Chapter 22
“Dominic, what do we do now?” Adriana’s voice wavered with a hesitant tremor, her eyes searching his face for the resolve she’d come to expect. The sting of Dominic’s usually commanding presence failing to bend the room to his will lingered like a bruise on her pride. She prodded gently, knowing full well that Dominic wasn’t one to let a mere manager trample the Barnett Group’s prestige without a fierce retaliation. Beneath her carefully composed exterior, a flicker of hope danced—she yearned for him to erupt, to force that smug manager into a groveling apology. Without it, the chaos they’d stirred risked hardening into a humiliating tale whispered among Pierith’s elite.
But after a taut silence, Dominic surprised her. He turned abruptly, his jaw tight, and strode toward the restaurant’s exit, his voice clipped and final. “Let’s leave.” The words fell like stones into the quiet, heavy with an unspoken surrender.
Adriana’s eyes widened, astonishment rippling through her like a cold wave. Was Dominic—Dominic—retreating? Could he genuinely believe that Valeria’s companion held the title of Starbright Group’s vice president? For a heartbeat, her certainty faltered, teetering on the edge of doubt, but she couldn’t reconcile the image of Valeria entwined with such power. Nor could Dominic, she reasoned—not when it might unravel his leverage in their looming divorce. Determination flared in her chest, and she quickened her pace to match his, her heels clicking sharply against the polished floor. “Dominic, wait—are you really convinced Valeria’s tied to Starbright’s vice president?” she pressed, her voice taut as she bit her lip, a nervous habit betraying her unease. “If she were, why would she gamble everything to swindle Commissioner Barnett out of a hundred and fifty million? Someone with that kind of connection could summon such funds without stooping to lies.”
Dominic paused mid-stride, his expression clouding as her words stirred the fog of his thoughts. The dim glow of the restaurant’s chandeliers cast long shadows across his furrowed brow. “Star Whisper’s a cornerstone in Pierith,” he murmured, his tone heavy with contemplation. “A haunt for the city’s elite. The manager deals with power players daily—it’s hard to imagine him ensnared in some petty scheme of Valeria’s making.”
Adriana seized the thread, her voice sharpening with conviction as she countered his hesitation. “Sure, Starbright Group’s reach spans industries, and Star Whisper’s a gem in their crown—a name that echoes through Pierith. But it’s still just a restaurant, a speck in their vast empire. How often do you think their top brass bother with a place like this? I’d wager that manager’s never brushed shoulders with the vice president. Valeria and her friend—they’re spinning a tale, strong-arming him with bravado, banking on his fear of crossing real VIPs. If he suspected a bluff, he’d have called it by now.”
Her logic wove a lifeline through Dominic’s skepticism, softening the hard edges of his doubt, though a shadow of worry lingered in his gaze. “Taking risks isn’t worth it,” he conceded, his voice low and measured. “We can’t afford to tangle with Starbright carelessly.”
“You’re right,” Adriana agreed, nodding as she tempered her fire with a flicker of accord. Then, a sudden spark lit her eyes, her demeanor brightening with a rush of inspiration. “Wait—Dominic, I just remembered! I’ve got a contact inside Starbright. She’s got her ear to the ground, knows the higher-ups’ secrets. I’ll reach out when we’re back—she can tell us if this Diego’s just blowing smoke.”
“Fine,” Dominic replied, a faint wash of relief softening the tension in his shoulders. The gnawing unease that had taken root could only be quelled by peeling back the layers of Diego’s enigmatic facade. With minds churning, thick with speculation and unspoken plans, they stepped out into the cool night air, leaving Star Whisper’s golden glow behind.
Within the secluded sanctuary of Room 205, the world beyond the heavy oak door faded to a distant hum. Diego poured wine with a thoughtful grace, the deep ruby liquid catching the soft light as it filled Valeria’s glass. His brow furrowed, a storm of frustration brewing beneath his calm exterior. “I can’t fathom the state of staff here,” he said, his voice threaded with exasperation as he set the bottle down. “I step out to park the car, and they nearly toss you—the real boss—out of your own place! It’s beyond absurd. I hope that didn’t rattle you too much, Valeria?”
Valeria’s laughter floated through the room, light and unburdened, a gentle breeze dispelling his concern. “It’s fine,” she assured him, her smile warm yet tinged with amusement. “Thankfully, the manager arrived just in time and recognized you. Otherwise, we might’ve been marched out the door—a scandal that’d set Pierith’s tongues wagging for weeks.”
Diego’s expression flickered between frustration and a resigned grimace, his hand resting on the table as he leaned closer. “If that had happened, I’d have been mortified—humiliated in front of you, no less. We’d have had no choice but to shut this place down and start over. And the manager—he knew me, but not you! You’re the true power behind Starbright Group, the president, and he missed it entirely. That’s a glaring misstep.”
Valeria’s smile dimmed, her gaze drifting to the window where the city’s lights glittered like scattered stars. A quiet contemplation settled over her, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass as memories and burdens stirred beneath her composed surface. Diego caught the shift, the subtle shadow crossing her features, and his tone softened, urgent with reassurance. “Hey, no need to dwell on it, Valeria,” he said, his voice a steady anchor. “I’ll sort this out the moment we’re back. I’ll make damn sure everyone knows who the true president of Starbright Group is—no more oversights, no more doubts.”
Her eyes met his, a spark of gratitude flickering within their depths, and the air between them warmed with the unspoken bond of their shared resolve. Beyond the walls of Room 205, the night stretched on, a tapestry of secrets yet to unravel.
