I met her,” I said simply, a smirk tugged at the corner of my lips.
“Met who?” my mother asked.
“Alex Newman’s daughter.” I announced.
The room fell into a deep silence. My father’s mouth opened slightly, then closed as if he couldn’t find the words. My mother stared at me like I was speaking gibberish.
“So?” she finally said, breaking the awkward silence in the room.
I gave her a pointed look. “Do I need to say more?”
My father leaned forward, “What are you trying to say, Dominic?”
I crossed my arms, letting a confident smile spread across my face. “I’m saying, I’m going to get close to her. I’ll make her my wife and your daughter in law.”
“What?” my mother gasped, her hand flying to her chest.
“You heard me,” I said firmly. “If I marry her, we’ll form an alliance with the Newmans. Their resources, their connections will save our company. Do you really think Alex Newman would let his own daughter’s husband fail?”
“And do you think Alex will allow his daughter marry into our family?” My father asked.
“That is why we have to hasten things up, time is not on our side. I must make her my wife before things get out of hand completely. We must jeep the facade that everything is fine until she is officially my wife, that is the only way of this mess we’ve found ourselves.” I explained.
My father stood up abruptly from where he was seated. “This is insane, Dominic! Do you even hear yourself? You want to manipulate an innocent gurl!”
“And who said she is innocent?” I snapped. “On my way back home, I checked her up. She had fraud allegations levied against her. Rumours also have it that Alex had a hand in James death. Both father and daughter are not as innocent as they look.” I explained. “We must do everything we can to survive, have you forgotten the number of mouths that depends on this company of ours?”
My mother shook her head and choosing her words slowly. “Dominic, do you even know this girl? You can’t just know a person’s real identity by reading them up.”
“For Alex to have named her his heiress, I’m certain, she is not an ordinary girl.” My father added.
“You’re both right. She’s not just some girl, Mom,” I said, my tone softening slightly. “She’s different. And whether I know her or not doesn’t matter right now. What matters is that she’s the key to saving everything.”
My father pointed a finger at me, his voice dangerously low. “Do you even know what kind of man Alex Newman is? You’re playing with fire, son. He won’t take kindly to someone using his daughter for their gain.”
“I’m not afraid of Alex Newman,” I replied coolly. “I know what I’m doing.”
My mother placed a hand on my father’s arm, trying to calm him down. “Noah, maybe-”
“Maybe nothing!” my father snapped, turning to her. “This is madness, and you know it!”
I let them argue for a moment before cutting in. “Look, I’m not asking for your approval. I’m telling you what’s going to happen. I’ll handle Alex Newman, his daughter, and everything else. You two just sit back and let me fix this mess.”
I turned to leave, my father’s furious voice following me. “This isn’t a game, Dominic! Don’t you dare come crying to me when this blows up in your face!”
But I didn’t respond, my mind was made up.
“My dear son,” my mother saw beside me. “I believe in you but what if she refuses to marry you?”
“She is mine and nobody’s else.” I declared.
“You sound so confident.”
“Confident people are winners, mother.” I said and brushed the strand of hair on her face aside. “She might not know this yet but she is mine and have no choice.”
“Is there anything you want me to do to help you?” My mother asked.
“This is why I love you,” I smiled at my mother. “There is something I want you to do for me, get closer to Isla and Mary.” I said. “You should create a close bond with them, that would make everything easier.”
My mother nodded. “That’s easy, I’ve got you.”
“And I’ve got you too.” I kissed her forehead.