BILLIONAIRE IN THE SHADOW

The Vessel Dominic left

Eva clicked out of her apartment. The moment the gentle morning breeze brushed her face, she walked into Mr. Pappu, her Indian landlord, short, round head like mosel. His bogus trouser looking too large for his plumpy body.

Eva stopped, slightly taken about by his unexpected presence. Her eyes narrowed on him with a mix of curiosity and suspension.

"Mr. Pappu," She toned, her voice tingling with curiosity. "To what do I owe this morning visit. My rent is not yet due." She said.

Mr. Bobby nodded, his expression neutral. "Good thing you remember, Mahila," He said, his voice tingling with indian accent he was gradually loosing to the queen lingo. "I'm here for the electricity Bill. You know the rules...your boyfriend pays for it once it's the beginning of every month."

Eva's Expression faltered slightly. She didn't know about that. It has been Dominic handling the electricity Bill and even her rent. He'd never disturbed her about anything, and she'd never asked how easy everything was going for her.

She swallowed, the gentle breeze seemed as though it had stopped blowing for a moment. She Regained herself, saying,

"He's not my boyfriend..he was never my boyfriend, but just an ordinary...." She paused, quickly correcting herself. "He's not even my friend." She said, her voice dripping with irritation merely thinking about Dominic.

Mr. Pappu raised a brow, his surprise evidence. "You mean that boy who had been paying the bills once it's month end, bringing stuff in for you every time. He's not your boyfriend? Not your friend? Who is he then? Hold on...he's some pesterer or someone who's eyeing to rob my house?"

Evalina's gown felt very tight as Mr. Pappu recounted, each word a stab to her chest. She felt the pang of guilt of her own betrayal, but she couldn't just come to admit it. She couldn't.

Her jaw tightened as she shook the gnawing thoughts off. Dominic is out of his life now, but definitely coming to beg her and maybe she would accept him. This wasn't love. Not remorse. It was for purpose, to ride his little cocktail— She hadn't seen Dominic's purpose all along, but now the space felt like a pit she hadn't seen in front of her and she was going to tipped right into it.

She stood straighter, her gaze looking down the landlord as she spoke rudely. "Listen, whoever comes to my place is none of your business, Pappu or whatever. So stick your head in the right place and stop poking your nose into other people's affair." She strutted to her car.

Mr. Pappu was slightly stunned by her snarky words. He knew she was rude, but it was on another level that morning.

Was She frustrated because Mr. Pappu had unbeknownst spoken a bitter truth she didn't want to hear?

"What about the electricity Bill?" Mr. Pappu's voice floated behind her, but she breezed into her car and slammed the door shut.

Mr. Pappu shook his head in disbelief and muttered, "Children of this generation have no bearing— their relationship life is too complicated." He walked away, watching her drive out in an old-fashioned Mazda 3.

As she drove through the quiet street, she momentarily forgot her purpose, Mr. Pappu's words looping in her head like a cruel nightmare. And again, her thought swayed to Dominic, the look in his eyes that night, and the way he walked away disappointedly. She couldn't shake it off.

She has denied ever knowing him, said he was only a pesterer chasing her for months now, but her stab had cut him deep, and the scar is left in his heart— Maybe not anymore, but she'd tossed the blade, forgetting every blood that spilled from his wound, and yet she still thought she's her only hope and healer. He would come back.

She shook the thoughts off, deciding to concentrate on the road. The thought about the shopping swept in. Her finger tapped the steering gently, thinking of the best place to get the latest designers.

"Elysian Vogue," She muttered smoothly and nodded thoughtfully with a light smile. "That'll be the perfect place to get everything I want."

She steered the car left and eased into another street. But before she could drive too far into the street, the car suddenly coughed, the engine rasping like it'd swallowed poison.

"What's going on again," She lamented bitterly with face twisted in irritation. "Oh! Not this time. Not this time." She hit the steering wheel in frustration and gently eased the car to the curb to avoid traffic.

"This fucking car always giving problem!" She was already half-way stepping down from the car in anger and frustration. She slammed the door, clicking forward to the front of the car.

She froze mid-steps, her eyes widened in shock, seeing smoke curling in the air from the bonnets edges like the engine was on roasting.

"What the heck!"

Meanwhile, at the same time, Dominic, Dylan, and Marcus were inside the Royce Rolls, the car ambiance cool and cozy. The leathers were plush and soft, relaxing their posture just right.

A soft jazz filled the Car as the driver, Vega Cross manoeuvre the street effortlessly, the engine humming too softly. Too effortless.

The three of them seated at the back. Marcus kept glancing at Dominic with skeptical eyes, the weight of everything unsettling in his mind; Vega Cross came to them yard, and now he's driving them to one of the most popular state–of the–art mall in the city like he was under a quiet command he mustn't disobey.

Had Dominic become a ghost he couldn't read? His thoughts swirled. This was something more than the laundry guy could pull off. He definitely is something more to Vega Cross.

Dylan on the other hand was calm, a half-rimmed glasses fixed on his eyes as he peered through the window. He's the kind who could go into a weapon battle with books and pen, an ace in the medical class he just graduated from.

Dominic on the other hand was casually scrolling through his phone, but his mind was sharp.

As the car moved on, Vega Cross' eyes caught a young woman looking frustrated in front of her car that parked at the side of the road.

He looked Dominic through the rearview mirror. "Mas...." He caught himself quickly. Dominic lifted his eyes from the phone screen at him. "Should we stop and help that lady? She's definitely in need of our help." He said, the reverence in his voice making Marcus shift on the seat, his curiosity piquing even more.

Dominic glanced at the window to see a quiet street with a few cars passing. He glanced at the side mirror to see the silhouette of the lady in blue.

"It's not safe here. Maybe we can fix whatever issue her car has."

Vega nodded in acceptance, pulling over at the curb, a few in front of the faulty car.

Eva, desperate for help having called her mechanic strutted to the Royce Rolls, a slight relief washing over her that maybe help had found her.

The backdoor of the car opened, and he stepped out. He— Dominic Reid.

Eva who was briskly approaching the Royce with a new found hope froze mid-steps, her heels swaying slightly.

Dominic was slightly surprised to see her, his eyes shifting from the Mazda 3 to her.

The moment seemed to pause.