Chapter 30

“It’s not just you see him as a boss, is it? You both seem to have plenty of interest in each other.”

“That’s…”

Gabrielle thought she had successfully changed the subject, but it was no use. At a loss for words, Gabrielle stammered while the Countess, who had just sprayed perfume from a small bottle on her nape, put the bottle away and closed her pouch.

“Love is an endless war and conquest, Miss Brooks. The moment you think you’ve got the catch, some sly fisherman snatches it away.”

“…….”

“Even if he seems like your man now, there are women out there after successful men, like packs of wild dogs. Take it from my experience, remember that.”

“…Yes.”

“Shall we go back?”

As if hypnotized, Gabrielle nodded. The Countess linked arms with her and they left the powder room together.

When they returned to their seats, two young women were sitting where they had been. The women wore evening dresses that clung to their bodies, with deep necklines.

“Madame.”

The Earl, who had been laughing and chatting with the women, was startled at his wife’s approach and smoothly removed the woman’s hand from his arm.

“They said they knew you, ha ha…”

“Oh, really?”

With a cold smile, the Countess looked at the two women with icy eyes.

“Well, I don’t know them. Where could we have met?”

“Oh, Madame, sorry. We must have mistaken you for someone else.”

Sensing instinctively that they couldn’t win against her, the two women quickly retreated. The Earl, who had been nervously watching his wife, stood up first.

“I think I’ll get up now, then.”

“Have a good night.”

“You too, Miss Brooks.”

After a brief exchange, the couple left and only Gabrielle and Dominic remained at the round table. Gabrielle poked at her steak a few times before suddenly turning her head.

“I thought you were talking business.”

“We were.”

Dominic replied calmly and raised his hand to call the waiter. The waiter approached and filled Gabrielle’s empty wine glass.

“Who were those people just now?”

“You heard them. They came over, saying they knew Madame.”

Dominic shrugged his shoulders and looked at Gabrielle slowly.

“Does it bother you?”

“No, not at all. You just seemed to get close with them quickly. I didn’t know you liked such sultry types.”

Instead of answering, Dominic offered a faint smile. Maybe the wine had finally gone to her head; Gabrielle felt heat rising all the way up and got up from her seat.

“I’ll go ahead. Take your time. You can talk with them more if you want.”

She hurried out of the hall, but Dominic soon caught up with her. In the end, he cornered her in the empty first-class cabin hallway.

“Gabrielle.”

“Please call me Miss Brooks.”

“I don’t want to.”

“……”

Gabrielle closed her eyes tightly and shook off his hand from her shoulder, then opened the cabin door. As soon as she entered, he grabbed her shoulders and turned her around.

“You left before I could answer.”

“Answer what?”

“My type.”

“I’m not curious.”

“My type isn’t sultry women.”

“Oh!”

Dominic grabbed Gabrielle’s waist with both hands and sat her on top of the shoe cabinet. With nowhere to escape, he trapped her between his arms. His face came closer, and Gabrielle froze like a butterfly pinned in place.

“My type is a woman who’s a bit silly, cute, seems jaded by the world but still has an innocent side.”

His long eyes curved gently. Looking down at her, Dominic explained softly.

“She’s stubborn, doesn’t listen, always pushes me away, and is so timid it’s a little troublesome.”

“Then you don’t have to like her.”

Gabrielle’s heart felt like it would burst out of her chest. She hadn’t even drunk much wine, but her nape was hot and the air felt thin.

She avoided his gaze and pushed against his chest.

“You can change your type. Let me go.”

“If I let you go? Will you run?”

Dominic tilted his head and brought his nose close to her nape. It was a bold gesture, like a wild beast checking the scent of its mate.

“You won’t be able to escape anyway. And…”

“…….”

“You won’t want to run either.”

“What… mmph!”

Before she could protest, his lips captured hers in an instant. His tongue traced the roof of her mouth and her teeth, holding her tongue as she tried to retreat.

“Let… go!”

Even when she managed to break free, it was only for a moment. His hand gripped her jaw and bit her lower lip fiercely. As she moaned in pain, his tongue invaded her mouth again.

Her resisting hands gradually lost strength and slid down. At some point, Gabrielle found herself unconsciously wrapping her arms around his neck.

“Haa…”

She regained her senses only after the overwhelming kiss ended. A thin thread of saliva hung between their lips before breaking. Gabrielle saw herself reflected in his bright yellow eyes—disheveled, cheeks flushed, eyes dreamy as if intoxicated, expectant.

“Gabrielle.”

With long fingers, Dominic tidied her messy hair and tapped her cheek.

“I’d like to do more here, but I’ll hold back. You shouldn’t rush the hunt for a rabbit, you know.”

Dominic released Gabrielle and opened the cabin door.

“If we stay together in one room any longer, I might do something reckless. Go wash up and sleep. As I said, make sure to lock the door.”

“……”

While Gabrielle stood dazed, the door clicked shut behind him. Her legs gave out and she leaned against the wall.

* * *

The cabin door opened again late at night. A man entered, careful not to make a sound, changed into slippers, and passed through the living room to stand before the bedroom door.

He tried the doorknob, but it wouldn’t turn. It was securely locked.

“…Only follows instructions at times like this.”

Dominic chuckled quietly and skillfully inserted his tie pin into the lock, turning it a few times. The door opened as if by magic.

Inside the dark room, a woman lay quietly on the soft bed like a princess. Dominic approached slowly and turned on the lamp on the nightstand.

“Miss Brooks.”

He spoke softly, but there was no reply. Gabrielle, mumbling as if dreaming, turned over to the other side. Without calling her again, Dominic gently stroked her long red hair.

“Gabrielle.”

He hadn’t planned to get this close. Whether as ‘Julian’ or ‘Dominic’, she always provoked him. So he always had to be on guard when facing her.

Normally, he should have disposed of her. Not only had she almost ruined things at the theater, but they had become too close.

Dominic reached out and wrapped his hand around her neck. It was so slender, it seemed it could snap with a little pressure. It would only take a moment. If he threw the body into the sea and claimed she’d slipped while drunk, it would be easily taken care of.

Wasn’t that the plan when he brought her along?

His bright yellow eyes shone like a predator in the dark. He slowly began to squeeze.

“Please don’t fight… please…”

Her small voice, crawling along the floor, pierced his heart. Gabrielle whimpered and pleaded.

“Mom… Dad… It’s all my fault… It would have been better if I’d never been born…”

Dominic quietly let go of the neck he’d almost snapped.

“…Anytime is possible.”

He’d managed to get her out of the villa and into his own home. He’d seduced her, lowered her guard, secured her contract renewal, and kept her always within sight.

There was no need to rush.

Dominic gently stroked Gabrielle’s hair and pulled the blanket, which had slipped down to her waist, back up over her shoulders.

“Sweet dreams, Miss Brooks.”

Whether she understood or not, her sobbing gradually subsided. Without lingering, Dominic got up from the bed, turned off the lamp, and quietly left the bedroom.

The next morning, when Gabrielle opened her eyes, the cabin was empty. After washing and changing in the small bathroom attached to the bedroom, she emerged to the smell of delicious food.

Room service had arrived at some point, and a light breakfast was set on the table. Lifting the dome cover revealed toast dipped in egg, a variety of fruits, and poached eggs. It was enough for two.

“I can’t eat all this alone.”

She quietly covered the food again, when the front door opened. Gabrielle froze like a startled rabbit.

“Oh.”

“Good morning.”

Dominic, dressed in workout clothes as if he’d just been out for a jog, strode in.

“Why do you look so tense?”

He acted as if nothing had happened the previous night, as if it had all been a dream. Gabrielle felt bewitched. She forced herself to compose her expression and sat down at the table.

“Breakfast is ready. You didn’t eat before you left, right?”

“That’s right. I’ll wash up and come out. Help yourself first.”

Dominic wiped the sweat from his nape with a towel and opened the bathroom door. Gabrielle shook her head, trying not to let her gaze linger on his back.