Crushed Affections (Dominic and Bella)

Chapter 324 Well Played

Bella hadn't expected Dominic to ask a question like this. She had already made plans with Felix and Lia. Agreeing to spend the holidays with Dominic now would mean ditching them. She picked her finger absently. "I've got a shift tomorrow. You know how unpredictable my schedule is. Forget about it."

Dominic let out a soft, mocking laugh. "Lia's going overseas with her family, and Felix's stuck working extra shifts. Neither of them has time for you."

Bella looked at Dominic in surprise. "How do you know that?"

The smug expression on his face told her all she needed to know. He had everything figured out.

Bella then realized Dominic knew about her plans way before. She hated how easily he seemed to keep tabs on her. "How did you even know I was planning to spend the holidays with them?" Dominic pulled out his phone and casually scrolled through Lia's social media posts before flashing the screen at her. Of course, Lia had posted every little detail online, likely forgetting Dominic could see them too. After cursing Lia for being a less competent friend, Bella sighed resignedly. "How did you even find out about Lia's trip and Felix's overtime? Don't tell me you orchestrated all this."

Dominic gave a lazy shrug. "Something like that. You shouldn't always say no to me right off the bat. I've got a thousand ways to make you listen."

Bella didn't believe he had that kind of control over everything. Dominic only had to pull a few strings for Felix to take on extra shifts. However, there was no way Lia would ditch her for him. "How did you convince Lia?" Though impatience flickered in his gaze, Dominic humored her. "I got her dad a vacation package. It's a fully sponsored, seven-day international trip. You got a problem with that?"

speechless. Lia's dad hardly ever got time off, and with a free vacation on the table for the whole family, it made perfect sense for Lia to choose her family over her. That was well

She climbed out of the

but said through the car window, "You've got your shift tomorrow,

over her ears, determined not to listen, but the winter wind carried his words

...

Bella's phone buzzed with calls from both Felix and Lia Just as Dominic

en

stomach growling in protest. All the nearby restaurants had closed, and there wasn't even an

midnight approached, distant fireworks echoed from the plaza. Bella leaned against the desk and stared into space while her

sound of approaching

of

up, expecting an emergency case. However, as the steps grew closer her heart gave

jel е

pace sounded familiar.