DOMINIC’S POV.
I dialed Saraya’s number using the burner phone and masking my voice to a feminine tone.
“Hello?” Her voice was shaky. “Who’s this?”
I let out a low chuckle. “Your friendly blackmailer.”
There was a pause before she spoke again, her voice trembling. “How did you get my number, you piece of shit?”
I ignored her question. “The real question here is, have you and your partner gotten the money ready?”
“Why did you go to my dad?” she snapped, her fear giving way to anger. “I was in the process of giving in to your demands. Was that necessary?”
“Ah, Saraya,” I said, shaking my head like she could see me. “You weren’t taking me seriously. I wanted to make sure you stayed on your toes. Now, are we done with the questions? Because if I have to call back without that money in my wallet, I’ll be reaching out to your dad again or some media stations. Let’s see which one is willing to buy this exclusive little piece of information from me first.”
“You’re evil!” She spat.
I laughed again, low and cold. “I’m just a business person, sweetheart. The more buyers I get, the better for me. Don’t you agree?”
“Give me the phone,” I heard Arlan’s voice in the background, and my blood boiled. A moment later, he was on the line.
“Listen to me,” Arlan said, his voice steady but firm. “How can we trust you to keep your word after we send the money? What guarantee do we have?”
I smiled. “Because I’m a person of my word. You pay, and I disappear. It’s that simple.”
“If you are, why did you change the tone of your voice?” Arlan asked.
“That is none of your business, you should get the money!” I screamed at him.
Arlan was silent for a second. “And if we don’t?”
I leaned back, savoring the moment. “Then I dazzle your world, my friend. I’ll release everything. Trust me, people will eat this up. Think about what this would do to your businesses.”
“Well, Alex have the video as we speak. He already knows everything.” Arlan revealed. “Why do we have to fear you at this point?” He screamed at me.
“Don’t you see the advantage? That makes my negotiation with him easier just in case you decide to waste more of my previous time and ah,” I paused. “Though Alex knows, the world is yet to know of your dirty affairs.”
“Why are you doing this?” Arlan asked in lower tone, breathing heavily.
“Like I said, business.” I checked the time on my burner phone. “Oh, and you’ve got thirty minutes left. The link to the wallet I provided? It expires then. After that, it’s game over. Blame yourselves for whatever happens then.”
“Dominic, you son of a bitch. Listen, I know it’s you.” Arlan began, sounding very angry and desperate.
My heart raced and almost stopped. “Have I slipped through somehow and give myself away?” I quickly made a mental appraisal and managed a small laugh. “Who is Dominic?” I asked, managing to mask my surprise. “Are you trying to guess play right now?” I asked. “Try all you want but you will never find me.”
“You think you’re clever,” Arlan said sharply. “But you’re not as untouchable as you think. You can twerk your voice all you want, you can also try to deny it all you want, but I won’t let things go your way and expose you.”
“Expose me?” I mocked. “The irony. You’re the ones hiding dirty little secrets but you want to expose me? What an irony, that is rich coming from someone who beds his best friend’s daughter behind his back.”
“Listen to me while I’m asking nicely.” Arlan growled. “End this now, and maybe we can find a way to handle this quietly. You don’t want to go down this road, Dominic. It won’t end well for you.”
I leaned forward, gripping the edge of the table. “Oh, Dominic again. I think things will end well for me because you trying to figure me out won’t help you. You can continue guessing but you see, I hold all the cards here. You pay me, and I disappear. You don’t, and your world crumbles. It’s as simple as that.”
“You’re making a mistake,” Arlan said. His tone was calm, but there was a steel edge to it that made me pause for half a second. “You think you’re in control, but you’re not.”
I let out a small laugh. “Nice try but I’m not one of your boardroom opponents you can outmaneuver. I’m already ahead of you. Now, stop wasting my time. Twenty six minutes. That’s all you’ve got.”
I ended the call, tossing the burner phone onto the table. My hands were shaking, but I clenched them into fists. They were trying to rattle me, but it wouldn’t work. I had the upper hand, and I wasn’t about to lose it.
“Let them guess all they want. They will never be able to find me.” I said to myself as I grabbed the glass of hennessy in front of me and downed the remaining Hennessy in my glass and poured myself another.
Just as I was about to take another sip, the door swung open.
“Dominic, what in the world are you doing?” My mother walked in hastily and snatched the bottle from my hand.
“Give it back,” I said coldly, reaching for it.
“Not a chance,” she replied firmly, holding the bottle out of reach. “Are you trying to drown yourself in this? Because if you are, let me know now so I can prepare your father for the disappointment.”
Her words hurt me, but I didn’t let it show. “Just leave me alone,” I muttered.
“No, Dominic.” She set the bottle down on a nearby table, crossing her arms. “I won’t leave you alone. Do you think I don’t see what’s happening to you? Your father is already losing faith in you, and now this? What is going on with you?”
I stayed silent, staring at the glass in my hand. Her words cut through me like a knife and before I could stop myself, tears rolled down my cheeks.
“I feel like I’m losing before I even get to start, mom.” I finally admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
Her face relaxed a bit, and she moved closer, placing a hand on my shoulder. “What’s wrong, Dominic? Talk to me.”
I hesitated for a moment before letting it out. “It’s Saraya, Mom. Her heart… it belongs to someone else.”
Her eyes widened slightly, but then she smiled knowingly. “I always knew you’d fallen for this Saraya girl. I could see it in your eyes every time her name came up.”
“I don’t know what to do,” I said, my voice breaking. “It’s like no matter what I try, I just can’t reach her heart.”
She cupped my face in her hands, forcing me to look at her. “Dominic, a woman’s heart is fickle. If you want her, you fight for her. Don’t let anyone stand in your way.”
I shook my head. “She is with another now. What chance do I have?”
Her gaze hardened. “Whoever he is, he is just a man, Dominic. You’re my son. You’re capable of anything. I heard Mary will be coming to the golf course tomorrow, I will do everything within my power to make acqiutance with her. But you, my son need to focus on winning Saraya’s heart. Do you hear me?”
I nodded slowly, though doubt still gnawed at me. “Yes ma’am.”
“Good.” She pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Now, clean yourself up. This isn’t the man I raised.”
As she left the room, I leaned back in my chair, her words echoing in my mind. “Focus on winning her heart.”
“But can I really win Saraya? Or I am destined to lose her to Arlan?” I asked myself.