Michelle kept tossing and turning in her bed. She had only a few hours left before her work, but her mind refused to find a moment's peace and she blamed Dominic for that.
The day started as usual, with her tasks at Rima. She loved the job, and she used it as a perfect excuse to avoid the reality that surrounded her once she was done for the day. Unfortunately, lately she felt that Dominic somehow picked up on what was going on. She felt that he kept finding more and more excuses to send her home earlier, rather than allowing her to work more. Now she was sure that something wasn't right with their relationship. This was personal.
Seeing that she couldn't focus on a task in front of her, and understanding the danger of that situation, she put the 'I'll be right back' sign on the desk and went to Dominic's office. She knocked once, and he called her in.
"Michelle! What a lovely surprise. Please, come in. Have a seat," he said and relaxed back in his black leather chair.
"I need to ask you something."
"Sure."
"I've noticed that I'm being sent home earlier these past few weeks."
"Yes," he said calmly, without the need for a further explanation.
"Care to tell me why?"
"Gladly. You're overworked."
"No, I'm not."
A slightest raise of Dominic's brow made her bit her lip. Yes, she was exhausted, but it was exactly what she wanted. Dominic was sabotaging her with his attempts to cut her some slack.
"Ok, fine. I am; but I'm great at what I do. As long as I don't make mistakes, I can work. So why is it so important for you to send me home early?"
"Is it about the money? Because I can give you a raise if..."
"No, you know that. My salary is high enough to cover for my expenses and occasional traveling to the countryside. I don't need anything extra." That was a big fat lie. She couldn't remember the last time that she ever traveled anywhere, but Dominic didn't need to know that.
"Then what is it? Why do you keep avoiding the opportunity to have a free time? When was the last time you've traveled somewhere out of the UK?"
"Because...never mind. I'm not ready to talk about it yet."
"Does it have something to do with Mike?"
"Oh so that's what's going on! He's meddling into my life again, right?"
"No. Although your reaction to him is beyond my ability to understand. I even asked him about the whole deal between the two of you, but he refuses to talk about it."
"Well, that's a surprise for me. I thought he'd jump to the opportunity to say something nasty."
"He's like a brother to me. He would never do such a thing because he knows how much I care for you."
Was that true? Dominic seemed to have believed it but she wouldn't dare to even begin to accept that fact.
"We also go a very long way back, Michelle. It hurts me to see you so unhappy. I know you're hurting and I'm trying to help you."
"But there are some things that you can't help me with, Dominic. There is really nothing you can do. This is about me."
"If I was completely assured that you're all right, I wouldn't have said anything. But you're not all right."
"I'm happy when I'm working."
"Yes. Just like Anya was happy when she could stay the extra hours. And do you remember where that lead her?"
YOU ARE READING
Romantic getaway? I don't think so
Romance"What are you doing here?!" "I came to look after you! Dominic's order." "I can take care of myself, thank you!" "Hey, don't get me wrong, I'd much rather be at work than here with you, but that's what we've got to deal with. We might as well use t...
