Dominic #3
His palm strikes the island. “Stop agreeing with me like that fixes anything.” The accusation hits its mark.
“It doesn’t.”
He pinches the bridge of his nose. “What happened between you?”
She planned a future where we raised the child from separate homes. “I couldn’t stay in a relationship she treated as something temporary.”
“So you left.”
“I ended the agreement and told her I couldn’t continue under those terms.”
“Did you tell her you loved her?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“She couldn’t tell me she was willing to build a life with me.”
Cliff looks away.
I let him take that in before I continue.
“The acquisition she mentioned last week is Weller Strategic Holdings.”
His attention snaps back to me. “Daniel Weller?”
“Yes.”
“Elena knew?”
“Not until Thursday’s identity-release call. He appeared on the screen, addressed her personally, and forced her to handle that history in front of the acquisition team.”
“Did he threaten her?”
“Not during the call. She disclosed the conflict to legal immediately and requested personal leave.”
Cliff swears.
I meet his gaze through the screen. “I withdrew from the acquisition today.”
His shoulders loosen slightly. “Good.”
“She knows the deal is over.”
“You talked to her?”
“She gave me permission to come to Colorado and sent me the cabin address.”
He leans against the counter. “Why are you going?”
“To tell her what I chose.”
“You told her you loved her.”
“I told her after I ended the version of us she believed she could control. I didn’t say plainly what loving her meant once the contract was gone.”
“What does it mean?”
“I want a life with her. One home. A real relationship. No scheduled expiration.”
Cliff watches me without speaking.
“There’s something else. Elena may be pregnant.”
His expression changes. “May be?”
“The timing fits. She arrived late and looked unwell Thursday morning. She tried to come to my office twice, then left Chicago without explaining why.”
“You asked her?”
“No.”
“Why the hell not?”
“Because I don’t know.” That news belongs to her, not to my suspicion. I’m not going to force her to confirm a pregnancy over the phone because I counted days and noticed she looked pale.
Cliff presses both hands against the island. “So she may have found out she’s pregnant on the same day Daniel showed up.”
“Yes.”
“And then she went to Colorado alone.”
“Yes.”
He drops his gaze, silent for several seconds. “She thinks she has to protect the deal.”
“She did. She doesn’t anymore.”
“She never would have had to protect it from either of us.”
“She didn’t know that yet.”
His eyes lift. “Because you both kept me out.”
“I know.”
“I’m furious with you.”
“You should be.”
“And her.”
“I know.”
“I don’t forgive either of you.”
“I’m not asking you to.”
He studies me with the same direct focus he has used since we were college roommates.
“Do you love her?”
It’s the only truth that matters. “Yes.”
The answer requires no explanation.
He scrubs a hand over his face. “What if she tells you no when you get there?”
“I leave. The Weller acquisition remains dead, and I respect her answer.”
“What if she isn’t pregnant?”
“I still want her.”
“And if she is?”
“The child doesn’t change why I’m going. I chose Elena before I suspected anything.”
Cliff looks toward the doorway behind him, then back at the screen. “Ask her to call me.”
“I will.”
“Don’t tell her I’m fine with this.”
“I won’t.”
“I’m serious, Dominic.”
“So am I.”
His mouth tightens. “You hurt her.”
“I know.”
“She hurt you too.”
The acknowledgment catches me off guard, a sudden release of pressure I didn’t know I was holding.
Cliff exhales. “Go to Colorado. I’ll decide how long I’m angry later.”
“You don’t owe me a schedule.”
“No, I don’t.”
The call ends without a goodbye.
Evan meets me in the lobby with an overnight bag and a printed itinerary.
“Commercial flight to Montrose,” he says. “A car will take you the rest of the way. Weather may slow the drive into Telluride.”
“I’ll let Elena know.”
“The Weller withdrawal notice went out twenty minutes ago.”
“And the board?”
“Unhappy.”
“They’ll survive.”
“I thought you might feel that way.”
I take the bag from him. “Thank you.”
He nods and returns to the elevators.
In the car, I send Elena my flight details and expected arrival time.
Her response appears before we leave downtown.
Elena: Drive carefully through the mountains.
Five ordinary words, and I have to look away from the screen for a moment.
I type back.
I hesitate for a half second, then type the truth.
Dominic: I will. Cliff knows. He asked you to call him.
The dots appear, disappear, then return.
Elena: How angry is he?
Dominic: Extremely.
Elena: At you or me?
Dominic: Yes.
Her response comes a few seconds later.
Elena: That sounds like Cliff.
A smile touches my lips, but a weight still presses against my ribs.
I don’t know what waits for me at that cabin. Elena gave me permission to come, but she hasn’t promised anything beyond opening the door.
It has to be enough until I reach her.
At the airport, I text Evan.
Dominic: Clear my calendar for the week. I’ll be in Colorado.
His reply arrives immediately.
Evan: Already done.