The Daring Billionaire’s Wife by Lypstical
Chapter 111

Vanessa

Calling and talking to everyone over the phone makes me feel so much better and after the final call with Mia, I look down at the screen with a smile but still frown a little because now that it's all done, I can still feel some of that pain. I know it won't just go away in one day.

Just as I tie my hair up, my stomach rumbles and I know that I need to eat something. I might not remember much, but it feels like I drank more than I ate last evening, which wasn't good for me.

Right when I'm about to call the butler and give him a set of instructions, I hear the sound of a car engine outside, making me rush over to my window. I poke my head out while not being seen and it's Dominic's car driving by.

Because I haven't spoken to him since last evening, there are two possibilities right now. Either this is when he's coming back from the club since he spent the night in that room or he forgot an important document so he's come back home to get it.

After the car is out of sight, I bring my head back inside my bedroom, resting my head against the wall with crossed arms. Whatever reason it is that he's come back home, I don't care. Getting back to what I was doing before, I call the butler and a few minutes after I talk to him, I hear quick footsteps in the hallway and there's a knock on my door.

"Who is it?" I ask, certain that it's not the butler.

"It's me." Dominic says from the other side of the door.

Just hearing his voice makes me clench my fist.

Because I'm still hurt, it doesn't take much for me to have a blank expression and so with that, I open the door for him.

The first thing I notice is that he's in a different suit from last night. He actually seems dressed up for the office and that automatically gets rid of the possibility that he came from the club. Though I noticed the paper bag he has with him, I can't stand the sight of him right now and that's why I don't even ask what's inside.

Shooting him a glare, I cross my arms and say, "What is it?"

"Uh...When did you wake up?"

"Some time ago."

"Cool."

He scratches the back of his head and seeing him act a little awkward almost makes me smile a little, but I keep my poker face.

"If that's all, I have some important things to do," I say to him.

He sighs, his voice and expression gentle. "Last evening, you had too much to drink."

"I know. I can feel the effect even now."

"No you don't know how much you drank. You took shots rapidly."

"That's because I was trying to forget about something."

My response instantly makes him look away and he smacks his lips, continuing to speak without looking at my face.

"After you drank too much, I had to take you up to the room Mike prepared for us in the club."

"Then why did I wake up here?"

"I brought you back home."

"You could've just left me there. I was sleeping anyway."

He shakes his head. "I wanted you to be back home because only two hours after I took you to that room, I wanted to leave the club. It would have only raised suspicions if I slept in another room. I didn't want to be in the same bed with you."

Though I understand what he's saying, I keep my poker face. "You didn't have to take care of me."

"You keep saying that, but you know it's not true. It's my duty to take care of you."

"And why is it your duty?" I cross my arms.

Finally looking into my eyes, he says, "Because I'm your husband."

My heart skips a beat but I do my best not to show even the slightest bit of emotion on my face.

Clearing my throat, I say, "Is there anything else you want to say to me?"

He scoffs, as if getting tired of my attitude but right now, I don't care. He shouldn't expect anything less.

Bringing the paper bag he has with him closer to me, he says. "This is for you."

"What is it?"

"Look inside and you'll replace out."

Curiously narrowing my eyes, I take the bag from him, suspiciously looking at him before I can even check out the contents.

He shoves his hands in his pockets, as if waiting to see my reaction.

The moment I look inside, my eyes widen at the other paper bag inside.

"This is a meal from Flavor Rush." I look up at him, creasing my forehead.

"Yes it is and it's your favorite. I found out from the butler that you haven't yet had breakfast and I want you to have this. Considering how much you had to drink last night, it's only right that you eat as much as possible."

He keeps going on and on about what I'm supposed to do, but I barely pay attention as I'm still in shock that he brought my favorite meal.

"You really went to Flavor Rush to get this for me?"

"Yes, I did. I could have arrived earlier but there was too much traffic."

"But why would you do that when I can order breakfast here to be made for me at any time that I want?"

"I wanted to do this for you as a start. I know you're hurt even though you're trying to hide it with that poker face."

"I don't know what you're talking about." I clear my throat while looking away.

"You might be able to lie to other people, but not me. Even when you have a poker face, there are certain things I can see, like the sides of your eyes, which wrinkle up a little when you shoot those glares at me. Don't even get me started on the way you tilt your head with that side eye."

I squeeze the paper bag, hating the fact that he sees right through me.

As I look down at it again, I realize something which makes me look back at him.

"How were you able to order this meal? This takes a while to prepare since they only open at 9 a.m. and looking at the time right now, it's 5 minutes past 10. If I take into account the traffic you had to go through, it means that-"

"I was there around 7 a.m. and my order was ready around 8 a.m."

"What? How is that possible if the restaurant wasn't even open?"

"I made a call."

"You did what?"

"I spoke to the manager and put in a special order. I didn't mind paying for that kind of service. I wanted it to be ready as soon as possible so you could have it for breakfast."

Thinking about all the effort he went through leaves me at a loss for words and I don't know what to say. But it only takes me a few seconds to realize that I'm being too easy on him, so I hold onto the doorknob.

"Anything else?" I ask.

"No."

"Then excuse me," I say as I close the door, his face quickly leaving my sight.

Right after I close it, I rest my back against it, my lips curving into a smile since this was so unexpected.

Though I'm still hurt, thinking about all that effort warms my heart a little. It even makes me wonder how much he had to pay. I didn't bother to ask. That would've just made it look like I'm interested. I sit down on my bed, taking out the other paper bag and I chuckle after I open it. It's really my favorite meal.

Dominic

As I drive to work, I'm not as impatient as before. Not only because there's no more traffic, but also because I gave Vanessa the meal.

I didn't expect her to jump for joy or any of that stuff. That's why I already feel like I'm making progress because she accepted it. She could've simply rejected it, which would have been the worst thing to happen and that's what I didn't want. But the fact that she wanted to have it means something.

To share this good news, I call Frank but he doesn't pick up and it's only now that I realize he's working. I'm an idiot for even doing this. Putting my phone aside, I focus on driving.

I ended up paying much more than the meal was worth but because it was for Vanessa, it was all worth it.

It also gave me the opportunity to speak to the manager and praise the meals they serve. And that's coming from someone who owns several restaurants with top chefs.

I arrive about 25 minutes later and head straight to my office, starting my work for the day. I mostly neglect my work here now that I have to focus on Project J-22.

Though I send Frank a text that I'm here, we'll obviously only talk about it during lunch break.

Even as I begin my work, I replace myself smiling a little at how she took the meal from me. I remember the look of surprise on her face and even though it didn't last long, I saw it and at that moment, seeing that specific reaction was so satisfying for me.

During lunch break, Frank knocks once and walks right into my office.

"Hey, I could've been with someone important," I say to him.

"I'm someone important, too," he says with arrogance.

He rushes to my desk and stops right in front of it, placing his hands on the surface.

"So, tell me. How did it go?"

"It went better than I expected."

"And what exactly happened? Was Vanessa happy?"

"I don't know, but she took the meal from me and that's it."

He snickers. "You think that makes it okay?"

"Of course it does. She could've easily said no, but she didn't. I think it's because I told her all the trouble that I went through."

"Have you thought about the possibility that maybe she took it and threw it in the trash after you left?"

The thought of it makes my heart race and I point at him with the glare. "Did you really have to say that?"

"Don't you know that it happens that way sometimes?"

"I know it does, but I hope it's not the case right now. I don't want it to be. You know what? Stop putting ideas in my head. I know she enjoyed that meal."

"I still can't believe you really made a special order. How come you've never done that for me?"

"Because you're not worth it."

He scoffs. "Keep treating me like this and one of these days, I'll actually be so upset that you'll have to do something nice for me."

"I'm already being nice enough that I'm letting you sit on my desk."

He looks down at himself and shakes his head. "I guess I didn't realize it. I was so curious to replace out how it all went." He gets up. "So, what now?"

"I guess I'll just wait. Do you think I should get Vanessa another meal?"

"You mean another one she's going to throw in the trash?"

"Don't say shit like that."

He giggles. "Right now, I think you should just wait and see what happens. It's just as we discussed, she won't forgive you right away. One step at a time, right?"

"Yeah."

"Now, how about we go out and grab some lunch?" He rubs the palms of his hands together with a smile.

During the drive back home in the evening, I still can't stop thinking about Frank and the possibility of Vanessa throwing away the food in the trash. That could never be her. She's not the type of person to do such a thing. I know her enough to believe that.

Considering how much time has passed, I'm confident that she's in a better mood now.

I head straight to my bedroom after arriving home and the first thing I do is stand in front of the mirror as I loosen my necktie.

Just as I unbutton my shirt, someone knocks on my door.

"Who is it?"

"It's me," Vanessa says from the other side of the door.

With wide steps, I make my way to the door and open it for her. She still has a poker face, but it doesn't matter.

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

"Can we talk?" She sounds serious.

I nod as I step aside and she walks right in.

"What is it? Did something happen?" I ask.

"When I found out from Carmella that you wanted to divorce me, I was extremely upset. Now that I think about it, I overreacted. There was no need for me to feel that way. We should both do our parts and not complicate things, so let's stick to what we're here for."

It takes me a moment to react since I'm so disappointed that words escape me.

With a gloomy expression, she faces the door. "That's what I had to say to you."

I clench my fists, this being the last thing I wanted and I can already feel her growing distant with me.

Having nothing more to say, she begins making her way out and I'm so dissatisfied that I desperately grab her hand and pull her back towards me.

"Vanessa, wait!"