Chapter 13

Yasmine was already waiting for Vespera at the practice range. She wore a pastel yellow sports dress that hugged her curves. Her voluminous waves cascaded effortlessly over her shoulders, exuding a perfect blend of youthful charm and seductive allure. As soon as she saw Vespera, Yasmine sighed in exasperation. "Ugh, you might as well wrap your whole neck up while you're at it." Vespera smiled lightly. "I'm here for a job opportunity." She didn't think there was anything wrong with her outfit—a sky-blue sportswear set, her hair pulled into a sleek high ponytail, and a touch of natural makeup. It was clean, professional, and appropriate. "Vera, men are visual creatures." "If Dominic just wanted a pretty secretary, that position wouldn't still be open." Yasmine playfully poked her. "Being beautiful and being competent aren't mutually exclusive. Lucky for you, I bought a spare outfit. We're about the same size, so you're wearing this." Before Vespera could protest, Yasmine grabbed her and dragged her into the fitting room, practically shoving her into the new outfit. Since she was counting on Yasmine to introduce her, Vespera couldn't exactly refuse the favor. When she walked out, she had transformed into a total knockout. A white sleeveless crop top paired with a black pleated mini-skirt hugged every curve, accentuating her toned figure. Her long, sculpted legs stretched out endlessly, a vision that could make any man lose his mind. "Oh my God—" Yasmine gasped dramatically, covering her mouth. "Vespera, you've been hiding all this? Luke is an absolute idiot for not appreciating what he had. And Tina? What the hell does she have that you don't?" Vespera pretended not to hear the last part. She frowned at her reflection, feeling uneasy. Dressed like this, it would be easy for Dominic to assume she was trying to seduce him. "Yasmine, I don't know if…" "Shh..." Yasmine silenced her with a finger, then fished her phone from her purse and answered the call. "Hello, Mr. Clarke? Oh, you and Mr. Reid are already there? Great! We'll be right over." Hearing that, Vespera had no choice but to go along with it. They headed toward the meeting spot. On the way, Vespera asked, "Yasmine, have you met Dominic before?" "Once, when I was six. My parents took me to the Reid family's Christmas party. Back then, he was still a kid—pale, chubby, and ridiculously cute. But he moved overseas when he was ten, so he's barely been around since." "I see…" Pale, chubby, cute… Vespera couldn't help but picture a steaming, fluffy bun. The golf cart turned a corner. Suddenly, a vast, open green appeared before them. Beyond the rolling hills, a lake shimmered beneath the forest's edge. Closer to them, two men stood engaged in conversation, both dressed in sportswear. Vespera's gaze landed on one of them, and her breath caught in her throat. The man in the deep blue polo and camel-colored pants was Alban Clarke. But the man beside him… He was taller, standing out effortlessly, and dressed in an all-white athletic set. Broad shoulders, a tapered waist, and an air of effortless refinement made him impossible to ignore. Then, as he turned slightly, the sunlight kissed the sculpted lines of his face, casting sharp shadows along his jaw. His features were so breathtaking that they almost didn't seem real. Her vision blurred for a moment. She had seen Alban before, so the man standing beside him could only be— "Dominic!" Beside her, Yasmine gasped in excitement. "Oh my God! He looks nothing like he did as a kid. How did he grow up to be so tall and insanely handsome? I can't take it—I'm swooning!" "This is bad." "You too? What, did you fall for him at first sight? Completely swept off your feet?" Vespera's expression was worse than if she had burst into tears. The golf cart came to a stop. The two men, who had been deep in conversation, finally turned toward them. Alban waved them over with a friendly smile, his eyes flickering with appreciation when they landed on Vespera. On the other hand, Dominic barely reacted. A brief flicker of surprise crossed his gaze before it was replaced with a cold, distant indifference, a wall that made it clear he wasn't someone easily approached. Yasmine led Vespera toward them. Since she was already here, Vespera figured she might as well give it her best shot, no matter how slim her chances were. "Mr. Clarke, Mr. Reid." As they approached, Yasmine greeted them warmly before eagerly introducing Vespera to Dominic. "This is my best friend, Vespera Gildon. She came today specifically to witness your brilliance, Mr. Reid." Vespera's nerves were on edge, but she kept her smile flawless. Alban chuckled. "That explains it. I was wondering why the lovely Ms. Gildon would suddenly show up here. And looking this stunning, too. So you had your sights set on Dominic? Quite ambitious." Ignoring Alban's teasing, Vespera greeted him politely before turning to Dominic. Keeping her voice composed and professional, she said, "Mr. Reid, it's a pleasure to meet you." The moment the words left her mouth, she realized her mistake. Her eyes twitched slightly. Her stupid habit of formal greetings had betrayed her. "Pleasure to meet me?" Dominic's deep, unreadable gaze rested on her face. Vespera maintained her poised expression, though she was seconds away from losing it. She pretended not to hear the underlying meaning in his words and simply smiled wider. "I'm really glad to finally meet you." There was a brief moment of silence before she looked at him, a hint of apprehension and silent pleading in her eyes. She thought, "Just go along with it, please." Dominic seemed to understand what she was thinking. His lips curved slightly, amusement glinting in his eyes. "You do look quite happy, Ms. Gildon." His deep, velvety voice carried a lingering hint of amusement, every word laced with an almost indulgent tone. That smile of his made Alban and Yasmine tense up in shock. They thought, "Wait… that's it? She already won him over?" Yasmine shot Vespera a look that practically screamed, "See? I told you the outfit would work! If you've got a killer weapon, use it." Vespera sighed internally. That was no compliment. That was pure sarcasm. The game began. Dominic's golf skills were exceptional, and Alban wasn't far behind. Yasmine and Vespera took a few swings, but for the most part, they were just there to add to the atmosphere. After a round, the group headed to the shaded lounge area for a break. Yasmine deliberately dragged Alban off to the club's shop to pick out a new golf club, seizing the opportunity to leave Vespera alone with Dominic. Dominic sat down, and Vespera wasted no time. She quickly unscrewed a bottle of water and handed it to him, almost like a well-trained assistant eager to please. He stared at her outstretched hand for a few seconds, then took it without making things difficult. But instead of drinking, he simply placed it on the table. Vespera sighed internally. "That's not a great sign." "Ms. Gildon, we're meeting for the first time, yet you went through all this trouble to see me. Surely, you're not just here to ask about my measurements?" Dominic wiped his forehead with a towel, his movements elegant, his tone casual—yet every word carried an edge. Vespera thought to herself, "Wow, two insults in one sentence. Impressive." She pressed her lips together, taking a moment to think. "Saying it's our first meeting was a slip of the tongue. Last time, when I asked Mr. Chandler about you, it was only because I accidentally got your suit dirty and wanted to replace it. "As for why I wanted to meet you, I heard you were looking for a secretary, Mr. Reid." Her choice of words shifted subtly. The way she subtly switched from "you" to the more formal "Mr. Reid" made her intentions clear. Dominic set the towel down and stated flatly, "You're not suitable." With that, he stood and strolled toward the wooded area behind them. She had been rejected without so much as an interview. That competitive fire in Vespera sparked, and she immediately followed after him. As the two of them disappeared into the trees, a golf cart passed by on a nearby path. Luke was seated inside with a client, and Tina was right beside him. His gaze locked onto the curvy figure walking ahead, and his brows instinctively furrowed.