Vespera''s voice was gentle and light as she spoke, "Derand, what time will you be at the office?"


    Gerard replied. "Around 9:00 am, why?"


    Vespera continued, "I''m heading to the office today, but I still h pleasee down and pick me up?


    haven''t picked up my ess card from MR, and I''m not sure which flour my office ison, Could you


    She knew it was a bit much, but since she had a good rtionship with Gerard, she shamelessly asked him for the favor


    Gerard chuckled. "You haven''t left yet, right? I''m at Mr. Reid''s ce. Juste up, and you can ride with Mr. Reid to the office."


    There was a brief silence on the other end of the line.


    Vespera responded, "I think I''ll just wait for you at the office."


    There was no way she would go straight to Dominic''s ce without an invitation, casually showing up and riding in his car.


    The conversation had been overheard by Dominic, who was sitting in the quiet dining room. He ced his juice down on the table with a bit more force than usual.


    "Are you herckey now? She can find HR on her own," he said, his cold toneing through the phone and into Vespera''s ear.


    She silently groaned in frustration. Gerard had answered the call right in front of Dominic, acting far too casually,


    Gerard was embarrassed.


    He thought 1s it really such a big deal to pick her up?


    Vespera quickly said on the phone, "Nevermind. Gerard, could you just send me the contact for HR? I''ll reach out myself."


    Gerard sighed. "Alright, I''ll send you the HR manager''s WhatsApp right now." "Thanks, see you at the officeter," Wespera said brightly before hanging up. She exhaled deeply, sitting in front of her vanity


    She had leamed berlesson. It was never a good idea to take the


    On her first day at work, her boss had found out she had asked a colleague to help her out, and now Gerard was getting scolded because of it.


    Her phone vibrated twice-Gerard had sent a message.


    Vespera hadn''t checked her messages since she woke up. She had been busy with breakfast and getting ready. Now, opening her WhatsApp, she saw Gerard''s


    message


    Just as she was about to tap it, she noticed a message that had been sent right under his.


    Everyone''s WhatsApp names were unique, except for Dominic, who used his real name. His profile picture was of a forest, and his status updates were empty, making his ount look like a bot.


    "Dominic Reid was the name on his WhatsApp profile.


    The message she had sent himst night read, "Got it, darling.


    Her mind went nk for a moment. Her heart skipped a beat as panic surged through fiec


    "Darling? Whose dading? My darling? No... No way!" she thought, the word echoing in her mind.


    But she didn''t have a husband anymore.


    Then, it hit her. This was her WhatsApp ount


    She had called Dominic "darling"


    Her heart raced as everything dank in. She had used the word "darling" for Dominie, of all people.


    "Ah!" she screamed internally.


    Her mind weed nk in an instant, her eyes shing erratically as it a storm had past hit. Her hands shook uncontrobly, like she was having a nervous brcalulown No, this couldn''t be happening. It couldn''t be real, she refused to believe


    Vespera threw her phone across the room, standing up and stepping back. She coveted for mouth with both hands, staring at the phone lying there in stunned


    It took bradull tenninutes toe to i


    toe to terms with the horrifying truth,


    back down at the vanity.


    Taking a deep breath, she picked up her phone again and carefully checked the time. He had sent her the message at 1:00 am


    She had no idea when she had replied Maybe he, like her, had set it in alult asleep dare and hadn''t checked his messages yet. The tick next to her message hadn''t


    she went upstairs and grabbed his ne to delete the imessage, it would be too risky


    In the end, she decided to give it a shot.


    Afterall, things were already a mess, so she might as well just dive in and deal with it head on


    She decided to go to his ce first and gauge his reaction with that thought, she then grabbed her bag and headed to his penthouse.


    PRUDKA 172


    When she entered the dining room, the three people inside turned to look at her.


    vespera forced a tight smile, her lips trembling. "Dood morning."


    Dominic looked at her fresh, youthful face, a knowing smile tugging at his lips. He said, “Ms. Gildon, looks like you slept well."