She nodded, and forced a smile. “I think I went off the deep end there.”
Ella hugged her. “Now, I don’t mean to rush you off, but I’ve got a date.”
“You have?”
“Yes. Don’t sound so surprised. I want to have what you’ve found with Dominic.”
“I’ll leave.” She made her way toward the door.
“Avery,” Ella said, calling her name.
“Yeah.”
“Stop overthinking everything. I believe this is innocent, and Dominic is not a bad guy. It’s me saying that, no one else, and you know I struggled with him in the beginning. This thing between the two of you is real. Trust it.”
“Have a good date, Ella.”
“Talk to him.”
Leaving Ella’s apartment, she stepped out of the building into the cold winter’s night. Dominic had to go halfway around the world on a business meeting, and as much as she was pissed at him now, she missed him.
Patting her body, she tried to find her cell phone, and cursed when she realized that she’d left her cell phone at home.
“Crap.”
She’d not even considered calling him to talk about it.
Heading back to her apartment, she couldn’t help but reflect over the change in their relationship in such a short time. Apart from in working hours, they spent all of their time together. Three weeks ago, they’d even gone back to Darkest Dreams to announce they were a couple. Several of the subs, and what surprised her, the Doms, were really upset about that.
She was the perfect submissive. Completely untrained, and like Dominic once said, a blank canvas for them to mold into perfection.
Each item from clothing to jewelry had seemed like a gift. Had he been manipulating her? Changing her?
She didn’t know.
Dominic wasn’t due back until tomorrow.
All night she was going to be driving herself crazy with this.
* * * *
That was the longest business trip Dominic ever wanted to take where he was away from Avery. Talking to her on the phone wasn’t enough, or seeing her on his laptop. No, he loved having her in the flesh, by his side, in his life.
It was one of the reasons he held the diamond engagement ring in his pocket. He wanted to marry her, and to never have a reason for her to leave.
They were perfect together. She was the perfect submissive, the perfect woman, and she’d be the perfect wife.
He wanted to marry her, have lots of children.
Entering his apartment, he rounded the corner, and saw her standing, arms folded, glaring at him.
“Hello, Avery,” he said. Every single one of his senses were screaming at him that she wasn’t in a very good mood.
“Dominic.”
“You’re not going to come and give me a hug? A kiss? We’ve not seen each other in a few days.”
“Why would you want to kiss someone you’re not exactly happy with?”
He put down his case, and turned to face her. “I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about, so you better just come out and spill it.”
“This. What the hell is this?” She reached out, and pulled a blanket off the sofa, which revealed all of the stuff he’d bought her in the past month. “And all of this? Are you not happy with who I am? The great Dominic Wright can’t be seen with a lowly employee?”
He frowned, staring at the stuff he’d bought her, along with the piece of paper waving around. “Why don’t you give me the damn piece of paper, and let me decide what you’re accusing me of?” He held out his hand waiting.
She slapped it against his palm, and he looked over the words, to find that it was indeed a job offer.
“What the hell do I have to do with this?”
“It’s one of your companies.”
“So?”
“You want me working for you.”
“Babe, I’m the owner of more than one company, and this is just our insurance side for technologies. Clearly, you’ve got a great reputation, and see here, this is the reference that you had for your resume. It’s still active from three years ago.” He pointed at the line that his staff had referenced.
“You didn’t do this?”
“Baby, I appreciate the feeling that you think I can handle all the employment details. This wouldn’t even get to me.”
“It’s your company.”
“And clearly you’ve got a good reputation. You think I’m lying to you?”
“No.” She stared down at the letter.
“You think I’m trying to change you?”
“Look at me, Dominic. I’m not the girl you met in Darkest Dreams.”
“Babe, you’re exactly the girl I met in Darkest Dreams.”
“The clothes?”