Chapter 96
Dominic
“Shane?” I say to him as he gets closer, a smug expression on his face.
The last time I saw him was when he was trying to touch Vanessa at the party. I would’ve never expected it to be him and now that I know, I can’t even take this seriously anymore. The sight of him makes me shake my head in disbelief.
“You know what? I’m out of here. I don’t have time for this bullshit.”
Just like that, I turn around to leave the park but I stop in my tracks when Shane threatens me.
“You’re free to leave. That will just make it easier for me to go to the press with what I know.”
I turn around, narrowing my eyes at him as I wonder if he actually knows something.
“What happened? I thought you wanted to leave?” He scornfully looks at me.
“What the hell is this about?”
“It’s okay. You’ll find out through the press. You were already on your way out anyway.”
I sigh, quickly making my way back to him. “Talk.”
He sits down on the bench and crosses his legs. “Isn’t it a beautiful day?”
“Just fucking talk and stop wasting my time!” I ball my hands into fists.
He scoffs, looking at me with a smirk. “Remember how in high school, you and I were so competitive and I always wanted to beat you? No matter what I did, I couldn’t. You always came out on top and that made you so annoying to me. Even when I found out what you feared, it was only a small victory in my eyes. You were this perfect student. But now, it turns out you’re just a son of a bitch.” “What are you talking about?”
“I’ve seen you on TV with Vanessa, attending social events, going to the children’s hospital and all that shit but all this time, that affection you show each other is just a front.”
His gaze turns sinister and my heart starts racing.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say to him, firmly shaking my head.
He bursts into laughter. “The last thing you want to do right now is lie to me because I know everything. You’re not as close as you make it seem with Vanessa. You don’t love her. That’s because you love Carmella.”
My eyes widen a little and I look away, unable to find my words.
“Go on. Try to deny it now,” he says. “I even know that when you were on your honeymoon, Carmella was there too and Vanessa was in on it. You and Carnella have been together for a long time now but your parents never liked her. You married Vanessa just so you could still be with her in secret but hey, your secret isn’t so safe because I know about it. I’m going to the press and the whole world will know about this.”
My heart races faster as I worry about what will happen if this gets out to the public. My father will never forgive me. In fact, I might lose everything that I hope to achieve.
“Don’t you dare do such a thing.” I warn him.
“Why shouldn’t I do it when the information I have is just so juicy?” He rises to his feet.
“Why are you even doing this? Is it because of that video that went viral when I told you not to touch Vanessa? Are you still dwelling on that?”
“That video kind of ruined lots of opportunities for me. I don’t know which fucker took that video but it went so viral that everyone I wanted to work with found me disgusting. Can you imagine that? Anyway, if you really don’t want me to go to the press with this, then you have to do something for me.”
“What’s that?”
“You’re going to make up for everything I lost out on since you’re a billionaire.”
I grab him by the collar, unable to contain my anger as I say. “What do you think this is?”
“Come on. No need to get so angry. You’re so wealthy that you easily spend money on anything. I mean hey, you bought your wife the 200 million dollar necklace and that’s just something that goes around her neck. That means you can afford anything. You’re going to give me what I want or I’m going to tell the press about your secret.”
After I set his collar free by pushing him away, I say, “Carmella and I aren’t even together anymore.”
“That doesn’t matter to me. It’s still the same information that could make headlines, so start making me feel like I’m not going to benefit from this because no matter what, I’m going to leech off you.” “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself for saying all this to my face?”
“I just want to capitalize and there’s no shame in doing that.”
I’m so furious that I just want to punch him right now, but I choose not to, only because I need to get to the bottom of this.
“Who told you about all this?” I ask, my breath heavy.
“Do you think I’m dumb enough to reveal my source of information? No. But I’ll tell you one thing. Whoever told me about this is very reliable. They’re a source that even you can’t deny. So, here’s exactly what want from you. Every month, give me 50,000 dollars and I’ll keep my mouth shut.”
“Fuck you!”
I push him away and he chuckles in a sinister way while trying not to fall.
“Pay me that much every month or I go to the press. You have three days to make your decision. You know, you can actually do it today but I don’t want that. Where’s the fun in making you pay me right away? want to see your face again as you hand me that money. It feels good to finally beat you at something.”
“You think you’ve won by doing this shameless act?”
“You’re the shameless one for parading your wife like you love her yet you don’t. I’ll see you in three days.”
With his head high, he casually walks away while whistling.
After he’s out of sight, I kick the air, trying to catch my breath as I wonder what my next move is. I can’t let this information get out to my parents and at the same time, I don’t want to start paying Shane 50,000 dollars every month.
Right now, there’s only one thing to do and so with trembling hands from rage, I take out my phone and unblock Carmella. I dial her number quickly and she picks up in less than 5 seconds.
“Hey, babe! I can’t believe you unblocked me!”
Usually, I’d be telling her not to call me that but right now, my mind is racing.
“We need to talk I just found out something that’s fucked up.”
“If you want to talk, it has to be face-to-face.” She sounds flirtatious.
“What? I don’t have time for that.”
“You heard me. I’m home so come and see me right now.”
“Just listen to me. Did you tell-”
The call abruptly ends and it takes everything in me not to smash my phone against the bench. She did this on purpose. I never thought I’d be going back there but right now, I have to. If she’s the one who told Shane, I’ll make her regret it.
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