I hated how I left things with Genevieve and knew that if I didn't make it up to her, it would leave room for my brother to move in and take my place.

So, I went to the bar and slammed back a few vodka shots before staking out around the bathroom to wait for her.

I needed to apologize and make up for what I said and I wanted to do it the only way I knew how.

When she walked out I immediately grabbed her arm and pulled her into a dimly lit hallway, I knew wasn't being used, and pushed her up against the wall.

I crashed my lips to hers and sighed in relief. She had a way of making everything better from just one touch.

She pulled away after a short moment and I looked into her eyes, "I'm sorry, Princess. I didn't mean what I said."

It was the truth.

I didn't want to hurt her. I was just so pissed and furious that I had allowed her to even walk out on that stage. I should've said 'to hell with this night' and brought food and wine to her apartment for a night in. I wanted nothing more than to be in the comfort of her embrace in her small and cozy bed.

I kissed her neck down to her collarbone and teased her with my teeth, "Forgive me?"

I was waiting for that smile that she usually gave me when she looked at me, but what I got was a push against my shoulders.

I was shocked as I looked at her, "Baby, I'm sorry. I said I didn't mean it and I didn't. I was just..."

"Jealous," she asked as she pressed her self against the wall.

Why was she pushing so hard to get away from me? I knew what I said was harsh, but she could usually take whatever I threw at her and keep rolling. She was tough, and strong-willed, and stubborn and I loved it.

"We can't do this anymore, Dominic," she stated, but I didn't believe she meant it.

I stepped closer until I planted my hands on either side of her head and leaned forward until I was in her face. I knew she loved me being in close proximity to her as it made it hard for her to think of anything other than me and that's what I wanted—her sole focus on me.

"You belong to me, Genevieve. Your body is wet for me, your heart beats for me, and your soul calls for me. You were made for me and you don't mean what you said."

I knew her better than she probably knew herself. I knew what she needed when she needed it and she just needed to be reminded of that.

We were good for each other and I wouldn't let her go—not now, not ever.

A few tears spilled from her beautiful blue eyes and then she started sobbing, "She's pregnant, Dominic."

It's like the words meant nothing to me. I didn't even register the significance of why she would be crying over someone being pregnant.

I swiped away the tears and lowered my voice to a more soothing tone, "Who's pregnant, Princess?"

The name that tumbled from her lips stopped my heart.

I felt my world fall apart.

I backed away from her because at that moment she was a wounded animal and it was my bullet that hit her.

I couldn't breathe.

This wasn't possible, there was just no way. I was always so careful, even with Genevieve, and I could actually see myself having children with her.

In fact, she was the only woman I had ever seen myself having children with.

"And she knows...about us. I'm sorry, Dominic, but we can't do this anymore," she spoke the words with confidence and I looked up at her in disbelief then.

"No, Genevieve. I need you. I need you now more than ever!"

I went to reach for her hand, but she pulled it from reach.

And I couldn't bear to see the rejection in her eyes.

She had to understand that this was just a minor set back. That it was something I would fix and then things would go back to normal!

"Genevieve, please, baby, we can and will get through this."

I reached for her again, this time her hip, but when that one word fell from her lips, it took all of my strength not to fall to the ground and beg on my knees.

Why couldn't she see that she was all I ever needed?

"You can't mean it, Princess. You can't, please take it back!"

I wanted this all to be a dream that I would wake up any minute from.

It was unfair and unacceptable! There was no way that I would lose her over a careless mistake.

My mind raced back to Jasmine. When had she found the time to tell Genevieve?

I watched Genevieve back away down the hall and towards the party, "I'm sorry, Dominic, but this is over. Go be with your family, Sir."

She turned her back and took a piece of me with her.

***

"Is it true," I asked, my tone abrasive.

I found her talking and laughing with someone from the committee board.

She looked so carefree—as if finding out you're pregnant isn't a big deal.

Why hadn't she told me she was pregnant first? Why was the first person she told Genevieve?

Jasmine turned to me and her eyes widened before she excused her self from her previous conversation and brought me to a secluded corner.

"What are you talking about," she asked as she fidgeted with her fingers and I watched her eyes shift.

Why was she acting so nervous?

"Cut the shit, Jasmine. Why wasn't I the first to know?"

I was seething at how stupid she was acting, like she had no idea what I was talking about, like the news she had told Genevieve was no big deal.

"Why are you acting this way to me, Dominic? You've never been this mean before," she pouted and I hated even being in her presence right now.

"Seriously, Jasmine, you have two seconds to explain yourself to me or I'm going to blow up! Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant first? Why did I have to find out from Genevieve?"

I watched her face harden, "Because I'm tired of her coming between us. You act like I didn't know what was going on Dominic. I knew you were seeing her behind my back and I told her to keep her away from you. You're mine, not hers."

I arched an eyebrow as the realization hit me, "Are you even pregnant?"

A blush spread across her cheeks, "Yes, Dominic. You really think I'd lie about this?"

I lowered my voice and leaned a little closer, "Yes, I do. I think you'd do anything to keep Genevieve away from me. Even lie to keep her away."

I backed up and raked my eyes over her body in disgust before looking back into her eyes, "What kind of woman fakes a pregnancy?"

"The kind that loves her man, Dominic! I love you and I want you to stop seeing her! Is that so wrong? Stop acting like your whore is perfect! What kind of woman breaks up a happy relationship?"

I was seething now.

Where did she get off speaking of Genevieve that way?

I knew Jasmine didn't love me. She loved my money, my influence, my power, sure, but not me.

"Who said anything about a happy relationship, Jasmine? You've been cheating on me for the last three months. You seriously didn't think I'd find out about David? Your sweet little boy toy? Barely 18, David Bisset?"

I watched the blood rush from her face then, "Wh-what?"

Chuckling darkly, I circled around her, like a big cat circling its prey.

And once I was behind her, I pulled a lock of hair behind one of her shoulders and leaned down so my lips were at her ear.

I then let my words, my tone like velvet, drift into her ears, "You think, Jasmine, with all of my money and power that I wouldn't have someone watching your every move? I needed insurance, and when my PI found out that you were renting hotel rooms and taking drives out to Gainesville every weekend, he followed you. I've known about David Bisset for as long as you've been seeing him and you have the audacity to try and get rid of Genevieve?"

I finished the full circuit around her and saw that her eyes had widened, "Did you get proof?"

"No. I told him I didn't need any. I didn't need to see you with David to believe it. I went through your call log and found his number, I saw the text messages. That was all I needed."

"What do you want then, Dominic? You want to leave me? Because I'll never let that happen. I might be also seeing David, but I love you and I'm willing to leave him if it means you giving me your undivided attention."

I laughed and raised my eyebrows, "Oh no, Jasmine. There's no way I'm staying now. You faked a pregnancy, tried to drive Genevieve away, and had the audacity to act like you were better than me as if you weren't cheating before I was!"

"I'll tell my father," she said quietly and I chuckled and then smirked.

"You'll tell him what? That you're the whore? That you're a terrible person? That you cheated and lied to me? Go right ahead, sweetheart. Dig your own grave."

"No, I'll tell him that you hurt me. I'll make it look like you beat me and then you'll lose one of your biggest contracts and you'll eventually go bankrupt right after I leak it to the media that you're a woman abuser. You have no idea the lengths I will go for you. You might have the money, the power, and the influence over a lot of people, but I'm crazy about you and I'll do anything to keep you."

What the f—

"—You wouldn't," I stated confidently.

"Oh, really?"

She wrapped her left hand around her right forearm and dug her nails in until she broke the skin.

"What the fuck are you doing, Jasmine?"

"You wouldn't let me leave. You were so upset about me telling your mistress I was going to have your baby that you grabbed my arm and dug in. You wanted to punish me for telling her about the baby. I love you so much, please, you're hurting me, Dominic. Please stop, I'll do anything. Just please don't hurt me or the baby," she said in a low voice, her nails digging into her skin deeper.

She would eventually start bleeding soon yet her face was void of any emotion.

"Stop, Jas. You can't be serious—this isn't you! No one will believe I hurt you!"

She was acting like a sociopath!

"You don't think people will believe the pregnant woman over the big strong man? You have no idea who you're dealing with, Dominic Blackstone. I will ruin your fucking life if you try to leave me."

Why hadn't I seen it sooner? Why hadn't I seen that there was something very clearly wrong there?

She still hadn't let go of her arm and the lines she had dug in her skin were turning red. She was actually going to blame this on me and I wasn't sure if anyone would believe that she had done it to herself.

"You're not even pregnant," I exclaimed as I watched blood pebble up in the wake up the new track marks her sharp nails were making.

I couldn't exactly stop her, though, as I wasn't a hundred percent sure she wouldn't freak out and cause a scene and make me look bad right here and now.

"I'll be calling for help soon if you don't make the right decision," she was smirking.

She knew she had already won.

"Okay, fine! Just stop hurting yourself!"

I grabbed the hand that was digging its nails into the other and ripped it away.

"You'll stay with me? And you'll get rid of Genevieve?"

She had an evil glint in her eyes.

"You'll leave David," I asked.

She looked down and I knew the answer.

"I'm staying with her if you're staying with David."

I would find a bigger contract than Jasmine's fathers' and then I would find a way to prove that she was crazy and I would leave.

I would begin looking for another company to fill his contract on Monday and hopefully, by Friday, I'd be a free man.

"Fine, but eventually I will leave David, and then I will make you leave her and we will start a family."

She put a hand on my chest and smiled, "I do love you, and that's why I'm trying so hard to keep you. You'll understand when you begin to love me back."

***

The rest of the weekend was spent with us doing any and everything Jasmine wanted.

I listened to her gossip, I went to her favorite store and gave her my credit card, and I acted as if I were the perfect boyfriend.

I hated her and wished she would just leave me for David, but until then I would find some way to leave this prison sentence with my reputation and my relationship with Genevieve intact.