Episode 18

DOMINIC,

I call Allana over to watch a movie. Romance isn't really my thing, but I know women tend to swoon over it, and I'm learning how to be romantic with her, since I need quite a few lessons in that department.

I ask Maria to send up some snacks and juice for us to enjoy during the film, because I want to spend a good long time here with her, leisurely, with no hurry to leave this spot, just me, her, and the mushy movie.

I invite her to sit between my legs—it's not about lust or being lewd, just tenderness and romance. I hope I'm doing this right so that she never wants to leave because of my rough edges.

I won't do anything else with her unless she wants to. I will respect her as I should have from the very beginning. I'll give her the time to feel ready for anything more, even though I desire her so much it hurts. But if she's not interested, I'll respect that, even if I have to resort to cold showers and handling things on my own.

Maria brings the snacks and rolls her eyes, the ridiculous woman. I'll send her packing soon enough. If I find out she's done anything to harm Allana, I'll make sure she'll regret it and struggle to find new work. I'll obliterate her career completely.

As the movie ends, Allana starts to get up, but I don't let her. I want to hold her close, to make her feel my affection, and I seal it with a kiss on her head, to show that I can be gentle too.

She stands and feels dizzy, almost falling. I catch her, but she insists she's okay. Then she runs off, and I follow breathlessly, to find her vomiting up everything she ate and drank. She takes a few steps and then, out of nowhere, collapses.

"Security, I need help here!"

I'd lift her myself, but I'm already winded from just a little running—I won't be able to carry her. I curse my own weakness.

A security guard comes and lays her on the couch, and I urgently call a doctor.

He arrives and conducts a quick examination.

"We need to get her to the hospital. When did you first have sexual intercourse?"

"A few days ago, three or four, I don't remember. Why?"

"She might be pregnant, but it's too soon for symptoms to show," he clarifies. I wonder, could she be pregnant?

We rush her to the car and head straight to the hospital.

He runs a battery of tests while she remains unconscious. But then he hurries her away.

"Wait, doctor, where are you taking my wife?"

"The tests show she's been poisoned with cyanide. I need to perform a stomach lavage before the cyanide crystallizes and strips the iron from her blood cells, preventing oxygen transport, which could be fatal."

Fatal? She can't die.

He rushes off with her, and I'm left to face the torment of her potential loss.

I leave the hospital and head home. When I arrive, Rosa is sweeping the driveway.

"Rosa, who prepared the snacks and juice for me and my wife?" I demand before even exiting the car.

"It was Maria, sir. Where is my lady?"

I walk past her without a word. I can't believe this—Maria has poisoned Allana.

"Mariaaaaa!"

She comes running to me, and my blood boils. I want to grab her hair, toss her to the ground, but instead, I grip her neck and push her against the wall, tightening my hold gradually.

"What.happened, Dom?" she manages to choke out.

"You damned wretch, you've poisoned my wife—and don't you dare deny it; I've seen it on camera." I lie to avoid her making a scene, which I'm certain she would.

"I wanted her to die—you're mine alone, ahhh."

I tighten my grip further, tempted to strangle her right there.

But Rosa intervenes, grabbing my arm.

"Sir, please don't—you'll be arrested. Let her go."

Reluctantly, I release Maria, and she falls to the floor, coughing and clutching her neck.

"Packing up and leave my house," I command, "you’ll be blacklisted, forced to beg or sell yourself to get by. You don't even deserve to live."

"You can't do this to me, Dom—I love you; I did it for us."

"Where did you put the poison? I ate and drank too."

"In her juice glass; I would never harm you, Dom."

"You have let me down beyond words; get out of my house now."

"I won't leave—she'll die, and you will marry me; I'm carrying your child."

I can't help but laugh heartily.

"I can't father children; I'm sterile, sweetheart. Go find the real father." I lie again, savoring her desperation.

"Dom, please—I'm not really pregnant; but we could be a couple, right?"

I squat to her level, eye to eye.

"Do you know what I think? Better pray my wife survives, because if she doesn't, I won't think twice about making you suffer, then I’ll toss you out for scavengers."

Standing, I warn before heading back to the hospital: "I don’t want you here when I return. Rosa, have security remove her by force, if necessary."

She acknowledges with a "Yes, sir," and I drive back to the hospital.

Upon arrival, the doctor informs me that they've administered the antidote and performed the lavage; she's stable now, just sleeping, but she called out for me when she woke.

Elation swells within me—I’ll slowly win her heart; it's my goal before I die.

I enter her room quietly and sit by her side, caressing her angelic face.

"Oh, Allana, you don’t realize how you’re changing me. I think I already love you, my fiery little street fighter."

Her eyes flutter open, and on seeing me, she startles slightly.

Is she scared? But why call for me?

I stand and request pen and paper from reception, return, and write a note.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay, just a sore stomach."

"Should I call the doctor? She shakes her head no."

"I am sorry; Maria poisoned you. But I’ve sent her away. When we return, she'll be gone, okay?"

Again, she nods, but turns her face to the wall, pensive.

I touch her chin, urging her to look at me again, hoping my genuine feelings transmit to her, even a tiny fraction of my love for her.

I can't decipher her thoughts, her eyes give nothing away—is it disinterest, or am I simply fooling myself?

I lean in to kiss her, pausing to give her a chance to refuse. When she doesn't, I press my lips to hers, yearning for the taste I've missed and now never want to let go.

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