Chapter 5 - The Deal and the Danger
Dominic’s presence silenced the room instantly. He strode across the marble floor, his dark gaze locking onto Victoria before shifting to Layla.
“Victoria,” Dominic said, his voice dangerously smooth. “What are you doing here? I told my secretary I wasn't receiving visitors today.”
Victoria instantly switched masks, her expression softening into a picture of concerned elegance. She touched Dominic’s arm lightly, casting a sympathetic glance toward Layla.
“I dropped by to bring you the seating charts for the charity gala, darling,” Victoria murmured softly. “And I saw... well, I saw her standing in the foyer. The poor girl looks entirely overwhelmed. I told her that if she needs financial assistance for her condition, our family foundation would be more than happy to write a quiet check and set her up in a nice apartment far away from the city.”
Layla’s stomach turned. The hypocrisy was sickening. Less than a minute ago, Victoria had been threatening her life; now, she played the benevolent society angel.
Dominic pulled his arm away from Victoria’s touch, his eyes narrowing. He didn't miss the subtle tension in Layla’s shoulders or the way her hands gripped her bag.
“Layla stays here,” Dominic said, his tone absolute.
Victoria’s smile faltered for a fraction of a second, though she quickly recovered. “Dominic, be reasonable. You can’t possibly mean to bring a former maid—carrying children of questionable origin—into your home while we’re planning our wedding? What will the board say? What will my father say?”
“My personal life is not subject to a board vote, Victoria,” Dominic replied coldly. “And my children are not of questionable origin. They are Gallows.”
The word hung in the air like a falling guillotine.
Victoria’s green eyes flashed with sudden, blinding fury, though she masked it behind a breathy laugh. “As you wish, darling. But remember, a scandal in our position can destroy everything you’ve built. Think carefully about what you’re inviting into your home.”
With a final, venomous glare directed at Layla, Victoria gathered her coat and handbag, sweeping out of the penthouse with the grace of a queen and the heart of a viper.
When the private elevator doors closed behind her, Dominic turned his full, intense gaze onto Layla.
“Move into the master guest suite on the second floor,” Dominic ordered, leaving no room for argument. “You have a dedicated doctor starting tomorrow morning. You will not work another day in your life.”
“I am not your prisoner, Dominic,” Layla shot back, her voice shaking with adrenaline. “And I am not your mistress. I came because your guards threatened to carry me out. But I will not live under the same roof as the woman who just threatened to kill my babies.”
Dominic stepped directly in front of her, closing the distance until she could feel the heat radiating from his broad frame. He reached out, his thumb gently brushing a stray lock of hair away from her forehead. His touch was shockingly tender, entirely at odds with his ruthless reputation.
“Victoria doesn't control this house,” Dominic whispered fiercely. “And no one—no one—will touch my children. You are staying right here where I can protect you.”
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“Protect me from what?” Layla asked bitterly. “From the woman you’re marrying?”
Dominic’s jaw tightened. He didn't answer. Because deep down, beneath his millions of dollars and his underground empire of docks and freight, Dominic knew something terrifying: Victoria’s family was deeper into the Chicago underworld than he cared to admit, and the wedding he had agreed to for business was about to become a war zone.
