No way. Dominic had actually forced himself to stay at Vespera''s ce?
Raymond noticed Gerard looking uneasy and grinned. "What''s wrong?"
Gerard waved it off. "Nothing. I''m heading to the office."
"Aren''t you gonna call and check?" Raymond asked.
"He... probably doesn''t want me to."
"Then have Vespera ask."
"I think... She probably doesn''t know either. Let''s not bother her." Gerard''s voice grew heavier as he spoke.
"Ah, got it." Raymond picked up the kitten and headed for the kitchen. Breakfast still had to be made.
Meanwhile, Gerard thought grimly, "Crap, I slipped up."
At 9:00 pm, the doorbell rang.
Vespera jerked awake, sitting up in bed. She nced at the spot beside her, then at the door.
Who the heck was that?
It couldn''t be Reba because she knew the door code. Which meant it could only be... Raymond or Gerard.
"I''ll get it," Dominic mumbled sleepily, sitting up and starting to climb out of bed.
"You''re not going!"
Vespera quickly pulled him back. "I''ll go. You stay here. And don''te out, no matter what. If you do, I''ll-"
She didn''t dare finish her threat with the words "strangle you".
Dominic leaned back against the headboard, looking way too rxed. He smiled. "Or what?"
"Or I''ll be in big trouble."
"Vera, be a little braver. You''re my girlfriend."
Vespera stayed silent. The word "girlfriend" still scared her. "Anyway, just stay put."
She climbed out of bed, threw on some clothes, and went to open the door. Standing outside was Raymond.
"Mr. Chandler, you''re up so early?" Vespera asked with a smile.
"Vespera, it''s not early anymore. It''s already nine."
What?
Vespera froze for a second, then awkwardly scratched her head. "I overslept." Raymond handed her two insted containers.
"Being a big deal," he said, and then pushed over a clothes rack from the side.
a while isn''t a big
suit. I finished steaming
it."
"Oh... Okay..." Vespera replied, quietly taking the containers from him.
After watching Raymond leave, she turned around and bumped her forehead straight into the door, but the pain she expected never came.
Dominic was standing behind her, one hand catching her
"What are you doing?et
head''s harder than the
The only response he got was silence.
if
Vespera just stared at him, shoved the two containers into his arms, and walked
back inside.
She went to wash up and change.
Sleeping until nine! Now both of
them werete, she didn''t even dare imagine what rumors would start...
No, at this point, it wouldn''t even be rumors anymore! fo
When she finally came out, Dominic had already changed in the outside bathroom.
He was back in a suit, looking as refined and aloof as ever, the very picture of elegance and restraint.
But Vespera had seen him in bed twice now, and she knew better. This man''s surface was all a lie. Inside, he was a beast.
"Come eat breakfast," Dominic called out to her.
Vespera thought bitterly, "Well, things are already a mess. I might as well eat."
She sat down, took a couple of bites of her special breakfast for boosting energy, and suddenly froze, her face draining of color.
"Oh no, oh no, I''m screwed! We didn''t use protectionst night!" she thought.
But she had just taken emergency contraception not long ago, and doing it again would mess up her hormones.
"God. Why can''t I ever think before acting?" she thought bitterly.
"What''s wrong? Are you feeling sick?" Dominic noticed her face go pale and leaned in. "Was I too roughst night?"
"I''m fine."
Vespera forced herself to stay calm and raised a hand to stop him.
It was already done. She knew she was partly to me, too, and she''d have to figure this out herself.
She decided that she''d make a trip to the hospital and ask a doctor.
Dominic frowned.
He was about to say something when the apartment door opened.