36. Figment of imagination

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

DOMINIC’S POV

I groaned as I felt someone shaking my shoulders rather violently. Can’t a man nurse his bloody hangover in peace? I rolled to the other side and for a few seconds, nothing happened. Finally, someone gets the meaning of good sleep. I was about to snuggle deeper under my covers when cold water hit my face. Shooting up furiously I stared right into Anna who looked beyond pissed.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I fumed.

“I’m not the one supposed to ask you that? “She snapped right back.

“You are the one who drenched me in cold water, “I pointed out, wondering if her brain got mugged or something.

“And I’m not the one making headlines so early in the morning,” she threw a newspaper on my face.

Letting my attention divert from her to the newspaper, an angry sigh slipped off my lips.

IS DOMINIC VALIENTE STILL IN LOVE WTH EX-WIFE NICOLE WILDE?

According to our source, the soon to be son in law to His Excellency President of the United States of America got drunk in a club that has chosen to remain anonymous in this news. That, however, was not the only thing that Dominic did in the club. He is said to have been talking about his ex-wife the entire night. When the guards tried to take him out he began fighting while calling his ex-wife’s name, Nicole Wilde. Nicole Wilde has been out of public eye for three years now and nobody knows anything about her. The most important question running through the minds of many is this; IS DOMINIC VALIENTE STILL IN LOVE WITH EX-WIFE?

Closing my eyes briefly I let out a frustrated sigh. How could I be so reckless? Now the whole world thinks I’m still in love with Nicole. It maybe true but they did not need to know that.

“I need an explanation Dominic,” Anna demanded glaring at me.

“Anna I was drunk,” that was the only lame excuse I could come up with. Now I sounded like those cheating frat boys back in college when caught.

“Are you still in love with her?” there was pain in Anna’s voice even as she mouthed those words.

“Of course not,” I replied.

For a moment none of us said anything as we sunk deeper into our thoughts. On my part was guilt and longing coursing through my veins. I felt guilty for hurting Anna but I couldn’t ignore the fact that I longed to see my ex-wife.

“Just be careful Dominic. My father is the president of the United States of America,” Anna warned before sashaying out of the room.

***

“Why are you staring at Nicole’s picture? No, let me rephrase that, why the bloody hell do you still have Nicole’s picture in your phone?” Andre just had to walk in and disrupt my peace on Thursday morning.

“I saw Nicole the night before yesterday at the club,” I sighed.

“Dominic there was no Nicole at the club. You were drunk, we both were,” he said with a sigh.

“No, I saw her Andre. It was Nicole Wilde, my fucking ex-wife,” I insisted. There was no way I could have imagined her. Her scent, her gorgeous face was still imprinted in my brain even though in scattered fragments.

“Dominic,” Andre sat down in the office chair opposite me.

“You don’t believe me,” I sighed once again.

“Dominic I get that you miss her but you have a fiancée now and she is the only child to the president of the United States. Do you know how many men would kill to be in your spot right now? Besides that, Nicole has been gone for three years. We combed the streets for one year, six months and there was no trace of her. Stop dreaming Dominic and start leaving the reality of today. Nicole left you,”

“And so did Reed,”

“Damn right. They are probably even living together. After all, they already have a kid together,” my chest constricted at that.

Making up my mind, I stood up picking my coat.

“Where are you going?”

“To the club. I need to know the truth,”

“But it’s usually closed during the day,”

“Even better,” I picked my car keys and stormed out of the office.

Luck wasn’t on my side however when I exited the building. My phone rang, indicating Anna’s name flashing on my screen.

“Anna now is not really good time,” I asserted the moment I picked up her call.

“I was only calling to let you know I’m on way to your company now. I carried lunch with me,” she stated slyly.

“Anna can we just reschedule-“

“I’m almost at your parking lot. Plus this is the least way you can thank me after your bailed out on our dinner date yesterday. By the way, you don’t have to worry about my father. I talked to him regarding your completely out of record behavior,”

Unwillingly I got back into my office. There will always be a next time. I found Andre pacing to and fro in front of my office and that’s when it hit me.

“You called her. Why?”

“Because someone has to be mature here. You are clearly losing your mind over some stupid illusion of an ex-wife who is not here. She is just a figment of your imagination Dominic,”