Submitting to my Ex Uncle-Chapter 175

Celeste blinked quickly when she opened her eyes. She wiped her eyes with the back of her palm, to make sure she was seeing clearly.

Rodger stood before her, with his phone screen positioned at her face. Dominic was on the screen, seated, and watching her.

Celeste drew her eyes away from the screen, and gently sat up. "Don’t try this again, Rodger," she warned, glaring at him.

"Yes ma’am." He replied immediately. "That’s if you won’t ignore boss."

Celeste slipped her feet into her flip-flops, picked her phone from the lamp stand, and unlocked it. She saw about eighteen missed calls from Dominic. A few from last night, and the rest from two hours ago.

She eyed him through the screen, and tied her hair up into a ponytail.

"Celeste." Dominic’s lips finally parted. "Good morning."

Celeste swallowed, and stood up from the bed. She walked towards her closet, expecting Rodger to leave with the phone, since she was obviously not in the mood of talking.

To her surprise, Rodger followed her with the phone. Celeste stopped in front of her closet door and turned to Dominic’s image. "Tell him to leave."

"I will," Dominic’s tone was soft, that same careful low drawl she both longed for and hated when she was angry at him. "But only after you pick up your phone and promise me you’ll answer when I call. Can you do that for me?"

Her jaw tightened, with her hand clutching her closet handle. Celeste nodded slowly, reluctant but yielding. She walked back to the bed, reached for her phone, and gave Rodger a glare sharp enough to slice through glass.

Then she lifted the phone to her ear, her thumb poised. Dominic ended the FaceTime with Rodger, and almost immediately, her cell phone rang. His name flashed across her screen, bold and demanding. She pressed accept, lifting it to her ear, finally free of Rodger’s hovering presence as he quietly left the room.

"What are you having for breakfast?" Dominic’s voice filled her ear, quiet and warm, like it had been waiting all night to speak to her again.

Celeste blinked, staring down at the floor, the tension in her chest cracking just a little at his question.

She exhaled, easing down onto the edge of her bed. "I haven’t thought about it yet," she muttered, brushing her hair back. "Maybe coffee. Maybe fruit."

"Coffee and fruit is not breakfast," Dominic replied, steady but not scolding. "Tell the chefs to make you something that will hold you. Eggs, toast, and something warm."

"Since when did you become a nutritionist?" she asked softly, trying to bite down the smile tugging at her lips.

"Since the day I decided to take care of you in every way I can," he countered, and she could almost hear the faintest smile in his voice.

Her chest squeezed. She wanted to stay mad and to cling to the stubbornness from last night, but he wasn’t giving her anything sharp to hold on to. Only softness.

"How was your flight?" she asked finally, her tone easing.

"It was long, but smooth. Landed on time. I didn’t sleep much," Dominic admitted. "Couldn’t stop thinking about you."

Celeste’s throat tightened at his confession. She lowered her head, her hand brushing her temple. "Dominic..."

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"I’m sorry about last night." The words left her lips in a whisper. It came out very fragile and soft.

Dominic exhaled. The exhale was not sharp but grounding, like he was letting the tension dissolve before it could take root. "I wasn’t thinking about it," he said gently. "I knew you’d had a bit too much wine. I knew your emotions were high. It happens."

She shut her eyes, guilt flickering in them. "Still, you called so many times. I shouldn’t have—"

"Celeste." His voice cut in, velvet wrapped around steel. "We’re not going to drag last night into this morning. You hear me? I’m not carrying it, and I don’t want you carrying it either."

Her eyes burned despite herself. But before she could speak again, his tone shifted, more lighter. "What are you doing after breakfast?"

She blinked, caught off guard. "I... don’t know yet."

"Good," Dominic said, and she heard the faint sound of keys tapping in the background. A second later, her phone buzzed with a bank alert.

Knowing Dominic, her heart leapt. She glanced down and saw it. Typical Dominic. It a deposit of ten million dollars, just like that, sitting in her account, and more.

Her mouth parted. "Dominic—"

"You’re going shopping today," he said, with a matter-of-fact tone. "Something for you. Something new. Don’t argue."

Her hand trembled around the phone. "Ten million dollars? For clothes?"

"For anything you want. Clothes, shoes, and even, the world if it makes you smile," he answered smoothly. "And if that’s not enough, I left a black card for you. Lamp stand. My side of the bed. Use it."

Celeste shut her eyes, shaking her head with a helpless laugh. "I don’t need all of this just to buy a few clothes." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"I know you don’t need it," Dominic said, his voice dropping low, calm but unyielding. "But I need you to have it. That’s the difference."

Her smile finally broke through, unbidden and unstoppable.

"I wish I could kiss you right now," Dominic said. His tone was low, unhurried, and threaded with something intimate enough to make her pulse stumble. "It’s late here, and I’ll be having a conference meeting soon."

"I’ll keep you updated." She smiled faintly, her thumb tracing over her lips, almost as if his were still pressed against them. The hollow ache of missing him tugged at her chest. "I’ll have to arrange everything my boss asked of before shopping," she admitted, suddenly remembering the stack of tasks she had left undone.

Dominic chuckled, the sound warm and full, like he already knew she’d try to bury herself in work before indulging in anything for herself. "Always so diligent." His voice dipped, softer. "Don’t forget, this is your life, not just your job. You deserve to enjoy it."

Celeste leaned back into the closet glass door, exhaling slowly. "I know. I just... need to finish what I started."

"Good," he said. Then, with a gentleness that undid her, he added, "I love you. If there’s anything, ask for my assistance, or help. Okay?"

Her eyes closed. Her throat tightened at the steadiness of his affection. The easy way he said I love you still knocked the air out of her. "Okay," she whispered.

"Promise?"

Celeste opened her eyes again, her gaze falling to the glowing balance on her banking app, still so new she hadn’t dared to close it yet. Ten million dollars. A black card waiting beside his bed. She swallowed, lifting her chin. "Promise."

"That’s my girl." His approval passed through the phone. It caused Celeste’s chest to warm up.

There was a pause, a soft silence heavy with things unsaid. Dominic broke it first. "Celeste, I meant it when I said go shopping. Take Amara if you want. Let Rodger trail you. Buy something you’d never dare buy for yourself. I want to see you in it when I return."

Her lips curved against her will, a smile slipping free. "You’re making it sound like homework."

"Then it’s homework and I’ll grade it personally," he countered smoothly. "Don’t test me, Celeste."