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Chapter no 20 – DOMINIC

By a Thread

โ€œG

 

reta, I need some recommendations on dog walkers,โ€ I said, leaning against her desk and just so happening to find a direct line of sight to Ally at her new work station. Sheโ€™d been bumped upstairs temporarily to help keep Linus from losing his

production managing mind for the week. And I wasโ€ฆ distracted by her presence.

Today, she was wearing a pair of high-wasted designer pants in fire engine red and some kind of black lacy blouse that looked Victorian except for the fact that I could see her bra straps. It was a conservative outfit compared to what usually strutted the halls ofย Label. But it was still enough to have me imagining everything else underneath it.

Sheโ€™d added bracelets in turquoise and silver to one wrist and classic hoop earrings.

It bothered me that I felt compelled to take an inventory of every item she wore.

I felt compelled to do a lot of things where Ally was concerned.

Avoid her.

Ignore her.

Make up reasons to talk to her. Pick a fight with her.

Touch her.

Iโ€™d been close enough to touch her Monday when Iโ€™d found her at her desk after work. It was much harder than it should have been to not reach

out and trace a finger over her lower lip, over the strip of skin just below the hem of her tank.

It made no sense. I felt out of control around her. A feeling I loathed.

Every time I talked to her, passed her in the hall, sat across the table from her in a meeting, I wantedย more.

I wanted more to blame her. But part of me was starting to wonder if this was in my blood. If my father had been a normal man until one day heโ€™d snapped.

โ€œDog walkers?โ€ Greta repeated. This was the third time Iโ€™d wandered out to her desk rather than calling, emailing, or just yelling through the open door like I usually did. Before the woman I couldnโ€™t stop thinking about had moved upstairs.

My admin not-so-subtly swiveled in her chair to see exactly what I was staring at. She spun back around and arched an eyebrow. I knew I wasnโ€™t fooling her.

I wasnโ€™t even fooling myself.

โ€œDog walkers. The sooner, the better,โ€ I told her briskly.

โ€œIโ€™ll take care of it after lunch,โ€ she assured me. โ€œIs there anything else you want?โ€ She tilted her blonde head not so subtly in Allyโ€™s direction.

Greta had managed my calendar for years. She knew the type of women I usually dated. Iโ€™d grown up around models and photographers and designers. It had been only natural to spend moreโ€ฆ intimate time with the like.

But Iโ€™d taken a sabbatical from women since taking this job. No dating.

No sex.

Iโ€™d needed to prove to myself that I wasnโ€™t anything like him. And yet here I was, lusting after a woman I didnโ€™t even like. Maybe it wasnโ€™t Ally that was getting under my skin. Maybe it was just a biological need to fuck. That thought brightened my mood. Iโ€™d gone a year without sex. A year without feeling a woman under me. A year without touching soft, lovely

skin.

It was too fucking long.

I wasnโ€™t a monk. Just a man intent on not committing his fatherโ€™s sins. โ€œJust the recommendations,โ€ I told her, pointedly ignoring the way

Allyโ€™s shoulders slid side to side as she danced to music in her headphones. I wondered what was playing in those ears right now. โ€œThanks.โ€

I returned to the refuge of my office. I hadnโ€™t bothered redecorating when Iโ€™d taken over the position. It hadnโ€™t been a priority. Iโ€™d come in on a Sunday and taken every framed photo, every memento, every shiny award, and thrown them all in the trash. The next morning, my new desk and chair

โ€”furniture that my father hadnโ€™t touchedโ€”had been delivered.

It hadnโ€™t been a fresh start so much as a hostile takeover.

I sat down behind my desk and pulled up the page layouts I was supposed to be approving. But Ally popped into my mind again.

Since my blindingly stupid moment with her Monday nightโ€”when Iโ€™d been so enamored with that peek of bare skin that Iโ€™d almost touched herโ€” Iโ€™d thought of little else. I could imagine her. Moving to a hard-driving beat in those tights. Sweat glistening on her bare stomach.

And now I was hard again.

Fucking great.

I shifted in my seat, refusing to give in this time.

Yesterday, Iโ€™d run into her in the stairwell. Iโ€™d asked herย politelyย to get the hell out of my way. Sheโ€™d offeredโ€”less politelyโ€”to help me down the stairs, head first. All I could picture was bending her over the railing and dragging that flirty little skirt up to her waist. Iโ€™d made it back to my office, locked myself in the washroom, and masturbated violently while thinking aboutย her.

In the middle of the day. In my own office. Iโ€™d come so fucking hard my knees buckled.

When it was over, I couldnโ€™t look at myself in the mirror. I was afraid it wouldnโ€™t be my reflection Iโ€™d see.

Today, I was keeping my fucking hands off my fucking cock and my fucking mind off fucking Ally. End of story.

I mustered every ounce of willpower I had and focused on the layouts on my desk.

Sheer stubbornness won out, and I didnโ€™t surface for another thirty minutes until there was a knock on my open door.

Harry Vandenberg, investment banker, snappy dresser, father of two, and the man who held the title of my best friend lounged in my doorway. He was tall and rangy. I had inches and pounds on him, but he had the smile that women flocked to. He was charming. I wasโ€ฆ less effusive.

โ€œHeย isย alive,โ€ Harry quipped, strolling into my office. He whipped out his phone and snapped a picture.

โ€œWhatโ€™s that for?โ€ I asked, standing to greet him. We shook, then hugged.

โ€œProof of life for the rest of the guys,โ€ Harry explained, firing off a text.

My phone binged, and I knew it was a group text.

โ€œIt hasnโ€™t beenย thatย long,โ€ I argued, leaning against the desk.

He sank down in the chair in front of me. โ€œI havenโ€™t seen you in a month. The last time you came out with the rest of us, the air conditioning was still on.โ€

Iโ€™d left a job I loved at Dorrance Capital thirteen months ago, baffling my investment banking coworkers with the decision.

โ€œIโ€™ve been busy,โ€ I told him.

โ€œYouโ€™re always busy. Hell,ย Iโ€™mย always busy. But thatโ€™s no excuse. Weโ€™re going to lunch.โ€

Lunch sounded good. Getting out of this office sounded good.

I reached for my phone, which was now buzzing at incessant intervals. I could only imagine the shit that was being dished out from my former coworkers.

โ€œNot fair, Charming,โ€ Ally stormed into my office. She held a clear plastic garment bag aloft.

I almost cracked a smile.ย Almost.

โ€œWhat seems to be the problem, Maleficent?โ€ I knew exactly what her problem was. That bag held four new vests that Iโ€™d ordered specifically with torturing her in mind.

Sue me. If her mere presence was torturing me, then I could at least make sure she was suffering too.

She turned to Harry. โ€œIโ€™m sorry. Is this an important meeting? Would you prefer if I come back to yell at this jerk later?โ€ she asked him.

Harry grinned. โ€œIโ€™m an old friend of this jerk. Feel free to hurl insults at him in front of me.โ€

โ€œGreat! Thanks,โ€ Ally said, tossing the bag on my desk. โ€œIโ€™ll tell you what my problem is. His name is Dominic Russo, and heโ€™s a pain in my ass.โ€

โ€œIโ€™m Harry, by the way,โ€ my idiot friend piped up. He was far too amused for my liking.

โ€œNo introductions,โ€ I said. โ€œMs. Morales wonโ€™t be with us much longer. Itโ€™s only a matter of time before my mother comes to her senses and fires her since she seems incapable of behaving professionally.โ€

Ally flipped me off.

I crossed my arms and looked bored. โ€œAre you through?โ€

She jabbed a finger at the bag then at me. โ€œMake sure you know what youโ€™re doing because this means war.โ€

โ€œDonโ€™t start something you canโ€™t win,โ€ I warned her quietly.

I get it. Iโ€™m an asshole. I donโ€™t want her around. But I canโ€™t leave her alone. Deal with it.ย It was worth the five figures those vests cost just to see her annoyed. Besides. I liked vests.

โ€œI have no intention of losing, Charming.โ€ She turned her back on me, and I wanted to punch myself in the face for instantly noticing how well those fucking fire engine pants accentuated the curves of her ass. โ€œHarry, itโ€™s nice to meet you. Iโ€™m Ally,โ€ she said.

โ€œVery nice to meet you, Ally,โ€ Harry said, all charm. He stood and offered his hand.

I clenched my jaw. He could touch her, and it meant nothing.

I, on the other hand, didnโ€™t trust myself to survive even basic contact.

Ally was only safe, my soul was only safe, as long as I didnโ€™t touch her. โ€œGo away, Maleficent.โ€

She turned her attention back to me, and I hated the relief I felt. โ€œJust remember, Dom. You started it.โ€

She walked out, and Harry and I watched her go. โ€œWho was that?โ€ he demanded.

โ€œNo one. Letโ€™s go.โ€

 

โ€œWHY AREย you not chasing that woman around with a diamond ring?โ€ Harry demanded, the second the server walked away from our table.

โ€œWhat woman?โ€ I asked, pretending like I didnโ€™t know exactly who he was talking about.

โ€œThe Maleficent to your Charming. I thought you were gonna crack a filling or two.โ€

โ€œSheโ€™s not my type,โ€ I said. โ€œHowโ€™s the debt market report looking?โ€

โ€œUh-uh,โ€ he said, shaking his head and ignoring my redirection. โ€œNope.

No subject change. You and Ally. Whatโ€™s the story?โ€

โ€œThereโ€™s no story,โ€ I insisted, unrolling my silverware from the napkin to give me something to do.

Harry was silent, and I looked up. He was sniffing the air. โ€œYou smell that?โ€ he asked.

I knew where this was going. โ€œI do not.โ€

โ€œI do. Itโ€™s strong. Here. Let me waft it toward you,โ€ he said, flicking his hands at me. โ€œThatโ€™s the smell of bullshit.โ€

โ€œItโ€™s nothing. Sheโ€™s just an admin at work. My mother hired her.โ€

โ€œThe fashion icon and editor-in-chief Dalessandra Russo does not hire admins,โ€ he pointed out.

โ€œShe does when I get them fired from their jobs at pizza places in the Village.โ€

Harry hooted in amusement. โ€œOh, this is good.โ€ โ€œNothing is good. Thereโ€™s no story. Thereโ€™s no anything.โ€

โ€œBrother, the last time I saw sparks flying like that was when my father- in-law tried to microwave leftovers in tinfoil. Youโ€™re either in deep denial, or youโ€™re trying to lie to my face right now.โ€

โ€œThereโ€™s nothing there. Nothing has happened or will happen. We just get under each otherโ€™s skin,โ€ I insisted.

โ€œWhenโ€™s the last time a woman got under your skin?โ€ he asked.

The server returned with our drinks, and I reached for mine with desperation.

The answer was never, and Harry knew it.

โ€œThe main requirement for me to be interested in a woman is that she doesnโ€™t annoy the shit out of me.โ€

โ€œThereโ€™s a fine line between annoyance and โ€˜damn, I really want to get that naked,โ€™โ€ he pointed out. โ€œWhen I met Delaney, I spent fifty percent of the time wanting to murder her and fifty percent of the time wanting to get in her pants.โ€

Delaney was Harryโ€™s wife. She was an attorney known for aggressive cross-examinations. They met at a bar and had spent the entire evening arguing over wine and football. Ten years and two kids later, they still considered a good argument to be the best kind of foreplay.

โ€œNot all of us are as fucked up as you two,โ€ I said.

He ignored me. โ€œI canโ€™t wait to tell Delaney that Dominic Russo finally met someone who bugs the shit out of him.โ€

โ€œYou bug the shit out of me.โ€

โ€œYeah, but Iโ€™m already taken. Is she?โ€ โ€œWho?โ€

โ€œDonโ€™t play me, Russo.โ€ โ€œSheโ€™s single,โ€ I admitted.

โ€œWhat a coincidence. So are you.โ€

โ€œNot happening. Besides the fact that sheโ€™s annoying, has no professionalism, and pisses me off every time I see her, I donโ€™t date employees.โ€

โ€œMaybe you should look into changing that policy. Because sheโ€™s definitely interested in you.โ€

Was she? Or was she interested in what Dominic Russo represented?

It wouldnโ€™t be the first time a woman had been more interested in my name or family connections. After all, sheโ€™d already gotten a job out of just knowing me.

โ€œDonโ€™t make me send you the middle finger selfie again,โ€ I told him.

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