The Billionaire Contract

Chapter Five

Hailey's P.O.V

After I arranged my box to leave, going out of the house didn't seem so easy anymore. Walking towards the room door, the consequences of the breach kept weighing down my mind. I knew that there was no place I could possibly hide where he wouldn't find me. and Dominic was a monster and would undoubtedly have me sued- which is why I was having second thoughts on carrying out my divorce plan. The determination and resilience I had once felt earlier- the urge not to lose this war. All withering away.. like the hope I had once had to end this sham of a marriage and not allow myself get hurt further.

I had signed myself away. To a monster. For twenty million dollars.

Two years of my life. I offered it on a silver platter to Dominic Bamford.. due to my own selfish negligence and the devious tactics that Dominic harbored.

And now here I was, three weeks later, on the verge of losing myself bit by bit.

But I didn't want to accept this fate. This shouldn't be how it ends. I know it was just two years of my life, but if Dominic was going to behave that way to me for those two years, I wouldn't survive.

But there was no way out. I couldn't miraculously cough up forty million dollars now can I? And getting sued was not an option because the court would definitely be on Dominic's side and lets just say the charges can be triple the amount of what Dominic asks for.. so I really didn't have a chance winning.

I laughed to myself, stirring the sauce I was preparing for my 'All hope is lost' dinner. Because truly, all hope was lost for me.

"Mrs Bamford, is everything okay? Did I do something funny?" Nancy asks me, her round eyes staring at me, looking clueless.

"You didn't do anything funny Nancy. I just remembered something that makes me laugh."

"Okay ma'am. Do you want me setting two plates at the table since Mr. Bamford is back from his trip?"

"Oh.. no need. He probably must have hhad dinner.. but if he hasn't, I did make enough for two people although initially, you were the second person.. but you could let him have some."

She lets out a little gasp, surprised by my words. I mentally kick myself and try to reput my words together.

"I meant serve him. You could serve him some " I correct myself and she nods her head.

Just as I mix the pasta together with the sauce, I hear the front door open. Nancy quickly leaves the kitchen to go greet him.

"Good evening sir. " I hear her greet and of course he doesn't respond back because he was a disrespectful lump of cabbage.

"Where's my wife?" He asked which set off a string of different emotions in me at once.

"She's-"

"Right here." I complete, coming into his view. His eyes rake over me, from head to toe as if assessing my whole body. I hated how it made me feel.

"Are you cooking?" He asked slowly. I pointed towards the apron on me.

"As you can see" I replied sassily which makes him raise a brow at me.

"Okay. Well, I won't be having dinner-"

"I didn't expect you to. I was actually making it for me and Nancy." He looks taken back by my answer and I hear Nancy snort a little which makes me smirk.

"That's good to know. I'll be retiring to my room then. " He walks away and up the stairs and I stare at his retreating form.

Walking back to the kitchen feeling fulfilled, my pasta was perfectly ready.

"Would you like me to put you a plate Nancy?" She looks at me with that 'You already know I'm going to say no' look.

"I can put a plate for myself. Thank you Mrs. Bamford." She picks up a plate and serves herself.

"And I'm always going to keep on offering " I tell her which makes her smile a bit.

I sit alone, once more at the dining table just as I have been doing for the past three weeks. I eat my food and take a sip of my wine. I am lost in my thoughts to the point that I don't hear footsteps approaching towards me and the pull of a chair across me.

Dominic sat across me, looking all freshened up and casual like I saw him this morning.

I didn't understand why he was sitting here with me when he said he would be going to his room. And I wasn't going to try and understand which is why I ignored his presence like he has done to me and ate my food in my sorrowful silence.

"I didn't know that you cook. " He breaks the silence. I look up at him as I take a sip of my wine.

"Well you would've known if you've been around the past weeks."

"You've been cooking everyday for yourself?" He asked in a curious voice which irked me. Why all of a sudden was he trying to make a conversation with me?

"Yes Dominic. I've been cooking everyday for myself. "

"But Nancy's here." I raised a brow at his foolishness.

"Yes she is but I also have two hands that can make something if I'm hungry so why exactly would I need Nancy doing anything for me?"

"Understandable. " He replies shortly.

"Good. Now please, let's go back to ignoring each other." I give him a plastic smile and then set my attention back on my food.

"You didn't leave anymore. Why is that?" I dropped my fork carelessly on the plate and looked at him.

"You are very chatty today Dominic. Why all of a sudden do you feel the need to speak to me?" I asked him genuinely because I didn't understand why he was trying to make conversation.

He looked back at me.

"I just asked one question. Why didn't you leave anymore?"

"Why didn't I leave anymore... hmm. Let me think." I put a finger on my chin and looked like I was really in thoughts.

"Oh. I don't know.. maybe cause you want me to pay you forty freaking million dollars as compensation to you or I get sued.. and we both know that the law is going to be on your side." "Or how about the fact that I unfortunately realized that I couldn't leave and would have to spend two years of my life with an asshole for a husband or else I would be in debt for the rest of my life." "Those reasons are quite plausible aren't they?" I end with a sweet smile at him . His face betrays no emotion and he just looks back at me.

"You signed the contract Hailey. I didn't put you in that-"

"You're a coward." I tell him.

"You very much knew what you were doing making me sign the contract. You didn't give me space to read through, cornered me. I signed under pressure from you Dominic. You are a coward. "

Not having any appetite left to keep on eating, I picked up my plate to leave the table.

"Do you feel better now you've insulted me?" He asked in his usual neutral tone. I stopped and turned to look at him.

"No I don't feel better Dominic. I wanted this marriage to work. Even if there was no romantic connection between us, I wanted us to be civil to each other at least.. but you didn't feel the same way."

He was about to speak up again but I didn't let him. I was tired and so done. "You think I want to insult you? That is not me but you leave me with no choice. To you, all I am is someone that you paid money to marry you. You feel like you bought me don't you? And I so badly wanted to prove you wrong, that you didn't buy me but I couldn't even have the luxury of that.. because I would have to pay you an amount of money that I have never come across in all my life...and I was ready to try to be a good wife and friend to you and I thought that my attempt would be mutual but you've proved me wrong these past few weeks... so no, I don't feel good insulting you Dominic. Its just what it has come to." I don't wait to hear what he has to say and leave.

He had come too late to reconcile. I already thought the worst of him and I didn't plan on having that changed.

This was better for me. At least the feelings I had harbored for him will hopefully die down.

As the night went in deep, I didn't know how long I lay in bed for but this was how I always fell asleep. Staring at the ceiling. I could be like that for a while before sleeping off.. but it was different this time because all of a sudden, I was really thirsty.

And I didn't want to get up from bed.. but my throat because scratch my by the second and so I finally forced myself to leave my room to the kitchen.

I made a mental note to take a bottle of water with me on my way up.

Once I had my fill, I made my way back upstairs but passimg Dominic's room, the sound of someone breathing heavily sounded clear.

I stopped walking to know the actual source of it and it seemed to be coming from Dominic's room.

I moved towards his door, leaning my ear by the door to hear clearer.

He sounded like he was breathless.

I tried to think of what strenuous exercise could possibly make him go this breathless in the night and then it hit me.

What the hell? Was he having s*x rght now? In the middle of the freaking night.

And for chrissake, in this house.

No.

I wasn't going to be disrespected this way. I didn't give a s**t what he did with other women outside but bringing her in here was something I would not agree with.

My hand turned the doorknob as I went in.

"Domi-" The lights were off, and everywhere was so dark, I could hardly see a thing..

And then I heard him.

Away from his bed.

"Dominic?" I called out but didn't get a response.. just more heavy breathing.

I didn't want to switch on the lights as not to be disrespectful and so I decided to move around blindly.

"Dominic where are-" I bump into something and fall to the floor.

"Owww" I groaned out, rubbing my forehead.

I tried to make out what I had hit when I realised the heavy breaths were next to me.

"Dominic?" I called softly.

"Yeah" He breathed out before his voice became more panicked.

"Oh my God. What happened? Dom-" he was wheezing and crying now. I touched around for any part of his body to comfort him and was able to hold his arm.

The heavy breaths weren't because he was having s*x. He was having a panic attack.

I rubbed his arm gently and he held onto my thigh tightly, resting his head to my shoulder.

And so we stayed in that position for God only knows how long.

Me being there for the man who had made me see him as a monster..

but monsters don't have panic attacks do they?