contract
the restaurant was private dimly lit tucked away in one of the most exclusive rooftops in the city
high above the world and hidden beneath velvet curtains, it felt more like stage than a dinner table
the skyline behind tall glass windows, but Vivian had eyes only for the man seemed across from her
he wore a black button up that matched the ink-balck of his eyes both unbuttoned and unreadable
a gold watch clung to His wrist like it was made for him. his posture was relaxed, but there was nothing casual about the way he watched her
like he was already unwrapping her, layer by layer with his gaze alone
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" I appreciate you showing up "
he said first, voice low, deep
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
"your parents made it seem like I was dining alone. "
Vivian crossed one leg of the other, her posture perfect, her expression polite
VIVIAN REYES
" I come for clarity"
VIVIAN REYES
" Not charm "
a slow smirk spread across Dominic's lips
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" I wasn't offering charm, 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚. Just my time "
she hated how her stomach flipped at that
he signaled the waiter, murmured something in Italian, and handed her a folder. Clean professional and inside was a printed contract
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" I like things in writing "
he explained leaning back in his chair
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" Too many broken promises in this world, Too many mouths that say one thing and bodies that do another "
VIVIAN REYES
" that's rich coming from a man raised in secrets
Dominic laughed quietly, eyes glinting
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
"Touché"
she opened the folder and slid her own typed page across the table
he glanced at it and for the first time that evening, 𝐡𝐢𝐬 smile vanished
𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒
𝐕𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬
𝐃𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐳 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐨
𝟏. 𝐒𝐞𝐱 ' 𝐈𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐎𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 '
𝟐. 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐌𝐲 𝐉𝐨𝐛
𝟑. 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 ' 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐟 𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 '
𝟒. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐎𝐟 𝐌𝐲 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞' 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐬 /𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬
𝟓. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭 - 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐀 𝐍𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐀 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞:-𝐕𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬
𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐁 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞:-
he looked up slowly after reading the contract his gaze sharp and amused
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" No Sex ? "
VIVIAN REYES
" No sex, if you can't understand clearly "
Dominic leaned forward, forearms braced on the table
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" you know.... most women dream about this arrangement, about me, the power, protection, the money "
VIVIAN REYES
" and yet most of those aren't here, as we speak "
his jaw ticked, and kind of interested
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" and what exactly do think this is, Vivian "
VIVIAN REYES
" A transaction, one I didn't ask but will get through "
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" you make it sound like marrying me is a punishment. "
VIVIAN REYES
" you make it sound as if I have a choice "
she said tilting her head
silence stretched between them taut and loaded. Then Dominic sat back with a king slow breath
as if forcing himself to stay composed
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" the first time I saw you"
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" you walked into your parents house, in that tight white dress with your hair up that you didn't want anyone to notice how beautiful you are. "
Vivian froze but stayed composed
she took a sip of her water
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
"I watched you sit at the table like a ghost"
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" quiet, observing , but your eyes? They were fighting a war no one else saw"
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" I wanted to 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪 right then and there. "
Her throat dried with his unexpected words
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" you think this rules will keep me away, 𝙢𝙞 𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙤𝙨𝙖 "
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" but you're wrong. They'll only make me go hungry "
VIVIAN REYES
" if the contract is broken, then it's off "
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" Keep the job, public affection only alright, stay out of your business alright "
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" I don't blame you "
he added his tone softening
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" they used you, your family, you have been invisible so long, you don't know what's like to be seen "
Vivian's walls cracked slightly
he reached for his own, signed the paper and pushed it towards her
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" you want control , you got it, but know this - "
he leaned in, his voice a velvet warning
DOMINIC CRUZ MORENO ( ML)
" you will be mine and when that moment comes, when you ask me to touch you.... I'll make sure you never forget who you married "
Vivian gripped the edge of the table her mind screamed to stand , run and to scream no but her body was
in listened in stunned silence
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