Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Dominic

As Vanessa boldly struts in my direction and the bodyguards leave, my gaze lingers on her. She’s in a strapless satin black dress that hugs her curves. It also has a thigh slit that draws my attention several times.

Standing beside me, Frank moves closer and whispers, “She looks so good! But how is she here? I thought you said she wasn’t feeling well.”

I’m unable to respond to him as I can only look at her

To keep up appearances, I approach her and when I’m close enough, I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her close to my chest.

” didn’t expect to see you here,” I say to her, pretending to kiss her cheek.

She places her hands on my shoulders. “I changed my mind, I’ll be here for an hour or two.”

“But why did you even bother to come? It’s not like you’re going to enjoy yourself here. I left you looking and feeling miserable.”

She slightly pushes me away, then smirks at me as she points at herself. “Dol look miserable to you right now?”

I glance at her figure and the amount of effort she put into her outfit and makeup. I’m clearly able to tell that she doesn’t look miserable at

Looking away from her thick thigh, I say, “You came here on your own, so don’t expect me to babysit you.”

She waves at Frank with a smile while she speaks to me. “I don’t remember saying I needed you for anything. I came here on my own.”

“There she is!” Jake cheers from behind Vanessa, and she instantly turns around and smiles at him.

“I’m so glad you came,” Jake says while hugging her. “My brother told me you didn’t feel well, but you look so damn good!”

I clench my jaw at how his eyes linger on her, and it doesn’t help that she chuckles at that fucking compliment.

“changed my mind when my husband called, and I feel better now.”

“He called you?” Jake seems amused.

“Yeah, he did. He said he was lonely without

the

Unbelievable, her acting is so spot on that Jake’s instantly convinced. She w

was smart enough to handle the situation without me telling her

what to do

vt to me.

We all sit down at our table and she’s right next to

So what are you drinking tonight?” Frank asks, glancing at her exposed collarbone.

“I’m being honest, I haven’t had a drink in a long time, she admits. “Maybe I’ll just have a glass of wine.”

Having her so close and looking so seductive reminds me of what happened that night.

At the same time, Carmella instantly comes to mind, so I look over at her table and she’s glaring at me. Why would she do that when she knows that this is absolutely important? Unless she’s only upset that Vanessa showed up whent said she wouldn’t.

As the four of us drink together, Jake brings up something that greatly annoys me.

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“So, have you seen your friend?” He rolls his eyes.

“My friend?” she asks, completely lost.

“Yeah, Carmella. Don’t tell me you didn’t see her over there.” He lazily points at her.

“Oh, I didn’t know she was here.”

“Well, she is.” Jake smacks his lips. “It turns out Frank invited her.”

“You sound like you’re not happy about that.”

“Im not How are you two even friends?” he asks, looking in Carmella’s direction.

In only a few seconds, Vanessa knows exactly what I expect of her, and she doesn’t disappoint.

be right back. She empties her second wine glass and carries her purse. “I really didn’t realize Carmella was here.”

She gets up to leave and I instantly bite my lip as she walks away. How could she be so different from this morning? She actually looks like she wants to be here.

As I look over at Frank and Jake, I’m in disbelief at how they can’t stop staring at her. I look around, and all the men are staring as she walks by. It actually makes me poke my cheek in disapproval. I’ll have to do something to let them know she’s off limits.

Vanessa

1 admit that I felt horrible in the morning, but I changed my mind about an hour ago. I need to have a good time. I can’t always be home and i thought what better away than this party?

Seeing Carmella here, I now have to keep up

ip appearances because of our friendship, something which I had agreed to.

As I approach her table, the men whistle at me but I pay them no attention. However, I can’t deny how handsome they are, but not as handsome as Dominic. I don’t even know why I had to think of him.

When I’m close enough, Carmella gets up and comes to me. We even fake smiles at each other, but the moment she wraps her arms around me, she whispers against my car.

“Why the hell did you come to this party, bitch?”

“Because I’m Mrs Richards. Isn’t it obvious?”

“You should’ve stayed home.”

“I came here to have a good time on my own, not to spend time with Dominic. You can have him all to yourself while you’re here. Oh, wait,

you can’t

You fucking bitch!” She takes a step back to shoot me a glare while forcing a smile.

tit my head and smile back as i say, “I dare you to try anything stupid right now. That’s right. You know you can’t, so sit down and drink up.” “Hello, Mrs Richards,” one of the girls drinking with Carmella says as she approaches us. “Could you please spare some time and have a drink

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The other three girls join in, asking me to sit with them and Carmella scowls at me.

“Carmella’s told us so much about you.”

“Oh, really? What did she say?” I’m so curious about what she’s been saying about me that I sit at their table.

“She says you’re very good friends but we didn’t believe her even when she showed us some wedding pictures. No one gets to be friends with Mrs Richards just like that.”

“Well, it’s true. The two of us are actually very close,” I reply, sitting right across from Carmella. She smiles but I can tell she’s glaring at me.

The four ladies engage me in intellectual conversations and it turns out most of them are in the corporate world. I actually find myself enjoying talking to them.

The only one who doesn’t add to the conversation is Carmella. She knows nothing about this stuff, except when it has to do with beauty and fashion.

“Mrs Richards, do you think you can find some time from your busy schedule?” one of them asks. “I’d be honored if you’d attend an event I’m hosting. It’s a conference about women in technology.”

“Of course.”

“Could you please come to my event, too? another one asks and just like that, everyone starts talking at the same time. I’m actually overwhelmed.

“Ladies, one at a time. Of course I’ll show up. Just give me the dates and we’ll keep in touch.”

“Oh, wow, you’re so kind,” one of them says with a warm smile.

“Of course she is,” the lady sitting next to her says. “Didn’t you read about what she did at Little Warriors Hospital for all those children?”

Maybe I’m enjoying this a little too much, but I don’t care, especially when I see how Carmella’s glaring at me from across the table.

As they continue to talk to me, I notice her looking down at her phone. She suddenly seems a little uncomfortable and I wonder what’s going on with her. But before I can even take a guess of what it could be, the ladies grab my attention.

“Mrs Richards, look at that.”

They all gasp in shock.

I look over at the VIP section and I notice several ladies going to Frank, and two of them going to Dominic.

“How dare they do that? Don’t they know he’s married and his wife’s here?”

Everyone here, except Carmella, expects me to take action, and I will. Right now, I even feel a little more daring than usual as the wine also

starts to kick in more.

“Ladies, excuse me. I have to deal with this,” I say to them.

With an intimidating expression, I head over to the VIP section, looking right at the two ladies hanging around Dominic while flirtatiously

Degling

But as soon as I’m close enough, I don’t even have t to say anything. They instantly move aside and get closer to Frank

“Hey, babe,” I say to Dominic.

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“There you are. Come here.” He holds out his arm in his drunk state.

I get closer and as soon as he wraps his arm around me, I’m in for a shock when he pulls me down into his lap, but I smile as t since we’re husband and wife.

I look over at Carmella and she seems extremely furious about this.

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this is expected

His hand rests right on my exposed thigh and as I look into his eyes, I can feel my heart racing. This wasn’t the plan. His hand on my thigh brings back memories from that night when he touched me and I actually liked it.

Feeling my temperature rise, I place my hands on his shoulders so I can get up, but his grip is firm and he keeps me in his lap.

I glance at Frank as he leaves with all the girls, who keep looking at us like everyone else.

“What are you doing? Everyone’s watching.” I say to him.

“That’s the point. Kiss me.”

“What?”

“Come here.”

Just like that, he pulls me closer for a kiss and I’m so flustered that I don’t move my head away. As soon as our lips touch, it doesn’t take much for me to begin feeling aroused, thanks to the wine and my hormones, Having him touch me and kiss me while I’m in his lap only intensifies it all. I’m almost moaning against his lips right now.

This is obviousty just for the show, but why’s he being so slow and passionate? It has to be the alcohol.

Snapping out of it, I pull away from his lips and he smirks at me.

“Did you have a good time with my babe?” he asks, wiping my lips.

I wipe his lips too and say, “Maybe I would’ve had a good time had she not been so empty in the brain.”

I expect him to lash out at me or something, but it seems he agrees with me.

He suddenly loosens his grip on my thigh and I get off, sitting down in a chair and pouring myself another glass of wine.

“Don’t drink too much of this wine, I know you’re already tipsy. It’s happened so fast because you haven’t had anything to drink in a long time.”

“I don’t need your advice.”

“Suit yourself. If you pass out, you’re on your own. I’m not taking care of you because I’m leaving with my babe.

“Cool”

As he looks over at Carmella, I can’t stop staring at his side profile, the sensation of his hands and lips still fresh in my inind.

But whatever’s on my mind fades when he furrows his eyebrows while still watching her.

I look over and it’s the same thing all over again. She seems uncomfortable while looking down at her phone. This time, she even heads outside. I’m not even convinced that it’s because she saw what just happened with Dominic.

He instantly gets up to follow her

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Before he’s out of sight, he speaks to some bodyguards and they come over, saying he instructed them to guard me. For what? I don’t need

them, so I instruct them to leave.

Now alone, I lean back in my seat and continue drinking from my glass, holding it firmly as I close my eyes and drop my head to the side. No matter how hard I try, I can’t stop thinking about what just happened.

While in the moment, an unfamiliar and manly voice speaks to me. “Well, well, well, if it isn’t the strikingly beautiful Mrs Richards. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

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