The Daring Billionaire’s Wife by Lypstical

Dominic

I'm only on my second glass of whiskey, unlike Frank, who's on his fourth to celebrate this victory with me. I should be just as enthusiastic as he is, but I can't bring myself to do it.

"Dude, you don't have to worry about Shane anymore," he chuckles. "Isn't this what you wanted?"

I lean back in my seat, blankly staring at my glass. "It's definitely what I wanted but that's what bothers me because of what is to come."

"You mean letting Vanessa decide if she wants to be with Patrick or not? Wait, are you scared?" He mocks me as he rests his elbows on the table. "Piss off."

He chuckles. "Okay...okay... damn. I won't laugh anymore. He clears his throat and turns serious. Talk to me."

"Patrick seemed so confident that Vanessa's still in love with him since they share a long history together."

"Do you think that's true when you look at her?"

"Honestly, I don't know what to think. There are times when I've made myself believe she feels something for me but I soon dismiss that possibility."

Raising his eyebrows, he says, "Imagine this - she stands between the two of you and then boom! She actually wants to be in a relationship with Patrick!"

I clench my jaw, trying so hard not to smack him across the face. "You really don't make this easier."

"And why should I? You know, I still can't believe you like Vanessa."

My lips naturally curve into a smile but it soon fades. "Not a word about this to Mia. I know she's part of us now, but when it comes to certain things, you better keep your mouth shut. Some secrets are just for the two of us." "Trust me on this one. My lips are sealed."

I empty my glass all at once, then rise to my feet.

"Wait, where are you going?" he asks.

"I need to talk to Vanessa. She's over at her dad's house. I don't think I can wait until later for this shit with Patrick. I want it out of the way as soon as possible so I can be at peace and know how she truly feels about it."

He sighs. "I guess you can't wait to get your heart broken."

"Shut up."

the grip on my steering wheel, determined to speak to her in person before she can make her decision. Though she mentioned in the past that her feelings

their pain, which is why I'll make sure that this treatment is a success. Even though I want to take her up to her bedroom so we can speak in private immediately, I have to wait for the right moment. The moment

already crossed her arms and tilted her head while standing on the other

how it went with Patrick," she says. "It didn't help that you told me nothing when we spoke

"Shane is no longer a pain in the ass because Patrick offered to help me

"What? How come?"

I explain to her the relationship between Patrick

she says

it could get rid of whatever

"Exactly."

soon fades. "Wait, there's no way Patrick did this without asking for something

course not. He has a condition.

"Huh?"

said it has to be you. He wants to know how you feel and that's why he wants to meet again. Next time, you're coming with me." She goes silent with a

I hold onto her shoulders and say, "Hey,

my heart pounding so hard. I fear that if this doesn't go the way I want, I'm actually going to

go there if you don't want to," I repeat myself, hoping that she'll listen to me. "No. I'll do

a little and

look to the side. "The

than ever, I fear that I'll lose her to Patrick, which makes me regret that I confessed to him how I feel about her. No matter what happens, I can only hope that

-

seeing Patrick face-to-face again, I might end up openly showing my irritation for everyone to see because this is already the second time in a

park where Patrick wants us to meet, I step out of the car first, walk over to the other side and open the door for Vanessa, holding out my hand for her. She looks at me with a half smile of gratitude and the pain in my heart won't go away as I'm getting closer to finding out what's actually going on in

places her hand in mine and I hold it tightly as I don't

on you," I

want to get this out of the way. It's

"Then let's go."

$

a distance, I tighten my grip on Vanessa's hand even more, not wanting to let