Rebecca’s POV
‘I hope you don’t mind,” I said, my voice embarrassingly breathless. “I thought you might be hungry when you woke up.”
‘I don’t mind at all, he murmured, his breath stirring the hair at my temple. Then, to my surprise, his arms encircled my waist, and he leaned down to inhale deeply near my neck. “You’re a woman of hidden talents, it seems.”
My heart hammered against my ribs, my body responding traitorously to his proximity. “It’s just steak and mushrooms. Nothing fancy.”
His hands remained at my waist, thumbs making small circles against the fabric of my blouse. “Where did you learn to cook?”
*Self–taught, mostly, I managed, focusing on the sauce to distract myself from his touch. “My mom worked double shifts when I was in high school, so I took over dinner duty. Taught myself from cooking shows and YouTube videos.”
Dominic was silent for a moment, and I felt his chest expand against my back as he took a deep breath. When he spoke again, his voice was softer, almost gentle. “Your life hasn’t been easy, has it?”
The unexpected perception in his question caught me off guard. I shrugged, uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation. “Lots of people have it worse.”
He released me then, stepping back to give me space. Dinner will be ready soon?”
I nodded, both relieved and oddly disappointed by the loss of his warmth. “About ten minutes. You can sit down if you want.”
Instead of leaving, Dominic leaned against the counter, watching me work. The weight of his gaze made my movements self–conscious, but I continued preparing the meal.
We ate at the kitchen island, the formal dining room seemingly too stuffy for just the two of us. Dominic had shed his tie entirely, and rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt, revealing strong forearms dusted with dark hair. The sight was unexpectedly intimate, as though I was seeing a side of him few others witnessed.
“This is excellent,” he commented after his first bite of steak, his expression one of genuine appreciation. “The sauce especially.”
A flush of pleasure warmed my cheeks at the compliment. “Thank you. I’m glad you like it.”
We ate in relative silence for a few minutes, the only sounds the soft clink of silverware against plates and the occasional appreciative hum from Dominic. I found myself sneaking glances at him, still adjusting to the reality of sharing meals with this powerful, enigmatic
man.
‘Rebecca,” he said finally, setting down his fork. “There’s something we need to discuss.”
My appetite immediately vanished, tension knotting my stomach. “Yes?”
Dominic reached beside him, producing a thick folder I hadn’t noticed before. He placed it on the counter between us.
“This is the agreement we discussed. It outlines everything in explicit detail. I believe in absolute clarity when it comes to… arrangements
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12:03 Mon, Sep 22
Chapter 35
of this nature.”
(64)
I stared at the folder, my stomach churning. The clinical term “arrangement” made my skin crawl.
Dominic opened the folder, his finger tracing over sections as he spoke. “Section one covers the financial compensation. Your father’s medical expenses-$1,500,000 for the surgery, post–operative care, and rehabilitation–will be paid in full upon your signature. Additionally, I’ll pay for your personal expenses and fashion studies.”
The exact figures made me flinch. Seeing the worth of my body calculated so precisely was nauseating.
“Section two,” he continued coldly, “outlines your obligations. You will reside here, in my home. You will be available to me whenever I require companionship, both in public and private settings.”
His eyes met mine, unflinching. “Section three specifies the physical expectations of our arrangement. You will share my bed when requested. You will participate willingly in all intimate activities I desire. There’s a list of exceptions you may specify–anything beyond that is considered within the scope of our agreement.”
12:03 Mon, Sep 22
