I spread the documents that are inside a brown envelope Clint handed to me. A few pictures drop on my table together with some files. I pick them and examine them one by one.
“I thought he isn’t new in the industry. Why does he only have a few projects?” I ask Clint without taking my eyes off of the picture of Dominic staring back at me, making me swallow hard at his dark green eyes.
“To be precise, the two met when Dominic was twenty-one. It wasn’t clear whether Mr. Burn scouted him as a talent. After all, he isn’t part of the contracted talents in Mr. Burn’s agency at present. But they have been together for almost three years now. It was also uncertain why Dominic seemed to have difficulty holding a modeling job that’s why he couldn’t jumpstart his career. The ones he had were cheap and no-good deals. Most of the time, he’s only around Mr. Burn as an errand guy.”
Frowning, I drop the aftershave ad and pick up another picture of the young man. This time, it’s a no-name brand for men’s underwear. As I examine his mouth-watering body, a flash of memory tickles my mind of someone in his build snatching the audience’s attention cat-walking in a jockstrap. Did I attend that event?
“Are they…” I swallow and try to sound casual about it. “Lovers?”
“No one can actually confirm it. Only the two of them know what their relationship is. According to my source, the two don’t show a romantic inclination to each other. And, although they are currently living together, they are often caught fighting than being affectionate.”
I grit my teeth at the mention of them living together. But if they are constantly fighting then, could it be possible that Sean is being threatened by this Dominic guy? Even I get to see it with my own eyes as they fought in the street and Dom was being aggressive.
This Dominic is too crabby and rude. I have known Sean for years and I have yet to meet and heard anyone who has kvetched about him. Although if they really are not in a relationship, it is easy to tell that Sean is into Dominic and the latter must only be using Sean’s feelings for his personal gain.
“I want you to dig deeper about Dominic.”
I say, frowning at the lack of substantial information about the guy, not even his surname is reported in the paper. What was Sean even thinking of giving me a half-a$sed portfolio? I gather all the documents about Dominic and shove them back into the envelope.
“I have to know him more before giving him an official contract. I want you to relay my message to Sean that Dominic can only work as my personal assistant for the time being and you’ll walk him through it. If he proves himself worthy of my money, only then I’d sign a contract of sponsorship for him.”
“I understand, Val.” Clint turns toward the door but quickly pivots to look back to me. “By the way, Irish has been calling nonstop since this morning, might as well return her calls before our line gets burned.”
I wave a dismissive hand at Clint. He gets the hint and leaves my office. Loosening my tie, I slump back against my seat and blow a ragged breath. Damn that woman. What does she want from me this time? It’s been a couple of months since our engagement. I am conflicted about whether to feel good or bad about her news.
Should she be pregnant after that one time we had, I would be greatly relieved to be finally rid of my father’s persistence of giving him an heir. But if she really got pregnant, it’s also the start of another burden for me. It only means that Irish is forever tied to me being the mother of my kid.
If she didn’t get pregnant, however, I would hate to think that what we did was just for naught, and hate it even more to do it again. Well, I don’t want to stall any longer. Whatever the news is, I will face it. Picking up the phone, I dial Irish’s number and listen to it ring twice before she picks up.
“Finally, Valentine, you remembered you have a fiancée!”
“What is it?”
She harrumphs. “So rude! Not even a greeting.”
“I don’t have time for baloneys, Irish.”
“I’m not pregnant!” She blurts out. “You want me to be blunt, right? Then there it is. So, when are you coming back home and impregnate me again?”
Home.
She sure has welcomed herself in my family’s ancestral house and calling it her home. Even I don’t call it my home anymore after getting my own place. Besides, despite it being so huge, I find it stifling to be living there. I feel like there are shadows in the corners and I am being watched. It was creepy.
The silence was deafening and the echo of someone’s voice, no matter how hushed they speak, spooks me, inspiring goosebumps to my skin. I had desperately wanted to leave that place which thankfully happened after I hit eighteen. Yet, now Irish wants me to go back since she had decidedly gone and lived there after the engagement announcement.
“I’ll ja¢k off tonight and send you my spërm. Find a doctor to inject it in you!”
“I’m going to talk to your father!”
“Don’t threaten me, Irish. You know we’ll both lose something if you tattle on me.”
“The tenth of next month will be my next ovulation. Be sure to find time then so that none of us would lose something!”
That’s it and Irish ends the call. I bet if it had been a telephone, she would have slammed the device on my ear. I snort and drop my body heavily on my seat. Damn it! Must I really do that again? Shit! Why can’t I get a bonër like any ordinary dude?
The news of Irish not pregnant and the thought of having $ex with her again add stress to my work. I bury myself in paperwork until my spine throbs from hulking down and my eyes tear up from staring at the monitor for long hours. At seven, I finally shut down the computer and leave the building.
“I’ll take the car somewhere, Marco. You two go home.” I tell Clint and Marco as they wait for me at the parking lot.
“Good night, Val.” Clint inclines his head before hailing a cab, sharing a ride with Marco.
I get into my car and drive towards the joint I frequent. Expensive boozes decorate the wall in my home but I want to unwind tonight. Holing myself up in my cold, spacious place would only make me more depressed.
As I arrive at the bar, a slight commotion resounds from the counter. Normally, Mama would cheerfully greet me even at the sight of my shadow. But tonight, the older bartender has his attention to the man sitting at the counter just as the other patrons watch the person with curiosity.
I’m a regular in this bar and I have a spot at the counter as I chat with Mama whenever I come. However, tonight, I choose to sit at one of the tables after seeing a familiar face at the counter. I never would have thought to bump into Dominic in this clandestine bar of all places.
“I’mma take away his money and chew him up to pieces!” Dominic declares, slurring his words in his drunken state. “I’d be the happiest if I can end him up myself. You know, Mama, I’ve dreamt 'bout this for so many times.”
“Yeah, I know. We all know. So why don’t you just shut up already or people might think you’re a serial killer.”
Dominic laughs drily. “Maybe I’ll be one of these days, Mama.”
“Hey, that’s not a good joke, you know.”
Ring. Ring. Ring.
“Ha! Look at this!” Dominic waves his phone in front of the older bartender. “Speak of the devil, hmm? Bet his a$s can’t sit still when I’m not around him twenty-four-seven. Might as well end this $hit tonight, Mama.” He swipes his thumb over the screen and puts the device against his ear. “What!” He barks.
Silence follows and tension rises. Some of the patrons shake their heads and resume their conversation while a few continue watching at Dominic as he makes a spectacle of himself. That moment, Mama catches sight of me and, surprisingly, his eyes widen as though shocked before whispering to the other bar assistant.
“The hell are ya doin’?” Dominic yells at the bar assistant when the latter pulls the man by the arm and dragging him to the exit. “I ain’t done here, yet! The hell is this? Mama, I’m drinking more!”
“You go on home, Dom. You’re wasted.”
“The fu¢k! If ya wanna make me go home, I’mma fu¢kin’ kill that son of the bit¢h, ya see!” He howls, his southern accent thickening by the minute.
“You know you can never do that. Go on now.”
“Fu¢k!” Dominic grumbles but follows the bar assistant toward the exit anyway.
Who exactly does he want to kill? Wait, is he talking about Sean? Aren’t they living together? I quickly get up from my seat and follow after them into the night street. At that moment, Sean’s car rolls to the side before he gets out of the passenger’s seat, taking Dominic from the bar assistant’s arms.
Before Sean can touch Dominic, however, the latter jerks away and connects his fist into Sean’s face. My stomach tightens at the sight of violence and instinct jolts me to move. Lunging forward, I break Sean’s fall before grabbing Dom by the throat.
“Mr. Alfa!” Sean exclaims in both surprise and fear.
“Fu¢k! The hell are ya doin’, bastard!” Dominic growls venomously, saliva flying all over the place as he grips my wrist that’s holding his neck.
I hold the urge to wince from both pain of his tight grip and the fact that he is actually touching me. Damn, this guy is strong although he is already drunk. Sean scrambles to his feet, tentatively touching my arm and looking at me with pleading eyes to release the bastard.
“Please, Mr. Alfa, let him go! I can handle this just fine. He’ll sober up soon once we get home.”
I frown at Sean’s naivety. “I don’t think I’ll allow you to take this man home, who knows what more harm he’ll do to you.”
“No, he won’t. This has happened before. If he ever hurts me, this is just between the two of us.”
I want to refute but couldn’t. After all, I am just an outsider. Whatever their problem is, it is indeed their own business. Sean is clearly drawing the line which really hurts—something I shouldn’t feel nor have the right to be.
After studying Sean’s pitiful look, I finally release my hold around Dominic’s throat, pushing him harshly that sends him staggering a few steps back. He doubles over, coughing and puffing but Sean quickly rushes to give the other man support to his staggering feet.
“Listen, has my secretary informed you about my decision regarding this person’s sponsorship?” I ask while wiping my hands clean with a handkerchief.
“Yes. I reckon Dom will be under your employment for a probationary period.” Sean supplies while watching my hands distractedly.
“Exactly. So I’m taking him with me tonight.” I announce before tossing the handkerchief to the nearest bin.
“What—”
“I insist, Sean. Tonight, Dominic starts working for me so I’m going to take him home instead.” I turn to the bar assistant and give him a few bills. “We’re good here. Thanks.”
“Thank you and good night, Mr. Alfa.”
Sean takes his time dillydallying. In the end, he finally agrees and leaves but not without hesitation. I wait until he gets into his car and drives away before approaching the hulking man on the pavement. I swallow hard, suddenly feeling unsure of my decision. It had been a spur of the moment but I have no choice but to go with it.
Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath to gather my nerves. Then with a trembling hand, I grab Dominic by the arm to help him up to his feet. Ok, I’m good. I don’t feel the familiar gagging sensation and the darkening of vision. I glance at his throat that has started bruising but so does my wrist from his brutal wrenching. We are even.
“He’s gone?” He slurs, his glassy eyes scanning the street.
“Yeah. Now come with me.”
I blink when Dominic suddenly chuckles and slings his arm around my shoulders. My body instinctively moves away from his touch although his grip around me is impressively tight that I can’t let loose.
“W-what the… Let go!” I growl, looking bewildered and hyper-aware for the panic attack.
“Great! I think you’re my guardian angel, Mr. Alfa!” Dominic says, completely ignoring my order.
To my shock, he grabs my face and kisses me deeply on the lips. I gasp at the feel of his audacious tongue sneaking its way into my mouth that I stagger back. I hit his chest with an open palm, pushing him away and clutch my throat, expecting to pass out any moment. Oh, my god! I had just been kissed but I am not having panic attacks!
“What are you doing?” I growl in shock, feeling my face heating up and my nerves tingle from foreign sensations which definitely aren’t the symptoms of my illness.
Dominic only laughs as though it was funny before pulling my hand, stumbling his way towards the parking lot. “Let’s go! Where’s your car?”
What the… Wide-eyed, I look at our joined hands in awe. I am actually feeling fine. I feel nothing. Well, I do feel something tingly and warm sensation spreading to my entire body but they are not the usual revolting feelings I have when someone touches me. What the hell is this phenomenon?
Once I activate my car with the key fob in my hand, Dominic quickly strides toward it and opens the door to the passenger’s seat. He did it so naturally that it looks like he’s been doing it many times. Still, confused, I shake my head and get in the driver’s seat, buckling my seatbelt and cranking up the engine.
Dominic is silent the entire drive. When I steal glances from him from time to time, his eyes remain closed. Halfway to my condo, Dominic stirs, taking off his seatbelt and leaning into me. I jump in my seat when his hand lands on my crotch, squeezing it so hard that I wince.
“Dominic, I swear to god! If you don’t stop right now, I’ll kick you out of my car!”
“Stingy.” He murmurs and moves his hand up to my shoulders instead, playing with my ear and neck.
“I said stop it!” I bark, surprised how breathless I sound.
“Come on! Even your ear is off-limits?”
At least let’s safely get into my condo then I can explore and experience your touch. I want to say but I bite my lip instead. God, I would never say that to anyone in my entire life! That doesn’t sound like Valentine Alfa at all. At least, not the fake one that people know about. Because that line is something only my very true self could utter.
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Comments
السلام عليكم
good luck
2021-05-02
1