Chapter 31 Thirty One
It was a Friday night, and Izzy was getting ready for her dinner with Adrian. She looked at herself in the mirror one last time … soft curls, light makeup, and a simple black dress that hugged her body in all the right places.
She told herself it wasn’t a date, just dinner with a friend. But deep down, she knew it was more than that.
Adrian had been charming, funny, and respectful since the retreat. He made her laugh and didn’t make her feel small or confused unlike Dominic, who’d been cold all week and then suddenly texted her every night as if nothing had happened.
Tonight, she decided she was done with mixed signals.
When Adrian arrived, he smiled at her warmly.
“You look beautiful, Izzy,” he said as he held the car door open for her.
She blushed lightly. “Thank you, Adrian. You’re looking good too.”
He laughed softly. “I try.”
Meanwhile, across town, Dominic sat in his car staring at the message on his phone …Izzy: “Not available. Out for dinner.”
Something about that text made his chest tighten.
Dinner? With who?
He’d noticed her growing distant all week. She answered him with one-word replies and kept everything between them strictly work-related—no more soft smiles, no stolen glances.
Just “Yes, Mr. Steele” and “I’ll handle it, sir.”
It drove him insane.
He told himself to ignore it, to let her be.
But he couldn’t.
He needed to know where she was and who she was with.
His driver mentioned seeing her get into Adrian's car earlier that evening when he had gone to visit a friend, something inside Dominic snapped.
Izzy and Adrian walked into the restaurant … one of the city’s finest, softly lit with live jazz playing in the background.
The waiter showed them to a table near the window. Adrian, ever the gentleman, pulled out her chair for her.
“This place is beautiful,” Izzy said, glancing around.
“It’s one of my favorites,” Adrian said, smiling. “I come here whenever I need to escape work. The food’s great, but the view’s even better.”
She laughed. “You sound like a tour guide.”
“I could be, for you,” he teased, making her smile wider.
They ordered wine and food.
The atmosphere was light... until Izzy’s phone started to buzz on the table.
Dominic.
Her smile faded a little.
Adrian noticed. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” she said quickly, flipping the phone over. “Just work.”
“You can take it if it’s important.”
“No,” she said softly. “It’s not.”
But she felt uneasy.
She knew Dominic didn’t like being ignored.
A few minutes later, as Adrian was telling a funny story about a business trip gone wrong, Izzy’s phone buzzed again. Then again.
She sighed.
“Persistent boss?” Adrian joked.
“Something like that,” she murmured.
And then, before she could say another word, a familiar voice broke through the soft music.
“Well, well. What a coincidence.”
Izzy froze. Adrian turned toward the voice... and there stood Dominic Steele, tall and calm, though his jaw was tight.
“Dominic?” Adrian said with raised brows. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”
Dominic’s lips curved into a half-smile. “Neither did I. I was just… in the neighborhood.
Never thought I would find my assistant dining with our rival”
Izzy blinked, ignoring his last words. “You were?”
“Yes,” he said smoothly, his eyes locking with hers. “Thought I’d have dinner.”
“With who?” Adrian asked, clearly not buying it.
Before Dominic could answer, another voice chimed in.
“Sorry, I’m late.”
Sienna appeared beside Dominic, her smile sharp and confident. She looked stunning in a fitted silver dress.
Izzy’s stomach dropped.
Dominic turned slightly toward Adrian and Izzy. “You don’t mind if we join your table, do you?”
Adrian hesitated. He could feel the tension in the air... heavy and thick.
“Uh… sure,” he said finally, forcing a polite smile. “Why not?”
The waiter quickly arranged extra seats.
They sat down... Dominic and Sienna on one side, Izzy and Adrian on the other.
The silence was painful.
Adrian tried to keep things light. “So, Mr. Steele,” he began, “how’s business at Steele Enterprises these days?”
Dominic cut his steak slowly, eyes still on Izzy. “Drop the formality Adrian doesn't suit you.”
“Always a brat,” Adrian said with an easy laugh. “You never really change.”
“Thank you,” Dominic replied flatly. “How’s CrossTech doing these days?”
Adrian smiled, sensing the undertone. “Better than ever.”
Sienna leaned forward slightly. “Must you two always make it known that you're competitors?”
Adrian chuckled. “We’re more like… rivals who don’t like losing.”
Dominic's jaw tightened. “That’s one way to put it.”
Izzy shifted uncomfortably, wishing she could disappear.
The waiter brought their food, and everyone pretended to focus on their plates.
Then Adrian looked at Izzy. “Here, let me help you,” he said gently, cutting her steak for her.
She blushed. “Oh, I can…”
“It’s fine,” he said, smiling. “You’ll just make a mess.”
Everyone at the table chuckled... except Dominic.
He stared at Adrian’s hand as it brushed Izzy’s. His grip on his fork tightened.
Then Adrian noticed a bit of sauce on Izzy’s lip. “You’ve got something…. here.”
He reached for a napkin and gently wiped the corner of her mouth.
“Thanks,” Izzy said quietly, her cheeks burning.
Dominic’s jaw clenched.
Sienna noticed and gave a sly smile. “You two seem close.”
Adrian grinned. “Just good company.”
Dominic leaned back in his seat. “You’re getting too comfortable with my assistant, Adrian.”
Adrian looked at him, amused. “She’s not a possession, Dominic. She’s allowed to have dinner with whoever she wants.”
Izzy’s heart pounded. The air between them was thick with rivalry and tension.
Dominic smirked. “You always did like crossing lines.”
Adrian’s smile didn’t fade. “Only when someone else draws them too tight.”
Sienna shifted in her chair, clearly enjoying the show. “This dinner just got interesting,” she said softly.
Izzy looked down at her plate, wishing the floor would swallow her whole.
Dinner finally ended, Adrian paid the bill before Dominic could.
Izzy and Adrian stood to leave first. “Thank you for the company,” she said politely, not meeting Dominic’s eyes.
“Anytime,” Adrian replied with a soft smile.
Dominic watched them walk out together, his hand tightening into a fist under the table.
“You’re jealous, aren’t you?”
He shot her a warning look. “Don’t start.”
She laughed lightly. “It’s cute, actually. Seeing Mr. Steele lose his cool. Don't go fucking your assistant.” Sienna said fixing his tie.”You're mine.”
Dominic said nothing. His mind was already miles away.… on Izzy, walking out the door with another man.
Outside, Adrian opened the car door for Izzy again.
“You okay?” he asked softly.
She nodded, though her heart was still racing. “Yeah… I just didn’t expect him to show up.”
Adrian gave her a knowing look. “He’s got a thing for you, doesn’t he?”
She swallowed hard. “He’s my boss.”
“That’s not an answer.”
She smiled weakly. “Let’s just… go home.”
Adrian nodded, but as he drove away, he couldn’t help glancing at her from time to time.
And somewhere, behind the restaurant’s dark windows, Dominic stood watching them leave his expression unreadable, but his jealousy loud enough to fill the silence.