The game of disobedience

Can I kiss you

The invitation from Dominic to have tea at his apartment is unexpected, yet at the same time, it arouses curiosity in me. After all, why not take the opportunity to get to know better the father of the man who caused me so much pain?

Wasn't that the plan?

Anny, Anny....

He leads me through the corridor to his apartment, and I can't help but notice the elegance and sophistication of the place. Everything seems meticulously organized and impeccable, reflecting Dominic's refined personality.

While he prepares the tea in the kitchen, I settle into one of the armchairs in the living room, observing him with curiosity. There's something magnetic about his presence, something that attracts me in a way I can't explain.

"Then, Anny," he begins, bringing two cups of steaming tea. "Are you going to live alone here?"

I nod, accepting the cup he offers me with sincere thanks. The aroma of the tea is comforting, and I feel a bit more at ease in Dominic's presence.

"Yes, I just moved in. It's a nice apartment, but I'm still getting used to the idea."

He watches me for a moment, as if evaluating my words before responding.

"You're living alone in one of the best apartments in the city, Anny."

Dominic removes his jacket with an elegant gesture, exposing his robust and well-defined chest. His waistcoat further emphasizes his imposing figure, while his eyes shine with intriguing energy. I find myself discreetly admiring him, feeling a wave of fascination wash over me.

He settles next to me, maintaining intense eye contact, and I can't help but smile lightly as I notice his approach.

"I think I need to experience this," I say, my soft voice resonating in my ears, causing a comforting sensation as I speak.

Even though I knew what I was doing there.

"That's great. You'll learn a lot about yourself, Anny," , I'm drawn to the depth of his eyes and the way he seems to understand me without me having to say a word.

"You live alone, don't you?" I ask, seeking to prolong our conversation and unravel more about him.

"Yes, but I travel sometimes and other times I just come to sleep and change clothes," he replies.

I glance at the clock, realizing that time is passing. It's almost seven in the evening. The meeting with Lucas had derailed my plans.

"I don't want to bother you," I say, although part of me wishes to stay even longer in Dominic's company.

He leans forward, a smile playing on his lips, and his proximity makes my heart race.

"You're not bothering me," he assures, his soothing voice calming my nerves, while his eyes seem to capture all of my attention. "Don't call me sir. I'm not that old."

Dominic is captivating, mysterious, and irresistible, and I can't shake the feeling that he's thinking about something.

"I do it out of respect."

"Just don't call me sir. You don't need formality. Now tell me, you said you're starting to work."

"Yes, my mother has a summer collection, we have a few months to finalize and showcase the pieces."

"Do you like fashion, Anny?"

" Very."

"Do you like managing or creating fashion?"

I laugh.

"I'm not ready to launch anything yet. My mother always asks me, but I still think I haven't found my genie to help me."

"You're waiting for the right idea."

"Not just that, I'm waiting to know more about what I like. I can't just do it, I want to be more than someone fashion carries. It has a broad market. Good market."

I get happy. He seems to notice.

"Don't stop thinking like that. When I opened the industries, I thought a lot about how I would manage all that, I understand when you say that liking it isn't enough. Understanding what we do is more important than doing it."

I lean back in the chair, observing the environment around me with admiration, while the man in front of me captures my attention. It's surreal to be here, in this moment, before him. Everything seems so real, and my plan seems to come to life on its own, as if unfolding before my eyes, and all I needed to do was move forward.

"It seems crazy for me to be sitting here with you, sir," I begin, feeling a mixture of nervousness and excitement coursing through my body. "You see, I'm your son's ex-girlfriend. It seems like you two don't get along so well, but the funniest thing about it is that I had no idea why. I dated him for almost three years and never had the opportunity to meet you in person. He came here and the meeting happened, everything seems crazy. Now we're here, having tea together and talking about simple things. It's surreal."

"Hey, take it easy, Anny," he replies calmly, but I notice a curious sparkle in his eyes.

"I've been through a lot these days, Dominic," I confess, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders as I share a bit of my story with him.

"At least now you didn't call me sir," he jokes, causing a smile to spread across my lips.

I let out a nervous laugh, one that makes me forget even what I just said.

The nervousness returns to dominate me when I realize how surreal it is to be here, with him, in this moment.

Heavens. What do I do with him now? I wasn't prepared for this yet.

I feel flooded by a mixture of contradictory emotions: the excitement of being close to him, the anxiety about what will come next, and the fear of messing everything up. But, at the same time, a sense of freedom and empowerment takes hold of me, as if I were in control of my destiny for the first time in a long time.

I know I can't back down now. This is the moment to act, to move forward with my plan, whatever the outcome. I take a deep breath, trying to push away the tumultuous thoughts, and allow myself to live this unique moment, by Dominic's side.

I stand up, place the cup on the coffee table, and move.

"I think it's better to leave you alone and go."

"You don't need to leave like this. Just finish the tea, Anny."

"It was delicious. Thank you for what you did and for the tea."

I move and he accompanies me. I see him rolling up his shirt sleeves as he follows me.

"I hope you don't have anger towards me. I don't want enmity or a weird atmosphere. I know Lucas can be bad with some attitudes."

I turn too fast, and suddenly, I'm bumping into Dominic's solid chest. For a moment, the world around me seems to freeze, and my heart races. Before I have a chance to recover, my legs tangle, and I lose my balance.

Dominic's strong hands hold me quickly, wrapping around my hips and preventing my imminent fall. For a moment, my body is pressed against his, and I feel warmth spreading across my skin. My hand automatically rests on his arm, feeling the strength contained in his muscles.

When I lift my gaze to meet his, I'm captured by Dominic's penetrating gaze. His seductive scent invades my nostrils, while my heart seems to pound in my chest with an intensity unknown to me.

"Do you have anger towards me? Why would I?" I ask. To break the silence that has settled between us.

No one moves. Not even him. That sudden immobility indicates that something is changing, that maybe I have a chance to seize that moment for something more. I don't move, I simply allow that moment to stretch, trying to find an opening, an opportunity.

"That's good then," Dominic murmurs finally, his hoarse voice sending shivers down my entire body. One of his hands rises, brushing away a loose strand of my hair and fixing his eyes on mine. I feel vulnerable under his gaze, but also incredibly well.

In years, no man has looked at me like this. With so much desire, so much intensity. The feeling is overwhelming, frightening, and exciting at the same time, leaving me nervous and anxious to find out where this path will lead us.

His hand returns to touch my face, he seems to want to look into the depths of my eyes.

"What are you looking for?"

"Your mouth is too beautiful to steal just one kiss, so I want to ask."

"What?"

"Can I kiss you, Anny?"

Without saying anything else, I just nodded in agreement with him. My heart beating fast.