Dominic’s POV
Tuesday lunch with my mother and Mia turned into an absolute nightmare after the weapons shipnt mix-up disaster. The three won wouldn’t stop torturing about it.
"Dominic, I have sothing else for you." I pulled the business card from that gorgeous stranger at the underground arms boutique out of my jacket and handed it to my mother.
"What’s this supposed to be?" Mom examined the card with curiosity.
I explained the whole humiliating encounter at the black market shop, and all three won exploded into giggles like teenagers, practically falling over themselves with laughter. My mother studied the card before passing it to Zoe and Mia. Still wiping tears from her eyes, she delivered her verdict.
"Dominic Frost, I raised you to be a gentleman! Your behavior at that establishnt was completely unacceptable. You’re going back there to apologize to that poor dealer, and if you ever cross paths with that young lady again, you’ll apologize to her too."
"Mom, I’m absolutely not going back to that black market shop to grovel," I shot back.
"Oh yes, you most certainly are! You’re better than this childish behavior, Dominic. You’re going back because I didn’t raise so arrogant, entitled mobster!" Her tone brooked no argunt, and I knew I was defeated.
"Fine, Mom, you’re right," I conceded, taking her hand. "Now can you please return that tactical case I accidentally sent you?"
"Absolutely not!" She fired back without hesitation. "It’s honestly the most thoughtful gift you’ve ever given . I’m keeping it, and I plan to put it to excellent use for ho defense."
"Mom..." I stared at her in horror.
"What’s your problem, Dominic? Just because she’s your mother ans you think she doesn’t need protection? Or maybe you think her age disqualifies her from owning proper security equipnt? That’s pure ageism!" Zoe called out rcilessly.
"Zoe, that’s my mother!" I protested weakly.
"So what? You think the family business doesn’t affect her too?" Zoe mocked.
"You’re acting like a child, Dominic," Mia chid in. "My husband and I love having proper security asures, and when he’s on family business, I handle my own protection."
"Mia, that’s way too much information." I buried my face in my hands while all three burst into fresh peals of laughter.
Back at the Zenith Systems offices, Zoe simply labeled sexist and said I should be ashad for not recognizing that my mother was a vibrant, beautiful woman who had every right to own tactical equipnt and even have a bodyguard. My innocence lay in ruins.
However, I had to admit one truth: Zoe was completely revolutionizing my operations. She decided to call every morning to drag out of bed and guarantee my arrival at the office by eight sharp. For several solid days, we’d been maintaining a brutal pace, working late into the evenings on family business.
Wednesday brought office lunch, and Zoe regaled with stories about her boyfriend, whom she called her prince. She was clearly the dominant force in that relationship; the poor guy probably followed her around like a lovesick puppy. I found myself curious to et him. Zoe ntioned her friend working with Caleb, but refused to show any photos.
Early that evening, Xavier called. He’d already ntioned that Caleb was falling hard for his right hand, who was apparently stunning and keeping our Don completely distracted.
"Xavier, how did your day at Thorne Syndicate go?" I answered while Zoe sat across from , glancing up from her work.
"Man, it was incredible! And the night’s just getting started. We’re taking Heidi and Ivy to dinner. Co join us, bring your intelligence officer." Xavier’s enthusiasm was infectious.
"That sounds perfect, I’d love to have dinner with you all..." I was mid-sentence when I heard Zoe clear her throat pointedly.
"We still have mountains of laundering reports today, Dominic!" Zoe warned. I rubbed the back of my neck and decided not to push my luck.
"You know what, Xavier, I can’t make it. My handler hasn’t given permission to leave yet." Xavier’s laughter exploded through the phone.
"Your handler or your warden?" Xavier was dying with laughter. "I’m dying to et Zoe! Finally, soone’s got you on a leash."
"Yeah, unfortunately for . And I’m not even sleeping with her." I comnted while watching Zoe, who shot a dark look.
"Not even in your most delusional fantasies, Dominic." Zoe replied, and Xavier’s laughter intensified because he’d caught every word.
I said goodbye and hung up. I studied my intelligence liaison, who had her eyes glued to her tablet screen, and decided to test the waters.
"Zoe, exactly how long are you planning to keep on this tight leash?"
"For the rest of your natural life, Dominic! For the rest of your life!" She didn’t even lift her eyes from the screen.
Thursday brought our eting at Thorne Syndicate. Beyond friendship, we maintained business partnerships, so regular etings were essential. Usually our etings happened over lunch or dinner, often at the Social Union bar, but Zoe had demolished that tradition and scheduled the eting at Caleb’s legitimate front company.
At least I’d escape my office for a while; I was starting to resemble a vampire from being trapped indoors constantly. And I’d finally et this mysterious Ivy, although Zoe had warned countless tis not to get any ideas about her. The eting was scheduled for after lunch, so I at least convinced my deputy to eat at a restaurant en route.
At Caleb’s company, we were escorted directly to the conference room. When Ivy walked in, I was absolutely speechless - she was breathtaking! She and Zoe embraced warmly before Zoe introduced us.
"Zoe, I’m going to have serious words with your father. When he recomnded Ms. Ivy for this position at Thorne’s, he failed to ntion she was a goddess!"
Ivy flashed a charming, slightly flustered smile and shook my hand. I hadn’t even registered Caleb’s entrance until his voice bood like thunder.
"Dominic, keep your hands and eyes off my assistant. Miss Brooks isn’t like those won you typically pursue!"
God, now everyone was critiquing my dating choices. But I detected definite possessiveness in Caleb’s tone. I found it absolutely hilarious; my friend had never displayed such behavior over any woman. I looked from Ivy to Caleb with amusent. I could see he was completely devoted to her. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to tornt him.
"Well, well, the untouchable Caleb Thorne is showing jealousy over you, Miss Brooks! How fascinating! But, my dear friend Caleb, I’m not sure I can resist staying away from such beauty."
"But you’d better stay away, Dominic." Xavier entered saying. "You wouldn’t want to provoke our Don’s wrath." He smiled mockingly, relishing Caleb’s predicant. "But who’s this lovely lady with you, Dominic?"
"Don’t even attempt it, Xavier. This is Zoe Miller, and besides being Robert’s daughter, she has a boyfriend who looks like he stepped from a fairy tale. In summary, untouchable like Miss Brooks, no wonder they’re best friends," I answered, rolling my eyes.
"Oh, what a tragedy! But you two could introduce to a friend as beautiful as yourselves, right? I’m feeling incredibly lonely..." Xavier adopted a pitiful expression that made everyone laugh.
"Good God, Xavier, you have absolutely no sha!" Caleb said in exasperation.
"Unfortunately, we don’t have another super attractive and sweet friend like us to introduce you to, Mr. Black, sorry," Zoe replied laughing.
Caleb rolled his eyes and ordered us to control our hormones. As if he wasn’t losing his mind over his stunning assistant. It would be trendously entertaining watching my friend, the most serious and composed of our trio, maintain his unshakeable devotion.
After the eting, Zoe and I returned to the office, or rather my prison cell. It was beginning to feel like solitary confinent. We were working on money laundering reports when Zoe checked her phone and suddenly addressed .
"It’s your lucky day, Dominic!" She looked up at . "I have to leave. So I’m releasing you early."
"Wow, what miracle is this, my handler showing rcy?" I joked, but noticed her concern. "What’s wrong, Zoe? Any problems?"
"I have to go. Max has a fever, and Ivy is taking him to the doctor," Zoe said, standing and collecting her belongings.
"Who’s Max?"
"Oh, here we go. I’ll keep this brief because I’m pressed for ti. Max is Ivy’s son and my godson. He’s still a toddler. Ivy isn’t married, so the father isn’t involved in Max’s life, doesn’t even know Max exists."
"I understand. Want to drive you?" I thought it wise not to probe further into family matters.
"No need, I have my armored car." When she reached the door, she turned back. "I’m releasing you early today, but I don’t want you arriving late or hungover tomorrow."
I smiled at how Zoe was already controlling completely. This was actually beneficial for . I’d been sowhat careless with the family operations, and I knew I was wrong.
User Comments
0 comments from readers