I couldn’t look him in the eyes since he gulped for air when I mentioned my engagement. “As I already stated, Papa, I do not wish to marry Ethan.”
Richard gave me a brief scowl, but it only lasted a few seconds before his emotions relaxed, and he sighed. “You don’t have to be concerned about it anymore. “It was canceled,” he explained.
“Do you find it upsetting?”
“Hello there, no!” Julianna, please accept my apologies. All I want is for you to be happy.”
“Don’t be concerned about me. Albert Serrano comes to mind. “Has he already reported to the office?”
“Who is Albert?” Dominic had enquired.
Richard replied in a threatening tone, “You don’t know him,” and then directed Dominic to one of the guest rooms.
I protested when I realized the guest room he was going to occupy was so far away from me, but Richard Vera sneered at me. “I’ll take him to his room, Papa,” I say.
My father was silent for a brief period, and I assumed he would agree to my plan. Unfortunately, this was not the case, and Dominic was escorted into his room by one of his guys.
Juliana, please follow me.”
Papa’s voice seemed calm, but when I looked at his hands, they were tightly gripped.
No way! I was in a lot of trouble!
I used to think that I only got butterflies when I was around attractive males. I knew I was mistaken because I sensed it while waiting for my father to speak. “You’re upset at me,” I said first because the stillness was making me nervous.
“I’m not mad at all. I’m concerned! “You like that guy so much that you brought him here?”
“Someone is attempting to assassinate him, Pa. I said, “I can’t just leave him alone.”
“Did you say something? Is there someone out to assassinate him? What is the reason for this? Have you ever been involved with a criminal? Juliana, I’m speechless. I’m at a loss for words!”
Papa presumptively assumed the worst about my connection with Dominic, and I felt obligated to defend him. “Pa, he isn’t a criminal.”
“I bet you don’t know anything about him other than his name, age, and address. What if he’s been lying to you from the start? What if he duped you into believing something false?”
I shook my head, amazed that I had become so gullible as to believe everything Dominic said. My father may be correct; after all, I lied to Dominic about my true identity.
What if he’s correct? It’s not possible. Dominic, my heart told me, was a nice man. “I’m not sure, so I’m going to see him right now.” I know Dominic was still surprised when he learned of my true identity, so I merely wanted to give him some more information. “Pa, I need to speak with him. I merely gave him my true name when we got here,” I begged my father to let me visit him, even if it was only for a short time.
He said, “You can’t keep that man here for an extended amount of time.”
“But Papa, he’s not fine!”
“Are you aware of what you’re getting yourself into?” What if the individual has a criminal record? His voice resonated in the walls, “What will you do?”
“I’ll still assist him,” I resolved.
“Would you be so kind as to be reasonable? He told me, “Don’t allow your emotions to muddle your thinking, or you’ll lose.”
“If you can’t let him remain here, I’ll take him to my condo,” I informed my father. He must have assumed I’d gone insane for a man, but that was not the case.
“My goodness, you’re obsessed with him!” He yelled.
I needed someone to understand my decisions, no matter how irrational they were, but my father wasn’t the right person for the job. “Just give him to me, Pa.”
Richard heaved out a heavy sigh of disappointment, but he quickly forgave me. “All right, let’s go visit your man and see if he’s handsome enough for you to take such a risk. “Are you actually in love with him?” He inquired.
“I’m not sure,” I said, “but I miss him every day, even while we’re together.”
“Take it easy on yourself, okay? Sweetheart, you’ll know it in your heart. By the way, don’t go to see him by yourself,” he warned.
“Why not?” I used to share a room with him, and now it’s just the two of us. “What’s the difference?” I enquired further.
“Everything! You’re a single woman, and going to see him alone would only raise suspicions. Please don’t do anything to harm your reputation as a woman,” he said, cautioning her to be wary of Dominic.
Guilt crept up on me, but it was too late. I was debating whether to be open or clandestine when he abruptly came to a halt in front of me.
“You have already done it!” He narrowed his eyes at me as he realized something had happened already, then his voice screamed like thunder, and he ran as fast as he could to Dominic’s guest room.
“It’s just a maidenhead, Pa,” I reasoned out. “What exactly is the big deal about that?” What’s the big deal? I’m sure most girls in my generation did it already, so what’s the big deal?
“Did you say something? Have you already given yourself to him? For the love of God, you just met him!” He shouted like a typhoon, and I looked around to see if one of our staff members had overheard our raucous conversations.
“Right now, I’m going to kill that man!”
Richard stormed violently towards Dominic’s room, and I followed to prevent him from injuring my guy. “Papa, you’re not going to kill him!” I tried to stop him, but he’s a quick runner, and he’d already gone inside before I could catch up to him. “He didn’t make me do it.” I permitted him!
“I don’t believe you because you’re still young and inexperienced. He persuaded you to do it,” he grumbled, shooting Dominic a nasty glare.
“No!” When he grabbed Dominic’s collar and hit him in the nose, I shouted.