Chapter 32

Chapter 32
The office was relatively quiet except for a slight hum of the air conditioner, and occasional whirring of the clock. Dom looked at his laptop screen, but was not gazing at it, reading the numbers flashing through his eyes—he was thinking of someone else—and about her.

He exhaled sourly and ran his hand through the frizz in his freshly styled hair. He hated this. He hated that Amelia was the one holding his thoughts so easily. I think this doesn't make sense. He was Dominic Carter. He had built an empire from the ground up. He was the one who was in control of everything in his life. But here he was unable to focus because of one woman.

His fingers again tapped the desk furiously. He had always maintained his discipline, but tonight his mind rebelled. He sat back in his chair, his gaze wandering over the city from floor to ceiling windows. It was an endless horizon of neon lights, but that didn’t help him from his riotous thoughts.

Amelia.

She was so very different from any girl he had ever met. She wasn't blown away by his money. She wasn't threatened by his reputation. She was strong, independent and stubborn. And that both angered him and infuriated him.

His phone lay on the desk facing him. The screen was black but his eyes kept flashing at it, all in expectation of a message that would never arrive. He could call her. He could text her. But nothing could get through.

He wasn't the sort of guy who would go after a woman. He wasn't the sort of guy who would sleep on a woman either.

And yet…

Thoughts of the office door roared past him, punctuated by a huffing sound as Dominic rose and his eyes quivered with irritation. Come in.

The door slid open and his assistant came in, Robert, who looked uncomfortable at the tension in the room. "Sir, you know it's late. You have to go home. "

Dominic rubbed his temples. “I’m aware.”

Robert cleared his throat. “If I may… you seem distracted.”

Dominic gave him a half-smiling look, “Since when do you care about my distractions? ”

Robert held his hands up in surrender. “Apologies, sir. I just... “Believe it or not, Mr Robert — if something's bothering you, you can't leave it alone and hope it will go away.

Dominic’s jaw clenched. “I didn’t ask for advice.”

“Of course not.” Robert gave a small nod. “Have a good night, sir.”

The door clicked shut, and Dominic leaned forward, elbows on the desk, his fingers laced together.

Ignoring it won’t make it go away.

Damn it.

He reached for his phone before stopping himself. No. He wasn’t going to give in. He wasn’t going to be that man—the one who let emotions cloud his judgment. He had built walls around himself for a reason. Amelia was just another distraction. One he needed to shake off.

But the problem was, he wasn’t sure he wanted to.

Dominic let out a slow breath and stood, pushing his chair back. He needed air. Grabbing his jacket, he walked out of his office, the sound of his polished shoes echoing in the empty hallway. The building was quiet—everyone had gone home hours ago. Normally, he relished these late nights, finding solace in the silence, but tonight it felt suffocating.

He stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the ground floor. As the doors slid shut, his reflection stared back at him from the mirrored interior. He looked the same—composed, in control—but inside, he was anything but.

The elevator dinged, and he stepped out into the lobby. The night air hit him as he exited the building, crisp and cool. He loosened his tie and took a deep breath, but it did little to clear his mind.

His driver, James, was waiting by the car. “Mr. Carter,” he greeted, opening the door.

Dominic hesitated for a fraction of a second before getting in. As the car pulled away from the curb, he found himself staring out the window, his thoughts still tangled around Amelia.

James glanced at him through the rearview mirror. “Home, sir?”

Dominic hesitated. “Drive for a while.”

James gave a small nod and continued down the road. The city lights blurred past, but Dominic barely noticed. His fingers drummed against his thigh. He shouldn’t be thinking about her. He should be focusing on work, on the upcoming deal that could expand his empire. But all he could see was Amelia’s face, the way her eyes held fire when she argued with him, the way she didn’t back down.

He let out a frustrated sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose. This was ridiculous. He had no business thinking about her. He was Dominic Carter, for god’s sake. He didn’t get distracted.

And yet, here he was.

James spoke up. “Sir, would you like to stop somewhere?”

Dominic almost said no, but then an idea struck him. “Take me to the bar.”

James raised a brow but didn’t question it. A few minutes later, they pulled up outside one of the most exclusive bars in the city. Dominic stepped out, adjusting his jacket. Maybe a drink would help. Maybe it would drown out this unbearable pull toward a woman he had no business wanting.

Inside, the bar was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of whiskey and expensive cigars. He found a seat in a secluded corner and ordered a drink, rolling the glass between his fingers as he stared at the amber liquid.

But even here, in the midst of luxury and distraction, she was still in his head.

He scowled and took a long sip. He needed to get over this. Fast.

Yet deep down, he wasn’t sure he wanted to.