BILLIONAIRE IN THE SHADOW

Dominic kept glancing at his Wristwatch, for the umpteenth time, worries etched all over his face. He had prepared for this day, to propose to his girlfriend— Evalina, and to leave her speechless with an incredible gift he'd prepared— something which everyone thought someone like him shouldn't even think of buying.

Four years in the university, Dominic's name was a thing of humiliation, but all the derogatory words and cruel schemes from people never got to him. He was bigger. Only time was holding him back, and today is the right time to show that he wasn't the poorest dude on the campus they thought he was, not the errand guy who they puppet around.

"Heck," Marcus, his best friend lamented from the dark. "Why's she taking so long to arrive?"

"I can't wait to see your babe, man." He grinned, hitting Dominic's shoulder playfully.

Dominic smirked, excitement bubbling.

He'd kept his relationship hidden from the world, an idea fostered by Evalina.

"I don't want the girls prying on my babe. You're a guy too costly to lose." She had said with pride.

Thinking about that got Dominic grinning.

"Chill, Marcus." Dominic said with a steady voice even though he was worried and anticipating too. "She said she'll be here in ten."

"Are you sure she's not suspected you're planning all of this?" Dylan, another friend, always too nice to Dominic gestured vaguely at the cramped apartment.

Dominic smiled, shaking his head lightly. "She couldn't."

They all stood behind a curtain in the dark, awaiting the entrance of Dominic's secret girlfriend.

15 minutes later, Evaliana hasn't shown up. Worry hit Dominic hard this time around. He pulled his phone, and hit her contact to dial her again...

SLAM!

The door of the entrance broke open with a slam, startling everyone. Dominic shoved his phone back into his pocket quickly.

"She's here." He whispered joyfully, though unsure.

"I'm not sure," Marcus whispered back slightly afraid. "Is that how she walks in..like breaking in?"

Regardless, Dominic's heart leaped, anticipating Evaliana's voice to be sure she was the one who entered. His heart raced with anticipation when he heard footsteps, imagining what her reaction would be after the surprise.

Then suddenly,

"Tristin," Evaliana slurred. "You always get naughty and talk dirty whenever I'm with you."

Chuckles.

It wasn't Evalina. It was a masculine voice.

"Maybe we should go another round. Right now. Let's see how long you're going to last."

"There he goes again, talking dirty." Evalina laughed. Her laughter was sharp, jamming Dominic in the gut. Everyone held their breath behind the curtain.

Dominic's heart tightened, his lips quivering as every word from Evalina felt like a knife twisting his stomach.

Evalina had been cheating on him all along. Just for how long!

Dammit!

Again. Suddenly,

Chairs scrapped the marble like the condo was a war zone.

Books clattered to the floor.

The sound of heavy breaths trembled the earlier quiet air.

"Oh God... Tristin... you're... you're hitting the right spo...ahhh.."

Dammit!

Dominic flared, his finger punching the switch with a soft click.

The roof light fluttered, jolting the two people exploring themselves on the sofa.

The room froze.

Evalina's dress pulled up from the bottom, her legs widely spread apart, hanging at a triangle, while Tristin sprawled on her, screwing her and sweating.

She pushed Tristin off out of shock, dragged down her gown with a quick move. Her chest rose and fell in shallow and quick breath.

Tristin on the other hand narrowed his eyes on her in surprise, oblivious of whatever was happening yet.

The room was decorated, tables nestled with white linen, balloons floating in the air. Across the room is a cake nestled on a table like a mini- tower, waiting to be cut.

"Babe, what's happening?" Tristin rasped, angered that his fun just got interrupted.

Dominic stepped out behind the curtain first before his friends.

Evalina's heart sank. Her heart raced in apprehension. This was why Dominic had been calling her, and she'd ruined it. She'd just blown her own cover. She allowed hormone to ruin her mastered facade. Guilt and self-disappointment settled in her eyes. Not remorse.

"Dominic," She tried to steady her trembling voice. "W—What are you doing here?"

Dominic was mute. He just stared at her in silence, then at the distance between her and the man. And then at their disheveled clothes which told stories of their entanglement.

"What am I doing here?" Dominic toned, his voice came low but unmistakably heavy.

"What's going on here?" Tristan spun, sharp eyes, sharp suit, his shoulder lifting higher than it should be, his eyes shifted between Dominic and Evalina in confusion and curiosity to grasp the situation. "What's going on here is you just ruined my fun?! Who is he?" Tristin waved him like he was trash.

"You have no business in this discussion, here! Back off." Dominic hissed, anger building inside, his fist curling at the side.

Tristen eyes darkened. "You don't speak to me like that," He spat, unused to getting spoken to arrogantly. "Do you know who I am? You just barged into my girlfriend's house, and here you are lashing out like you own the whole damn house. Who the heck are you?!"

Dominic stumbled one step back, his heart hammering his chest. "His girlfriend?" The words looped in his head, gutting him.

His eyes shifted on Evalina, flashing with disbelief. "You have been cheating on me all along?" He growled like a man who doesn't want to believe his own reality.

Evalina's lips twitched to speak, but Dominic wasn't done.

"How dare you," He growled, his voice dripping with scorn and pain. "I gave you everything. I gave you all you asked for. Is this how you repay me? Like this?!"

Marcus and Dylan stood at the back like a spectator in the spectacle.

"The most beautiful girl on campus?...

Had been Dominic's girlfriend all along?" Dylan whispered in disbelief.

Tristin's eyes lifted as he caught Dylan's whisper. His eyes narrowed on Evalina. "What's he mouthing about?"

Evalina's guilt vanished as quickly as it came, replaced with something cold and distant. She stood beside Tristen, clutching fingers with him possessively.

"I don't know either," She started cruelly, looking at Dominic like he was a failed report. "He's the guy I told you about. The guy who had been pestering my life with proposals. Now, he's levelled his game, barged into my house with his friends to get my attention. This is all insane, Tristen."

Heck!

Dominic's eyes widened in disbelief as Evalina just lied about him smoothly, calling him a pesterer. The woman he'd been in a relationship with for four years! Four years of his life!

Tristen jaw tightened, something close to familiarity flashing in his eyes. It wasn't warmness, but venom.

He stepped close. "So," His head tilted. "You're that bastard who'd been pestering my babe. I heard you're so desperate to find a way into her skirt, and now you're inside her house, unwelcomed, with your foolish chums." He waved at Dominic and his friends.

"Just how desperate are you willing to go just to get in-between her legs." He chuckled. "I could nail you for rape or something worst, and you're going to rot in jail for the rest of your poor life."

Determined to further slander Dominic, Evalina pressed on, each word dripping with venom and scorn. "Babe. Can you believe he was threatening me with marriage?" Her laughter rang, short but sharp. "Which sensible woman is going to marry someone looking like this?" She waved at him insignificantly.

"Someone who could barely steer his own life to a good bearing."

Dominic wondered. He wondered if she was the same sweet girl who'd promised him "together forever", the same girl who he'd given everything she demanded. She just cheated on him. Denied him, like he had been just a breeze in her life.

Dominic felt hand on his shoulder— Marcus quietly consoling him. His shock and disbelief melted like ice in his eyes, replaced with utter regret and disappointment.

"I thought You're the best woman for me. I imagined a good future together with you," He said quietly. "But standing here, I realize I made the worst decision thinking a woman like you would be mine. You can't. And you're going to regret this moment when karma strikes."

He moved, walking away.