Chapter 26: Don't act so clever

Dominic’s POV:

I returned home late that night, feeling completely drained. The maid asked if I wanted some dinner, but I just waved her off. I was too tired to even think about eating. It’s crazy how quickly my life has turned chaotic. I couldn't get up on time in the mornings, couldn't sleep at night, couldn’t eat properly, and work was becoming a mess. 

Before Sophia came into my life, I used to rely on my employees to handle most of the work, but now, I don't even understand what they’re doing. It's like everything is falling apart, and I’m not in control of anything anymore.  I can tell my mom is worried about me not eating enough; she says I’m getting weak, but I barely notice anymore.

I had tried calling Sophia multiple times, but either the line was busy, or she didn’t pick up, and it just made me more frustrated. It was ridiculous.

I loosened my tie and headed to the study, hoping to bury myself in work to forget everything for a while. I sat down at my desk and got lost in the files, when suddenly, the door to my study opened. I looked up and saw Sophia walking in, wearing a red nightie. She locked the door behind her and started walking toward me, her eyes fixed on mine.

I tried to ignore her, diving back into my work, but she wasn’t having it. In one quick move, she grabbed my chair and spun me toward her. 

“What did you say to my dad yesterday, Mr. Dominic Damien?” she demanded, her face flushed with anger. I looked at her, my annoyance bubbling to the surface.

“I didn’t talk to him yesterday,” I said firmly, my hand gently resting on hers, which was placed on the arm of my chair. I was just checking if she had a fever—her hand felt warmer than usual.

“Then why did he call me and say all that?” she shot back, her voice rising with frustration.

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What did he say?”

She hesitated, clearly struggling to explain. “He said it was my fault... that I’m not making you happy,” she admitted, her voice softening. I frowned, processing what she said.

“And what do you think of that?” I asked, trying to get to the heart of it. She stood up quickly, her frustration boiling over.

“Why should I tell you?” she snapped, crossing her arms.

“Fine, don’t tell me,” I said casually, turning back to my desk. “The door’s right there. Don’t disturb me.”

But she wasn’t done.

“Don’t act so clever. I know everything. You’re using my dad to manipulate me. You know how scared I am of him.”  She yanked my chair back around to face her again, her fury radiating. I studied her for a moment, and something about the way she looked at me made me pause. There was a nervous energy in her that I couldn’t ignore. Her eyes were wild, but there was something captivating about the way she was staring at me. I could feel the heat coming off her, and it was almost like a physical force.

Before I could process what I was doing, I grabbed the chair and jerked it forward, pulling her against me. It was completely unplanned, but the moment I felt her body press against mine, I knew she wasn’t going anywhere.

Her body tensed in surprise, but before she could pull away, I ran my hand through her hair, holding her in place. She stared at me, caught between anger and confusion.

Our eyes locked—hers filled with fury, mine with a kind of calm certainty. She tried to move away, but I didn’t let her. I placed my hand on the back of her neck and gently pulled her face closer to mine. Our foreheads touched for a moment, and everything seemed to pause.

I whispered softly, “Do you really think I need your father’s help to make you bend to me?”

The words were like a challenge, and I could see in her eyes that she understood. It wasn’t about needing anyone’s help—it was about the power I had over her. I could bend her whenever I wanted, and I could see the effect it had on her. She was angry, but there was something else too.

Before I could say anything else, she jerked away, standing up straight.

“That’s your problem, Dominic Damien. You just want to make me bow to you... your ego can’t handle anything else,” she said, storming out of the room. I didn’t try to stop her. She was already fuming, and I knew pushing her more wouldn’t help. Instead, I adjusted the air conditioning. It felt too hot in here.

“Phew... heat...” I muttered, taking a deep breath. I shook my head and turned back to my work, though my thoughts kept drifting back to Sophia.