by M. S. Parker
“Does Dominic seem to think you have to know about his world?”
I delayed my answer by taking a drink of my sangria. Then I looked up at her. “I don’t know. There are times…” I cleared my throat. “There are times when I know he’s covering or helping me out. He wouldn’t have to do it with her. Everybody in his world is rich.” I laughed bitterly. “And most of them are white. The few that aren’t? They’re from some distinguished black families that can trace their ancestry back to people like Booker T. Washington. They’re not some poor mixed girl from the mid-west.”
“That doesn’t mean shit.”
“It does to some.”
Molly leaned forward, glaring at me. “It doesn’t mean shit,” she repeated. “If they care, it says more about them than it does about you. You can’t let their prejudices bring you down, Aleena.”
She held my eyes for a long moment and I made myself nod. She settled back in her seat and I forced air into my tight lungs.
“Dominic,” she said softly. “Does it matter to him?”
“I don’t think it does.” I took another sip of sangria then looked down at my barely touched food. “But I’ve never come right out and asked him.”
“You need to talk to him about it.”
“Yeah.” I pasted a smile on my face. It was as fake as the palms the restaurant had stuck in pots around us, but it seemed to convince Molly.
“Talk to him,” she said again.
I nodded.
“I came here on a date a few weeks ago.” Molly smiled at me over the rim of her water. “They have this crazy thing on the weekends. Salsa dancing. It gets all hot and sexy. Maybe you should have Dominic bring you down here.”
I almost choked. Me…salsa dancing. With Dominic. Oh yeah, that would happen. Heat rushed to my face as I thought it again. Dancing. With Dominic.
“We…um…we don’t really go out on dates,” I said, shrugging the idea off as quickly as it came.
I went to say something else, but the look on Molly’s face froze the words before they came out. “What?” I asked. Automatically, I lifted a hand to my mouth. “Do I have food in my teeth?”
“You two don’t go out?” Molly stared at me. “At all?”
“Well. No.” I shrugged and pulled a piece of ham off the Cubano, popping it into my mouth. “What’s up?”
“Aleena, you two have been…well…involved for a while, and Dominic Snow is kind of known for taking women out on some pretty elaborate dates. So why in the hell hasn’t he taken you out?”
It bothered me.
As I worked all that afternoon and all that evening, I told myself I wasn’t working to distract myself from that question. I was a liar.
It bothered me.
Why hadn’t he taken me out?
I found myself constantly thinking about what Molly had said. Dominic had said he didn’t do relationships, but I knew Molly wouldn’t lie about him having taken women out on elaborate dates. She’d always loved gossip, especially about the New York elite. So, in the middle of researching the ritzy and very stable firm of Devoted…what happened?
I found myself googling Dominic.
Okay, it hadn’t started out that way.
I started out googling the owner of Devoted.
The CEO was Maxine Hall and, while the company itself was stable, it became clear pretty fast that she wasn’t. I spent more than a little time on her and found enough information that I figured Dominic would have something to play with. I was sure he had all sorts of investigators he could go to for more detailed information so I didn’t bother trying to do that. I was good with computers, but I wasn’t even close to a hacker.
But once I’d finished with what I could find, I found myself staring at the empty search bar.
And then…
Dominic Snow…
And I completely blamed Google, because the next thing that popped up was a single word: girlfriend.
Closing my eyes, I hit enter and then just let it happen.
I never should have done it, either.
I should have closed the damn browser and sent him off an email or even called him with my thoughts about Devoted. Jotted them down. Something. Anything but what I’d done.
After a few seconds, I gathered my courage and opened my eyes.
My gut twisted and bile churned.
Why in the hell hasn’t he taken you out?
Molly’s words echoed in my head.
I found myself staring at some sort of publicity still, definitely a posed image. They were standing on a red carpet and he was in a tuxedo while the woman at his side wore a dress of champagne colored silk. It highlighted her eyes and set off her porcelain skin to perfection. Her eyes were a pale, soft blue.
She was absolutely beautiful.
Much of the world thought so too. I thought so.
That was Madeleine Bateman. I didn’t need to read the caption to know who she was. She’d appeared in two of my favorite movies last year, and she’d appeared in no less than three images with Dominic last year too.
Before her? A woman who’d won two gold medals in the in Winter Olympics. A Russian ice skater, I thought. There was also a violinist from the New York Orchestra. A bestselling children’s author. A biologist.
“Well,” I said, trying to cheer myself up. “At least he seems to appreciate brains in a woman. That means Penelope is out of the running.” Even hearing the words out-loud didn’t really do much to perk up my mood.
I closed the window and then, because I felt like a fool, I cleared the search from my history and rose from the chair to pace.
I stopped by the window and stared down into the park, nibbling on my thumbnail until I realized what I was doing. It was a habit I’d broken in high school and there I was doing it again.
He was going to drive me crazy, I knew it.
Why in the hell hasn’t he taken you out?
“It doesn’t matter,” I told myself.
I was getting really, really good at lying to myself.
5
Dominic
“Mr. Snow?”
I glanced away from the information on Devoted that I’d gotten from one of my more trusted private investigators. I’d been about to call Aleena and see what she’d found out, although it wasn’t anything that couldn’t wait. I just wanted to talk to her. Sighing, I reached up and tugged at the knot on my tie before I answered, “Yes, Amber?”
“I’ve got Mr. White on the phone. He wants to talk to you about the party in Philadelphia?”
“Okay. I’ll take the call.” I went to pick up the handset, but Amber’s voice made me pause.
“Ah, one moment, before you speak to him. I’ll be—”
“This is nonsense, I’m sure Dominic won’t mind if I wait in his office,” a cool, crisp voice said, cutting Amber off.
I walked over to the door before I had to hear Amber trying to figure out how to stop Penelope from barging in. I opened the door just as Penelope was reaching for it.
“It’s all right, Amber. Can you please let Eddie know I just need a moment?”
“Of course.” She gave me a polite nod and didn’t look at Penelope.
“Really!” Once the door closed behind her, Penelope spun to glare at me. “You should fire that woman, Dominic! She—”
“She did her job, Penelope,” I said flatly. Her habit of barging in on me whenever she pleased was starting to go beyond annoying. “I don’t have the kind of career where people can waltz in and out of my office as they please. I’m often involved in high-dollar, confidential matters that can fall apart in an instant. Amber clearly understands that.”
I left the rest of the statement unsaid.
Penelope drew in a breath through her nostrils. Apparently, she didn’t need me to spell things out for her. “Well, I simply wanted to touch base on how the matter was going with my…consult.” She touched her tongue to her lip in what I suppose she assumed was a coy manner.
It wasn’t.
/>
Deliberately, I glanced at my phone to make it clear that I didn’t have time for her. “That’s a matter that would have to be discussed during a scheduled appointment. In order to give our clients our best, we do need to schedule time into the calendar for any meetings.”
Harsh flags of color appeared on her cheeks. Her eyebrows rose over her hazel eyes and I knew I was treading dangerous waters, as far as Penelope’s consideration went. Frankly, I didn’t give a damn. Enough people in our social circle knew the type of person she was. I doubted she could do much damage on her own.
“Then when I can make an appointment?”
She gave me a tight smile as I came around the table and took her elbow. She allowed it, but her entire body was stiff, rigid. I was sure no one had ever dared to handle her with anything but kid gloves.
“Why don’t you talk to Amber about scheduling an appointment?” I felt bad pawning Penelope off on Amber, but I wasn’t in the mood today.
A few minutes later, Amber had her revenge and I had Penelope blocked out for my lunch hour today.
So much for having a few hours to myself.
At least I’d had the needed time to talk to with Eddie and see what was going on down in Philadelphia.
“Tell me about the party in Philadelphia.”
From across the table, I met Penelope’s eyes and wondered what it would take for her to leave me the hell alone. I had a feeling it would be a lot. She had her eyes firmly fixed on my net worth and the Snow name. She might already be imagining whether or not to hyphenate her last name.
Under the table, I curled a hand into a fist, one so tight it made my hand hurt.
“The one that doesn’t concern you?” I answered curtly as I reached for the water glass.
A sommelier appeared with a wine list and I shook my head, starting to wave him away.
“Oh, come now, Dominic.” She laughed softly and reached for it.
“Have what you want,” I said, pulling my phone from my pocket and checking it. “Business expense and all.” There were several emails from Aleena and my heart skipped just seeing her name. I couldn’t take the time to read them here and I found myself growing even more impatient with my working lunch. “I’m due back at work shortly.”
She made a low sound of dismissal. “One glass won’t affect you, I’m sure. We’ll try the ’86 Mou—”
“The lady may have anything she wishes,” I interrupted, staring hard at Penelope for a moment before looking up at the wine steward. I smiled at the young woman. It wasn’t her fault Penelope thought she could lead people around by the fucking nose. “But I’ll stick with water, thank you.”
“Of course, Mr. Snow.” She gave us both a polite smile and looked back at Penelope and correctly guessed what Penelope had planned to order.
“Yes, that would be it.” A dark frown marred her brow but for only a moment. It smoothed away in seconds. Too bad. Those few seconds of frowning gave her face more character than I typically expected from her.
As the server walked away, Penelope said coolly, “I apologize, Dominic. I simply thought you’d enjoy relaxing with a friend over lunch. How was I to know that a simple glass of wine would make you so uncomfortable?”
“Uncomfortable?” I laughed and the humorless sound made Penelope shift in her seat. Leaning forward, I said, “I’m hardly uncomfortable, Penelope. But this isn’t the first time you’ve attempted to make a decision for me.” I paused and let those words sink in. “I don’t care for it.”
“Ah…” She smiled and settled back in her chair. “Yes. You prefer your quiet, docile little toys like, what’s her name? Adriana?”
“Her name is Aleena and you know it,” I said calmly, refusing to rise to the bait. “I’ll assume my mother told you that Aleena and I are involved.”
“Sexually.” Penelope made dismissive motion with one hand, a ring of platinum, rubies and diamonds flashing in the dim light. “It’s not really surprising. A girl like that can only hope to rise above her station by using sex.”
This time, when I laughed, I really was amused. Aleena…using sex to get what she wanted. It was ridiculous. I was…
Now my laughter faded, because I had to admit the truth.
I was the one using her, if anything. Using her, because sex was all I’d ever allow myself, even if I did care for her. And I did.
My tone became serious. “Aleena doesn’t use people.” I fell silent as the sommelier reappeared, bringing Penelope’s wine. I remained silent as she opened the bottle and it occurred to me how inane this whole thing was. Stupid, really. Although the wine steward made a lovely presentation of it, presenting the cork and the glass to Penelope, the bitch didn’t bother to take the time to appreciate the wine or the time the sommelier had taken with the process, tossing back nearly a third of the wine like a sailor coming on shore leave.
I looked up at the sommelier and smiled. “Thank you.”
She nodded and left as Penelope stared at me over the rim of the glass.
“Everybody uses people, Dominic. That’s how the world works.”
“For people in our world? Typically,” I agreed then shrugged. Placing the phone on the table, I stroked one finger across the smooth glass surface and then said softly, “Yes, that is how our world works, but Aleena isn’t from our world, is she?”
Penelope took another sip of her wine and then put the glass down. “I didn’t come here to discuss your…assistant.”
She smirked as she said it and the expression in her eyes clearly relayed another message, but I just stared at her and waited. I knew better than to say something and let Penelope twist it.
“Have you had any luck finding a match for me?”
“There are a few.” I named one.
“No.” She curled her lip. “He’s made noises recently about going into politics. I don’t want to be a politician’s wife.”
I hadn’t heard that. Interesting. The politics part, not what Penelope wanted. I was sure the life of a politician wouldn’t appeal to her. Too much struggle to stay in the limelight without a scandal. “Travis Masters—”
“No. He’s divorced and has a child. I don’t want some other woman and a brat to compete with.” Her eyes glinted over the rim of her glass.
Over the next twenty minutes, as we placed our orders and was served, I tossed out a few names—most of them random acquaintances—and Penelope shot down every last one of them.
“Penelope, has it occurred to you that you might be rather difficult to match up if you’re this…selective?” I finally asked with an exasperated sigh.
She pushed her food around her plate and smiled at me. I realized I hadn’t seen her take more than two bites of the expensive lobster bisque or its accompanying salad.
“I actually have somebody in mind who’d be ideal…Dominic.” She speared a small, plump tomato with her fork and slid it between her lips, her lashes lying low over her eyes.
The woman was about as subtle as...well, I couldn’t think of something that was less subtle than her.
“Is that a fact?” I placed my napkin down on the table and signaled for the server. I was done with this.
“You can’t tell me you haven’t thought of it.”
Shifting my eyes back to hers, I elevated a brow. She was going to be that direct, was she? At least she’d stopped pretending to be coy.
She reached out a hand and covered mine. “I was thinking, perhaps what we need to do is take a few days away, just the two of us. Get to know each other. I’ve got a soiree of sorts coming up in Philadelphia next month. Perhaps you could attend with me…?”
“My plate is rather full.” I pulled my hand out from under hers and reached for my wallet as the server laid the bill down, tucked inside a discreet leather folder.
“Dominic—”
I looked over at her. “I’ll be in Philadelphia off and on myself over the next few months. I can possibly help set you up with a date for your event if you’re looking for compani
onship—”
She jerked up, moving so quickly she banged into the table.
“Do you really think that I need help finding a man to attend a function with me?” She glared down at me, her eyes glittering, color rushing into her face. “The very idea is absurd. The only reason I’ve even talked to you about your stupid matchmaking company is because you’re too obtuse to see what I’m offering you.”
Rising to stand in front of her, I inclined my head. Penelope glared at me and all around us people were staring. I saw at least one with their phone out.
Leaning in, I said quietly, “Keep this up and you’ll have some interesting commentary on social media to follow that piece ECHELON did on you.”
Her mouth went tight but then, bit by bit, the tension faded and she smiled. The polite society mask was back in place. “Really, Dominic…”
That was all she said, and then she laughed. The odd, tense silence shattered and the pace around us resumed. I held out my arm and she took it. It didn’t surprise me. It was the best thing to do to diffuse the scene.
As we stepped out in the brilliance of the spring day, a camera flashed in our faces. Penelope didn’t even look fazed and I suspected I knew why. She’d contacted somebody, told them we’d be there. She hadn’t planned on me turning her down, but she’d sure as hell set me up.
Now we’d end up on a local gossip site. Great.
It was nothing new to me, yet I was irritated all the same. Leading her to the curb where my car waited, I let Maxwell open the door for us, but after Penelope climbed in, I looked at him. “Take her wherever she wants. I’m walking back to the office. It’s not far.”
He gave me a nod. He’d been with my family my whole life and had often been more like a father to me than my adopted father had. He could tell with one look that I was annoyed and that Penelope was the cause.
Turning my back on the car, I pushed through the crowd of people and began to walk.
This whole mess was going to bite me on the ass, I knew it.
Penelope could cause trouble, and I knew that too. But I wasn’t somebody she could jerk around, and that was something she needed to know.
