Page 38 of Dominance

Okay, not exactly at the forefront of my thoughts at the moment.

But I am painfully aware of how close we are.

The T-shirt and no bra may have been dual purpose. And a double-edged sword.

Not that I was hoping anything would happen.

Who am I kidding?

Dom’s scowl drops to something more like shock as he pieces together the mess. And a little like he caught me red-handed.

“What is the meaning of all of this?” he rasps softly.

“Hi, Dad,” I force the words out, making myself use the term I truly do not associate with him. It works best, I’ve found.

Not that I’m trying to manipulate him.

“I went to find you in your wing of the house, thinking we’d have breakfast together. What do I find but an empty room? No one knows where you are. The housemaids are clammed up, tight-lipped, won’t tell me anything. Do you understand how worried I was? I didn’t know where you were and you weren’t answering your phone!” For a split second I almost believe his worry. “You know I don’t like surprises.”

There it is. The real reason he’s mad.

Not for my safety.

It’s his need for control.

“I’m so sorry, really. I was just busy moving my things. I asked the maids not to say anything until I could break the news to you myself.”

“The news?” He glances from me to Adriano and back. “Let me guess. This was your idea?”

Adriano stands stock still, like an awkwardly posed mannequin in a store window. It would be humorous in any other scenario.

“Well? Did you coax her into this? Give her the idea?”

“Uh. No,” Adriano suddenly snaps back with a little shake of his head.

“It’s bad enough the two of you meeting in secret at the office, sneaking off together. You know how it reflects on me?”

“Actually, I don’t know how our being engaged and actually having arelationshipreflects on you, no,” I snap before I can stop myself.

“It’s inappropriate,” he states, but it falls flat. There’s got to be more to this.

“It’s the 2020s, Dad. It would be weird for us not to be living together.”

“So that’s it, huh? You’re barely here a month and you abandon me to move in with your boy toy.”

This is getting ridiculous.

Adriano’s cuing into the same feeling, raising one eyebrow.

“No one is abandoning anyone.”

“Do you really think I don’t see what you’re doing? Is this revenge? Plotting some social explosion that will ruin my dealings with the elders. Some of our partners are very old-fashioned, particularly our Eastern prospects. If I can’t keep my own house in order, how am I supposed to convince them that I’m trustworthy?”

“No one is plotting against you, Dom.” Adriano crosses his arms, frowning. His temper is rising, I can see it.

Careful, Adri.

I have to defuse this situation before it blows up in my face. Again.

---