Chapter 4 The Interview

Dominic's POV

I was getting dressed in my room when Luca came in without knocking. His usual grin plastered on his face.

"Hey, bro," he greeted me with a grin on his face as he jumped onto my bed.

"Why aren't you at your office?" I questioned him.

"She's so beautiful, she looked like an angel." He said with dreamy eyes, ignoring my question. "I finally get why you were so determined to find her." He smirked at him.

"She's just a young girl, I'm just trying to protect the siblings," I countered, facing the mirror and knotting my tie.

"Is that it? Are you telling the truth?" He questioned me.

"Yes, Luca. Quit bothering me and mind your business."

"Okay if you say so," he said, raising both his hands in resignation. "Anyways, the kid arrived in London last night, and I did everything as you have instructed."

"All right, thanks. I'll head there with Leila first, she's worried about her brother."

"Are you going to tell her why you are doing all this? Or do you want to leave the poor girl in confusion after she finds out what you did for her brother? It doesn't look like a coincidence anymore."

There was a pause. Luca was right, she still believes it's a coincidence but she'll doubt that if she sees her brother today.

"It's something I must do. I'll have to ignore her questions until the time is right for me to tell her." I replied.

I finished dressing up and walked out of the room with Luca behind me. As we descended the stairs, I saw Leila cleaning the sitting room with Mia. Mia is one of the oldest maids; she was born and raised in this house, and her life was confined to these walls.

I was greeted by the head housemaid when we got to the bottom of the stairs. I instructed her to make sure Leila didn't do any house chores again, and she would only answer to my orders.

I called her to stop whatever she was doing and instructed her not to get herself involved in any of the house chores anymore.

I told her to get changed and follow me. I could tell that she was confused but I wasn't ready to explain anything to her.

"You have ten minutes," I said, glancing at my watch.

She rushed off, and I heard Luca chuckle behind me. Ignored him, this was not the time for a confrontation with Luca. There were bigger issues at hand.

The drive to the hospital was silent, just as I preferred. I could feel Leila's eyes on him, curiosity written all over her face, but I ignored it.

She needed to see her brother, maybe then she would understand that my intentions weren't purely selfish. But I couldn't afford to let her think I was soft.

"Where are we going?" She finally asked, but I ignored her.

We got to the hospital. "Let's go," I said, loosening my seat belt and stepping out of the car. She followed immediately.

I felt her gaze on me as I led her through the sterile corridors. The nurse greeted me with the usual deference, something that had long since become natural to me. Leila stayed close, her nervous energy palpable.

"Take her to him," I instructed the nurses at the counter, my voice firm. I didn't need to explain further, the arrangements had been made well in advance.

I took my seat a few feet from the counter. I watched as Leila followed the nurse, her confusion evident. I could imagine the questions that would run through her mind when she saw Michael.

As she disappeared into the room, I kept myself busy with my phone. My mind was racing. I knew I was playing a dangerous game, but it was the only way I knew to protect them. This wasn't just about redemption for me, it was about giving her and her brother a future that had been cruelly taken away from them.

A few moments later, I saw her emerge from the room, her eyes wide with shock. She approached me, her steps hesitant but determined.

She stopped in front of me and questioned me

I stared at her for a while searching for the right words.

"I believe what you meant to say was a 'Thank you'," I replied, my voice cool, though her proximity was affecting me more than I wanted to admit. "And you're welcome." With that, I turned and walked towards the elevator, leaving her standing there with all her unanswered questions.

I could feel her gaze on me the entire time as she walked into the elevator. The elevator door closed, sealing me off from Leila's presence, but not from the thoughts swirling in my head. I leaned against the cold metal walls, exhaling slowly. The encounter had been intense, but necessary. She had to see the good I was capable of, even if she didn't yet understand my reasons.

But there was more to this than just keeping Leila and her brother safe; there were enemies everywhere who would do anything to destroy me, and they wouldn't hesitate to use Leila as a pawn. I couldn't let that happen, not now, not ever.

My thoughts were interrupted by the shrill ring of my phone. I glanced at the screen; it was Stefano, one of my men, calling. I answered immediately.

"What is it?" I asked, keeping my voice low as the elevator descended.

"Sir, we've received news that Miss Jocelyn Rossini is back in London. She's currently on TV giving an interview, talking about a relationship between you two and discussing the arrangements for your engagement and wedding ceremony," he explained.

My grip tightened on the phone. Jocelyn had become more of a problem than I anticipated; her obsession with me was dangerous for everyone around me.

Ever since high school, she had threatened and bullied every girl she saw near me, always getting away with it because of her father's influence.

She had tried to make me fall in love with her and proposed a relationship, but I always rejected her. Two years ago, her father even sent a marriage proposal with offers that would benefit me, but I turned it down.

Jocelyn was a beautiful and elegant woman, successful too. Every bachelor wanted her, but she was so obsessed with me that she rejected every other guy. I don't have feelings for Jocelyn, and I don't think I ever will.

"Keep her under surveillance. Update me if she makes any moves or comes to my mansion or office," I ordered.

"Yes, sir," Stefano replied before hanging up.

I pocketed my phone, my mind working through the possible scenarios that might happen if Jocelyn found out about Leila and her brother. She had always been relentless, and her father's influence only made her more of a threat. There's no telling what she would do if she found out about them.

But I wasn't going to let her, or anyone else, harm Leila and Michael. I had promised myself that much.

The elevator reached the down floor, and I stepped out of the hospital's bustling lobby. I got into my car and drove off to the address Stefano texted to me, where Jocelyn was taking the interview. I needed to stop her from spreading false news about me.

I picked up my phone and texted Luca to pick Leila up at the hospital and take her back home after spending as much time as she wanted with her brother.