Chapter 19
SOFIA
For a moment, I can’t move. I just stand in my doorway and stare at my apartment, trying to make sense of what I’m seeing.
My couch cushions are slashed open, and my books are knocked off the shelf.
Every drawer in my tiny kitchen is pulled out, with half my dishes smashed on the floor.
There’s a trail of broken glass leading from the living room to my bedroom.
None of that is as terrifying as the fact that the door had been bolted and doesn’t look broken. I scan the room and don’t see a single smashed window. My heart pounds in my ears, and I can’t move. I can’t make my feet carry me through the apartment to see the rest of the damage.
Dominic appears behind me fast, like he hadn’t gotten far after our fight. He sets his hand on my shoulder, and I jump out of my skin.
“You’re okay,” he says gently. “I’m going to take a look around, okay? Just stay right there.”
I nod and swallow hard, my throat suddenly dry.
He steps in front of me then slowly picks his way through the apartment, more careful in the places where the dishes are smashed. Even so, I can hear the sickening crunch underneath his shoes.
“The bedroom and bathroom are clear,” he tells me a moment later.
“What would you have done if someone had been here?” I ask in a hollow voice. “You don’t even have a gun.”
“Well, not on my person,” he answers.
Not ten seconds later, our driver, Bradley, comes running through the door, a gun held low at his waist.
“It’s clear,” Dominic repeats to him. “But I need to get a team here immediately to sweep the place. There’s no sign of forced entry, so I need to pull any and all cameras in the neighborhood.
Get the night crew to canvass the neighbors for doorbell cameras.
Somebody had to have seen the son of a bitch who did this. ”
Of course, none of this is said to me. Once again, he’s making decisions that don’t include me at all. And I haven’t forgotten we’re fighting.
“Please don’t bother my neighbors tonight,” I say, because it’s the only thing he said that I can focus on. “They already gossip about me as it is.”
Dominic fixes me with a hard stare, like he can’t believe that’s what I’m worried about. I don’t shy away from his gaze. Maybe it’s a test to see if he’s capable of listening to me. All I know is, I’m desperate for him to grant this one small request.
Eventually he nods.
“Fine.” He sighs. “The search can wait until tomorrow, but you can’t stay here tonight.”
I don’t even argue. There’s no way in hell I would anyway. If he hadn’t been here, I’d probably go to Maya’s or my dad’s.
“Is the offer to stay at your place still on the table?” I ask weakly.
The corners of his mouth twitch, but he doesn’t fully smile. “Pack a bag.”
The drive to his penthouse is silent. I lean my head against the cool glass and try to collect my thoughts.
Somebody broke into my apartment. In the five minutes Dominic gave me to grab my things, I didn’t notice anything missing.
Then again, my brain was in full panic mode, so it’s not like I was taking careful inventory.
It felt oddly violent, like the person who did it wanted me to see what they were capable of. The thought sends a horrible wave of nausea through me. I pull my knees up to my chest and close my eyes, shutting myself off from anything or anyone who would try to bring me harm.
Dominic shakes me gently when we arrive. I jerk upright, not realizing I’d started to doze off. Groggy, I look around and see we’re idling outside a very expensive building. When I get out, Bradley is already holding my bag. Dominic takes it from him and walks me inside.
His doorman says hello and Dominic’s hand moves to my lower back.
It’s oddly comforting. Less so are the armed security guards standing outside the elevator.
I try not to stare at them, and fail miserably.
Neither of them looks at me or Dominic, but I can tell they’re watching everything and everyone.
“Do your neighbors not care that you have your own security guards in the building?” I whisper to him.
He chuckles. “I own the building,” he responds. “And the only people who live here are my men. So, no, they don’t care.”
I nod as the elevator doors open. We step inside, and I glance up into the corner to find a security camera staring down at me.
Christ, this place is like Fort Knox. The elevator rushes us to the top floor, where it opens onto the penthouse.
Two more guards stand on the other side, still as soldiers.
As we enter the penthouse, a freaking supermodel gracefully descends the stairs.
She’s got to be at least six feet tall with long, brown hair cascading in perfect waves that I have often tried and failed to create in my own hair.
Her makeup is flawless, like she’s just come from a photoshoot.
My first instinct would normally be jealousy, but she so obviously looks like Dominic, I know immediately they must be related.
“Dom,” she calls. “You didn’t tell me we were having company.”
She smiles warmly and holds her hand out to me. I take it stiffly.
“I’m Chiara, Dom’s sister,” she tells me. “
“This is my assistant, Sofia,” Dominic tells her. “She’ll be staying with us for a while.”
His voice is stiff, and I realize I don’t like the way he’s introduced me. Technically, he hasn’t said anything wrong. I am his assistant. I’m also the mother of his future child, but I guess it’s too soon to tell her that.
“Well, Sofia, we must find you the perfect room. There are four guestrooms, and they’re all stunning. What’s most important to you? A good view? A bathtub? We have one bathroom that only has a rainforest shower, which is so lush, but it’s not for everyone.”
“Anywhere’s fine,” I say in a small voice. “I’m really not picky.”
“Oh, darling, we have to work on that,” she teases. “You should never settle for anything less than exactly what you want.”
I have no idea how to respond to that. Chiara is deeply fabulous in a way that I could only dream of being. The most important thing to me right now, though, is finding a clean bed and passing out. The whole experience has drained me.
“I was planning to give her the green suite,” Dominic tells her, as if I’m not even there.
“Oh, that’s a fabulous room.” Chiara nods, clearly agreeing with his choice, then looks at me. “You’re going to love it, Sofia. If you need anything at all, I’m two doors down to the right. Knock anytime.”
She gives me air kisses and then turns and walks away, disappearing somewhere in the penthouse. I’m left speechless.
“Clearly, your sister got all the charm and social graces,” I say once I finally manage words.
He stifles a smile and guides me deeper into the penthouse. There’s a staircase right in the middle of the room as you come in, but next to it is an elevator.
“Do you want a tour?” he asks. “Or would you just like to go to your room?”
As desperately curious as I feel, I’m so tired. I tell him to take me to the room, and he pushes the button for the elevator. I want to argue with him that I’m perfectly capable of walking up a flight of stairs, but apparently the famous green suite is on the third floor of the penthouse.
“The kitchen is on the second floor,” he tells me. “We have a private chef who keeps it well-stocked. If you need anything, feel free to go exploring. He won’t mind.”
I can’t help but let out a breathy laugh. This is all too much.
When the doors open to the third floor, he gestures for me to get out first. Even the lighting fixtures look expensive. No detail in this place has been missed. Now that I’ve met Chiara, I’m almost sure she’s the one who did all the decorating.
We walk down a wide hallway past several doors.
He finally stops at one and pulls out a set of keys.
He unlocks the door and lets me inside, flipping on the light as we enter.
The room leaves me breathless. Room isn’t even the right word.
It’s bigger than my apartment. There’s a California king bed in the middle, a sitting area, two TVs, and a door leading out to what looks like a private balcony.
“You can keep the key,” Dominic says, pressing the key into my hand. “I want you to feel secure here.”
I nod and curl my hand around the key. It feels oddly heavy. It’s like I’m holding the key to my own prison. I know I have free will and can leave whenever I want, but I also feel like every decision I’ll ever make will have to go through Dominic from now on.
“What about work tomorrow?” I ask, finally turning to look at him.
“What about it?” he asks. “You’re still my assistant, I assume? Or have you decided to quit after all?”
I shake my head. “No, I just don’t think we should go together. People will talk.”
He sighs and his jaw tightens. “You worry far too much what people think about you, Sofia.”
I shrug. “I had sex with you, didn’t I? I clearly don’t care that much what people think.”
He lets out an unflattering snort, and we both laugh. It’s nice to finally break the tension of the night. It’s been such an incredibly long day. I’m done. He sets my bag on a luggage rack and looks at me one last time.
“I’m on the opposite end of the hall, last door on the left. And my home office is also on the second floor if I’m not in my room. If you need anything at all, I’m here, okay?”
I nod. “I’ll see you at work in the morning, boss,” I say awkwardly.
He grimaces and nods before turning and leaving me alone in the room. The moment he’s gone, I turn toward the bed and fall flat onto it. It’s insanely comfortable. I might actually be in heaven.
Unfortunately, not every part of staying with him is so good.
Over the next few days, more of my stuff shows up, and I realize that this stay is going to be much longer than I expected.
Dominic tells me they still don’t know who broke in, and he doesn’t feel comfortable with me going home until they do.
My dad calls, concerned. Mrs. Alvarez told him about the scary men knocking on her door asking for her doorbell footage. I lie and say I don’t know anything about it. I also lie and tell him Maya’s going through a breakup and needs me.
Maya is a little more complicated. I have to tell her some version of the truth, so I end up telling her about the pregnancy. She freaks out and congratulates me, and tells me to enjoy my fairytale romance. If only she knew.