Ex-Mate's Regret: Now He Wants Me Back?

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Clara's POV

For an omega like myself, I learnt four years after the rejection from my pack that confidence was everything. Alphas and Gammas could sense an omega from a mile away by how timid they were, always trying to hide behind others.

I was like that once, my circle consisted of only Dominic and my best friend, Ruby. No one else really mattered. Now, I found myself walking with a spine straight back and confidence that made even the most narcissistic to cower. It was a secret weapon.

My secretary was speed walking behind me, attempting to keep up with my long strides. "I pushed the meeting to ten o'clock", she announced, ticking off something from her list.

Her announcement had me stopping so suddenly that she almost rammed into me.

"Is something wrong?"

I frowned down at her. "It was by eight am. Why the sudden change?"

"Oh", she blinked, adjusting the glasses perched on her nose. "Well, the timing was definitely too early. I didn't want to put anyone in a tight spot with trying to reach the venue on time and..."

I felt my jaw tick in annoyance. I couldn't give two hoots about the inconvenience the timing might cause to Dominic and his associates.

"What part of eight o'clock was unclear to you?"

"I...", she paused, eyes wide. "I'm sorry."

I rolled my eyes, resuming my walk.

"I can move the time if you want", she attempted to salvage the situation but my mood was already ruined and I wasn't ready to grace her with an answer.

Begrudgingly, I replied. "Don't bother."

Dominic walked into the meeting room with three others, two men and a lady who looked like she'd rather be anywhere but here. Her lips were set in a grim line and the frown on her face only intensified every few minutes.

"Miss Valmont", he greeted, jutting out his hand. "I'm Dominic Whitaker."

I almost scoffed at the formal introduction. How convenient for the asshole.

I took his outstretched hand and a memory came flooding in.

"Are you certain you aren't looking for someone?", Ruby asked, her pen tapping rhythmically against the table. A few persons threw her annoyed looks.

"I'm not", I answered, burying my face further into the book.

"I'm just saying. You keep staring at every single person that walks into the library. You even changed your normal sitting spot."

I silently cursed her.

What was I even thinking? After that one encounter with that guy, I couldn't seem to be able to get him out of my head. It was crazy to be this hung up on a guy that I didn't even know something as basic as his name. Ruby would think I was crazy. Hence, my silence.

"I'm choosing to drop this, not because I believe you. I'll drill you some other time."

"Whatever."

"Give me a minute, I need to get a book from the other wing of the library."

"Sure. I'll be here."

She leapt to her feet, rushing off. I attempted to concentrate on the text in front of me, but those striking blue eyes tortured me.

"Hey", a deep, velvety voice greeted, drawing my attention.

The moment I looked up, I could feel my breath momentarily stolen by the sheer beauty of the guy standing in front of me. Not just any guy. It was him.

"You..."

"Glad to know you still remember me", he smirked, settling at the spot directly opposite me. "I'm Dominic."

"Clara", I answered after a long pause. "How did you find me?"

"I am pretty resourceful."

"Why did you find me?"

That made him pause and just when I thought he wasn't going to answer, he did. "You're... intriguing."

"That's quite vague. If you find me intriguing, what happens when your curiosity is satiated?"

Dominic hid a smile. "Trust me when I say that I haven't met anyone who piqued my interest even in the slightest."

"So what? I should consider myself lucky?", I raised a brow, the sudden burst of confidence was a direct contrast to my real behaviour. Even Ruby wasn't this lucky to get such brutal honesty from our conversations.

Dominic let out a laugh which attracted the looks of a few persons but it wasn't filled with annoyance, but admiration and curiosity.

"I think I should be the one to consider myself lucky", he flicked my forehead. "I'll see you around, Clara."

With that said, he walked off. No exchanged contacts or some information on where we'd meet again.

When I turned, Ruby was standing there, her mouth hung agape and a genuinely baffled expression on her face.

"Why are you staring at me like that?", I whispered after her look grew more intense, it was almost scalding.

"I left you for...what? Ten minutes? And you're already on speaking terms with the Dominic Whitaker?"

"You know him?", I frowned.

"No. The real question is, who doesn't know him. He's the future Alpha of our pack and an epitome of perfection."

I willed myself back to the present.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Dominic. This is my secretary."

After a few pleasantries, we got straight into business. Dominic was serious about the project, which meant that it wasn't just a stupid, childish ploy to ruffle me. They really need this company.

He dropped his suggestions where appropriate, picking out details upon details. Regardless of how hard I tried to fight it, I found my eyes returning to him, watching those little actions that I had grown to love.

I willed my heart to remain still and cold, yet it pounded erratically in my chest. I hated this feeling. I hated how much I felt giddy just being close to him. I wanted to hate him deeply, hurt him terribly just as he hurt me.

How, then, could I possibly switch off this feeling of love? Why was my hate not enough to overshadow this ecstatic feeling?

One thing was for certain. I'd hurt him more than he hurt me, and even if my heart refuses to accept that, I'd make the logical part of my head take the lead.