Chapter 2 - THE MAN BEHIND THE OAK DOORS
Dominic wore a black tuxedo.
No flashy watch.
No unnecessary jewelry.
Just a simple platinum wedding band.
The same design as mine.
He was forty-two, broad-shouldered, dark-haired, and carried himself with the calm confidence of a man who had never needed to announce his authority.
Two men followed several steps behind him.
Neither spoke.
Derek immediately straightened.
“Mr. Rourke!”
Dominic didn't look at him.
His eyes remained on me.
“Mallory.”
I smiled.
“Dominic.”
He approached.
Then stopped beside me.
His gaze moved briefly over my face.
“Are you all right?”
I nodded.
“Perfectly.”
He studied me.
Then looked toward Derek.
“Mr. Langford.”
Derek smiled nervously.
“It's an honor.”
Dominic said nothing.
Derek extended his hand.
Dominic glanced at it.
Then turned back to me.
“Darling, why didn't you call?”
The silence became absolute.
Kendra's smile disappeared.
Derek blinked.
“Darling?”
Dominic slipped an arm gently around my waist.
I looked up at him.
“You were in a meeting.”
His expression softened.
“You're more important than any meeting.”
My heart warmed.
Derek stared.
“Wait.”
Dominic looked at him.
“Yes?”
Derek swallowed.
“You two know each other?”
Dominic raised an eyebrow.
“Very well.”
Kendra gave a nervous laugh.
“Are you relatives?”
Dominic looked down at me.
Then smiled.
“No.”
He lifted my left hand.
The platinum wedding band caught the chandelier light.
May you like
“Mallory is my wife.”
Three hundred people seemed to stop breathing.
