-Dominic-

"Alaina!" I yell from the other room, rummaging through the closet. "Are you almost ready, love?"

"2 minutes, baby!"

A small smile creeps on my face as I find the suit I was searching for.

"So, tonight, you have to stay by my side, A, there's a lot of people there and I don't want to lose you."

I hear the bathroom door open as I am fixing the cuff links of my jacket and starting to turn.

"You don't need to worry about anything, I'll handle-"

Wow.

She faces the mirror, smoothing down the gentle creases in the silk, her bare back exposed as she tries to reach for the zipper.

"God, the things you do to me." 

My eyes rake down her figure, the dress tight around her waist.

I step behind her, keeping my eyes on her in the huge mirror before us.

Clasping the zipper, her body tenses from the cold rings across my fingers.

Achingly slow, I start closing her dress, placing a single kiss on her shoulder before looking back up into those gorgeous eyes.

"Beautiful."

Her eyes close, her lips turning up at the corners.

Her makeup is different today, the colours a lot deeper.

Wrapping my arms around her waist, I rest my head on her shoulder.

"You ready to go?"

Placing a kiss on my head, she untangles herself from my embrace to go get her heels.

She stands up, doing a small twirl and showing off her outfit.

"What do ya think?"

"Gorgeous. Perfect, even. As always."

She stumbles trying to walk over to me, clutching my arms to balance herself.

"Shit, I forgot how useless I am when I wear heels." she laughs, pulling herself together.

Holding my arm out to her, she links it with hers securely.

"So... what am I supposed to do at this thing?" she asks, biting her lips nervously.

"Nothing really. Just stay with me. Dance. Drink." I shrug my shoulders. "As long as you're safe."

"And what do I do if I lose you?"

"Stay where you are and I'll find my way back to you. Always."

I guide her into my car with my hand, leaning down and placing a kiss on her lips.

I watch her eyes divert back to a weird daze of the window.

As I sit down, she remains zoned out, her legs shaking up and down.

"Hey." I say softly, her head shoots round to look at me.

"What's going on?" 

"Oh. Nothing." she says hesitantly, messing with the fabric on her dress.

"Alaina." 

"I've just never been to anything like this before." she mutters.

Reaching over the centre console, I grasp her hand, stroking my thumb over her knuckles.

"I got you, love." I plant a kiss on the side of her head, 

As I drive, Alaina's soft hum fills my head as she listens to the music.

I honestly don't know any of these songs, but she loves them and that's what matters.

I look over at her, her head swaying to the tune, completely in her own world.

Her hair is in the gorgeous bun at the back, her curls wrapped around each other, messy yet perfect.

"Dom." she laughs.

"What?" I ask.

"You need to drive, the lights green." she tilts her head, her eyebrows scrunching in a cute confused face.

Shaking my head, I look up to the bright, green light glaring.

"Be careful, Dom, I'd rather not die in a car crash today."

Rolling my eyes, I turn into the parking lot.

I step out the car, going to open her door, almost on instinct.

She takes my hand as she gets out, her lip tucked between her teeth.

Swarms of people crowd around the entrance.

Alaina clutches my arm like her life depended on it, so tight for a moment, I started visioning my future with one arm.

We walk towards the door, only dresses and suits in sight.

"Okay, lets do this."

-Alaina-

The second I step through those doors, its like a wave.

Music, lights, food, at least 200 tables and chairs.

These huge, glass chandeliers dangle from the roof.

I have never been in a room this wide in my life.

Hundreds of people begin piling in, old and young couples.

A couple mixes, mostly old men with their hands all over young women's asses.

Gross.

Clutching Dom's arm slightly tighter, his hand comes to rest on mine.

"Drink?" he questions, gazing down at me with a boyish grin.

"Please." I scoff. "Is that even a question right now?"

He starts walking towards the nearest table, me still clinging to his side.

Handing me a glass of- well I'm not sure what it is, he places a soft kiss on the crown of my head.

"Don't look so freaked, darling, it's just vodka and coke." he whispers, leaning down to my ear.

"How did you-"

"You practically radiate vodka and coke vibes." he states.

"Is that an insult, or a compliment?" my eyebrows raise.

"Neither, my love. Just a statement."

Taking a long drink from the glass, I follow Dom over to a group of people.

"Dominic, the main man himself!"

Everyone's head turns around to us and I feel myself shrink back under their stare.

"And whose that fine lady?" an older man wearing a grey suit rakes his eyes down my form.

"That fine lady happens to be my girl, so take it down a step, John." he laughs, not even a hint of amusement.

His arm wraps around my waist, keeping me close.

"Calm it down, Tate, I'm here to earn my awards and get drunk, not fuck your girlfriend, even if she is young and hot."

Dom takes a step closer.

"Don't say shit like that ever again, I swear, you know what my people can do."

The man throws his hands in the air in defeat before backing up back into the group.

"You look amazing by the way." a shy girl, around my age if not younger speaks up, the previous guy placing his hand around her.

She shifts uncomfortably and I can't help but feel bad. 

At least I'm here with the man I trust with my life, and it looks like she's with someone she barely knows, double her age if not older.

I watch his arm move down and her eyes widen.

Shit.

"Thank you. I'm Alaina." I hold my hand out to her and she shakes it hesitantly.

"Olivia."

"Come grab a drink with me?" I ask, keeping her hand in mine.

She gives a small nod, escaping his grasp.

Dom grabs my arm.

"Don't go far, and stay with her, okay?"

I pull Olivia with me as she walks in small, nervous steps.

"So, what's with that guy?" I ask as soon as we are out of their reach.

"My dad set us up. He's one of them, rich I mean. He's trying to "build a relationship" or whatever." she laughs, as if in disbelief.

"Shit. I'm sorry."

"It's hopefully just one night, I don't think I can handle his wrinkly hands on my ass or tits one more time." rolling her eyes, she walks to the bar, dragging me.

We sit drinking. She has a glass of some sort of wine I believe, and my vodka and coke again.

"So. You and Mr Tate huh?" she wiggles her eyebrows.

I noticed the minute we stepped away, her confidence has grown almost instantly.

"Yeah," I drop my head, looking at the bar under me. "you know him?"

"Oh, God no. John- I mean Mr Miller told me to avoid him. Biggest enemy in the business apparently."

"That makes them sound like kids in an argument." I swear, they are too immature to run these huge companies.

"Right?"

"Olivia! I need you, come here." Mr Miller's booming voice shouts from behind us.

"Here's my number, I'll tell Mr Tate your at the bar, don't move."

She points her finger back at me as she walks away.

I down the rest of the drink in front of me, swirling the melting ice around.

"Well hello there, pretty lady." I turn around to the sound of an unfamiliar voice.

I look at a man whose eyes may as well be glued to my behind.

Standing up, my eyes roam to find him.

"Whats the name?"

"Lilly." I answer quickly, still searching for Dominic.

I decide to try and take a step forward until his arm shoots out.

"Tsk, not so fast little one."

Creepy.

He lifts my hand, placing his cold lips on my knuckles, my body shivering.

Gross.

"Can I get you a drink, dear?" he asks, not releasing my hand. "You're too pretty to be here all alone."

Suddenly, warm and familiar hands wrap around my waist, a single, gentle kiss being placed on my neck.

My body instantly relaxes as his deep, sultry voice sounds behind me.

"Mi amore." his lips brush my ear.

"Mr Smith." he gives a single nod in his direction. "I'll be stealing my girl for a dance."

I don't even have the chance to see the man's face again before I'm pulled away.

He pulls me into the middle of the dancing crowd, spinning me around and pulling me close.

"Thank you." I breathe out.

I place my arms around his neck, locking my hands at the back, his hands circling my waist, nearing my ass.

"For what?"

"Okay, first of all, hands up perv." I laugh, his hands slowly raising. "Second. I mean for helping me, I completely lost you."

"Right. That girl found me. I don't know her name."

"Olivia." I interrupt.

"Yes! That one." he clicks his tongue, pretending he knew her. "Anyway, I saw Smith with his hands on you. I told you before, only my hands are allowed on you."

Biting my lip, I reach up to his lips, closing the gap.

As cliche as it is, whenever I kiss this man, I feel literal electricity in my body.

Just safe. Cared for. 

He pulls away, pushing me out to spin, pulling me back and dipping me down.

A huge smile erupts on both our faces before his lips are back on mine.

The song dies down, he lifts me back up, not separating our lips for even a second.

I place my hand on his chest to balance myself, his rapid heart beat being sent through my fingers.

I pull away hesitantly. If I could sit and kiss him all day, I would but I have work to do.

Also known as trying every drink at the bar. 

Hey, it's free so why would I not, are you crazy?

His lips chase mine, wanting more.

I laugh, walking towards the bar, him hot on my tail.

So many options.

"Dom, do a shot with me."

"My love, you know I have to drive." he wraps one arm around my waist.

"Fuck, that's so boring." I tilt the liquid up into my mouth, the thrill of the burn travelling down my throat.

 And then another.

"Alaina, slow down. You're going to be fucked up."

"Yeah, sort of the point."

I'm not an alcoholic, I know it seems that way.

Its just that drinking can lift the weight for a while, even if its just an hour.

"You know, I haven't known you for ages, but you seem to get drunk a lot." Dominic chuckles, handing me a bottle of water.

"Well, I passed chemistry in school, and they say alcohol is a solution, and I couldn't agree more." I shoot back.

"A temporary solution for a permanent problem." he states.

With another drink down me, I stand up.

"Temporary is good enough for me. Now. Let's dance."

My entire body shivers as I tilt the final shot glass, my vision going blurry.

"I don't think that's a good-"

"Please?" I take his hands.

Rolling his eyes, he walk towards me.

I try to get him to move but he just sort of stands stiff like a pole.

My legs start to buckle slightly, making me stumble forward into him.

I struggle to catch my breath between laughs.

"Okay, drink this." he grunts, lifting me onto the nearest bar stool and handing me the water.

"I only had like 2." I wave my hand.

"4, actually. Have you eaten today?"

"Of course." I answer reluctantly, which he picks up on.

He narrows his eyes, suspiciously.

"What did you eat?"

I stay silent, looking at my hands.

Hm. Very interesting hands.

"That's why your already drunk. You know you need to eat, Alaina."

"I just forgot. Now shut up and sit." I pat the seat beside me.

He takes the seat almost instantly.

Whipped.

"Its almost time for the award shit. Do I need to carry you there, or can your drunk ass actually walk this time?"

"Oh, would you look at that, I just broke both of my legs. I know crazy right? Carry me?" I make grabby hands at him, trying to piss him off.

He raises an eyebrow at me and I stand up immediately.

Scary.

Joining our hands, we walk to where we need to sit.

Wow. Dominic Tate and company?

Apparently my names company now.

I think I'm drunk.

Anyway, I take my seat.

I sometimes wonder who came up with these things, like chairs.

Because we think its normal but people had to have lived without chairs for them to be made.

I'm broken out of my absolutely killer thoughts when I hear the award.

"Tate Industries!"

Do I have any idea what the award was for? Not really.

Dominic stands up, buttoning his blazer and walking towards the front.

Of course, its common knowledge that when someone you l- care about gets a prize, you have to be the loudest to clap.

He does a huge speech, thanking his parents and shit, I don't really know.

I do know I'm very proud though.

Taking his seat beside me, he kisses my cheek.

"Well done, baby."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you for reading!

I hope this chapter wasn't too boring for y'all.

Love you all!

If you could go to one place in the entire world, whether its a state, country or city, where would you go?

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