Chapter 65

                                    

                                          



        I survived Lauren Dubois, but not without incident. After the fitting she tried sneaking off. If I could tackle the woman I would. I stood behind this girl like I was a bouncer. I didn't let her out of my sight for more than a second to blink my eyes. That's it. She complained all the way to the interview, and by the time we got to the photoshoot I must've looked ragged, because Simon chuckled. He came beside me while they did Lauren's makeup and asked if I was okay. I was out of breath with sore feet and wild eyes. 
"I'm alive, but barely. She's crazy," I whispered to my friend. He laughed and told me he'd worked with her before, and that he knew she was a handful. I did it though. I got her to all three places. Then her and her strange dog, who doesn't bark or really focus its eyes on anything, were finally back to being Annette's problem again.
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        When I got home I dropped onto the sofa and told Sophia I needed food or I'd pass out. I told her all about my day, and if I wasn't so wrapped up in that chaos I would've noticed sooner how off she looked. I paused at the end of my rant and asked what was wrong. Sophia De Luca doesn't look upset very often, if ever at all, so I knew something was up. She fidgeted with her fingers and turned to better face me on the sofa. "Mia, we need to talk. I need to tell you something, but I don't know how you'll feel about it," she started with. It formed a pit in my stomach. I have no idea what it could be.
    Now I looked nervous and she had this indiscernible expression I was trying to better read. "Just tell me," I asked for it quickly and painlessly. "Are you and Dom exclusive?" She asked me. The pit in my stomach formed even deeper, and my gut tightened just to keep it from expanding any further. I took a breath. 
"We never spelled it out, but you know how it's been going with us. It's more serious than it was," I told her. She sighed, and the pit was growing. "I have my cousin Anthony on social media and he posted a few stories late last night. I saw my brother in the background with a woman," she got straight to the punchline. And that's what it felt like. A punch to the gut. 
        "Doing what?" My voice came out small and weak. "Do you want to see for yourself?" she asked. I wasn't sure if I even did, but I nodded yes anyway. I watched her unlock her phone and pull up her account. The ticking time clock I'd felt earlier to complete my job was nothing in comparison to this countdown of total oblivion. Sophia handed me her phone, rubbing my knee for support as I clicked on the story. 
I assume the guy who's the main focus is her cousin Anthony, but I wasn't looking at him. My eyes scanned behind him. And the pit grew bigger. This black hole of nerves and hurt and confusion and anger. 
        Domani De Luca was in his sexy black button down with the sleeves bunched up. Dark slacks too. He was sitting down with a woman on his lap, and his hand on her ass. In the second story, I could just barely see them, but in the third story I got a good glimpse of him shoving his tongue down her throat. And the black hole swallowed me. I watched and rewatched the video looking for clues or maybe to believe what I was seeing. I hadn't let myself think too much about it, but when he started telling me not to date any men here in France, and we started our long distance whatever this is, I stupidly assumed he wasn't with other women anymore. 
Wishful thinking really.
        When Sophia took the phone out of my hand, she tipped her head down a bit to better see my face. I'd still been staring at my empty hands. "He's been doing this all along. I knew it was probably true, but I wouldn't let myself think about it. I built up this fantasy of me meaning more to him than just the physical," I snorted sardonically. "Hey, I was right there with you. Dom seemed to have...I figured with the big gestures..." she couldn't find a way to finish her sentence. I looked up at her and I hated myself for feeling the burning in my eyes with the threat of tears.