Page 60 of Love Among the Ruins
Dominic looked out of the window, his jaw muscles tight enough for Eleni to notice. “Because I need the deal. I have to prove myself.”
“I know that, Dominic, butwhathappened?”
“Galatis had something come up. Something more urgent.”
“Ah.”
“Ah what?” he snapped.
“You’re angry because he didn’t drop everything for you. Because he had someone else more important than you.”
“I’m angry because he wasted my time.”
“You’re angry because there’s someone more important than you.”
“I don’t know what you take me for, or what you think you know about me, but I can assure you, I have no illusions about my importance. I have my father to thank for that. He constantly drilled that into me that I was never as good as my brother. Alexander is his pride and joy. Galatis wasted my time.”
She shifted slightly away and closer to the door, not wanting to be at close range for the waves of anger coming off of him. She wasn’t sure how much of the chill in the car was due to the AC and how much was due to Dominic’s mood but the temperature had dropped to freezing.
“Dinner,” he said finally.
She slowly turned her head in his direction. “Are you talking to me?” She couldn’t tell if he was on the phone, if he might have a cell phone strapped to his other hand.
“Yes I’m talking to you. Who else?”
His harsh tone landed like a slap. An awakening she badly needed. She needed to wisen up and to stop acting as if Dominic Steele was an average guy. He wasn’t. He was a very rich man who had important things to do and a man who cared nothing for no one.
“Dinner?” she asked, needing to make sure she’d heard him right.
“Are you free? Tonight. At seven? Galatis is having a soiree and he’s asked me to meet with him then.”
“And you wantmeto come withyou?”
“I need you.”
She was too speechless to reply. Something fluttered in her heart.
“As a deterrent,” he added, as an afterthought.
“A deterrent?” Yes, of course. This was business. He needed… a deterrent?
“It helps me and it looks better,” he explained, not making any sense at all.
“Looks better? To whom? For what reason?”
“Don’t worry. You’re not …” He waved his big hand between them both, and all she could see was the huge watch, so big, she could hardlynotsee it. “You’re not expected to … we’re not together. This is ... it’s … just better for me to…”
“You’re stammering, Dominic. I’ve never heard you stammer before.” She blurted the words out because she was so surprised.
“It’s better for me to be seen with someone at a social event.”
“Why a ‘deterrent?’”
“To ward off … you know …”
“I don’t know.” She could feel the wrinkles bunching up on her forehead. “Ward off? You mean keep away?”
“Exactly that.”
