Chapter 57
Chapter 57
The day had been long, but not in a tiring way. Eva had spent the afternoon reviewing a few financial statements Dominic had asked her to look over. But by early evening, he told her to take the rest of the day off. She hadn’t argued. With the wedding slowly approaching and everyone expecting her to play the role of the perfect bride, she needed a moment to breathe.
Dominic was in the study upstairs, taking a few business calls. Eva found herself walking around the penthouse, hands folded loosely in front of her, eyes trailing the skyline visible through the large windows. The city was glowing, buzzing with life. It reminded her of her quiet evenings at the DVD store—when she’d finish counting inventory and just pop in a classic rom-com to keep her company while locking up.
Her fingers itched.
She smiled, already knowing what would soothe her mood.
She headed to the living room, where Dominic kept an impressive entertainment setup. Everything was top-tier—huge flat screen, surround sound, and an endless digital collection of movies. Still, it lacked the charm of physical DVDs. There was something about holding the case, flipping it over, reading the blurbs.
After scrolling for a few minutes, she settled on one of her favorite classics—"While You Were Sleeping."
She lowered the lights a bit, kicked off her sandals, and curled into the corner of the plush couch with a throw blanket. The movie started playing, and within minutes, she was smiling like a teenager. It wasn’t just the story; it was the feeling of familiarity, comfort… safety.
About fifteen minutes into the movie, Dominic walked in. He was wearing a plain black T-shirt and soft grey lounge pants. His hair was slightly messy, probably from running his hands through it during his calls.
“Watching something?” he asked, eyes glancing at the screen.
Eva nodded without turning to face him. “An old favorite. You probably won’t like it.”
He chuckled, then sat at the opposite end of the couch. “Try me.”
They didn’t speak much after that. The movie played. Sandra Bullock’s character filled the silence, her charming awkwardness making Eva grin every now and then. Dominic didn’t laugh, but she noticed he stayed seated, eyes occasionally flicking toward her rather than the screen.
Halfway through, Eva stood to get some popcorn. It wasn’t real movie night without it.
She brought back a bowl of buttery popcorn and two bottles of sparkling water. She didn’t ask if Dominic wanted some, but he took a handful when she placed the bowl between them.
Their fingers brushed briefly, and she pulled her hand back, keeping her eyes on the screen.
It was nice… peaceful.
“Did you work in a movie shop?” Dominic asked quietly during a slow part of the film.
Eva turned her head, surprised. “Yeah… how did you know?”
“You mentioned it once. Back when you first started at the club. You said your first job was counting DVD returns and rearranging shelves.”
A soft warmth bloomed in her chest. She hadn’t thought he remembered that.
“I liked it though even if it felt so outdated,” she replied. “It was quiet. You’d be surprised how many people come into a DVD store just to talk.”
Dominic leaned back. “I wouldn’t. I have people walk into my club every night just to pretend they’re not lonely.”
Eva nodded, staring at the TV but not really watching anymore. “I guess people just need something to feel connected.”
He didn’t respond, but she heard the faint sound of him shifting on the couch. Not closer—just changing posture.
The movie came to an end, the closing music fading into the background. Eva reached for the remote to start another, but paused. Maybe one was enough.
“I should get some water,” she said, stretching a little.
She stood and walked to the kitchen, leaving Dominic behind in the living room. As she filled a glass from the fridge’s water dispenser, she tried to ignore the part of her that had wanted him to talk more. To say something personal. But they weren’t like that. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
They were getting married for reasons that had nothing to do with love.
When she returned, he was looking at his phone.
“Everything okay?” she asked, sitting back on her side of the couch.
He didn’t answer immediately. His face had changed—less relaxed, more thoughtful.
Then he looked up, thumb still hovering over his screen gently.
“I just got a text from my father.” He announced calmly.
Eva raised an eyebrow. She sipping her water for a moment, it was very obvious that she was nervous from the news. “About the dinner?”
He nodded once. “Yeah, we will be going to his mansion this weekend for the dinner.”