Her Dom's Lesson (Dominic Powers Book 2) Read Free Page B

number that would’ve shown on his caller ID is the main exchange at DPS.  He wouldn’t have any way of knowing it was me calling, and of course he would take a call from his own company’s phone number.
    “Hello?  Anyone there?” he asks, his voice slightly agitated at having to ask twice.
    Frantically trying to think of any reason to speak to him, my mind comes up completely blank.  I have no valid reason for calling him, nothing that wouldn’t be completely transparent in my intentions.  Then it hits me, I need to be completely transparent with him now.   He needs to know how I feel and I need him to hear me out completely.
    Before I can speak, he sighs heavily, “Sophia?  Is that you?”
    “Dominic, I need to talk to you,” I finally squeak out.
    “Is this about work?” he asks, but his voice doesn’t hold any hatred or disgust.  That fact alone gives me hope.
    “Not exactly.  I just need one chance to talk to you and tell you everything.  I miss you so much, Dominic,” I blurt out before I can stop myself.
    “Miss Vasco.  We are colleagues.  That’s all,” he replies, his tone says there is no room for argument.  He’s made up his mind and there’s nothing I can do to change it. 
    “To be effective colleagues, there are some things that we need to discuss,” I rephrase my original message.  Trying a different tactic may work, but in all honesty, all I’m feeling right now is desperation.
    “I will consult my attorney and get her guidance on the matter,” he replies dryly, shredding my heart all over again.  “She may agree to it if she’s present.”
    “Anything, Dominic,” I agree.  “Whatever you say, I will do.”
    There is complete silence for a full thirteen seconds.  It is the longest thirteen seconds of my life.  The only way I know he hasn’t hung up on me is because I can still hear the background noise.  My fingers grip the phone receiver tightly, holding on for dear life and praying this is my life preserver, saving me before I sink into the black water below.
    “I wouldn’t count on it, Miss Vasco,” Dominic finally says.  “Goodbye.”
    The line goes dead and I wish I were dead along with it.  I have nothing now.

    Spending the rest of the day reviewing every word of the D-Force Games contract, I am confident in the soundness of the language.  Rich Daltry is panicking and grasping for straws, but I copy the necessary sections, highlight the appropriate wording, and leave the paperwork on Darren’s desk.  He’s already gone for the day, as are most of the others, but I just can’t bring myself to leave yet.
    Sitting alone in the executive condo is just not my idea of fun.  I’m hiding from my life by working as much as possible.  But, my life is the very man who owns this business and being here doesn’t help me forget him.  There’s no way I can win.  The pull to go to Dominic’s office is too strong for me to resist.  Silently, I approach his door and turn the handle.  It’s unlocked and dark inside, so I flip on the lights. 
    His large, oak desk sits proudly in his office and it mocks me.  So many memories of my Dom and me on that desk flood my mind and my heart.  Tears escape my eyes even though I thought there was no way I could cry ever again.  Wrapping my arms around me, I hug myself tightly and just let the tears roll and fall where they may.  Sitting in his chair, I can still smell his manly Armani cologne and I curl up in a ball.
    It’s well past dark before I leave the office building.  That’s fine with me since it gives me less time alone in the condo before I come back to work tomorrow. Making the drive back on autopilot, I’m pulling into my parking spot before I even realize I left the office parking lot.  No radio, no music, nothing to distract me from this pain.
    Just as I reach my condo door, my cell phone starts ringing.  My only hope is that it’s Dominic calling me back to tell me he’ll hear me out.  I