The Daring Billionaire’s Wife by Lypstical
Chapter 101

Vanessa

Leading the way, I bring Dominic all the way to the top of the staircase where no one can hear us speak. Holding onto the railing, I look around one last time, then back at him as he furrows his eyebrows in anticipation.

"Well? Will you tell me what's going on now?"

"I just received a call from Shane," I say to him.

"What? Where did he get your number? Did you give it to him the last time you were at the club?"

"I don't remember. I was drunk, okay?"

"Did you at least ask him where he got it when you spoke to him?"

"I didn't even get the chance to do that because he went straight to what he wants from me."

"And what's that?"

"He wants $50,000."

He chuckles in this belief. "What the fuck? There's no way he did that after I paid him yesterday."

"Well, he definitely did it. He said what he has is not enough and he's now demanding more from me."

"Fuck!" he whispers, walking away from me.

Quickly, I hold onto his wrist, pulling him back as I say, "Wait!"

He stops in his tracks and looks down at my hand on his wrist and as soon as I realize that I'm touching him, I instantly pull back my hand.

"I don't know what you're planning to do, but don't." I say to him. "I'll handle this."

"No. You need to let me handle this. It's the only way he's going to stop doing this shit. He must be trying to get back at me for humiliating him yesterday by making him pick up the money from the ground." "Shane clearly called me, not you. That's why I want to handle this situation on my own."

"And I just told you that I'll do it."

I nod with a half smile. "I see what's going on here. You really think I can't do this?"

Avoiding my question, he says, "Just give me the details of when and where you're meeting him."

"No." I cross my arms.

"Stop being so stubborn and tell me so I can handle this!" He whispers aggressively.

Looking up into his eyes, I say, "Don't make me feel like I'm helpless. I can definitely do this. I know what I have to do."

"If you already knew, why did you tell me about it?"

"Because you're supposed to know. We're in this together. Isn't that obvious?"

He sighs. "Vanessa-"

"No. I said I'll handle it and that's final." I walk past him while fixing my hair. "We should go back or the food will get cold."

He sighs heavily as he walks behind me and I narrow my eyes a little at how he thinks I really can't handle this situation. I'll definitely show him.

As we return to join everyone else at the table, they look at us with concern.

"Is everything alright?" My mother-in-law asks.

"Of course." I assure them all as I sit down. "It's just something private we needed to discuss. I hope we didn't miss much."

"Not at all." My father-in-law chimes in. "Jake was just telling us in detail about how scared you were on that day when he took you drifting.'

I chuckle. "How could I forget that? To be honest, I still would like to try it again."

"See? I told you she would be interested!" Jake looks over at Sophie.

Sophie pouts, elongating her neck. "Whatever and it's not like you're the only one who got to spend time with her."

"

"Which reminds me of something," my father-in-law chimes in again but this time, with a serious tone as he looks at Dominic. "Son, give me an update on how much progress you've made catching that person who gave us that scare of my precious daughter-in-law being in a terrible accident."

The question is obviously meant for Dominic but my heart starts racing because I wonder what he's going to say.

Clearing his throat, he says, "She actually left town, but the private investigators I hired finally got a hold of her. They're bringing her back here tomorrow."

"That's excellent. As soon as that happens, I want to meet her."

"What?"

"You heard me. I want to see the face of the person who was foolish enough to do this."

"But why? I said I'll take care of this."

"I know you will. I just want to see her."

Dominic looks over me and I subtly shake my head. This is bad.

Right after we have some dessert, Dominic constantly looks down at his watch and says, "This was a lovely evening, but we should be heading back home now."

"Don't you want to stay the night?" my mother-in-law asks.

"No," Dominic and I say in unison, then look at each other. We're obviously thinking the same thing.

My mother-in-law presses her lips together with disappointment. "I see. I would've loved to have you over for the night."

"We'll definitely stay over next time," I assure her, though I hope such a time never comes.

The last thing I want is to share the same bedroom with Dominic after everything that has happened between us.

Even though we came for dinner separately, Dominic and I are forced to go back home together as the loving couple that we are.

Despite the conversation I had with him about Shane, things turn silent again between us in the car. It must be because of how we both made it clear that we didn't want to spend the night and sleep in the same bed.

Though I hate this silence, I prefer it to getting my feelings hurt when he makes love to me and then acts like it never happened.

As soon as the car pulls up in our front yard, I'm the first to get out and head to the elevator. He doesn't follow me right away. It must be just so that he's not close to me.

It's only a few minutes after I'm in my bedroom that I hear his footsteps down the hallway.

Just as I take off my earrings, he knocks on my bedroom door. I take a deep breath, then open the door for him.

"Hey," I say to him, my voice gentle.

"What time are you meeting Shane tomorrow?" He leans against the door, running his hand through his hair.

Trying not to get distracted, I say, "I'm meeting him in the morning."

"Okay, but what time?"

"If you're asking so you can follow me, there's no need."

He scoffs and that only offends me.

"Do you still want to make sure I don't mess this up or something? I told you that I can do this."

"Fine. I was just making sure. I'm finally going to the children's hospital and the orphanage tomorrow. It's been a while since I was there. You better keep me posted on everything that's going to happen. I'm off to bed now."

And with that, he begins to leave, making me narrow my eyes a little. I expected him to give up because I wasn't going to give him any more information, but still, something just doesn't feel right. What is he up

to?