Expensive Attention
1478 Words
Sophia answered her phone at exactly eight the next morning.
Mostly because curiosity kept her awake half the night.
She sat alone in the hospital cafeteria, holding a bitter cup of coffee, when the unknown number appeared.
She already knew who it was.
“Hello?”
“Good,” Dominic said calmly. “You answered.”
Sophia leaned back. “You sound surprised.”
“I expected you to ignore me.”
“I almost did.”
“But you didn’t.”
That same calm confidence again.
Sophia rubbed her forehead. “What do you want?”
“To ask a question.”
“What question?”
“Did you eat breakfast?”
Sophia blinked.
“…What?”
“You heard me.”
Silence stretched.
She expected manipulation.
Pressure.
Money.
Not this.
“That’s why you called?”
“You sound disappointed.”
Sophia exhaled. “You barely know me.”
“And yet I know you skipped breakfast.”
Her stomach tightened.
Because he was right.
Again.
“How?”
“You’re at the hospital.”
“That explains nothing.”
“It explains enough.”
Sophia looked at her untouched coffee.
“You always think you know everything?”
“No,” Dominic said. “Only people.”
That answer unsettled her more than arrogance would have.
A nurse called her name nearby.
“I have to go.”
“How’s your father?”
The tone shifted slightly, still calm, but real concern underneath.
“He’s stable.”
“For now?”
She didn’t answer.
He understood anyway.
“I’ll call later.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I know.”
The line ended.
Sophia stared at her phone.
No man had ever called her just to ask if she had eaten.
And that was the problem.
It didn’t feel like control.
It felt like attention.
And attention like that always comes with consequences.
By evening, Elysium Club was already buzzing with rumors.
Sophia stepped into the dressing room and felt it immediately.
Whispers.
Eyes.
Veronica turned toward her.
“What did you do to him?”
Sophia frowned. “Who?”
“Dominic Vale.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“That man requested you three nights in a row.”
Sophia paused.
“Three?”
“He’s booked again tonight,” Veronica added. “The manager is acting like you signed a contract with a king.”
Sophia shut her locker harder than necessary.
“This is ridiculous.”
“No,” Veronica said quietly. “It’s unusual.”
Sophia glanced at her.
“In what way?”
Veronica lowered her voice. “Men like him don’t repeat women.”
That landed heavier than it should have.
Before Sophia could respond, the manager entered.
“Sophia. Suite Seven.”
Again.
She didn’t react outwardly, but her pulse tightened anyway.
The girls watched as she left.
Whispers followed her out.
Dominic was already there.
No drink this time.
Just waiting.
Watching her enter like he had been expecting her all day.
“You came,” he said.
“You paid.”
A faint smile. “You always answer like that?”
“Only when I’m tired.”
His gaze stayed on her.
Like he enjoyed that honesty more than he should.
Sophia stopped near the door.
Distance felt safer.
He noticed immediately.
“You’re avoiding me.”
“I’m being careful.”
“Am I dangerous?”
She met his eyes.
“Yes.”
No hesitation.
That surprised him slightly.
He poured whiskey but didn’t drink.
“What are you afraid of?”
Sophia gave a short laugh.
“That list is long.”
“Start with me.”
Her expression cooled.
“You’re powerful. You’re used to controlling.”
“And?”
“And men like that don’t take no for an answer.”
Dominic took a slow sip.
“Do you think I’d force you?”
“No.”
Instant answer.
Because strangely, she didn’t think he would.
That scared her more.
“But?” he asked.
“But people like you still take something eventually.”
Silence followed.
Dominic set the glass down carefully.
“I asked for you because you looked like you were breaking.”
Sophia stiffened slightly.
“You didn’t know me.”
“I knew enough.”
“There you go again.”
Dominic stepped closer.
Not fast.
Not aggressive.
Controlled.
“I know you’re exhausted,” he said.
Sophia’s breathing slowed.
“I know you’re carrying everything alone.”
Another step.
“I know you scan every room for exits before you relax.”
Her chest tightened.
“I know you pretend you’re fine so no one can use your weakness against you.”
Sophia looked away.
Too accurate.
Too personal.
“You don’t know anything about me,” she said quietly.
“Then tell me.”
That stopped her.
No demand.
No pressure.
Just an invitation.
Sophia crossed her arms.
“My father got sick. Life went downhill. That’s it.”
“That’s not it.”
A pause.
“No,” she admitted. “It isn’t.”
Silence returned.
Then Dominic asked:
“How long have you been the one holding everything together?”
That question hit differently.
Sophia hesitated.
“Nineteen,” she said before thinking.
His expression changed.
Subtle.
But sharper.
Too young.
“I should go,” she said quickly.
Dominic frowned. “You just arrived.”
“And I’m leaving.”
“Because things are getting real?”
Anger flashed.
“This isn’t real.”
“Then why are your hands shaking?”
She looked down.
They were.
Damn it.
She clenched them.
“I’m tired.”
“No,” he said quietly. “You’re scared.”
That silence after it felt heavier than anything else.
Before she could respond, his phone rang.
His expression changed instantly.
Business returned.
Cold.
Controlled.
“Yes.”
He turned slightly away.
“I said cancel it.”
Pause.
“I don’t care.”
Another pause.
“Handle it.”
He ended the call.
Sophia stared at him before she could stop herself.
“You canceled a meeting?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“You’re here.”
That answer landed harder than it should have.
Sophia looked away.
This was exactly how people got caught.
Not big gestures.
Small ones.
Care.
Attention.
Time.
Dominic watched her carefully.
“What are you thinking?”
“How this ends.”
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“And how does it end?”
“You lose interest.”
He studied her for a moment.
“That’s what you’ve experienced before.”
Not a question.
A statement.
Sophia didn’t answer.
Instead, she moved toward the balcony.
“I need air.”
Cold night hit her face immediately.
Las Vegas glittered below.
Beautiful from above.
Empty underneath.
She gripped the railing.
A moment later, Dominic stepped outside too.
But he didn’t touch her.
Didn’t crowd her.
Just stood beside her.
“I’m not trying to trap you,” he said.
Sophia let out a quiet laugh.
“You say that now.”
“I mean it.”
“You don’t expect me to believe you.”
“No.”
That honesty made her glance at him.
“Then why keep coming?”
Dominic looked at her.
“You looked lonely.”
That stopped her completely.
Not beautiful.
Not desirable.
Lonely.
That was worse.
Sophia swallowed.
“That’s a terrible reason to get involved with someone.”
A faint smile.
“Who said I’m involved?”
She stared at him.
Neither spoke.
Because the truth was already sitting between them.
He was not just involved.
He was already too close.
Too focused.
Too late to pretend otherwise.
And for the first time, neither of them tried to deny it.
Sophia finally turned away from the view, her breath uneven but controlled. The city lights below felt distant now, like they belonged to a life she was not allowed to step into. Dominic remained still beside her, not closing the space, but not increasing it either, as if he understood that any movement would shift something neither of them was ready to name.
Her phone vibrated inside her bag, breaking the silence for a moment. She didn’t check it. She already knew what kind of calls came at this hour, and none of them changed the reality waiting for her outside this balcony. Dominic noticed the vibration but said nothing, only watching her reaction carefully.
Sophia finally exhaled, pulling herself back into control. Whatever this was, it couldn’t continue the way it was forming, too fast, too unclear, too dangerous for her situation. She stepped back toward the door slowly, forcing distance again between them.
Dominic didn’t stop her. He only spoke once.
“You’ll come back.”
It wasn’t a question.
And that was what unsettled her most.
- Writer
