DOMINIC’S POV
I stood in front of the Newman’s Empire with a bouquet of flowers in hand, I headed to the reception where I was directed to the CEO office.
On getting to he office, her secretary who I got to know to be Peter, called her office and within few seconds nodded at me politely.
“You can go in, sir.” He said, pointing to the door that leads to Saraya’s office.
“Thank you.” I smiled at him.
“Dominic?” Saraya blinked, her surprise clear on her face. “What a surprise!”
I smiled, leaning against the doorframe. “I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d drop by.”
She raised an eyebrow, eyeing the flowers. “Uh-huh. And you just happened to have flowers with you?”
I chuckled, stepping inside. “You know I can’t hide anything from you.”
Saraya laughed softly, shaking her head. “Right. You planned this, didn’t you?”
I handed her the bouquet, watching as she took it with a smile that made my chest tighten. “Maybe just a little,” I admitted.
I stepped closer, wrapping my arms around her for a quick hug, pressing my cheek against hers. “It’s good to see you.”
“Good to see you too.” She pulled back, still holding the flowers. “Take a seat.”
I lowered myself into the chair she pointed to, trying to ignore how she still had that effect on me after all this time. The office was quiet, the soft hum of the city outside mixing with the calm inside.
Saraya leaned back, studying me. “So, what brings the busy man to my humble office? I’d think you have a million things to do.”
I cleared my throat, feeling a little awkward. “Well… since we left Brisbane, I’ve noticed something. My only friend has been… a little distant. And I thought maybe I’d done something wrong.” I shifted in my seat, looking down for a moment before meeting her eyes again. “So, I figured flowers might be a good way to make things right.”
She shook her head, a small, amused smile tugging at her lips. “Dominic, it’s not like that at all. I’ve just been swamped with work since I got back to Sydney.”
I nodded, a bit relieved but still feeling that strange tension in the air. “I just… I wanted to make sure everything was okay between us.”
She sat down across from me, the laughter fading from her eyes. “It is. Really. You didn’t do anything wrong. I’ve just been busy, that’s all.”
I leaned back in the chair, the weight in my chest easing slightly. “Good. Just making sure.”
She smiled warmly. “Well, you’re always welcome here, flowers or not.”
I couldn’t help but grin. “Guess I’ll have to remember that for next time.”
I saw her phone light up, and I could tell from the way she tensed that it wasn’t just any call. She hesitated before answering, looking at the screen for a moment, her thumb hovering over the button.
“Everything okay?” I asked, my voice a little sharper than I meant.
She looked up at me, her gaze soft but guarded. “Yeah, just… work stuff.”
But I knew. I knew it was Arlan.
“I guess I’m interrupting.” I muttered, trying to act casual, even though my chest felt tight.
Saraya’s lips twitched like she was trying not to smile. “You worry too much,” she said, picking up the phone and turning slightly away from me.
She spoke quietly, so I couldn’t catch everything, but the way she said, “Hey, I’ll call you back shortly…” made my stomach churn. I clenched my fists under the table, but I kept a calm font.
I wasn’t going to let my facade slip not when I’m eyeing a twenty million dollars. That would go a long way in relieving some of my family’s business.
“So,” I said, trying to fill the silence as she spoke, “you uncomfortable picking that up because I’m around?”
Saraya glanced over her shoulder, her expression shifting for a second. “No,” she replied, her voice light, but there was something off in her tone. “Just… not in the mood, you know?”
I nodded, though my mind was racing. She wasn’t being honest with me.
She finished the call and turned back to me, almost too casually. “I was about to head out for lunch when you came in,” she said, her voice bright. “Why don’t you join me? I can return the favour of the flower that way and ease your mind that we are cool.”
I blinked, caught off guard. “Uh, sure,” I said, keeping my tone easy. “I like the idea of having lunch with you.”
She smiled and stood up. “I’ll just be a minute.”
“You take all the time you need.” I said, my eyes following her as she walk to the restroom, and without thinking, I followed. Quietly, I tiptoed to the door and pressed my ear against it.
“Yeah, I’ve got a guest here,” I heard Saraya say, her voice low. “I’ll come by after lunch.”
My blood ran cold. She was meeting him. After everything. She was still meeting with Arlan.
I pulled back from the door, a low growl rising in my throat. “What was I even doing here? She isn’t interested in me. She doesn’t even want to be here with me. One call from Arlan and I’m suddenly irrelevant.” My mouth went dry and I could hear my own heartbeat.
I made my way back to the chair, my fists clenched at my sides, trying to breathe evenly.
She came back a moment later, looking as calm as ever, that easy smile on her lips. “Ready?” she asked, like nothing had changed.
I didn’t know what to say, so I nodded, standing up. “Yeah. Let’s go.”
We walked out of the office together, and I kept my head down, trying to ignore the rage building inside me. All I wanted to do was yell at her, demand answers, but I kept my mouth shut. It wasn’t worth it. At least, that’s what I told myself.
“Thanks for the lunch offer,” I muttered, trying to sound normal, but my words came out clipped.
“Of course,” she said, glancing at me with a curious look. “It’s the least I can do for someone who consider me his only friend.”
I chuckled and kept walking beside her until we got to the elevator, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that she offered lunch so she could get rid of me as quickly as possible. And that hurt more than I was willing to admit.
We had lunch, and the whole time, I could barely focus on the food. Saraya was polite, friendly, but I could feel the distance between us. She wasn’t the same.
Her thoughts were elsewhere. I could see it in the way her eyes kept darting to her phone, how her smile never quite reached her eyes. I wasn’t stupid-she was still thinking about him. Arlan.
After lunch, we stepped outside.
“I’m sorry, Dominic.” She apologized. “But I have some other appointment now.”
I shook her head. “There is nothing to be sorry for.” I told her. “You take care of yourself.”
“I will and you too.” Saraya said, waving at me.
I watched her drive off in her car, and a strange urge hit me. I don’t know why, but I couldn’t shake it. I had to follow her.
I started the engine of my own car and kept a safe distance, making sure she didn’t see me tailing her. But my eyes never left her taillights as she drove through the city, making turns that didn’t make sense, like she was trying to lose someone. But if that was her plan, she’d failed because I was determined to know where she was going.
She took a few winding streets and ended up in a fancy part of the city. When she pulled up in front of a sleek, luxury apartment building, my stomach dropped. The place screamed money.
She parked, got out of the car, and my heart thudded in my chest as I saw her get out and walk toward the entrance. Something in me snapped.
I couldn’t stop myself from getting out of my car and following her. I moved quickly, staying out of sight, trying to avoid the CCTV cameras that dotted the building. I didn’t want to be seen.
I knew where this was going. It was Arlan’s place. I could feel it in my gut.
I stood there for a moment, my breath became heavier. I knew this was wrong. But I couldn’t help it. I had to see this for myself. I followed her until she entered a unit of the apartment.
My hands were clenched into fists by my sides. “This is where you come to see him, huh?” I muttered under my breath.
I couldn’t just let it go. I glared at the door she went through, knowing she was inside with him. The frustration in my chest swelled, almost suffocating me. I didn’t want to care, but I did. I was tired of pretending like I didn’t feel it.
I stepped back, trying to collect myself. “Alright, Dominic, calm down. You’ll ruin everything before it gets started this way.”
I didn’t want to act rashly, but I couldn’t just let this slide. I’d find a way to make him feel the same way I was feeling.
“Seems like my method is bringing them to spend more time with each other when it should be tearing them apart.” I pointed out.
I looked back at the unit one last time before heading to my car. “He’ll regret this,” I said to myself, my teeth gritted. “He will.”