Chapter 32 Thirty Two
It was Monday evening.
The office was quiet, the kind of quiet that came after a long day when everyone had already gone home.
Izzy sat at her desk, closing her laptop slowly. She could feel his eyes on her even though his glass office door was shut.
Dominic hadn’t spoken to her much all day... only short, sharp instructions during meetings.
She had ignored every one of his weekend calls and messages. She didn’t owe him an explanation. At least, that’s what she kept telling herself.
But when she heard his voice from behind her, low and steady “Isabella, my office. Now.” her heart gave a nervous jump.
She hesitated, then stood and walked in.
He was leaning against the edge of his desk, jacket off, sleeves rolled up, eyes unreadable.
“Close the door,” he said.
She did.
For a long moment, he said nothing. The air between them felt heavy... not with anger this time, but something more tense.
“Why have you been ignoring me?” he finally asked. His voice wasn’t raised. It was calm.
Too calm.
She looked at him but didn’t answer.
He took a slow step closer. “Izzy.”
Still nothing.
“You haven’t replied to my texts. You didn’t answer my calls. Not once,” he said, his tone quiet but sharp. “And now you’re sitting here pretending like nothing happened.”
She met his eyes at last. “Because nothing should have happened, sir.”
He stared at her for a long time... then gave a short, bitter laugh. “That’s not true, and you know it.”
Her fingers tightened around the folder she was holding. “I don't think you and I are anything that I have to explain myself. SIR!”
He exhaled slowly and looked away for a second, as if trying to calm himself. “Is this about Sienna?”
“Is that what you think?” she said quietly.
He turned back to her. The look in his eyes had softened, but only slightly. “Sienna means nothing, Izzy. She’s just business.”
Izzy shook her head. “Then what are we, Dominic? Business too?”
He didn’t answer right away. The silence stretched until she almost wished she hadn’t asked.
Finally, he said, voice low, “Izzy… what you want from me, I can’t give you.”
Her chest tightened. “Then what do you want from me?”
He stepped closer...close enough that she could feel his breath. “I don’t know how to give what you want,” he said, his voice rough. “But what your body wants… I can give.”
She froze.
He leaned closer, his hand brushing lightly against her arm. “I’ve missed you,” he whispered. “The way you make me lose control. The way you look at me like when we're fucking.”
Her heart raced. “Dominic, don’t…”
He stopped her with a look… that familiar mix of control and desire she’d seen too many times before.
“If it’s easier,” he said softly, “let’s stop pretending. No feelings, no promises. Just… what our body wants…
Izzy’s breath caught. She didn’t move, didn’t speak. Every part of her wanted to resist… but her body didn’t listen.
Dominic’s eyes searched hers for a moment, as if giving her one last chance to step away. When she didn’t, he reached out, brushing his thumb along her jaw.
“Let me show you,” he whispered, voice barely audible.
And then he kissed her... hard, deep, with all the tension that had built up between them for weeks.
It wasn’t gentle. It wasn’t patient. It was everything they’d both been trying to avoid.
When he finally pulled away, his breathing was uneven. “You drive me insane, Izzy.”
She stared at him, heart pounding, not knowing what to say.
Dominic took a slow breath and stepped back, his voice rough again. “Think about it,” he said quietly. “If you want this… text me tonight.”
Then he turned and walked toward his desk, picking up his phone as if nothing had happened... leaving her standing there, shaken, confused, and completely unsure of where the line between them now stood.
It was late by the time Izzy got home.
The city lights glowed through her living room window, soft and golden against the dark sky. She dropped her bag on the couch, her mind still spinning with Dominic’s words.
She thought she’d have the apartment to herself... but when she walked into the kitchen,
She froze.
Maya was sitting at the counter, eating noodles straight from the pot.
“Hey,” Maya said with a grin. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Izzy blinked. “Maya? What are you doing here?”
“I brought wine. And your spare key still works, so you can’t be mad,” Maya said, twirling her fork. “I thought we could have a girls’ night. But judging from your face, I’m guessing something big happened.”
Izzy sighed and sank onto the couch. “You could say that.”
Maya stood and joined her, setting the pot on the coffee table. “Alright, spill. You look like you’re about to either cry or punch someone.”
Izzy hesitated for a long moment, her hands pressed together tightly. “It’s Dominic.”
Maya groaned. “Oh no. What did he do this time?”
Izzy took a deep breath. “He said he can’t give me what I want emotionally… but he still wants me.”
Maya raised an eyebrow. “Wants you how?”
Izzy swallowed. “Physically. He said we could… You know, keep things casual. More like fuck buddies.”
For a few seconds, Maya just stared at her... then she slammed her fork down. “That bastard.”
Izzy gave a weak smile. “Yeah.”
Maya stood up and started pacing. “He tells you he can’t give you feelings, but he still wants your body? And can you do that?”
Izzy leaned back on the couch, rubbing her forehead. “It’s more complicated than that, Maya.”
“Is it?” Maya shot back. “Because it sounds pretty simple to me.”
Izzy looked at her friend then... really looked and said softly, “He didn’t force the idea on me. He was honest. And… part of me still wants him. Badly.”
Maya stopped pacing and stared at her. “You want it?”
Izzy nodded, shame and confusion flickering in her eyes. “I know it’s stupid. But every time he’s close, I can’t think straight. It’s like my brain just… stops working.”
Maya sighed and sat beside her. “Okay. I get it. Believe me, I do. The man’s hot, rich, and impossible to ignore. But Izzy…” she reached out and held her hand, “can you handle this? Can you do this without falling even harder for him?”
Izzy looked down at their hands. Her voice came out small. “I don’t know.”
They sat in silence for a long time… the only sound was the hum of the refrigerator and the faint noise of cars outside.
Maya finally spoke again, softer now. “You know what scares me? That he’ll hurt you without even meaning to. Men like him don’t know how to love gently, Izzy. They only know how to take. And you're not like me, you love.. You want love. Can you cope with just a sex based relationship?”
Izzy nodded slowly. “Maybe that’s all I need right now... to stop feeling so much.”
Maya frowned. “Really, can you hear yourself?”
Izzy gave a half-smile, trying to lighten the mood. “You’re right. I don’t. But I’m tired, Maya. I’m tired of pretending I don’t want him.”
Maya studied her for a while, then sighed. “Okay. You’re an adult. Just promise me one thing... don’t lose yourself in this. If it gets too hard come running to me honey… mamas got you.”
“Sure, thank you” Izzy whispered.
She got up and walked toward her bedroom, her phone still in her hand. For a few minutes, she just sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the screen... Dominic’s name is right there in her messages.
Maya leaned against the doorway, arms crossed. “So what are you going to do?”
Izzy’s heart raced. She typed slowly, her fingers trembling just a little.
Izzy: Let’s do this.
She hesitated for a second before hitting send.
Then she set her phone down on the nightstand, exhaled shakily, and looked up at Maya.
Maya shook her head but gave a small, knowing smile. “You’re playing with fire, girl.”
Izzy managed a quiet laugh. “I know.”
Maya walked over and hugged her tight. “Then at least make sure you don’t get burned.”
Izzy nodded against her shoulder, her heart heavy but certain.
Because she already knew … the moment she sent that text, there was no going back.