Dominated (Obsessed II)

19.

Bianca Dawson
Blurred

I stood in front of the mirror, trying to shake off the image of Jude with her, the girl the gossip pages couldn't stop talking about. My stomach twisted into knots at the thought, and I could feel the anger, the hurt, and the disappointment creeping in. I never wanted to see that. I never wanted confirmation that the rumors were true. He had moved on. How could I expect him not to? Anyone would be lucky to have him. So now it's time for me to do the same. I can't go deal with that turmoil again.

I wasn't going to let it break me. Not tonight. I couldn't keep wallowing in this pain, not when I'd spent so much time trying to be stronger. I needed to remind myself who I was. I needed a night of fun, a night where I could forget everything for a few hours. I hadn't done that in so long.

So I started to get ready, my hands moving on autopilot. The foundation smoothed over my skin, erasing evidence of the tears I shed. I wasn't going to cry over him anymore. Not again. I dabbed a little concealer under my eyes, the dark circles a constant reminder of sleepless nights spent worrying about everything I couldn't control.

I moved to my hair, grabbing the curling iron. I let the strands fall around my shoulders in loose, effortless waves. I didn't want to look like I was trying too hard, but I wanted to feel good about myself. I wanted to look confident, like I could walk into any room and command it.

The dress. I pulled it on, the sleek black fabric hugging my curves, the slit running up just enough to show a little leg. It felt like armor, like the kind of outfit that would protect me from the emotions that were threatening to break through. The heels clicked as I stood, a little taller, a little more confident.

I finished off the look with makeup a bold winged eyeliner, a glossy lip, and just enough highlighter to make me feel like I was glowing, even though on the inside, I felt far from it.

Just as I was about to head out, I heard a knock at the door. I knew who it was before I even opened it. Dominik.

He had a way of making his presence known, even before he spoke. When I opened the door, he stood there, his eyes instantly scanning me from head to toe. His gaze lingered on me for a second too long, and I felt a small flutter in my chest, a brief distraction from the mess my heart was in.

"Wow," he said, his voice full of admiration. "You are so beautiful."

I smiled, the words slipping out of me almost naturally. "Thank you."

He stepped inside, looking at me with that intense focus that made me feel... seen. Like I wasn't just the broken girl trying to pick up the pieces, but someone worth noticing.

"So," he asked, crossing his arms and leaning against the doorframe, "you're not going to tell me why the sudden urge to do all this?"

I looked at him, the words I'd been avoiding finally coming out. "I deserve a night of fun," I said, my voice a little steadier than I expected. "I can't hide forever. I need tonight."

He raised an eyebrow, clearly curious, and maybe a little concerned. "What happened when you saw him?" he asked, the softness in his tone making it clear he already knew something was wrong, but was giving me space to talk.

I hesitated, trying to collect my thoughts. I didn't want to talk about it, but I couldn't lie either. "I got closure," I said, my voice quieter now. "I saw what I needed to see. Now I know... I know it's time to move on."

It was true. Seeing him like that, seeing the truth in front of me, it was like a door  closed. A painful door, but a door I needed to walk through. I could finally let go of all the what-ifs, the uncertainty. I couldn't fight for him anymore, it was always me fighting and I'm tired. So maybe tonight, I could start over, even if it was just for a few hours.