Revengeful Deceptions (20 page)

“This is a nice surprise honey, how
are you? Your father's been telling me about that messy case you just won.
That’s great honey, I’m proud of you.”

“Where's Dominique little bro?”

Without saying a word, Adam lunged
after his brother. Grabbing him by the collar he yanked him up close.

“Son, you let go of your brother
now!” Jonathan shouted.

“Stay out of this dad!”

“Now listen to me Brandon and
listen good, I meant what I said about you staying away from
   
Dominique, now if this has to do with me?

  
Then you take it up with me. Now this is how things are gonna go from
now on Brandon, no matter what you think about Dominique she is someone who
means a lot to me so you better get used to it because I intend on having her
in my life for a very long time.

Are we clear Brandon? Because if
we're not, I’d be more than happy to make it clear for you over and over
again.”

“Yeah we're clear little bro, I
won’t say a word about your girlfriend.”

“That's more like it,” Adam
straightened out his brother’s shirt before giving his mother a kiss goodbye
and walking out the door.

“I think this one will be perfect,”
Dominique whispered as she returned the gown to its hanger and walked with it
towards checkout. She had chosen a holiday red strapless gown. She loved the
way the all satin gown draped along the bottom; it reminded her of the gowns
that Hollywood starlets wore in black and white movies.

That soft sensual look was just
what she wanted. While she waited for the cashier to wrap up her gown,
Dominique took note of the time. She sheepishly looked around and noticed that
she was the only one left in the tiny store and hardly anyone was left on the
street. She graciously thanked the sales girl and gave her a tip. It was the
least she could do considering the poor girl had kept the store open way past
closing time, just to please its last customer.

Dominique quickly left the store
and headed towards her car. As she carefully placed the gown in the back seat
of the Volvo, she noticed the flat tire.

“You've got to be kidding me."
She groaned as she stood staring at the flat. Changing a flat was something
that she had watched Stephen do but had not attempted to try on her own. How
hard can it be she thought to herself as she walked around to the other side of
the car to retrieve the vehicle handbook from the glove
box.

“Son of a bitch!” the other tire
was flat as well. “Okay, this is no accident,” she remarked as she called Adam.

“Dominique where are you? I was
starting to get worried.”

“Adam, I’m at the car and both of
my tires have gone flat, I didn’t realize it was so late and now there's no one
around.” Adam immediately began putting on his shoes and was already heading
towards his car.

  
“Dominique where are you exactly?” He asked trying not to panic her.

Once she told him what street she
was on, he asked her if there was anyplace still open.

“I don’t think so Adam, wait
there’s someone who looks like they’re pulling over.”

“Dominique you stay on the phone
with me, I’m on my way right now.”

Adam could hear the voice of a man
asking Dominique if she needed help.

“No thank you I’m all set,”
Dominique said coolly to the stranger.

“You sure? Because it’s not safe
for you to be out here all by yourself,” he said, moving closer to her.

  
Adam stepped on the gas pedal of the range rover and sped towards the
street where Dominique was stranded.

“Dominique, I am on the street,
I’ll be there in ten seconds,
can
you see me?”

Dominique looked up and down the
street but still was unable to see Adam.  Joey knew if he was going to
take her he was going to have to do it now. He had totally forgotten that she
would have a cell phone on her,
goddamn
! He cursed to himself.

  
Just as he reached over  to grab her, headlights came baring down on
him, forcing him to take off running, he wasn’t about to get caught, especially
when he hadn’t been paid the whole amount yet. He'd have his chance on the
weekend he thought,
I’ll just have to step things up a bit,
he thought
as he stood hunched over, several blocks away panting and catching his breath.

“Dominique are you alright?” Adam
asked jumping out of the car. He thought about going after the creep that tried
to grab her but he knew he had to get Dominique home safe.

“I'm alright Adam, thank you for
getting here so fast, you saved my life.”

“Dominique have you ever seen that
guy before?”

“No, I haven’t Adam, if this is
some sick game your brother is playing...”

“I don’t know what to think anymore
Dominique; I do know that I just had it out with him back at my parents place.”

Dominique was surprised, “you did?”

“Yes I told him to stay away from
you and that you are very important to me and he better get used to it.”

“I'm sure that went over well,”
sighed Dominique as she removed her new gown and placed it in Adam's car.

“I don’t care how it went just as
long as he gets the picture, now come on let’s get you home. I'll call triple A
and have your car towed to a tire shop.”

Dominique didn’t know what to make
of the two slashed tires, with all that’s been going on she had almost
forgotten about Brandon and his relentless hatred for her.
He must have
really liked Nick she thought to herself. That is the only explanation, he
couldn’t possibly know that I know who he is and what he's done,
it's
just not possible
.
Nick is the only one that
figured it out and he's dead so Brandon's only issue with me has got to be that
I shot and killed his friend. Well Brandon Caruso, you may have hired someone
to do your dirty work for you but I’ve got people on my side as well and one of
them is closer than you think.

The night of the party arrived and
as Dominique put on her gown, she was very happy with the choice she had made.
It looked exquisite on. The satin gown fell and draped in all the right places.
A pair of simple diamond earrings and necklace gave her the elegant look that
she was going for. She piled her hair on top of her head leaving loose spiral
curls to dangle romantically around her face. 

Her overnight bag was packed as
well as she and Adam would be staying the night at the elegant hotel. Her bag
sat by the door and as she waited for Adam to pick her up, Dominique sipped on
a glass of wine, instantly her stomach churned, 
Oh god I hope I’m not
getting sick she thought to herself.
 

But the more she thought about it,
she realized that she had missed her period.
I can't be pregnant, she
thought to herself. But I’ve been feeling crampy and moody though.  Oh my
god, what if I AM pregnant?
Dominique subconsciously placed her hand on her
belly,
no this can't be happening, this cannot be happening. Okay Dominique,
calm down, you don’t know anything yet, just wait until you get to a doctor.
There's nothing you can do tonight so just enjoy yourself and don’t let on to
Adam that anything is wrong.

“Dominique you look good enough to
eat.”

“I'll take that as a compliment.”
grinned Dominique as he held her hands and she slowly twirled around for him.
“Dominique you are the most beautiful woman that I have ever laid eyes on. He
sighed. God I am one lucky guy Dominique Foster.”

“Adam I feel the same, you look
gorgeous yourself, wearing a tux definitely suits you Adam, but I have to
admit, I can't wait to get you out of it. She winked.

“I know the feeling gorgeous, I
know the feeling.”

As they entered the lobby of the
Ritz- Carlton hotel, Dominique was taken aback at how beautifully decorated it
was. Red and white plush poinsettia's and lavishly decorated Christmas trees
adorned the marble floors. Soft white lights hung delicately along railings and
greenery everywhere.

“Dominique I still don’t know why
you had me park in the parking garage, it would have saved you from having to
walk so far in those incredibly sexy heels.”

Dominique laughed; she was hoping
he would notice the brand new Christian-lacroix red holiday heels she was
wearing.

“Well I figured since we're staying
the night, it would be easier that's all, and besides, it’s a waste of money to
have to tip a valet when the parking garage is right here.”

“If you say so Dominique but I
would have been more than happy to pay a valet you know?”

“I know, next time. Look I see
Molly and Neal let’s go say hello.”

Adam loved how sensible Dominique
could be, every day he learned something new about her. He was no longer
falling in love with her, he was in love with her and he was going to tell her
tonight.

   Joey sat in his
ford explorer reading the newspaper and smoking a cigarette. He had followed
the couple into the parking garage of the Ritz and there he would remain until
they came out. He knew he would be in for a long night but he didn’t mind.
More
money to charge his client,
he thought to himself.

Chapter Twenty

Adam stood in awe and watched as
Dominique seemed to glide around the room laughing and mingling with her
co-workers. She had made several friends these last few months and he was glad,
she wanted friends, she told him one night. He knew she felt lonely for female
companionship and Molly and his mom had come into her life at the perfect time
she told him.

He smiled as she glided towards
him. Whenever she looked at him, he felt as if he was the only man in the room
and she was the only woman in the world for him.

“Come on handsome, let’s dance.”
Dominique took hold of his hand and led him to the dance floor.

Dominique relished in the feeling
of having Adam's arms around her, and as they danced to the romantic ballad, he
whispered in her ear, “I love you Dominique.”

As if it were second nature,
Dominique replied, “I love you too Adam.”

  
The two kissed as they spun around the dance floor, it was a moment that
Dominique thought she would never feel again. She no longer felt guilty either,
she still loved Stephen but he was gone and was not coming back. She was sure that
he would want her to find love again, even though the circumstances were
extremely unorthodox. But with the help of Muriel, Molly and Neal, she would be
taking care of that unfortunate circumstance very soon.

Adam was in conversation with his
parents when she gently placed her arm around him.

“Adam I hate to interrupt but I
can't find my evening bag; I think I left it in the car.”

“Okay I’ll go get it, I’ll be right
back.”

“No honey it’s Okay really, I’ll
get it, you stay here and talk to your parents,
I’ll
be right back.” She smiled.

“Dominique I could use the walk,
why don’t I go with you? Give us a chance to catch up.”

“Sure thing Muriel, let’s go.”

Dominique gave Adam a quick kiss
before retreating to the lobby.

“Dominique you look radiant this
evening.”

“Thank you Muriel, so do you, your
gown is breath taking.”

“It should be, it costs more than a
small car,” she giggled. “Thanks to my husband of course.”

“Muriel, you are an amazing woman.”

“Dominique we are two amazing women
and whether you want to admit or not my dear, you’re wearing the look of love!”

“This time Muriel, I will not
disagree with you, not one bit,” she smiled.

Joey Costa sat up quickly in his
seat the moment he heard the elevator doors open and heard the female voices
coming closer towards him. He squinted at the figures, and couldn’t believe his
eyes,
it’s now or never,
he told himself as he started the explorer.

Dominique clicked the alarm of the
range rover and opened the door. She breathed a sigh of relief as she spotted
her purse.

  
She opened it, took out some lip gloss and sat in the passenger side and
pulled down the vanity mirror and began applying her lip gloss. Muriel too
leaned over and using the side mirror applied lipstick of her own.

  
As the two finished up, locked the car and began walking back towards
the elevators, the sound of a racing engine and squealing tires made Dominique
turn around just in time to see the SUV coming right towards them, she screamed
in horror as she quickly pushed Muriel out of harm’s way.

  
Muriel turned around and let out a blood curdling scream as the SUV
careened into Dominique. Dominique felt the sting and hardened blow to her side
as the SUV caught her and sent her into the metal grill of a parked vehicle before
landing on the ground. The impact of Dominique bouncing off the car was so hard
it set off the alarm. Muriel ran to Dominique as Joey stepped on the gas and
sped out of the parking garage. “And that takes care of that, time to get
paid,” he grinned as he drove away.

Tears streamed down her face as she
gently felt for a pulse. Muriel dialed 911 on her cell and gave the location.
When she hung up the phone she heard a moan escaping Dominique’s lips.

Muriel leaned closer to hear what
she was saying. The pain was intense now but she managed to whisper his name.

“Adam.”

  
Muriel frantically dialed Adams cell but it went straight to voice mail.
He must have shut
it off
, thought Muriel.

“Dominique I’ll go get him, I
promise I’ll be right back. Oh Dominique you hang on, I’ll be right back.”

As the party continued full swing,
Adam began to wonder what was taking Dominique and his mom so long to return.
They
probably stopped off at the ladies room.
There was a commotion in the lobby
of the hotel.