Chapter 4 - THE TEN MILLION DOLLAR PROMISE
Dominic came to Claire’s apartment at eight.
He did not knock aggressively.
That was probably the first sign he understood something had changed.
Claire opened the door.
“You touch her again, I call the police before your expensive lawyer finishes saying ‘misunderstanding.’”
Dominic looked past her at me.
“Nora.”
His eyes moved to my cheek.
Shame crossed his face.
Good.
He deserved to see it.
“Eli?”
“Sleeping.”
“Can I see him?”
“No.”
His jaw tightened.
Then relaxed.
“All right.”
That surprised me.
I stepped into the hallway and closed the apartment door behind me.
“We talk here.”
He looked at the narrow corridor.
“Fine.”
“What is the ten-million-dollar trust?”
His expression changed.
“Anthony.”
“Yes.”
Dominic exhaled.
“It was supposed to be yours.”
“What was?”
“Wedding protection.”
I laughed.
“What does that even mean?”
“When we married, my father insisted on a prenup.”
“I remember.”
“You refused his money.”
“Yes.”
“So I created a separate trust.”
“Without telling me?”
“I wanted you protected if something happened to me.”
The words might have sounded romantic if the rest did not exist.
“What happened to the money?”
“I borrowed against it.”
“To buy your father’s shares.”
“Yes.”
“So money intended to protect me became money protecting your power.”
He flinched.
“That isn’t fair.”
“No?”
“I planned to repay it.”
“When?”
“After the bridal sale.”
There it was.
The sale of my stolen work would repay the trust he raided without telling me.
I almost admired the circular cruelty.
“So you needed Vanessa’s collection.”
“Yes.”
“And you knew pieces were mine.”
His silence became confession.
“How many?”
“At first, three.”
“At first?”
He looked away.
I felt sick.
“How many, Dominic?”
“Eleven.”
My hands went cold.
Eleven designs.
Eleven pieces of my creative life.
“How long have you known?”
“Eighteen months.”
“And you said nothing.”
“I was trying to fix it.”
“By letting her keep doing it?”
“I was building a legal structure to compensate you.”
“I am not asking whether you planned to pay me.”
My voice rose.
“I’m asking why you decided you had the right to use me without telling me.”
He looked at me.
“Because if Caruso collapsed, thousands of people could lose jobs.”
There it was.
The noble reason.
He had one.
Men like Dominic always did.
“I should have had a choice.”
“Yes.”
The answer came so quickly I stopped.
He continued:
“You should have.”
No defense.
No argument.
Just that.
It made me angrier somehow.
“Then why didn’t I?”
“Because I was afraid you’d say no.”
Silence.
Finally the truth.
He had not protected me from stress.
He had protected himself from my answer.
Then I asked:
“Did you know Vanessa planned the wine stunt?”
“No.”
“Did you sleep with her?”
His face changed.
“No.”
“Do you want to?”
“No.”
“Then why did you protect her last night?”
Dominic looked toward the floor.
“Because I walked into an argument after spending six hours with bankers telling me if the sale collapsed, we were finished.”
I stared.
“And you saw me as the threat.”
“Yes.”
The honesty hurt.
“Not your wife.”
His eyes filled.
“No.”
I nodded.
“Good.”
He frowned.
“Good?”
“Now I know exactly where I stood.”
“Nora—”
“No.”
I held up one hand.
“You’re not here to explain the slap until it sounds understandable.”
His face tightened.
“I know.”
“I’m leaving.”
“I know.”
That answer stopped me.
“What?”
He swallowed.
“I saw the suitcase camera notification.”
The townhouse security system.
He knew I packed.
“And?”
“I called my attorney.”
My stomach tightened.
“About Eli?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
Dominic reached into his coat and pulled out an envelope.
Divorce papers.
Unsigned.
I stared.
“You prepared these overnight?”
“I prepared them two years ago.”
My chest went cold.
“Why?”
His face changed.
“Because two years ago, I almost left you.”
I could barely breathe.
“For Vanessa?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
He handed me the papers.
Inside was a property schedule.
One name appeared repeatedly.
Elena Caruso.
Dominic’s mother.
Dead eight years.
I looked up.
“What does your mother have to do with our divorce?”
May you like
Dominic whispered:
“Everything.”
