Chapter 75 Seventy Five
Izzy arrived at work later that morning than usual, the sleek black car dropping her off right at the front of the office.
Dominic sent her to go get a massage before heading to the office as he left her with his car.
She smoothed her skirt nervously as she stepped out, the cool morning air brushing her skin. The car door clicked shut behind her, and her eyes instinctively flicked to the entrance, half-expecting Dominic to be waiting there with that smug, teasing smile he reserved just for her.
But the lobby was empty, just the usual staff rushing to their desks. She walked in, heels clicking against the marble floor, trying to look calm and professional. Her mind, however, was anything but calm. She could still feel Dominic’s hands on her, his teasing whispers in her ear from an hour ago.
By the time she reached her office, her phone buzzed in her bag. She pulled it out quickly, hoping it was him.
Dominic:
Hope you’re ready for a busy day, kitten. How did the massage go? Did it help you relax? Don’t let anyone steal your attention.
Her lips curved into a small smile, her stomach fluttering. She typed back quickly:
Izzy: Always ready. Yes it did help me thank you.”
She slipped her phone back into her bag just as the office doors opened, and in walked Dominic himself, impeccably dressed as always, his eyes scanning the floor before landing on her.
“Good morning,” he said, his voice smooth, commanding, yet low enough that no one else could hear.
“Morning,” she replied, trying to keep her voice steady, though her pulse raced at the way he looked at her. There was an edge of something playful in his eyes, and she shivered under it.
Dominic’s gaze lingered just a little too long, and she could feel it brushing over her like a silent promise.
He walked past her desk with that confident stride, leaning slightly toward her as he passed. “You look…too tempting today,” he murmured, his words just loud enough for her ears alone.
Izzy felt her face heat. She bit her lip to stop herself from smiling too widely. “Thank you,” she whispered back, keeping her hands busy with her paperwork.
The morning moved slowly, each hour filled with their usual work routine, but underneath the professional atmosphere, there was a current of tension.
Every time Dominic passed her desk, he leaned just a little closer, his hand brushing hers or his shoulder close enough to make her shiver. Every glance felt deliberate, teasing, as though he was reminding her he was there, and that he was hers.
By midday, Izzy had to excuse herself to the restroom to catch her breath.. She headed downstairs Maya had brought her lunch. “You look like you’re walking on fire,” she said with a smirk.
Izzy groaned. “It’s him,” she admitted quietly. “He’s… he just doesn’t stop teasing me, which is weird .”
Maya laughed softly. “Girl, that’s the point. Enjoy it while you can. You’re driving him crazy, and he’s loving every second.”
Izzy flushed, nodding. “Ah… I don't know. I can't seem to focus.”
Maya gave her a playful nudge. “Then focus on surviving the day without melting in the middle of a meeting. Here I have to head back to work”
“Thank you..” Izzy said taking the lunch box from her.
By late afternoon, the tension reached its peak.
They were scheduled to meet with another company to discuss a potential partnership. Izzy had prepared all the documents, charts, and presentation slides, but her heart was racing. Today, she noticed, Dominic was even more alert than usual, his sharp gaze scanning every corner of the room as they entered the conference hall.
The moment they walked in, Izzy’s heart nearly stopped. Sitting at the far end of the table, reviewing some documents, was Mark.
“What was he doing here?”
The sight of him made her stomach twist in anger and fear, but she forced herself to walk past him confidently, head held high, chest forward.
Dominic’s jaw tightened ever so slightly, though he said nothing as he gestured toward the chairs. He motioned for her to sit next to him, keeping his body slightly angled in front of hers. A subtle protective stance that she recognized immediately, and it made her heart beat faster.
Mark’s eyes widened slightly when he noticed her, but Dominic didn’t acknowledge him. His presence alone was enough to make the air tense.
The meeting began, and Izzy could feel every glance from Mark like a knife. She gritted her teeth and focused on the presentation, keeping her voice steady, professional. But she could feel Dominic’s hand resting on the edge of the table, just brushing hers now and then in a casual, possessive way that reminded her he was watching, guarding.
“Isabella,” Mark said smoothly, trying to mask his surprise, “Youve been avoiding my calls.”
Izzy shot him a cold look, ignoring his thinly veiled smirk. She opened her presentation slides, her voice calm and professional. “Mark. Today, we’re here to discuss the proposed partnership, and I have all the figures ready.”
Dominic watched her closely, his expression unreadable.
As the meeting progressed, Mark continued trying to interject, attempting to steer the conversation toward points he knew she would have to address personally. But each time, Dominic smoothly intervened, deflecting and guiding the discussion back to their terms. Every correction was polite, professional, but firm.
Izzy felt a surge of pride, seeing how effortlessly he handled Mark, even though she knew internally he was seething. His control over his own temper only made him seem more dominant, more confident, more… intoxicating.
Finally, after several tense exchanges, Dominic leaned back in his chair, his sharp eyes meeting the other company’s representatives. His voice was calm but commanding.
“I’m afraid we’ll have to decline working with your company, at least in this configuration,” he said smoothly. “Certain individuals on your team do not meet our standards for professionalism. We cannot proceed if they cannot guarantee respectful behavior toward our staff.”
Mark’s face went pale, the smirk wiped off completely. He opened his mouth, but Dominic cut him off with a single glance, sharp and warning.
Mark sputtered, clearly caught off guard. “I… I.”
Dominic’s gaze didn’t soften. “I’m sorry. Perhaps in the future, with different representation, we could revisit this discussion. But for now, we must decline. Have a good day”
Mark clenched his jaw, then slumped back, defeated. His presence in the team for this meeting was effectively nullified.
As the meeting wrapped up, Izzy exhaled a shaky breath, relief washing over her. She glanced at Dominic, noticing how composed he seemed outwardly, but she could see the slight tension in his jaw and the intensity in his eyes…a storm barely restrained.
He leaned toward her slightly as the group packed up their materials. “Are you okay?” he asked quietly, voice low enough for her ears alone.
Izzy nodded. “Yes… I’m fine. Thanks to you.”
Dominic’s hand brushed hers, and she felt that familiar warmth, that possessive closeness that made her pulse quicken. “Good,” he murmured, almost to himself. “I would make sure I ruin that bastard.”