Chapter 15
SOFIA
When I step out of my building the next morning, there’s a town car waiting. I don’t think much of it until the driver gets out and says, “Ms. Bellini?”
I turn to him, suspicious.
“Can I help you?” I ask warily.
“Mr. Vieri sent me to pick you up for work,” the driver tells me.
He smiles politely and moves to the back door. Mrs. Alvarez from the first floor is dragging her grocery cart toward the corner bodega, and she slows down long enough to look from the car to me. Great. I’ll be the gossip of my entire building by nine a.m.
I glance toward the subway entrance two blocks down. I should refuse the ride on principle. This is ridiculous. There’s no reason for Dominic to send a car to pick me up. I’m perfectly capable of getting to work myself.
Then again, my stomach’s been rumbling since I brushed my teeth, and my bra feels like it’s digging into my boobs. My shoes are so tight they’re giving me a headache, and my whole body feels sluggish.
So, I get in the car. I don’t want Dominic to think I’m obeying his orders, but it is nice to not have to deal with public transportation today.
I settle into the back seat and pull out my phone. The driver pulls away from the curb, and I glance back just in time to see Mrs. Alvarez chatting with one of my other neighbors, still watching the car. The gossip mill is already running strong.
I text Dominic immediately.
This is excessive.
So I take it you got in the car. Also, good morning.
The blush creeps across my face before I can stop it. There’s nothing flirtatious about a “good morning.” If anything, he was being a sarcastic prick. Still, my stomach flips in a way that has nothing to do with nausea, and I have to squeeze my legs together to stop the tingling.
I feel like I’m lacking in self-respect. I just screwed my boss for a second time, and now I’m getting driven around to work like I’m trading sexual favors. It’s all so ridiculous. The worst part is, though, I’m excited to see Dominic.
The first time we had sex, I freaked out and had to decide whether I still wanted to work there. Now I can’t wait to see him again. Not for the sex. Just to see him. Shit, I’m in trouble. I think I might actually be catching feelings for him.
No, it’s gotta just be the pregnancy hormones. That’s it. They make me extra horny and extra sensitive. I absolutely do not have feelings for Dominic.
Then my phone buzzes again and I look down at it, heart racing.
A text from my dad.
What’s this I hear about a town car picking you up from work?
I roll my eyes. Mrs. Alvarez works fast. Half of Queens probably knows I got picked up for work now.
It’s no biggie. Just a perk of the job.
Which isn’t true, and I don’t know exactly what’s going on, but I’m not telling my dad that. He was pissed enough when I went to Vegas. He’s been telling me to quit every day since. He says Dominic doesn’t respect my time, but it’s got to be deeper than that.
I sink back in my seat and start turning it over. Dad’s been weird about Dominic ever since those thugs came to the garage. Then Dominic paid off all his debt, and Dad’s been an ass about it ever since. I know why it made me mad, but I’d have expected him to be grateful.
All he ever does now is try to tell me that Dominic is a lowlife and I need to quit. When I really start to think about it, he’s not completely off-base.
I remember when Dominic punched Kevin Armand. He looked so angry, and Kevin looked so afraid. There was definitely something unspoken there, like a fear or respect. I didn’t think about it at the time, because I was so embarrassed and flustered.
Then there was Vegas. Who the hell gets a penthouse suite at the top of a Vegas casino and that kind of VIP treatment? Dominic is rich, obviously, but there was something deeper there. The same fear and respect, wrapped into one.
I sit up straighter and look out the window, my heart suddenly pounding. There was the town car outside of my building a few days ago. Maya said it was Dominic’s men. I laughed it off at the time because that sounded ridiculous.
“Excuse me,” I say to the driver. “Why exactly did Dominic have you pick me up this morning?”
The driver looks at me through the rearview mirror, and I see his shoulders raise in a shrug.
“I don’t question Mr. Vieri’s orders, ma’am,” the guy says. “He told me to come get you, so I came.”
I see it in his eyes, though. Fear. Respect.
It dawns on me slowly, then all at once. Dominic is a dangerous man. I sort of knew. I caught hints of it, but now it’s slapping me in the face. He’s dangerous, and he’s got me under his thumb.
That should scare me, but strangely, it changes nothing. In fact, I smile to myself now that I’m finally putting the pieces together. It’s like the whole of who Dominic is, is finally revealing itself to me, and it makes perfect sense. He’s dangerous, but not to me. He protects me.
Should I quit? Maybe. It would certainly be easier, wouldn’t it? But I need money if I’m going to raise this baby. And I genuinely like my job. And my father is safe now because of Dominic. Truthfully, though, all of that pales next to my newly realized feelings for him.
Damn if I’m not in over my head.
Work becomes a strange dance between the two of us.
Nothing really changes on the surface, but there starts to be more lingering looks and brushing of hands that last longer than they should.
We’re hardly ever alone together, though, except when we’re rushing between meetings.
Neither of us brings up the sex again, but the heat is always there between us, just under the surface.
Two weeks go by, and eventually, I know I have to make an appointment with a gynecologist. I have to make decisions about what I’m going to do. Now that I know that Dominic is keeping an eye on me, though, I try to be more discreet.
I book an appointment with Dr. Amelia Greco, who just happens to work in the building next to Vieri Holdings.
There are lots of medical offices there, so when I tell Dominic I’ve got a doctor’s appointment next door one Tuesday, it’s not weird and it doesn’t raise any red flags. It’s too short for a town car.
“Be safe,” he says, and sends me on my way.
The medical building is pristine and beautiful.
I can only afford to come here because the insurance at Vieri Holdings is insane.
I take the elevator up to the GYN offices.
When the doors open, I’m greeted by flowing fountains and a waiting room that looks like it should be for a day spa.
I have to double check the floor number just to make sure I’m in the right place.
I go to the desk and check in. They give me a glass of cucumber water and have me sit in one of the most comfortable chairs I’ve ever sat in.
Then, I’m called back. The hallways are lit in a soft, pink-ish glow, and the exam room manages to somehow be cozy.
The nurse hands me a very comfortable gown to change into and tells me Dr. Greco will be right with me.
I don’t know what fairytale I’ve stumbled into, but I could stay all day in this office.
“Ms. Bellini,” Dr. Greco calls softly when she steps inside. “How are we doing today?”
“Oh, I’m great,” I answer lamely. “This is a really incredible office.”
She smiles warmly.
“Thank you,” she says. “I believe that reproductive care is as important as any other form of self-care. Why should it feel scary and sterile? This is one place where women should always feel pampered.”
“I really do.” I smile. “So, long story short, I’m pregnant, and I’ve come to have my first checkup.”
She smiles and nods. “Congratulations,” she says. “Unless you aren’t happy about it. In which case, we can absolutely talk about your options.”
I smile stiffly. “I’m not sure how I feel,” I tell her honestly. “It’s all been really confusing.”
“That’s totally okay,” she says, patting my hand. “We’ll get you set up with an ultrasound.”
I go through the motions as a nurse brings in the ultrasound machine.
“Let’s see here,” Dr. Greco says softly, looking at the screen. She moves the wand around my stomach slowly until we both hear a faint, but strong thumping noise.
“There you are.” She smiles. “That’s baby’s heartbeat.”
I stare at the screen. I can’t really make out anything, but I hear the thumping. That’s my baby. The reality comes crashing down on me and I start weeping. Dr. Greco hands me a box of tissues.
“It can be very overwhelming for new mothers,” she says kindly. “Have you told anyone about the pregnancy yet?”
I shake my head.
“That’s totally understandable, and I can recommend a great counselor if you’re not sure about what you want to do. Talking about it really does help calm you down in the early stages.”
“I’m keeping it,” I say, surprising myself.
There’s no way I can give it up now. I heard its heartbeat. It’s part of me now.
“Then, let’s get you scheduled for another appointment. We’ll also get you set up on our patient app, which will give you all the resources you need about nutrition, exercise, and everything you can expect. We also have several referrals if you need anything.”
I can’t help but hug her. She laughs at the unexpected contact and awkwardly pats my back.
“You aren’t alone, Sofia,” she tells me kindly. “We’re in this together.”
I wipe my eyes and nod. Once she’s gone, I get dressed, grab my things, and go back to work.
All of the confusion and fear is gone now.
I’m going to keep this baby. I’m going to be a mom.
Of course, once I step back into the lobby of Vieri Holdings, I also have to figure out what the hell I’m going to do about Dominic.
Having feelings for him is one thing, but I’m not sure if I’m ready to co-parent a child with him.
My doubts only grow when I get back to my desk and see his door closed. I think about knocking, but as I get closer, I hear shouting inside.
“You’re being sloppy,” the voice says.
I can’t place it exactly. I know it’s one of Dominic’s frequent visitors. Not Rafe, I know his voice well enough by now, but I’m struggling to remember who.
“I know what I’m doing,” Dominic shoots back.
I’m just about to back away from the door when I hear my name.
“Sofia is like your kryptonite,” the man says.
My blood runs cold. I really shouldn’t be listening to this, but I can’t make my legs move. I need to hear what they’re saying.
“Ever since she started working for you, it’s like your head is in the clouds,” the man continues. “It’s stupid for you to employ people who have debts associated to the Calderones. How do you know he hasn’t gotten to her yet?”
“Because I do,” Dominic answers harshly. “And you won’t speak her name ever again.”
His voice gets quieter, but I can still sort of make out his words.
“Sofia is not your concern. If you, or anyone else in this family forget that, you’re going to answer to me.”
Dominic’s voice is like ice. It sends another chill through me. I rush back to my desk, heart pounding, and try to pretend I didn’t overhear any of it. Not even a minute later, the door opens, and Dominic’s cousin, Tomasso, storms out. As usual, he doesn’t even look at me.