Chapter 43
Dov, the straightforward one, couldn’t hide the disappointment on her face. However, she quickly masked it with a bright smile as she took Dominic’s contact number from Gerard. She thought that just because Dominic wasn’t interested now didn’t mean there wouldn’t be a chance in the future.
Gerard sighed inwardly, watching yet another woman fall for Dominic.
Vespera, however, found Joy’s persistence somewhat endearing. After all, Dominic was single, and so was Joy. Joy had no idea about his relationship with Nancy, so why not take a shot? Deep down, Vespera knew it was only a matter of time before Joy’s hopes would come crashing down.
Just then, two female staff members appeared, assisting Nancy off the yacht. Though she had napped for a while, it was obvious that Nancy was still intoxicated.
As they got ready to disembark, both Vespera and Gerard instinctively held back, careful to keep their distance. If Nancy cried “harassment”…
Instead, they fired silent pleas to Dominic. “Please, spare us. You take care of this,” their gazes seemed to say.
Without hesitation, Gerard and Vespera took the opportunity to step off the yacht, leaving Dominic to deal with the situation on his own. They were done for.
Seizing the moment, Nancy leaned into his arm, pretending to be on the verge of collapsing. With all eyes on them, Dominic had no choice but to support her as they made their way to the dock. The driver was already waiting with the car door open.
“Where’s your car?” Dominic asked, steadying Nancy, who was practically draping herself on his arm.
“No idea,” Nancy replied, shaking her head. With her eyes closed, she slumped forward again, falling into his chest.
Dominic caught her by the shoulders, keeping her at arm’s length. “I’m not going your way. Either call a driver or grab a cab.”
Vespera and Gerard exchanged surprised glances. Was he really not going to take her home? That was a bit harsh. Didn’t you just kiss her? Vespera thought to herself.
Dominic shot them a sharp look. “Stop standing around like idiots. Call a cab for her!”
Without missing a beat, Vespera and Gerard whipped out their phones, pulling up their rideshare apps.
Vespera lifted her gaze to Dominic. “Sir, Ms. Acesta is in no condition to go home alone. It’s not safe. Maybe we should take her to a hotel instead?”
“You certainly know how to come up with ideas,” Dominic replied with a scoff.
Vespera was momentarily at a loss for words, but her concern lingered. It really wasn’t safe.
Dominic paused for a moment before speaking. “Since it’s your idea, you’re responsible for her once we get to the hotel.”
With that, he helped Nancy into the car and climbed in beside her. Vespera was momentarily stunned by his words. Gerard shot her an exasperated glance. She had only pointed out the obvious.
These two were constantly locked in a push-and-pull—one moment tangled up, the next at odds. And somehow, she always ended up caught in the middle. But what could she say? Dominic was the boss.
With only two seats in the front and the driver already occupying one, someone had to sit in the back—squeezed right between those two ticking time bombs. Vespera felt a chill down her spine.
“Ellukratab!” she blurted. “If anyone should take a cab, it’s me.” Without waiting for her to protest, Gerard pushed her into the passenger seat and slammed the door shut.
Vespera bit her lip, nearly cursing but stopping herself just in time. With a sigh, she fastened her seatbelt and took a fleeting glance at the rearview mirror. Dominic’s profile was sharp, and the tension in the air was palpable. The car began to move, pulling away from the dock. The silence inside felt suffocating. Vespera forced herself to look away from the mirror, her eyes fixed ahead on the road.
In the backseat, Nancy stirred, her body swaying as she struggled to stay upright. As the car crossed the bridge and turned onto the main road, she collapsed into Dominic’s lap.