Chapter 20 Twenty
The next morning, sunlight spilled through the hotel curtains in soft, golden streaks.
Izzy groaned quietly and sat up in bed, her head still heavy from too little sleep. She had spent most of the night tossing and turning …thinking about him.
Dominic.
His voice, his anger, the sharp way he’d said my assistant in front of everyone.
She’d never seen him that furious before... not even during his worst boardroom moods.
She sighed and rubbed her temples. “Get a grip, Izzy,” she whispered to herself. “Stop thinking about a man who doesn't give a fuck about you... Only your pussy does he cares for.
She repeated it twice... hoping it might start to sound convincing.
By seven-thirty, she was up and dressed in a cream blouse tucked neatly into a navy skirt that brushed just above her knees. Her hair was tied in a low bun, and she chose minimal makeup... polished, simple, professional.
This was not the day for emotion.
It was the day to prove she could be calm, collected, and focused.
When she arrived at the conference hall, most of the staff were already there. The room was bright, lined with long tables, white projectors, and corporate banners from several partner companies. The smell of coffee and freshly baked pastries filled the air.
Everyone was busy chatting... exchanging greetings, adjusting slides, reviewing notes. Izzy moved quietly to the front row, checking the files on Dominic’s presentation tablet.
She could feel him enter the room before she even saw him.
The air seemed to shift.
He walked in, tall and composed, his presence commanding the space without effort. His suit was dark gray, his tie perfectly knotted, every line of him sharp and confident.
But his eyes... those unreadable eyes... brushed over her only once.
A brief glance.
Cold.
Controlled.
As if the man who’d nearly lost his composure last night no longer existed.
“Morning, Mr. Steele,” Izzy said softly as he approached the table.
He didn’t look at her. “The agenda?”
“Right here.” She handed him the file, careful not to touch him.
He took it, flipped through the first few pages, and nodded. “Good. Make sure the other teams get their data ready before the afternoon session. I don’t want delays.”
“Yes, sir.”
He turned and walked away, taking a seat beside Sienna, who was already waiting with a polite smile.
Izzy felt a faint sting in her chest but straightened her shoulders.
Professional. Stay professional.
The conference began.
Representatives from five companies spoke in turns, presenting market updates, performance charts, and future projections. Dominic’s voice, when it came, was smooth and confident... every word precise, every sentence holding quiet authority.
He discussed mergers, investments, and growth plans like he was discussing the weather — calm, logical, impossible to argue with.
Izzy watched from her seat, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
He was brilliant.
Everyone knew it.
But as she watched him speak, all she could think about was the man behind the business suit... the one who had kissed her like he was starving for her, the one whose touch still lingered on her skin.
And now… he looked at her like she was just another face in the company.
During the break, Izzy walked out into the open courtyard behind the conference hall. The air was fresh, and she needed to breathe... needed to step away from that suffocating tension.
She leaned against the railing, sipping from her paper cup, when she heard a familiar voice behind her.
“Miss Hart.”
She stiffened slightly before turning around. Dominic stood a few feet away, hands in his pockets, expression unreadable.
“Yes, Mr. Steele?” she said quietly, keeping her tone polite.
He studied her face for a moment… too long. “You’ve done well this morning. The reports were organized.”
“Thank you, sir.”
A pause. The silence between them stretched, thick with unspoken things.
Then, his eyes darkened slightly. “You seem tired.”
“I didn’t sleep much.”
He nodded slowly, gaze lowering for half a second... then back to her eyes. “You shouldn’t let personal distractions interfere with your work.”
Her lips parted. “Personal distractions?”
His tone stayed calm, but his words were edged. “Like dinner invitations from competitors.”
Izzy blinked. “That's my personal life it's...”
“Personal,” he cut in sharply. “Just… don't let it interrupt your job.”
Her frustration flared. “You don’t get to decide who I talk to outside work, Dominic. You’re my boss, not my…. ”
His jaw tightened. “Dominic. Really you seem to forget who you're talking to. Don’t you dare finish that sentence.”
Her chest rose with anger. “Fine. Then don’t interfere of things you have no right to.”
For a long second, they just stared at each other... the hum of distant voices and the soft rustle of trees the only sound between them.
Finally, he spoke... quieter now, but heavier.
“You think I don’t notice? Every time you laugh at something Adrian says, every time you pretend I’m invisible? You think I don’t care?”
She froze.
Her breath caught, but before she could reply, he took a step closer… close enough for her to feel the warmth of him, close enough that her heart started to race.
Then, just as quickly, he stepped back again.
His voice cooled. “Be in the main hall in ten minutes. The next session starts soon.”
And with that, he turned and walked away.. leaving her standing there, stunned and breathless, her pulse pounding in her throat.
Back inside, Izzy tried to focus on the next presentation, but her mind kept replaying his words.
You think I don’t care?
What did he mean by that?
Did he actually mean it... or was it just his way of reminding her who was in control?
She didn’t know anymore.
All she knew was that Dominic Steele wasn't going to cause a storm in her life… and no matter how hard she tried to stay calm, she was caught right in the middle of it. She had to bring herself out it.