Page 52 of Between Love & Ruin

“If everything continues going as planned, we can start with the first project, meaning your book, soon. So, we need to wrap up the discussions regarding the scenes that will go ahead before we move on to the next steps.”

“That’s amazing,” I say, a big smile spreading across my face. Aisha and I have been looking forward to this, and I can’t wait to tell her about it. “I’m really looking forward to it. Aisha is too. This is a really big deal for us.”

Dominic smiles at me, and I notice how he has a dimple on the left side of his cheek and how his eyes twinkle when he really smiles.

“Yes, you both have worked hard on this project. If it weren’t for you guys, this project wouldn’t be ready to go on floors so soon.”

“Well, it is because both the teams have been working really hard behind the scenes,” Myra says, and we both look at her. For a moment, I had forgotten she was here too. “You know we have been taking care of the rest of the messy stuff.”

“I know that Myra,” Dominic says with an edge to his voice. “I pay you guys to do it.”

“And you’re paying them to do it too, aren’t you?”

I shift in my seat with the uncomfortable turn this conversation has taken.

“Sienna, I hope you don’t mind me asking, but is Mark—your boyfriend—okay with what was posted today? Dominic told me it was fabricated,” she asks, and I stiffen involuntarily.

“Myra—”

“Yes, he knows. And what Dominic said was true. There’s nothing like what was posted. We are just friends.”

She nods carefully, her eyes trained on me like a hawk and I find myself growing more uncomfortable with each passing minute.

“Myra, give us some privacy,” Dominic orders, his eyes cold and calculated.

“You have it—”

“I won’t repeat myself.”

Despite his tone, which I would never appreciate if someone used it on me, she just narrows her eyes and gets up to leave.

“I will be right outside,” she says before slamming the door shut.

“Sorry about her,” he says, coming to her defense, and I don’t know what kind of a relationship these two share, but it really pisses me off at the moment. And knowing that it shouldn’t have any effect on me bothers me even more. “She’s usually not like this. She just gets pissed when I make any kind of mess.”

“Don’t bother, Dominic,” I say, my voice stiff. “It doesn’t affect me.”

“I know—”

“I think we should focus on what we were meant to do. I need to get back to my hotel soon.”

He looks at me confused with the sudden change in my demeanor, but I can’t really help it.

I can’t stop showing how much he affects me.

I can’t stop feeling every emotion he stirs inside me.

And despite knowing how wrong it is, I can’t ignore the terrifying truth that I’m slowly falling for him.

And I need to stop. Somehow.

* * *

I stomp my foot on the road as I wait for my cab to show up.

I didn’t wait for what Dominic was saying when I left, and it makes me feel like I am taking back control of my life. Even though I am aware how far I am from it.

I don’t even have the right to be mad at him. Nor do I have a fair reason. He is single and an adult who’s allowed to do whatever he wants and have any sort of relationship with his PA.