Maybe it was how his stomach churned from imagining his Ex’s face, but in the end, Alex rolled down the window to let in the cool evening breeze and clear out the lingering smell of hot dog garnishes.
Unfortunately, just because Dominic’s face was enough to make most people feel queasy didn’t mean that he could ignore his basic biological needs.
Joe, who had been gracious enough to give him a lot of space, glanced at him through the rearview mirror.
"Is that your stomach, sir, or is something wrong with the engine?"
Alex tapped his driver’s shoulder while internally chastising his own stomach.
"Ha. Ha. Very funny."
"I know a place."
It wasn’t anything luxurious, just a small, well-lit restaurant tucked between two commercial buildings.
Hot food, clean restrooms, and a spacious parking lot.
Everything a man needed to remain sane enough to make important decisions yet secluded enough that he wouldn’t be recognized by all those judging eyes.
__
Only after finishing dinner did they continue toward the private club.
The city’s nightlife was only beginning.
Inside the exclusive members-only lounge, professionals had traded boardrooms for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.
Jackets and ties had come off, sleeves were rolled up, and conversations flowed as freely as the whiskey being poured into crystal glasses.
The ladies remained impeccably dressed, their stilettos clicking against the polished marble floor. A few were visibly regretting their choice of footwear by now, but apparently, fashion still won over comfort.
And yet, even with everyone dressed to unwind and claiming they were only there to have fun, Alex knew this was sometimes where the real negotiations happened.
Much like on a golf course, trade secrets were exchanged and deals, both over and under the table, were often settled here long before they ever reached the actual boardroom.
As such, walking into a place like this always felt like stepping onto some sort of stage.
It was common for these people to gather in droves whenever something interesting happened to people they could name. Definitely a twisted pastime, but at the same time he knew they were all watching to see just what effects scandals would have on them and their personal interests.
Alex wasn’t hypocritical enough to call them out, because even he watched for possible shifts in the industry whenever someone was caught cheating or committing fraud.
The only difference was that, unlike those other times, it seemed he was the main act for today.
Clearly, someone had probably already spread the word about his possible arrival.
Too many unfamiliar faces had gathered for this to be an ordinary evening.
Some would say they came for drinks, but most of them were probably there to watch the spectacle.
Alex managed to ignore them all.
Instead, he followed the loudest laughter.
Years of navigating boardrooms had taught him a simple rule. During an audit, following the money would eventually lead him to the source of the problem. Parties weren’t all that different. Follow the loudest laughter, and more often than not, you’d find the person everyone had gathered around.
Dominic had always been that person.
To be completely fair, that guy had always been the sort that naturally drew attention.
Tall, objectively handsome, and elegantly dressed, he had the kind of striking appearance that made heads turn the moment he entered a room.
He’d been like that since they were younger, and back then it had always baffled him why someone like Dominic would even want someone like him.
Yeah. At some point there was that.
Not just the part where Alex had doubts about him being lovable enough when his family had a unique way of showing him affection, but the fact that at one point they actually had a relatively regular relationship.
There was even a time when Dominic could be crowned as the city’s hopeless romantic with how he had chased Alex around when they were younger, so much so that eventually he had ended up returning his devotion.
Of course, to most, that was actually Dominic chasing someone around, but still, the mysterious object of his affection would always be painted as lucky for being cherished by someone like Dominic Sebastian.
And for a time, he really believed that too. Maybe it was why he’d been far too lenient with him, ignoring all sorts of flags he would’ve noticed had he not deluded himself these most recent years.
But maybe it wasn’t too late for Alex and his poor eyes. He may not be able to take back all those wasted years, but at the very least he’d be able to see better now that the filters are off.
As Alex walked by, people instinctively stepped aside.
Not because they respected him enough to give way, but if he were being honest, they probably just wanted to expedite the drama.
And it didn’t take long before Alex understood why the other guests wanted to give him a direct path to hell, when right by those lounge seats was the couple of the night.
Great.
Just the people he had been looking for.
__
Andrew had been the first to notice Alex walking through the private club doors.
Then again, if he really had to be honest, he’d already known about the man’s arrival even before his feet touched the same ground.
Not that Andrew had personally arranged any of that.
He didn’t really need to when there were already so many people more than happy to tell him about Alexander Vance’s whereabouts.
From the moment Alex was spotted waiting at the Marriage Bureau, to the time the place closed and he was left standing outside, looking rather pitiful with his hopes dashed, and even to the moment someone noticed him heading toward the private club.
Andrew had heard about practically all of it.
And those little tips hadn’t even come from just one particularly concerned friend.
Several people had taken the time to message him throughout the day, while Andrew naturally responded with things like,
"Is he going to be alright?"
Or,
"Maybe I should go there and force Dominic to meet him."
And when the situation called for something a little more helpless...
"I kept telling Dom to go, but he kept refusing... What do I do?"
As expected, the replies were almost always in his favor.
Some told him not to push Dominic too hard when the man was probably already risking everything for true love. Others reassured Andrew that none of this was his fault when Alex should’ve understood where he stood from the very beginning, especially when that engagement was supposedly nothing more than a formality between two families.
Of course, none of them needed to know the truth.
That despite how much time had passed, Dominic still refused to completely let go of Alexander Vance, almost as if the man were some permanent fixture in his life.
Clearly, that was only because Alex had been around far longer.
Not to mention all those business interests tying the Vances and Sebastians together, giving Alexander more than enough reasons to keep Dominic and his family cooperating with him.
But without any of that...
How could someone as interesting as a blank wall possibly compare to Andrew?
After all, Andrew could get Dominic running to him with just a single message.
Could that washed-up CEO really offer anything aside from his ability to work himself to death?
Even today, on the very day those two were supposed to register their marriage, Dominic had chosen not to go simply because Andrew started desperately gasping for air.
So really, if Andrew still needed any more proof that he could finally win the Sebastian Group’s heir with just a little more pushing, what else could he possibly ask for?
Dominic had chosen him over Alex.
On their registration day, no less.
And now...
Look who had decided to grace them with his presence.
Andrew almost couldn’t believe his luck.
It was practically as if this sorry man had personally walked all the way over just to give Dominic another opportunity to throw him away in public.
But no matter.
Andrew could only thank him for his contribution.
Maybe someday, once everything had finally settled into its rightful place, he’d even remember Alexander Vance’s selfless sacrifice fondly enough to send the man an invitation to his grand wedding with Dominic.
Wouldn’t that be generous?
And really, all Andrew needed to get there was just a little more of this...
The fragile-looking blond’s expression immediately softened.
Then, with his perfectly maintained lips parting just enough to make the call sound particularly vulnerable, he murmured,
"Dom..."