Two Can Play (Celeste and Dominic) novel Chapter 149

Chapter 1,8

“What do you suggest I do?”

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“End it,” Pat said simply. “Officially. Cleanly. The goal of your affair with Dominic has been achieved. Julian and Seraphine have felt the pain you felt. You have asked for a divorce. The revenge arc is complete. If you keep dragging this out, you are only going to confuse yourself further. You need one major conversation with Dominic where you thank him for everything, explain that the arrangement has run its course, and close the door on this chapter of your life. Both of you walk away with clarity. No loose ends. No what-ifs.”

I turned the idea over in my mind, testing its weight, feeling the shape of it, and something about the clarity of it appealed to the part of me that was tired of living in uncertainty.

“And once you have that closure,” Pat continued, “you can move on with your life. Focus on your career. Focus on yourself. Let yourself heal. And all these confusing feelings you have for Dominic will float away with the wind like smoke from a fire that has been properly extinguished.”

I let out a long breath, the tension in my shoulders easing slightly as the decision crystallized in my mind. “You are right, Pat. You are absolutely right. It is better to end things decisively now than to drag it out and end up hurt. Instead of sitting here guessing what Dominic is thinking or feeling, I can just talk to him. Make sure both sides understand that everything is over. Save myself from unnecessary heartache.”

Pat nodded, a small smile spreading across her face. “That is my girl.”

I reached for my phone, my fingers moving almost of their own accord, pulling up Dominic’s contact and pressing the call button before I could talk myself out of it. The line rang twice before he picked up, his voice coming through the speaker with that familiar warmth that made my stomach tighten.

“Celeste,” he said, and I could hear the surprise in his voice, the pleasure, the way he said my name like it meant something to

him.

I did not want to spend too much time on pleasantries, did not want to give myself the chance to get distracted by the sound of his voice or the memories of his hands on my skin. So I kept it brief, professional, to the point.

“I wanted to thank you for the bodyguards,” I said. “They came in handy today. More than I expected.”

“Did something happen?”

I could hear the shift in his voice, the protective edge creeping in, and I quickly added, “I will explain everything when I see you. But there is also something I need to tell you in person. Something important.”

There was a pause on the other end, a beat of silence that seemed to stretch, and then he said, “When?”

“Tomorrow evening. Are you free?”

“Absolutely,” he said without hesitation, the word coming out so quickly that I almost smiled despite myself.

I was about to suggest a private resort I knew, somewhere neutral and quiet where we could talk without distractions, when he spoke again.

“Would you come to my place? It would be safer for us to talk there.”

I hesitated for only a second before agreeing. “That works. I will drive myself.”

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