Conflict of Interest

Chapter 21

Jackie hadn't been able to stop looking at the rock on her finger as she tried to decide whether to wear it to work or keep it quiet, just until after the job interview. The size of the diamond would be hard to try and conceal and she knew that everyone would notice it.

Jackie didn't want to hide her relationship with Dom anymore and decided, for insurance purposes, that it would be best to wear it. She wasn't sure how Dom had managed it, but the ring fit perfectly. She was glad that she didn't have to give it up to have it re-sized.

As she looked at the flawless stone sparkle in the morning light, she was thinking about everything that this ring represented. It meant that Dom really did love her and wanted her to be a part of the rest of his life, and she had agreed to spend the rest of her life with the man of her dreams. She thought about the possibility of children and found herself trying to imagine what they would look like. This then made her think about Dom's parents and the fact that Dom and his dad still weren't talking. She had still been feeling like she was the cause of their rift and she was determined to be the one to get them to at least start talking to each other. Maybe news of the wedding would at least start the ball rolling.

"Shit, I'm going to be late!" Jackie had been day dreaming for longer than she had realized and was now running behind schedule. She hoped traffic wasn't going to be too congested as she hit the motorway and headed into the city.

***

Dom had rung his mother to tell her about the engagement after his practice session. He had been putting it off for fear that his father would answer the phone. He wasn't ready for that conversation yet.

"Hello, Tyrell residence." Dom froze for a second as the loud booming voice traveled through the telephone wires.

"Hi Dad, Is Mum home?"

"Dominick,"

"Dad, I don't want to hear it. I just want to speak to Mum. Is she there, or not." Dom's heart was racing as the adrenaline pumped through his blood. His fear had been realized and he didn't know what to say.

"Son, I need to speak to you about what happened. I can't believe that you have gone behind my back and continued to see that girl against my wishes."

"What! Do you not remember anything that happened that night? You disgust me. Tell Mum I rang." Dom hung up the phone. His body was tight and shaking with anger. I can't believe he is angry at me after what he did to Jackie. Dom was pacing around the room trying to calm down when the phone rang again. It was his home number.

"What do you want now!" Dom snapped.

"Sorry dear I thought you wanted to talk to me. Your father...." Marjorie was taken aback by the response she got from her son.

"My father can go to hell!" Dom interjected his mother before she could continue.

"Dom dear, there is something I need to tell you about your father. The injury to his head has affected his brain. He has no recollection of that night after the speeches. I have tried to explain to him what happened but he doesn't believe that he would do something like that and refuses to listen. He thinks the bang on his head is from falling down the stairs in a drunken stupor."

"That doesn't change the way I feel Mum."

"I know dear. I can understand how you feel." Marjorie could sympathize with her son but she was also married to his father. "Now what did you want to speak to me about."

"I actually rang to tell you that I have purchased an apartment in Devonport and I will be moving out when I get back." That wasn't what he wanted to tell his mother, but he wanted to announce their engagement under better circumstances, not after an argument with his father.