Chapter 159
Chapter 159 Vanessa
Today might be the launch of my hair care line but it feels like it’s Dominic’s as he keeps checking everything over again and again just to ensure that it all goes according to plan.
I’ve barely done anything as he believes that it will only stress me out. He would rather I focus on my father and spend time with him as much as I can. It still breaks my heart that he can’t make it, but it still brings me joy hearing him say that I should go for it and he’ll be watching.
When I come back home, it’s to the sight of Dominic holding a book turned to a specific page as he reads through it with one of the organizers standing beside him.
It’s only after I get closer that Dominic looks up and approaches me, handing over the book to the organizer.
“I didn’t think you’d be back so soon,” he says to me.
“My dad needed to rest. I also wanted to check how things were going here.” I smile at the organizer as she makes her way to the door.
“Hey, I have everything under control,” he assures me with a smile.
“I know, but I’m still curious.”
“Come on. You know that I’ll take care of everything.”
I firmly nod with a smile. “I know that as well, but can I just feel a little involved? I feel so left out.”
“Well, there’s nothing more to do. I just finished going through the list of the people to receive the first products on the market while you’ll stand behind that table. Are you sure you still want to do this?”
“Of course I do.”
“Then everything is set,” he says with enthusiasm.
“You really make it seem like this is your day and not mine.” I shake my head.
He holds his head high. “Just make sure that when you get up on that stage, you mention everything I’ve done here today.”
“We’re seriously coming back to this again?” I playfully roll my eyes.
“How is he?” he says to me, the sudden change of topic making my amusement fade a little.
“He’ll be okay.” I lower my head, thinking about how this hasn’t been easy.
Placing his hand on my shoulder, he says, “How about you go upstairs and I make that juice since we won’t be here later this evening?”
“I like the sound of that.” I nod in agreement, my heart fluttering at how he doesn’t let anything get in the way of making that juice.
As I make my way to the elevator, I tell myself that he might not come to me right away since I didn’t believe him when he said everything was ready for this evening’s event.
He still wants to be thorough with this and I understand why since I’ve been paranoid. There’s still been nothing from Carmella. I’ve even checked my phone a few times today just to see if I received any threats but as usual, there’s been nothing at all. After freshening up, I sit down in my bathrobe, only wanting to dress up after I have my juice because after this, I need to get ready for the event. Finally, he comes into the bedroom with my juice and I immediately shake my head at him.
“What?” he says to me with a shrug.
“My juice should’ve been ready an hour ago.”
“What can I say? I was busy. Now I’m wishing I came in sooner.” He subtly licks his bottom lip, his lustful gaze lingering on my exposed collarbone. Just as he’s about to hand me the glass, I gasp in pleasant surprise as I hold my stomach.
“What is it?” he asks with concern.
“The baby just kicked!” I giggle.
“What?” He yells with excitement, placing the glass on the table.
As soon as he sits beside me, he places his hand on my stomach and it makes me scoff.
“Don’t think just because you placed your hand on my stomach it’s going to happen again.”
Right after I say it, the baby kicks again and his eyes widen with joy. “That’s my baby right there and she knows it’s me, her dad.”
“She?” I raise my eyebrows in amusement.
“Let’s just leave this for the day when our baby is born and I prove to you that I-.”
He cuts himself off mid-sentence when the baby kicks a third time, his lips curving into a wonderful smile as he crouches down and kisses my stomach a few times. He then looks up, our eyes locking for a moment in a comfortable silence.
This is yet again another opportunity for me to directly tell him how I feel, but I can’t speak. I’ve come close a few times but just couldn’t do it. Finally, I found a way, the only way that I can do it.
Dominic
Everyone looking at me at this moment while I’m in my custom made designer suit probably thinks I’m smoothing out the fabric on my shoulder but that’s far from the truth. I’m actually tapping myself, glad that this event has been a success so far. It’s all thanks to me and the amount of work I put in. I didn’t want Vanessa stressing about anything to do with the launch and I did just that.
She sits right next to me as we hold hands and while she smiles, I can tell that she still wishes my father-in-law was here, but he insisted that we go ahead even without him.
Even if I don’t want to keep looking at the table next to ours, Frank and Mia make it difficult with their matching red outfits. They also can’t stop subtly flirting with each other, hinting at what awaits them tonight.
After a speech from the host, he invites Vanessa up on stage and I hold her hand to lead her there, everyone giving a round of applause.
We get on the stage and I stop a few steps away from the mic just so I can give her some space, but I don’t intend to leave her side until she’s done with her speech.
Just like I told her before, she better give me credit for this.
The whole place falls silent, everyone waiting to hear her speech as they look on.
“Thank you so much to everyone for coming here tonight,” she begins. “This has been a long journey for me and it’s crazy how it all began when I first met my husband. I thought he was charming but he opened his mouth and I thought to myself Wow, he’s such a jerk!”
Everyone chuckles, except me as I wonder if this is from the day that we met at the hotel.
“I really thought he was a jerk, but I got to know him better and I soon realized that there was more to him than I thought. He was so supportive, compassionate and everything that I never thought he would be. He’s been my strongest support in all this, guiding me through everything that I didn’t understand, which is why I wouldn’t be celebrating this launch today without him.” Placing a hand on her chest, she looks over at me and says,
“Thank you for being the amazing person you are to me…”
She trails off with her lips still parted and I can tell she still has more to say, not even the crowd gives a round of applause just yet.
“…and I love you so much.” She looks away and thanks the crowd, then looks back at me again.
Even though everyone finally gives a round of applause as they rise to their feet, I stand frozen in place and can’t even bring my hands together. She still stands close to the mic, her eyes fixed on me with that same smile and it makes my heart race. Why do her eyes seem so sincere? Why do I believe whatever she just said?