REBECCA

There is this rumor about Dominic Hayes.

He never brings his one night stands over to his apartment. He was one never to mix business with pleasure. Maybe that's why he was doing so well in the business world. I thought that rule applied to me and with the note I left behind, I shouldn't even be setting foot in this apartment.

The loud stomping of shoes heading in my direction caught my attention, and slowly, I traced the sound to him, the man of the moment.

Dominic’s eyes lingered on me, as if undressing me, and flashes of that night flickered through my mind.

“Rebecca,” he said, taking off his jacket and handing it to the woman who brought me here. She accepted it with a small smile, tuckening it under her arm with a red string envelope, gracefully moving to loosen his tie.

“No need, Ava,” he halts her with a flick of his wrist.

She looked stunned—this was probably the first time he’d asked her not to bother. She paused for a moment, processing it, before retreating behind him.

"Hope I didn't keep you waiting." He said as I trailed my eyes back at him. I shake my head.

"Of course not Mr Hayes." I said.

“Please, drop the formalities you can call me Dominic…”

I took a small step back, caught off guard as I recalled him saying those exact words in bed. Heat rushed to my cheeks, flushing them red with embarrassment.

"Didn't you get my note?" I muttered slowly looking up at him as I swallowed.

"I did." He hummed. His hands deep in his pockets. "And I'm intrigued." He walked towards me, and then circled round me like a vulture out for meat. "Most women stay back and try to find ways to get a second chance but you. You have the audacity to threaten me." He said and I could feel my voice choked up in my throat.

"I'm a married woman and I made a mistake. I apologise if my words came off to you as a threat." I said turning back to head over to the couch to get my purse. I picked it up and walked towards Dominic again.

"If that would be all. Goodday Mr Hayes." I said shouldering past him.

"We shared a passionate night Miss Rebecca," Dominic said as i paused on my steps.

"Shouldn't you take responsibility for taking advantage of me." He said as I immediately turn to see the dubious smirk on his face. I strut straight towards him, with a brow arched.

"Take advantage?" I scoffed. "I was drunk, if anyone should be taking accountability for taking advantage of the other, shouldn't it be you?" I hissed as Dominic smirk deepened.

"Then shall we discuss this over dinner. we could reach a common ground." He offered, extending his hand. I had been waiting for hours in his apartment and it was getting late and I was hungry but I couldn't trust him.

"I'll pass." I hissed. Dominic retract his hand, fitting it perfectly in his pocket.

"I heard about your mother's passing. She was admirable. I recall she even did business with my grandfather. My condolences." Dominic said and for once I couldn't help but be touched. This was the first time someone said something kind without hatred in their eyes. Everyone always gave their condolences to Julian even though it was my mother that died and gave me nothing but hateful glares.

I nod, taking in his words as tears glass my eyes.

"Thank you." I hoarse, my throat thick with sobs. "But I suppose this isn't what you brought me over for. Just to send me your regards. This could have been well better off as a text." I said like he even had my number.

"Of course," he said. "You're going through a divorce but for some reason in the court documents it says you filed for it immediately your mother was put to rest." Dominic said as I frowned.

"That's impossible. It was Julian that filed for it." I said.

"But it's your name in the court documents. And you requested five billion dollars, seems a bit too much for alimony doesn't it." Dominic said and I couldn't believe it. My lawyers said the highest I could get was the three hundred million I was promised. Where did this five billion come from?

"I don't know what's happening but I was promised 300 million. Even though All those amount are worthless compared to how much Crestwell is worth. Crestwell belongs to me

There shouldn't even be a topic of settlement other than with Julian of course." I said, my eyes washed over to the other side of the room. Away from Dominic's.

"My mother fought to inherit the company. And here I was going to lose all what she worked for." I said tears glassing my eyes.

"Julian can't just oust you out of your inheritance. Don't you have shares?" Dominic asked as I froze in shame.

"I sold it all for him." I hissed. "Six months ago he made a bad deal and had an heavy loss. The company was going under and he was in need of money. He said he'd buy it back the moment the company was doing alright. But..." A quake gets caught in my breath and my knees felt weak. Why was I even telling Dominic any of this? It's not like he cared.

“So you don’t have any real power to stop him. You practically handed the company over to him.” The way Dominic spoke to me felt condescending or maybe I’d simply taken one too many hits to my pride.

“Thank you. I wasn’t already aware of that,” I replied, my composure snapping back into place.

"I think we can help each other out Rebecca." He said. "I own about six percent of shares at Crestwell. I'm willing to give it all to you but with a price." He added and this felt unbelievable.

"I don't have any money to give you." I said.

Dominic walk over to me. "Don't worry." His hand carefully caresses the end of my hair.

"It's something you can afford and easily give to me right now." He said and I froze.