Thirteen

***Dominic***

The room was dimly lighted as I entered. I cut the call with my secretary and a little frown fell on my face. The house was very quiet too.

“Ruby!” I took slow strides into the living room, the bulb turning on brighter. “Anyone in here?” I unbuttoned my suit and took it off. “Gr… Miss Sands!” I smiled to myself as the image of her pretty face crept into my mind. There was no denying it, I was beyond attracted to that woman.

I am a good looking man, no doubt and I cannot help my irresistibility. I have had women swoon over me over the years and I learnt to live with the attention that comes with being attractive. But even with the amount of women that badly want me to look their way, I was hardly interested. Every woman I met or encountered were almost the same to me.

Even if pretty, they were after the money and after the sexual satisfaction they want from me. And I hated it. That is why I have always been particular about the women who come into my life. I try to make sure they were different.

But with an ex-wife, I wasn’t doing so well in finding the right woman for me.

When I crossed path with Grace, I found her pretty as I found the women that have come into my bed so far. When I saw that look on her face, the look that said she found me really attractive, I thought she was one of them.

But ever since her interview and her stay over the last few weeks, she has become differently and specially pretty in my eyes. Beyond her looks and her threateningly gorgeous body, she had an attitude that pricked my interest.
For the first time, I found a woman who is both attracted to me and non-interested in me at the same time. I find her very intriguing. I love the look on her little oblong face whenever my little,, not so intentional appealing moves gets to her.

And I like it more when she gets herself in and then almost immediately out of my sensual cage and turns the situation around, like we are playing games.

She was just so unusual. And I wanted her around a little longer. I was interested in knowing how long she would last before she falls for my charms. I wanted to know what would happen after she falls for my charms.

I still had not heard the door open and it was getting pretty late. I took out my phone and dialed her number. After a few rings, it went to voicemail. It was just very unusual that they would be out this late.

I loosened a few buttons of my shirt and tried her number again. My mind immediately went to Ruby. Her health condition does not allow her to be outside for too long. And, there is also the poke nosing media. Once they see Ruby, they could lose it and my hard work in keeping her out of the limelight would be in vain.

I was about to dial the number of my friend who owned a security service company when the front door opened. Ruby ran in with no Grace in sight. “Ruby where on earth have you guys been?” I pocketed my phone.

“Sorry Daddy. We…” Ruby had started, a sad look on her face.

“It is my fault, I had something to attend to urgently.” My head whipped to Grace whose back was facing me as she dropped the polythene bags in her hand. It angered me a bit that she was talking to me with her back.

“What on earth was that important that you had to drag Ruby along? You know she should not be outside at such prolonged hours.” I didn’t mean to raise my voice. But it turned out I was angrier than I thought I was.

“I am sorry sir.” Her voice was not in its usual perky state.

“Miss Sands, come over…” The door closed before I could finish my statement and I just had to stare on in surprise. I turned to look at Ruby. “What was that all about?” I was trying my best to be calm in front of Ruby.

“Grace is not happy today daddy.”

“What do you mean?” When I saw her this morning she was very lively.

“We were late because we went to visit her friend.”

“Yeah? Is that why…”

“At the graveyard.” That shut me up. “Daddy, we are sorry we were late. But it was important to Grace to be there, so please don’t get mad at her.”

My sort of hard look softened and I gave her a short smile. I have always admired Ruby, ever since she has been born. But that fear of parenthood taking the place of my professional life made me shun my duties to her. Besides, I knew she was a very smart child, so I guessed she was doing fine on her own.
But Grace opened my eyes to show me I thought it all wrong. Ruby needed her father.

“Come here Ruby.” She slowly walked to me, her eyes everywhere but my face. “I am sorry for not being there for you over the years. Can you ever forgive daddy?” I crouched and hugged her little self to my chest.

“I was never angry with you. But yes, you are forgiven.” I could feel her smile even though I could not see it.

“Well, do you want to have a little chat with me?” I asked, a rare smile on my face as I released her from my embrace. “We can order something to eat.” She frowned and shook her head.

“No. I am tired. I want to go and sleep.” Really? Hasn’t she been waiting for this to happen for years?

“Alright. Sleep well.” Well, baby steps I guess. “Daddy,” She caught my attention as I stood up. “,please take care of Grace when she gets back, she is really sad.”

“I will.” She gave me another cute smile and went up to her room. My mind replayed her request and I just had to wonder who it was Grace went to visit at the cemetery that she became so sad. I took out my phone to try her number again, but it was switched off this time.

I sat down on one of the couches as I figured out that I would have to wait till she came back. I made a promise to my daughter after all. And I was very concerned about Grace.

********

My phone’s ringtone blared into my ears triggering me out of my shallow sleep. For a second, I couldn’t reason out why I was sprawled on my couch past midnight.

I sat up as I recalled Grace had still not come back from where she walked off to in a sorrowful state. And her number was still not reachable. As the device in my hand cried persistently to be attended to, I hoped it was her finally calling. I looked at the screen but it wasn’t her name on it.

I picked the call anyway. “Hello?” I looked straight ahead at the wall in front of me.

‘*Mr Powers?’*

”Yes?” I could hear loud music in the background.

*‘This is the clubhouse in Hotel Pierre. There is a lady in here who keeps claiming that she knows you.*’

Hoping that it wasn’t Regina , I asked, “Who is this lady?”

*‘She calls herself Grace. And Rose. Your name has been on her lips for a while, sir. Right now, she is super drunk.’*

Relieved that she was not in any deep, unwanted trouble, I thanked the guy that called and asked him to make sure she did not leave. With long strides, I was soon out of the house and in the elevator. As the lift did its work, I smirked slightly as I recalled the one statement that the guy over the phone said which caught my fancy.

*Your name has been on her lips for a whil*e.

It seemed I was not wrong about her attraction to me. It just took her being drunk to confirm that. It would be a thrill to hear her call my first name for a change not the usual formal , Mr. Powers.

And with the manner with which her voice had softly called me the other day at the piano, it would indeed be a thrill.

The club was still packed and bubbly and it didn’t look like it was going to end soon. Thankfully, the management thought it better to make the room sound proof, otherwise it would have been forced to shut down years ago. As I walked further into the party zone, murmurs began to fill my ears.
You know, the usual. Women gushing over me. I was pretty sure my eyes looked heavy at the moment, yet I was still attractive.

My look is both a blessing and a curse.

As my eyes scanned the area it could cover for a super drunk twenty five year old female in grey joggers and a slightly oversized t-shirt, I felt a tap on my shoulder. “Mr. Powers!” The heavily bearded guy who was few inches shorter than me shouted. “She is over there!”

Turned out she was at the bartender’s. Why didn’t I think to check there first?

It was a surprise she was able to maintain a balance by just sitting on the stool with just a buttock, in a drunk state. I grabbed her back with my palm and leaned in very close to her face. She really reeked of booze. She opened her eyes from what seemed to be a partial slumber.
“Dominic!” she screamed excitedly and pulled me in for a hug, laughing carelessly into my ear.

“Okay Grace, let’s get you out of here.”

“I knew you would come!” As I swept her off the stool bridal style, she popped her bra out of nowhere and started waving it front of me like a peace flag, the laughter still maintained. Already getting distracted, I grabbed it from her hand and held it far from her grasp. “My bra!” She burst out a fake cry and pulled at my hair.
“Gimme back my bra. I wanna put it *oonnn*n! Hehe.” She pulled at my hair again and I just had to let out a groan to ignore how much that reckless pull affected me.

She giggled as she played a game of *Pulling Dominic’s hair* with herself. She soon got tired of it but her hand still didn’t leave my hair. Her slim hands played with my mass of hair and she ran them through.

When I was finally back in the serene area, I looked down at her. Her eyes were shut as she continued her unrealized torture. I made it to the elevator and with the help of someone passing by, we were both on our way back to the apartment.

I looked at her face again. I could see the sadness from the previous night faintly written on it. As it seemed, she had managed to wipe a great deal of the sorrow by drinking to stupor. When we finally got to the front of the apartment, I put her down carefully and held on tight to her. I opened the door and helped her in.

Deciding that taking her straight to her room would be the best idea, I scooped her bridal style again and her eyes opened. “Hey Grace.” My eyes danced as they met hers which were already rimmed with tears.

“Dominic…” She whispered softly making my head swell. The manner with which her soft voice called me had me wishing she was not drunk. I would be attacking her full lips by now. My hands would be drawing on her slightly blemished, yet beautiful skin. My hands would be all over her, drawing her closer and closer to my body that was hot for her.

Her palm touched the side of my face and I knew that I had to go put her into her bed immediately, or else I would be doing things to her before I know it. So, I made for her room. Her hands soon started to draw on my face randomly sending chills to my body, all the way down.

“I want you, Dominic.” I stopped walking and looked down at her. She was obviously still drunk but she had this desire in her eyes as she drew plans all over my face. “I want you so bad.” I was so close to my room and I could just get her wish done but no, I was not going to do things that way.
“But I can’t!” she suddenly protested. “Grace would hate me if I slept with you.”

A little frown formed on my forehead as I resumed my walk. Would she really hate herself if she did?

Hoping that it was just the alcohol talking, I managed to open her door and soon, her back was glued to her bed. As I made to get off her, her hand came out of nowhere and pulled me back few inches to her face. Her hold was so strong which meant I would have to use some force to get off her hold and that might hurt her, so I stayed that way.

Inches away from her face.

I stared deeply into her eyes which shone more with the illumination in the room. I could just take her lips with mine. I could just, at that moment know what her skin was like under my touch. But I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop once I started.

Soon her grip on me softened but her eyes was still lazily on mine. It was obvious she was about to fall asleep, so I moved further from her a bit. Suddenly an idea popped into my head.

To avenge the sexual torment she has put me through due to her over drunk state, I had to give her a gift. “Grace,” I leaned in a bit closer, so my words would be a clear whisper. “,you have put me through so much tonight with your words and touch.”

I gently played with her hair. “As from today, the same way you have tortured me, I will do so with my words and touch.” I smirked.
“Until I make you mine.”