The Billionaire's Unforgiving Bride

CHAPTER 2

Secrets in the Dark

The days after our trip to Dominic's office were a haze of stress and subdued surveillance. Expecting me to swim or drown, Dominic had dumped me into his world without a life raft. Every time I thought I had a handle, something would drag me down. I attempted to stay up, to master the nuances of his complex business transactions.

Dominic and I had found a weird cadence for quiet breakfasts, strained meetings, and long, wordless meals. While in private we were strangers at war, yet our marriage was a production for everyone else, one we performed with perfect accuracy. Though he was a mystery, always one step ahead, always hiding something, I was attempting to understand him, to peel back the layers of the man I had once thought I knew.

Unable to sleep, I discovered one night me aimlessly meandering the maze-like hallways of the estate. Dominic's study door was just slightly open, and I noticed the light streaming out. Hearing the subdued murmur of voices, I stopped. My curiosity won out, and I moved closer, wary to remain out of sight.

Dominic was on the phone, his voice sharp and hurried. "This time we cannot afford any errors. I don't trust Luca; he is watching every action. There was a stop then a forceful exhale. "Just make sure it's handled; I have no opinion about your approach."

My heart is hammering. This was more sinister than business speak. I retreated while my mind flew. Ever since that initial meeting, Luca's disturbing presence had been chewing at me; now, it seemed Dominic too lacked trust in him. If Dominic was anxious, though, things were far worse than I had thought.

I fled to the security of our bedroom before Dominic could see me. Rising into bed, I gazed at the ceiling and tried to fit the bits of the jigsaw together. Dominic surrounded him with threats; now, so was I. Every instinct urged me to flee, to shield Lily and myself, but I was caught in this marriage and in Dominic's frightening world.

By the time I woke up the next morning, Dominic was already half out the door clothed. His back was stiff, and he changed his tie in the mirror with tension radiating from him.

"Busy daily?" Trying to seem laid back as I poured myself a cup of coffee, I inquired.

"Always," he said sharply, his eyes briefly locked with mine then flicked away. "We still have another meeting at lunchtime. I will forward the car to you.

I nodded, but his manner made me uncomfortable. The same guarded, clipped edge that constantly came into his voice while he was hiding something seeped into his speech. The impression that whatever Dominic was handling was spiraling out of control.

I had pulled myself together by the time the car showed up, dressed in my armor as a custom outfit and wore a focused look. The driver showed me another of Dominic's soaring glass offices downtown. I sensed something was awry as soon as I walked inside—the air seemed frigid.

I met an unknown face as soon as I walked into the conference room: a tall woman with bright green eyes and shockingly red hair. She looked absolutely perfect, every inch of her radiating confidence and strength. I had a flash of identification—this was no typical business associate.

"Cassandra, this is Evelyn Chase," Dominic said, his voice remarkably strained. "She invests new money."

"Investor," I said again, gesturing politely with a hand although my head was already whirling. Evelyn looked directly ahead, her handshake firm but not friendly. She had a coldness about her that chilled my spine.

Evelyn sat across from me with her lips curved into a small smile. "Dominic told me everything about you. It's great to at last meet his lovely wife, really.

Her obviously fake manner caused my stomach to turn over. She stared at Dominic, and her eyes stayed on his just a second too long. Dominic was aware she was in trouble.

Evelyn slanted back in her chair, crossing her legs with a confident, almost arrogant look. "This alliance excites me, Dominic. Still, I believe everyone should be aware of the stakes involved here.

Dominic stiffened his jaw but said nothing. I watched the conversation, the strain between them sparking like electricity. Evelyn was an adversary, one who knew just how to set Dominic's buttons, not only a business partner.

The conference went on, dotted with subdued threats and deft power moves. Evelyn was intelligent, aspirational, and obviously driven to leave her mark. But the more the conference went on, I couldn't get rid of the impression that she was hiding more than she was allowing. She was too exact, too polished.

Dominic and I traveled back silently following the conference, the weight of Evelyn still hovering between us. Though I wanted to know what type of game he was playing and about her, I knew better than to press. I was not in the mood for another argument; Dominic was like a coiled spring, poised to snap at any moment.

I finally shattered the quiet that evening as we sat opposite each other at the dinner table. "Who is her actual name, Dominic?"

He looked up, his face guarded. "Evelyn is a necessary evil. She is a menace even if she has contacts we need.

Threat? With a heart missing a beat, I asked. Either to you or to us?

Dominic stopped, the flutter of something sensitive crossing his face before his regular mask slid back in place. "Neither. She is not someone one should minimize.

It was an unusual honest moment that simply made me uncomfortable. The similarities between Evelyn and Luca caught me; they were both surrounding Dominic in search of flaws to target. Then there was me, caught in the crossfire of a battle I could not quite grasp.

Dominic's phone chimed, yanking him out of the current discussion. He looked at the screen, brow wrinkled. He murmured, "I have to take this," got up and vanished into his study.

I sat there, the emptiness of the estate crushing down on me as he went. Feeling like a pawn in someone else's game had grown old. I had to act, learn what was truly happening before it was too late.

Later that evening, I returned to Dominic's study attracted once more by the muffled conversations behind the door, aroused by curiosity. This time I was not slow. I opened the door just a little, enough to hear Dominic's low, furious voice mixed with fear.

"Evelyn is moving in ways I cannot forecast. She is a wildcard, and Luca is not wavers. Should Cassandra learn about it... His speech stopped, and my blood stopped too.

discovers what? My head whirled as I considered. My pulse sharpening as I realized how far I was in over my head, I backed off. I was caught in the middle of too many players, too many secrets.

Dominic hung off the line and turned to see me waiting in the doorway. His face softened for a single second, a fracture in his customary front. But it vanished quickly, then the harsh, unreadable mask he wore took the front stage.

His voice dangerously calm, he asked, "Were you listening?"

I shook my head and swallowed the lumps in my throat. "No; I just... I wish to chat.

Dominic's eyes scanned mine, and for a minute I saw the man I had fallen for—the man lost under all the power maneuvers and lies. Still, whatever weakness existed was hidden too far down.

Then chat, he replied, his tone gentler but yet wary.

I paused, selecting my words deliberately. Dominic, we cannot continue to do this. Acting as though all is good when it isn't. I have to find out going forward. You hide something, and I need to know.

Dominic groaned and frustratedly ran a hand through his hair. " Cassandra, this is beyond our scale. Things you don't want to know and things I cannot shield you from.

"But I'm already involved," I said, my voice getting higher. You drew me into this. You included me into your reality. And right now I would like you to let me inside.

I briefly thought he may at last let his guard down, but Dominic only shook his head and retreated into the darkness of his study.

"Trust me, Cassandra," he murmured gently. Some things are better kept in the dark.

He turned away, leaving me alone and more dubious than ever. I knew whatever secrets Dominic was keeping would tear us apart as the walls closed in.

When I got back to our room, a little, unbranded envelope slid under the door. As I picked it up, my heart thumped and shaking hands tore it open. Inside came one piece of paper bearing a terrifying warning.

"You are not secure." Turn around your back.

I fixated on the words, my head ablaze with possibilities. From whom had it been sent? Was Evelyn here? Lucia? Alternatively someone else prowling in the darkness. The admonition was obvious: I