Chapter 75

Chapter 75
Florence's POV

“Not only are you a thief, you're a slut too.” My voice rang with nothing but anger. “ And let me say this as clearly as I can. This is the last time I want to see your face.”

His words rang in my ears, even minutes after he'd walked out. No matter how hard I tried to shake it off, I just couldn't. A searing pain spread through my chest, and like I wasn't going through enough already, I felt my chest tighten.

With the painful sensation that spread through my chest, Dominique's words didn't waste any time in doing more damage. Each word he'd uttered felt like a knife stab straight to the heart, and I couldn't count the number of times I'd died all over again.

Blood rushed to my ears and I watched my world spiral out of control. I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe any of the things that had just happened. Where was I even supposed to begin from anyway?

Dominique.

Despite all of my efforts, I'd managed to ruin things with him. Totally. I wasn't dumb to tell that he was hurt. Not only that, I'd totally lost face value where he was. He no longer held me in high regard and the mere thought of it was more than painful.

I'd tried, tried to prevent all of this from happening, but somehow, all of my efforts had been in vain. I had no idea how he'd found out I had stolen from him. I wanted to tell him, I wanted to explain it all to him the moment I got home, but as usual, fate was never on my side. He just had to find out before I had a chance.

I pressed my eyes shut as I allowed his words to sink in. He saw me as nothing but a slut now. A gold digger and a thief. Was that really all I meant to him now? A tear slid down my cheeks as I pressed my hand flat against my belly. I didn't know a lot about pregnancies, but I knew it was too early to feel anything. How far gone was I even? Was it a boy or a girl? Twins or triplets? Or perhaps….

I paused my thoughts midway. What exactly was I thinking? Dominique had just stormed off, and here I was playing a guessing game about the baby's gender. My eyes popped open immediately, like an invisible veil had been lifted from my face. With all the strength I could gather, I got out of the hospital bed.

The world around me shook and I fought to catch my balance. Luckily, I was able to grab a hold of the edge of the bed. Dizzy spells washed over me as I held on to the bed. It was my anchor for the moment and if I so much as let it go, I would come crashing down.

I didn't have a particular destination in mind, nor did I have a plan. All I knew was the fact that I needed to get out of here. To see Dominique. About the baby, everything. If it wasn't his, or else's would it be?

A couple more minutes passed before my vision returned again. Slowly, and more carefully this time, I made my way out of the ward. The signature smell that came with hospitals wafted through my nostrils and I fought the urge to gag. I had no idea where Dominique would be, but I couldn't give up.

Was he even still in the premises? Even if he was, the hospital was huge, so how on earth was I going to find him?

“Excuse me.” I flagged down the nearest nurse. She was petite and pretty and looked kind enough to offer some answers. “Have you seen Dominique?”

“Mr Dominique?” She chorused and I nodded. “He left a while ago. Is everything okay? Do you need him to come take you home?”

“No.” I felt my heart shatter one more time. “I can manage. Thank you so much.”

Without a word, I trudged out of the hospital. It was just my luck that no one else bothered to stop me on my way out. I was happy for that but at the same time, it meant I was going to have to face Dominique sooner than later.

The journey to Dominique's house wasn't one I thought I would ever dread, after everything we'd been through. But as I stood in front of the wrought iron gates that separated us both, I couldn't help but feel anxious. Fear and panic nipped at my skin as I contemplated my next actions.

How would he react? Would he shut me out just like he did at the hospital? What if he did worse and…

“Hey.” Someone's gruff voice pulled me out of my thoughts. “What are you doing here?”

“Oh.” My insides unfurled when I realized it was one of the workers in the house. The security man to be precise. “It's me. Good afternoon, I'll just go in and…”

“No.” He cut in and I flinched, halting in my tracks. “You can't go in.”

“Why?” I asked. A tiny part of me had an inkling why, but I just had to confirm. “Is something wrong?”

“The boss said not to let you in.” He stated matter of factly. “So I can't let you in.”

“But I have to see him.” I whined, on the brink of tears. “I have to…”

The sound of footsteps approaching cut me off. It didn't take me too long to realize who it was though, another maid.

“Oh Charlotte,thank God you're here…” I paused as Charlotte came into view, carrying a very heavy bag. No, scratch that, my heavy bag.

What was going on? This was all happening too fast and I could feel my panic levels growing higher and higher.

“Don't come back here again.” She spat, almost like she had a personal vendetta against me.

“Please, you don't understand.” The sound of a vehicle pulling up cut through my voice. At the rev of the engine, I didn't even have to think about it too much. I already knew it's owner.

I stood rooted to my spot as the security man pulled open the gates. Time rolled to a halt as Dominique exited the compound, his entire being behind the wheel.

“Dominique please.” I jogged to his side immediately. “Please you have to believe me…”

The sound of the sleek automobile driving out and onto the road filled my ears as Dominique sped off without giving me a listening ear. Every bit of hope I had left shattered around me as he drove into the distance.

This was it. It was all over.

My shoulder sagged as I picked up my bag and left the mansion. A million and one thoughts raced through my mind as I hurled the pieces of my life left. I had no idea where I was going, but somehow, I'd managed to wound up on my father's front porch.

“Well, well, well.” His sarcastic cackle greeted me as he reared his head. “Look what the cat dragged out of the trash.”

I remained motionless as snippets of our last conversation replayed in my mind. I'd told him I never wanted to see him again and that he was no longer welcome anywhere near me. It was funny how life switched up on you sometimes.

“You do remember what you said to me right?” Father's words rang out. “Now I'm saying the same to you. Get out of here right now!”

I parted my lips to reply, but someone beat me to it.

“Wait.” Goosebumps lined the surface of my skin. “I think we just might have good use for her here.”

I swallowed. If there was anything my step mother was good at, it was making people's lives miserable and right now, I guess it was safe to say, I was in deep shit.

I slammed the empty glass in my hand so hard against the table I feared it would break. Luckily for me, it didn't, but seeing that only made me all the more furious and if I could have my way, then I would have hurled the damned thing at the nearest person right now.

I buffed, allowing my breaths to come out in sharp and short rasps as I took in the sight in front of me. Currently, I had a fine view of all the drinks and varieties the bar had to offer. Besides that and the bartender that often came to take orders, it wasn't exactly a busy sight. Behind me, was where the real fun was. The loud bass of music blaring from the speakers got into my ears, threatening to puncture each of my ear drums.

The air was stuffy with a mix of desperation in the air. Everyone was dancing, no doubt, but I liked to see it as an act of pouring out your frustration into the wind. I didn't care what they did though, u couldn't be more bothered about any of the party goers huddled in the same room with me. If there was anything I wanted right now, it was peace, and a particularly gorgeous woman.

Florence.

After I'd driven out of the compound and away from whatever she'd wanted to say, I drove straight down here. I didn't have anywhere else to go, and this looked like the best distraction spot on a sunny afternoon. Only after I'd downed my third drink and still couldn't get my mind off Florence did I come to two conclusions to choose from; the bar’s drinks simply weren't strong enough or I was just too enthralled by Florence that I just couldn't forget about her and what she'd done so easily.

Florence. I never thought a time would come when the mere thought of her would hurt. Where the mere feel of her name on my tongue would be equivalent to the taste of bile. I wanted to forget about her, totally, but since that was nowhere near working, perhaps the best option was to just indulge in it.

It still felt surreal if I was being honest. It looked like a nightmare I couldn't wait to wake up from. But as the swell of the music seemed to increase every second, I realized that this just might be my new reality. She had hurt me, and in return I'd actually felt hurt. Florence never painted herself to be that kind of girl. She was sweet and nice and everything else you would want in a woman, and even when I was being borderline evil, she didn't change. So why did she have to switch up on at a crucial point like this? Why did she have to break my trust when I was finally starting to like her?

I couldn't believe I'd just said that. I never believed I had a heart. Not only did she show me that I did, she taught it how to beat, for her and her alone, just so she could rip the vital out and smash it against the way till I bled out. I liked her, that fact was an open secret now, and I was sure she knew all about it too, so why, why did she have to do this? Honestly, I had no idea which was worse; the fact that she knew I liked her, or the fact that I was now acknowledging that same fact. I liked her, I liked her and I still did, even after what she'd done.

My men had told me how her father had threatened her to get him the money by all means, so that was probably the reason why she stole, nor her pregnancy.

If she had just asked, there was no way I wouldn't have given her. I wouldn't even have minded doubling or tripling the said amount even. I was willing to do everything and anything, had she just asked. As for her father, if he was pestering her too much, a little time behind bars would be more than efficient to stop all of that nonsense. If she had just come clean, none of this would have builded up to this point.

But the pregnancy, I thought. How could she be pregnant? Had she been sneaking out of the house just to satisfy her dirty cravings? But how could she have done that, without me catching a whiff of it. I hadn't even caught her , not once, and it didn't help either that none of my men could find out who she was sleeping with.

Was she that good at hiding things that she was able to cover up her tracks so easily?

“Hey.” Someone's voice pulled me out of my monologue. One minute I was sitting alone at the bar, and the next minute, a hot blonde had appeared in front of me. “ whatcha doing, handsome?”

I paused. There was no doubt she was talking to me, I just had to figure out if I wanted the kind of attention she was giving.

Beady eyes stared back at me and if there was anything constant in her brown eyes, it was lust. Her lips curled into a sly smirk as she not so innocently palmed her boobs. If I was being honest, they were pretty attractive and luckily for me, the low neckline of her red dress made it pretty easy to get a good look in case I planned on going all the way with her.

“Why stare at it, when you can have it?” She quipped again, her sultry voice pulling me back to the present. “All you have to do is say the first word.”

The cogs in my head churned as I thought of my next move. I'd been lamenting about Florence, so what better way to distract myself than with this woman in front of me.

Without giving it too much thought, I made a beeline for her lips immediately. Almost like she was expecting it, she parted her lips, just wide enough for my tongue to go through.

“Mmm.” She murmured against my lips. “You're a really good kisser, aren't you?”

“Florence” I moaned out loud. Seconds passed as I realized my mistake, and with the literal speed of light, I let go of the blonde in front of me.

“What's wrong?” She was breathless, but I couldn't give two fucks about that. With nothing but anger in my belly, I grabbed my keys and stormed out of the bar.