GRACE

Roughly two months later, things were a lot calmer. And thanks to a swift relocation to a lovely city in the Philippines, the incident that happened back then was almost forgotten.

I guess Dave was right when he said that staying in the Penthouse for too long might continuously rouse memories of that day.

I am not saying that I have forgotten what happened.

Now and then, when I close my eyes, I see how evil Samantha was on that day. When I recall that moment, I wish to hate her with all I have. But knowing that the end she met wasn't so good, I always end up with mixed feelings.

But, in the midst of all those thoughts, one question continues to ring in my head.

"I still don't understand how Samantha was able to enter the hotel without arousing suspicion," I said, my toes wiggling as I snuck into the blanket Dominic draped over his lower body.

Dominic kissed my forehead and replied, "During the investigation, Dave and his guys found a secret elevator."

"There's a secret elevator?"

He nodded. "A few years ago, it was built for VIP customers in case of a disastrous event. Only a few people know about it. I wonder how that woman found out that it existed."

Dominic has avoided mentioning Samantha since that day, so I fully sensed his discomfort which he quickly masked with a cough.

"Is she really dead?" I asked after many minutes of watching Dominic put the final touches to the document he was revising on his laptop.

Without hesitating, he closed the device, pushed it to the side, and pulled me closer. "Is it still like a dream to you?"

"I don't know. A part of me hopes that she is alive."

"Dave confirmed her death. Even though she was a little unrecognisable when they found her, every other detail pointed out that the body was Samantha's."

I sighed and recalled the things that happened within the span of two to three days after the incident.

Samantha escaped custody despite having one of her legs shot. And it took a while for the cops to locate her. When they found her, she was in her home and her face had a few details missing.

But the nature of her death seems weird.

When they found her, there was no indication of her gunshot wound on either of her legs. All the cops found was her body and it carried a thoroughly bashed face.

But since the cops have done a back-and-forth investigation and confirmed that the body was indeed Samantha's, I guess I have to make peace with her death.

As Dominic stroked my arm to relax my nerves, I leaned closer and said, "I don't think I'll ever forget her. I certainly won't forget that she tried to kill me."

"Thank God she didn't get a chance to. If she had harmed you, I wouldn't have spared her."

With a bit of drama to my movement, I swung my head to the right. "Oh, really. Would you have done that as a ghost? Or, are you forgetting that you almost died as well?"

"I know, I know." His lips grew into a smile. "Don't remind me about the time I was so heroic."

I could not help but chuckle at his teasing. "Ugh..." I faked my disgust. "You sound so cocky."

"Only with you, baby." A kiss on my forehead followed and at the same time, he made sure he was still caressing the length of my arm but with gradually increasing intensity- the type that makes me desire an intimate moment with Dominic. I was about to imagine one of those moments when he said, "I spoke with Stanley Sands."

"Dominic..." I shifted out of his embrace, a small, disapproving frown already settled on my forehead. "I-"

"Please, hear me out." I sighed and he reached for my right hand. "I know you said you don't want the company your parents left behind. I respect that choice. But beyond company affairs, Stanley Sands is your family. I know the man is currently a stranger to you. But I would like you to consider getting to know him."

"Dominic..."

"You just lost someone that meant the world to you. I am aware that relationships take a lot to be built, but I think it would be nice to have someone you can call family."

"You are my family."

"I know." He smiled. "But can you give your uncle a chance to properly become your family?"

"But-"

"Please, Grace." He tugged at my hand. "He wishes to meet you as well. He was elated when I talked about you. He wants to meet the woman that carries a part of his elder brother. So, can you consider saying yes?"

If I was asked that question before I met Dominic, my response would have been a solid no.

But since we moved to the Philippines, I resolved that I was going to focus on healing the broken bridges in my life while spending time with my two favourite people.

Meeting my Uncle would indeed allow me a chance to heal from the feeling of having no parents.

So, after another tired sigh, I locked eyes with Dominic and said, "I guess it is not a bad idea."

Dominic was surprisingly excited. He pulled me into a hug and thanked me even though my response was not firm enough.

But before he could demand a response, I changed the topic to one that we have been avoiding.

"Dominic, do you think Doctor Lumber will still try to fight for custody?"

"Mmm..." Our hug ended and the room fell into deep silence.

"Dom?" Our eyes locked and my insides melted instantly. While Dominic tried to blink furiously, the tears that formed in his eyes made me certain that the truth about Ruby was hard on him. "Hey," I reached for both sides of his face, "talk to me."

"I can't believe she is not my daughter. I can't believe Diane did such a terrible thing to Ruby. How would that child take it if she finds out the truth?" A deep exhale and the man was wearing a firm expression again. It was almost as though he was a robot capable of switching emotions. "But with Diane still in jail, there is nothing much Mark can do right now. But if he decides to make a move, I will make sure I destroy him."

"Dominic..."

He changed the course of our discussion. "So, have you thought about the career path you wish to take?"

The last time I tried to speak to Dominic about working something out with Doctor Lumber, he got so furious, he almost forgot to eat. Ever since a very repeated DNA report attested that Mark was Ruby's father, Dominic became more possessive about Ruby and that made it hard to reason with him.

I feel there can be a way for both men to settle the matter so that it doesn't affect Ruby, but Dominic would always choose to possess deaf ears when it comes to that particular issue.

So, I pushed my desire to voice my thoughts away and replied to his earlier question.

"I think I want to start working on my retirement plan."

His hand resumed travelling to and fro my arm. "And what's that?"

"I have always wanted to set up a publishing firm that will give undiscovered authors a platform for growth. I have been saving up for that plan and I think now is the best time to get the ball rolling."

"I like it. Let me know if you need any help."

"Okay."

"I mean it. Don't try to act independently to the point that you crack under pressure. I am here for you. Anything you need, let me know."

Slightly amused by his insistence, I teasingly replied to him, "Okay, Mr. Powers."

And I further punctuated my statement by placing a kiss on his lips. "I am very hungry, or is it just me?"

To further what I had initiated, he leaned in a bit closer and engulfed my lips with a fierce kiss.

I responded and went with the flow, returning the kiss with almost equal intensity. With growing desires, I allowed him to explore more of my lips to my delight.

But it sadly came to an end. Once our lips were detached, Dominic brought his thumb and swept it over my lips.

"I am hungry too," he replied huskily. Then, he leaned closer to continue what he set fire to, but I drew back and entertained the idea of teasing and torturing him.

"Since we are both hungry, let's go to the kitchen." As I got down from the bed, I did not miss the mix of surprise and amusement on his face. That sight made me smirk.

And I decided to take my teasing to a higher level.

As I walked out of the room, I added sultriness to my steps, and funny enough, it forced a groan out of Dominic's lips. That sound was evidence that I was torturing him as I wished.

I soon found myself in the living room of our new house whose structure was somewhat similar to that of the hotel's penthouse and I scanned the area for Ruby who I thought was watching TV.

"Ruby, where are you?"

"In here!" she replied from her playroom.

I turned and headed straight for that room. "Hey, there." I pushed the door open. "What are you up to?"

"Hmm." Her attention was focused more on the many cardboard sheets on the ground. "It's a surprise."

"Surprise for who?"

"Grace. Daddy asked me to make a Will You Marry me? card. It is going to be a very big card." Before I could fully process what she said, she gasped and faced me. With pure worry, she whispered, "I did not say anything."

"Oh, did you say something before?" I quickly played along. "I didn't realise."

"Okay, Grace." With a huge, toothy grin, she went back to what she was doing and I carefully backed out while I tried to fight the cheesy smile that was trying to take over my lips.

"Ugh... What are we going to eat?" Dominic's voice entered the living room and I quickly tucked that sheepish smile when I saw that he was approaching me.

"How about we just order something?" I suggested seconds after.

The man pulled me closer and hugged me until my back was pressed against his chest. That position threatened the smile I was trying to stop.

"Good idea. I guess that means that I have to postpone cooking for you."

"You know, I am starting to doubt the cooking skills you keep talking about. Since we moved here, you have been singing that you will cook for us one day. When will that one day come, Mr. Powers?"

His lips found my left shoulder, "Soon, Miss Sands. Soon. Just be patient."

"Okay, sir." My phone's ringtone filled the room. Dominic released me from the hug, though reluctantly and I approached the couch where I tossed my phone to. I wondered if the caller was David.

But I was shocked when I saw the name displayed on the screen.

"Uh... Dominic, you should see this."

He didn't waste time. Soon, he was beside me and he became as surprised as I was.

"Samantha?" He questioned what we were looking at and we shared a look. "Pick up the call. It can't possibly be her that's calling."

I took a deep breath before swiping and after I put the call on speaker, I quietly asked, "Hello?"

'Grace. I have been trying your number.'

The relief that rushed through my system was not of this world. "David, what the heck man? Why do you have Sam's phone?"

'It is a strange story, Grace. Weren't you telling me about two weeks ago that Sam died like a month ago?'

"Yes, I did. What happened?"

'She visited me two days ago.'

"Uh?" Dom and I shared a confused look.

'It is crazy. She looked okay. She looked, not dead.'

"Are you sure she was the one?"

'Very sure. I...'

"Did you ask her anything?"

'I couldn't say or ask her anything. I was so shocked. Besides, she did most of the talking. She talked about moving out of the country or so. I know this sounds crazy, but I am calling you from her phone right now because I just found out that she forgot it at my place.'

"This is unbelievable." I looked at Dominic again. He had a quizzing look on his face. "Does this mean she is not dead?"

'Maybe. Maybe not. Just be safe, okay? I have no idea what is going on, but just be safe.'

"Thank you, David." A different kind of heaviness befell my chest as I ended the call. Samantha being alive equals trouble. Big trouble. And it also means that no one is safe at all. As I tried to maintain a sane mind, I started speaking to the man beside me, "Dominic, something tells me David is not lying. And if Samantha is still alive, she might do something crazy and-"

"Hey, hey." He cupped my cheeks and directed my eyes to stay focused on his. "Alive or dead. Crazy or not. Trust me when I say that lady is not going to come anywhere near my family."

"But..."

"No buts."

"Dominic... If she is truly alive, we don't know how determined she might be this time. We cannot underestimate her."

A deep sigh and his hands found my waist until I was fully glued to him.

Then, he said, "Everyone in life has a battle that sticks to them till the point of death.

I know battles are not nice occurrences, but there is one good thing about lifelong battles. It urges and forces us to always become a stronger version of ourselves as time goes on."

My eyes searched his and I asked, "Where are you going with this, Dominic?"

"Samantha was our battle. But if she is really alive, she has now become a reason for us to become stronger. She wishes to tear us apart, but that will never happen. If she continues to battle us, we will only get powerful and closer, she will never get a chance to do as she wishes. So, as long as I am here with you, I will never be scared of whatever, no matter who or what they are."

It took me a few seconds to process everything he said. And as I digested it, my heart fluttered to the point that the chuckle that left my lips sounded coy.

"I never pictured you as someone that utters emotional things," I said, my lashes blinking gently while my soul followed the ease Dominic was trying to introduce to it.

"Honestly, same here. But," his warm smile appeared and remained, "being with you does things to me. It always brings out the best in me. So, what do you say? Should we stay by each other for a long time even after we win this battle of ours?"

"Why does it feel like you are indirectly asking me to marry you?"

"That will happen later."

My smile widened and I did not bother to hide how grand it was. "Well, Dominic Powers, it will be nice to stay by your side to the end."

"To the end or forever?"

Gosh, cheesy Dominic is just so cute.

"Yes, forever."

Dominic leaned closer and sealed my response with a kiss. The liplock was about to get super hot when I pulled back immediately.

"Wait, wait." As I planted my hands on his shoulders, I felt his eagerness to make love to me. "We are still going to check whether Samantha is alive or not right?"

"Definitely," the coarseness of his voice replied.

The kiss took over almost immediately. And each move we made from that moment on punctuated the subtle promise we just made to each other.

THE END...

... FOR NOW.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

THANK YOU FOR READING. ♥️