DOMINIC’S POV.
I sank into the swirling chair, staring at the fifteen million dollars in my wallet. I ran a hand through my hair and muttered to myself, “What’s the point of all this? It doesn’t mean a damn thing without her.”
All I could think about was Saraya. The money did not in any way fix the way I feel, rather I felt despicable from what I have done.
The door burst open. My father stormed in, his face red and I could tell he was all for trouble from his body language.
“What the hell is this?” he yelled. “Is this what you’ve been doing? Wasting your time and testing my patience?” He asked eyeing the empty glass on the table.
I didn’t respond. “What is the point, anyways?” I muttered to myself.
“Dominic!” he bellowed, stepping closer. “Look at you. You’re a mess. The company’s falling apart, and this is how you choose to handle it? By hiding in your room and getting drunk? Are you out of your mind?”
“Get off my back,” I said, my voice low, not even bothering to meet his eyes.
“No, I won’t!” he shouted, slamming his fist on the table. To my surprise, with one violent move, he shoved everything off the desk. The glass shattered on the floor, and papers scattered everywhere.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” he demanded, his chest heaving. “Do you think you have the time to lazy around, Dominic? Is this how you resolve the problem of the company?” He said sounding so desperate.
I could tell he was also at his wit end and would do even the most incorrigible thing to straight the affairs of the company.
I shot up from the chair. “Can you just stop yelling at me for once?” I roared. “Can you give me a damn break?”
He blinked his eyes severally. “A break? You want a break? You don’t get to take a break when you’re the vice chairman of a crumbling company!”
I laughed bitterly, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Me? Can you really call me the vice chairman of the company when I’m literally just a puppet used to get the problems you created solved and if I can’t, I become the scapegoat. So tell me, are you serious right now calling me the vice chairman?” I stepped closer to him, glaring.
“You will one day take over the affairs of the this company. If you don’t start taking responsibility for it now, when will you?” He asked me, screaming.
“Don’t try to find your way out of this when you created this mess. You ran the company into the ground, and you think you have the right to yell at me. You’re unbelievable.”
“I’m your father,” he growled, stepping forward. “Mind your tone.”
“Or what?” I snapped. “You’ll hit me? Go ahead. Try it.”
His hand shot up, and instinctively, I caught it in mid-air. My grip tightened around his wrist.
“Don’t you dare,” I said through clenched teeth. “If your hand touches my face, I swear, you won’t see a single cent of the fifteen million dollars I have.”
He froze, his eyes wide with shock. “Fifteen million?” His voice cracked. “Where the hell did you get that kind of money?”
“That’s none of your business,” I said coldly, letting go of his hand. “And from now on, you stay out of my way.”
“What are you saying?” he asked, his voice quieter now, but his anger still simmering.
“I’m taking over,” I said firmly. “The company, the decisions, everything. You’ve done enough damage.”
“You can’t just…”
“I can,” I cut him off. “And I will. You’ve lost the right to question me, father.”
He stared at me, his mouth opening and closing, but no words came out. For once, Noah Leo was speechless. He walked out of my room.
“You did it, Dominic.” I smiled at myself. “For the very first time, you stood up against him.”
No one knows my father like I do, he claims to be a good person but I have been the recipient of his dark sides all my life. He does the good deeds and uses me to do the bad deeds.
“This is the last time I hurt Saraya.” I promised myself. “With this fifteen million dollars, I can at least keep my father in check.”
SARAYA’S POV.
“It’s over,” Arlan said. “For now.” He stressed.
I nodded. “Let’s hope it’s over for real.” I slung my bag over my fallen shoulders. “I have to head home now, it’s late.”
Arlan moved closer to me but I took two steps backward. “You look so tired, let me call a driver for you.” He suggested.
“You don’t have to, I will find my way.” I replied.
Arlan nodded. “Let me walk you to the door.” He offered.
“Arlan, stop!” I snapped and seeing the startle on his face, I softened it a little. “Can you not do anything? I don’t want another scandal. And I think you know what will happen if anyone sees us together again. Let’s not make this harder than it already is. Just… just stay away from me.” I stuttered before completing my statement.
He stood there, frozen, his hands clenched at his sides. “You really mean that?”
“Yes,” I said firmly. “Even if we ever see each other again, it’ll be like strangers passing by. That’s the best for both of us.”
His lips parted like he wanted to say something, but he stayed silent. The look on his face made my chest ache, but I ignored it. This had to be done.
Without waiting for a response, I turned and walked out. The second the door shut behind me, the tears I had been holding back fell freely.
I stumbled toward my car, my vision blurry, and fumbled to unlock the door. Once inside, I gripped the steering wheel, trying to steady my shivering hands.
“You’re fine,” I whispered to myself. “You’re fine.” But I knew I wasn’t. Not even close.
I started the car and drove off, my tears rolling down my cheeks accompanied by a migraine.
I stopped my car in front of the gate and took my time, wiping off my face though my eyes still stung from all of the crying. I noticed the lights in the main living room was still turned and I could tell that everyone was still up, at the very least, my father.
As soon as I walked in, I knew I was in trouble.
My grandmother sat in the middle single chair, stiff and regal. Her angry eyes landed on me and I looked down.
My father stood by the window, his arms crossed tightly. Mary and Ian sat on the couch, both of them watching me with far too much interest.
The air was heavy, suffocating to be honest and I couldn’t move an inch from where I stood.
Grandma spoke first, her voice as cold as the look in her eyes. “Took you long enough to get here.”
My stomach dropped. I forced myself to look at her, even though I already knew this was going to be a long, exhausting night.
My father’s voice broke through the tense room. “Have you ended the affair, Saraya?” He dived into the matter and I could see the disappointment in his eyes.
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms.
“Do not think of lying to me,” he snapped, stepping away from the window. “We deserve to know the truth. This family can’t afford another scandal!”
“Alex,” Mary interjected, her voice calm but firm. “Let her speak.”
I turned to her, grateful for a moment of reprieve, but my grandmother wasn’t having it.
“What does she have to say?” My grandmother asked. “What we should be discussing is how to get her to be responsible for her actions. There is someone out there who wields the power to plummet our shares with her scandal. This family’s reputation is already hanging by a thread, and she’s out there…”
“It’s over!” I cut in, my voice rising. Everyone went quiet.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “I ended it, okay? Tonight was the last time I’ll ever see him.”
“Do you expect us to believe that?” Ian said, his smirk making my blood boil. “I still can’t believe you’re so loose to let an old man like Arlan have a taste of you?” He said, emphasizing on each word.
I glared at him. “I don’t owe you an explanation, Ian.” I replied him. “Not when you could be the culprit.”
“Don’t blame me for your stupidity, Saraya.” Ian shot at me.
“You…”
“Still you have to bear the consequences of your actions,” my grandmother cut in. “You’ve proven beyond reasonable that you’re incapable of leading the Newman’s…”
“Enough!” my father barked, silencing the room. He turned back to me, rubbing his face with his hands. “Saraya, if you’ve really ended it, I need to hear it. No games, no excuses. Just the truth.”
I swallowed hard, meeting his gaze. “It’s done, Dad. For good this time.”
The room fell into a heavy silence.
Mary looked at me. “Good. Let’s hope you stick to that.”
“You can’t just sweep this under the carpet, Alex.” My grandma started out. “Just because she is your daughter.”
“I will handle it, mother.” My father replied and I could tell he has many thoughts running through his mind. “You don’t have to worry about it.”
I felt my grandmother’s icy stare on me, but she didn’t say a word. Instead, she stood, smoothed her dress, and left the room without so much as a glance in my direction.
Ian shook his head, muttering something under his breath as he followed her.
My father sighed, rubbing his temples. “Saraya, you have to understand the damage this could’ve caused. I don’t know if I can keep cleaning up your messes and from now on, I’ll place you on probation until I’ve sorted my thoughts and made up my mind with what to do with you.”
I bit back the retort that came to mind and nodded instead. “I understand.”
Mary walked up to him and placed a hand on his arm. “Alex, that’s enough for tonight. She’s here now, let’s trust she has learnt her lessons.”
He didn’t reply, just gave me one last look before walking out of the room.
As soon as he was gone, Mary turned to me. “Are you okay?”
I hesitated, then nodded. “I’m fine.”
She didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t push. “Get some rest, Saraya. Tomorrow is a new day.”
I managed a small, tired smile. “Thanks, Mom.”
As I climbed the stairs to my room, I felt the weight of the night pressing down on me. It was over with Arlan, but I know the mess it left behind was far from being cleaned up.