Chapter 76 Seventy Six
The office finally began to quiet as evening settled in.
Phones stopped ringing, keyboards went silent, and one by one the staff filtered out, murmuring their goodbyes. Izzy gathered the last of her things, her shoulders relaxing for the first time all day.
She hadn’t realized how tightly she’d been wound until now.
Her phone buzzed.
Dominic: Don’t leave yet. Come to my office.
Her heart skipped. She glanced around, then replied quickly.
Izzy: Okay.
The walk to his office felt longer than usual. The hallway was empty now, lights dimmed to evening mode, the quiet thick with everything left unsaid. She knocked softly.
“Come in,” his voice called.
Dominic stood by the window, jacket already off, sleeves rolled up, city lights glowing behind him. He turned when he saw her, and the intensity in his gaze made her pause just inside the door.
“You did well today,” he said calmly.
Izzy let out a breath she hadn’t known she was holding. “I almost lost my focus when I saw him.”
Dominic’s jaw tightened at the name she didn’t have to say. He crossed the room and stopped in front of her, close… but not touching. That restraint felt deliberate.
“You handled it with grace,” he said. “And you didn’t let him rattle you. I’m proud of you.”
Her chest warmed at the words. “You didn’t have to shut down the deal because of me.”
“I absolutely did,” he replied immediately. “No one is allowed to disrespects you. I won’t stand for it.”
The word care lingered between them.
She looked up at him, searching his face. “You looked upset… angry.”
“Yes,” he admitted quietly. “I had to control myself so I don’t do something stupid.”
His hand finally lifted, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. The touch was gentle, grounding. “I won’t let anyone from your past disrupt what you’re building now...”
Izzy nodded, emotion tightening her throat. “Thank you.”
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The closeness, the silence, the hum of the city outside… it all pressed in.
Dominic stepped back first, regaining his professional composure. “You should go home. Today took more out of you than you realize.”
She smiled softly. “Will I see you this weekend?”
A corner of his mouth lifted. “I’ll make sure of it.”
He opened the door for her himself, his hand resting briefly at the small of her back as she passed. Not possessive. Gently . And reassuring.
As Izzy walked away, her pulse still humming, she realized something had shifted.
Today wasn’t just about work.
It was about knowing…. without question… that she wasn’t facing anything alone anymore. And Dominic did care for her just as maya had said
Izzy organized went back to her desk and organized the files she needed to ogrnaize… she was exhausted.
All she wanted now was the quiet of her apartment.
The drive home was a blur of streetlights and thoughts she couldn’t fully settle. Mark’s face kept flashing in her mind… his surprise appearance, his arrogance, the way he’d said her name like he still had a right to it.
It’s over, she reminded herself. It’s been over.
When the taxi finally pulled into her apartment complex, the familiar building brought a small wave of relief. She got down, grabbed her bag, and headed toward the entrance, already mentally shedding the day.
That relief shattered the moment she saw him.
Mark stood near the front steps, leaning casually against the railing like he belonged there. Hands in his pockets. That same infuriating calm on his face.
Izzy stopped dead.
“What are you doing here?” she snapped, anger flaring hot and immediate.
Mark straightened, clearly expecting the reaction. “Nice to see you again, Izzy.”
“This is my home,” she shot back, marching closer. “You don’t get to just show up here. How did you even find my address?”
He shrugged. “You always liked this neighborhood. Took a guess.”
Her jaw clenched. “Leave. Now.”
“I just want to talk,” he said, holding up his hands. “Five minutes.”
“You had plenty of chances to talk,” she replied coldly. “You lost that privilege.”
Mark’s expression hardened slightly. “You really think you can just erase everything we had? Just because you’re fucking Dominic now.”
Her anger sharpened. “Don’t say his name.”
“Hmm.. don’t tell me” Mark said, a bitter edge creeping into his voice. “You’re falling for him. ”
Izzy stepped closer, lowering her voice but not her fury. “What I need you to get the fuck out my apartment and my life … you don’t control my life. You don’t get to question my choices. And you definitely don’t get to show up here uninvited.”
He scoffed. “You think he actually cares about you? Men like him don’t protect..”
“Enough.” Her voice cut through his. “You don’t to say a word about him or me.. you can never be half the man he is.. in bed and in heart so fuck off.”
For a moment, Mark just stared at her, clearly not used to this version of Izzy… hard.. cold.
“You’ve changed,” he muttered.
“Yes,” she said firmly. “I have. And I’m glad I did.”
She pulled out her phone, thumb hovering. “If you don’t leave right now, I’m calling security.”
The silence stretched.
Finally, Mark exhaled sharply and stepped back. “This isn’t over.”
Izzy met his gaze without blinking. “For me, it is.”
She walked past him, unlocking her door with steady hands. Only once it shut firmly behind her did she let out the breath she’d been holding, her heart pounding… not with fear, but with adrenaline.
As she leaned against the door, her phone buzzed.
Dominic: Did you get home safely?
Her fingers trembled slightly as she typed back.
Izzy: I’m home. Just got in now.
The reply came almost instantly.
Dominic: okay pumpkin get some rest. Good night.
Izzy sank onto the couch, the weight of the evening finally crashing down on her.
The apartment was quiet… too quiet. The kind of silence that made her thoughts louder. She leaned forward, elbows on her knees, staring at nothing as her heart slowly began to calm.
There’s no way I’m telling Dominic, she thought firmly.
Mark showing up wasn’t Dominic’s problem. It was hers. A loose end she hadn’t realized was still sharp enough to cut. If she told Dominic, she knew exactly what would happen… he wouldn’t ask questions first. He’d act. And whatever calm, controlled restraint he’d shown during the meeting would be gone.
She rubbed her temples, exhaling shakily.
“I can handle this,” she murmured to herself.