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Undercover Mafia Princess, Dumped by Her Fiancé
Novelix
Completed
For seven years I played the quiet girl. I cooked his meals, kept his books clean, and never once told Dominic Rhodes that the clubs he bragged about owning belong to my father. The night before we signed the marriage license, his secretary bet him my honeymoon in a drinking game — and he took it. So I walked out, took back the deal that was meant to be my wedding gift, and let his whole empire burn. Then he went to the feds. Bad move. My father is Vincent Calloway. I don't lose.
Chapters (3)
第1章
The night before my courthouse wedding, my fiancé’s secretary suggests we play a drinking game—and the winner gets my honeymoon.
“Viv, honey,” Sasha purrs, swirling her whiskey. “I made a little bet with Dominic. If you win even one round, you two sign the papers tomorrow. If you lose? He’s mine for the next seven days. Honeymoon included.”
I look at Dominic. He doesn't say a word. That's a yes.
The game is simple—Never Have I Ever. Sasha goes first.
"Taken ninety-nine trips with Dominic." She drinks. I don't.
"Spent seven birthdays with him." She drinks. I don't.
"Met his parents." She drinks. I don't.
Round after round, I have nothing. I lose every single one.
Sasha grins at me like a cat with a canary.
"Viv, if you really want to win, just admit it. Tell everyone you used to work the pole at a strip club."
“Oh—and what happened to you in that alley? Come on, honey, tell us. Three generations of Rhodes men, and not one of them ever brought home a girl with a résumé like yours. No one’s topping that.”
My whole body is shaking.
"Dominic. Your secretary is spreading lies about me. You're not going to say anything?"
He snorts. "Vivienne. The truth isn't a lie. Don't be a sore loser."
Sasha clings to Dominic’s arm and gives her a pitying smile. “Sweetheart, Dominic doesn’t even mind that you used to take your clothes off for money. Keep acting like this, and there might not be a courthouse wedding tomorrow.”
A stripper?
I’m the Don’s daughter. My family owns every high-end club in this city.Without the Calloways bankrolling Dominic Rhodes all these years, he would’ve been finished long ago.
I give him a cold smile.
"Fine. The wedding's off. Dominic — you're going to regret this."
...
The private room goes dead quiet for a second.
Then Sasha throws herself at Dominic, hands around his neck, cackling.
"I told you she'd throw a tantrum and cancel! You lose again, baby. Reward doubles — fourteen days!"
She taps his chest with her finger. "Dominic. You wouldn't be a sore loser too, would you?"
Dominic slides a hand around her waist. He doesn't even turn his head, just flicks a glance at me.
"I'm not like some people. I keep my word. Push the return flight back two weeks."
Then he turns to me.
"Vivienne. These fourteen days? Coming out of our wedding fund."
"Problem is, there's barely enough. So I canceled the dress."
That money. We started saving it on our first anniversary. Every holiday bonus, every birthday check he gave me — I put every dollar in. Seven years.
That dress. I spent a whole year picking it, because we agreed the wedding would be one month after the courthouse.
I frown.
"Dominic. You're taking another woman on a honeymoon with our wedding fund. That's a joke."
He sneers. "You lost the game. You pay. Don't be cheap."
"If you're going to play, learn to lose."
Sasha tugs at his shirt and gives me a once-over like I'm something stuck on her shoe.
"Dominic, come on, you know how hard she works for her money. How many old guys does she gotta blow to earn this back?"
"You know what, forget it. I don't even want it. It's dirty."
I'm squeezing my phone so hard my knuckles are white.
"I have never admitted I was a stripper. You're spreading lies. That's defamation."
Sasha elbows Dominic. "Dominic, look at her, still playing innocent!"
"Sis, we've all seen the pictures. You, in the uniform. Super explicit."
Dominic jumps in.
"Vivienne. Your old coworker told me herself. Before you met me, you were working at a club. Had the most regulars out of anyone."
"You don't believe me? I've got videos of you going in and out of that place."
Going in and out?
The club was a starter project my dad gave me. Every upscale club in this city is ours. I walk into my own places. What's the problem.
When I don't answer, he pulls out his phone and shoves the pictures at me. I glance down.
The photos are years old. Before Dominic. I had no idea anyone had dug them up. But all they show is me goofing around with my dad.
I open my mouth to speak. Dominic clamps both hands on my shoulders and pushes me back into the chair.
"Enough, Viv. That was the past. I'm not holding it against you."
"But we're not signing tomorrow. That's final. Seven years — what's a few more days?"
“Here’s the deal. We’ll sign the paperwork. But Sasha walks down the aisle in your place at the wedding. The Rhodes family can only accept a bride with a clean name.”
I laugh in his face and shove his hands off.
"Don't bother, Dom. The wedding's off."
第2章
"Vivienne. Do you know what the hell you just said?"
Dominic's face goes black. He didn't see that coming.
Fair enough. In seven years, no matter what they pulled, I never once talked to him with this kind of cold on my face.
He's dumped meals I cooked for him right in front of me. Gone on "business trips" with Sasha and dropped off the grid on purpose. Made sure I saw the little group chat I wasn't in — and then sat back to see if I'd blow up and leave.
Every single time, all I had to do was remember him pulling me out of that alley, out of the hands of those guys. And I swallowed it.
Not tonight.
Sasha slides out of his arms, walks over to me, and takes my hand.
"Sis, we were just messing around. You know how it is."
"Tell you what — I'll give you one more chance. Just nod and admit it, and you win."
I shake her hand off and look her dead in the eye.
"Admit what? You open your mouth and I'm supposed to wear it?"
"Sasha. You're not even in the league to be talking to me."
She spins around and gives Dominic the wounded-puppy look.
"Dominic, I'm trying to be nice and she says I'm not in her league!"
"Sis, you just can't stand that Dom and I are close, can you? That's on you for not stepping up!"
Dominic's face darkens. He pulls Sasha into his chest, whispers something, then turns on me.
"Vivienne. It's a goddamn game. Get over it!"
"Without me, where do you think you're going? One phone call from me and no club in this city will touch you!"
I bend down to grab my bag. "Try it, Dominic."
He gets there first and slams my bag on the floor. His voice drops low.
"Vivienne. Why can't you just stay home and be Mrs. Rhodes? I can't exactly take you out and let people laugh at us, can I?"
"Once the Harbor Point deal closes, this whole city shifts. The Rhodes family is not somebody you want on your bad side."
Sasha watches me, eyes lazy.
"Seriously, sis. No background, no name. What are you going to fight him with?"
"You're not thinking your little old regulars are gonna save you, are you? That's hilarious. They'll run the other way the second they see Dominic."
The Harbor Point deal isn't signed yet. It was supposed to be my dad's wedding gift to me. Wedding's off — Dominic's never touching that paper.
I don't bother answering. I just slide the ring off my finger and drop it on the table.
"Here. Your ring back. We're even."
Sasha picks it up. "Sis, this ring was a gift. It's the thought that counts. How can you just throw it away?"
That's when I notice. The bracelet on her wrist is from the same collection as my ring.
Click.
Last month, I found a receipt in Dominic's coat pocket. A ring and a bracelet. He said the bracelet was a gift for a client. The client was Sasha.
Back then, he didn't explain. He just said, flat:
"Viv. Buying you anything too expensive is a waste. You're a simple girl, you wouldn't know what to do with it. Having one is enough."
I don't say anything. I walk past both of them and out the door.
Dominic doesn't follow. He just yells after me.
"Vivienne! You'll be back on your knees begging me!"
I don't look back.
I get in the car. My dad's assistant is already calling.
"Miss Calloway. Mr. Calloway approved the Harbor Point deal."
第3章
I let out a soft laugh. "Harbor Point doesn't go to Dominic. Pull it. I'll explain in person."
Then I drive straight to a coffee shop.
Frank is already there. Files spread all over the table.
Dad and I put this package together months ago. Now that the deal is changing hands, we have to walk through every piece again.
We're almost done. I'm getting ready to leave when I see them.
Dominic and Sasha.
Sasha hanging off his arm, pouting. "Dom, I want all of these cakes!"
Dominic strokes her hair like she's a kitten. "Box them all up."
I don't move.
Back when I used to ask him for cake, he'd tell me sweets would make me fat. Eat less.
Turns out he just didn't want to buy them. For me.
Dominic turns. Our eyes lock. His brow pulls down.
"Vivienne. What are you doing here?"
He takes a step forward. Then Sasha jerks her chin toward Frank.
"Hey — isn't that one of the old guys from the pictures?"
"Sis, you're not still taking appointments on the side, are you? And now you're meeting them in public?"
She's stopped calling me "sis" like it means anything.
Dominic stops cold. His eyes flick to Frank, then back to me, and go flat.
"Vivienne. My patience has a limit. Don't push it."
"You that desperate for money? You'll do anything?"
The coffee shop goes quiet. Heads turn.
"No way, this girl looks so innocent, she's getting paid by some old man?"
"Classic snake move. Gotta play innocent or nobody bites."
"Damn, body's not bad though. I'm way better looking than Grandpa over there — can I get her number?"
I grip the back of the chair. My knuckles lock.
Frank's face goes stone. He steps forward. Voice barely above a whisper.
"Who the hell gave you the right to talk about my boss's daughter like that?"
Sasha scoffs and sneers at me.
"Daughter? Oh sure. The star girl of the house!"
"Sis, your loyal regulars really protect you, huh. Business must be booming."
I glare at her.
"Sasha. What are you talking about. He's my —"
Before I can finish, Sasha walks right up to my face and shoots a look at Frank.
"We know exactly who he is. Don't treat us like we're stupid."
"Hanging off Dominic with one hand, running this filthy little side hustle with the other. You disgust me."
Frank steps in front of me and points right at her.
"Who the hell are you to open your mouth like that?"
Sasha glances back at Dominic.
"Dom, this old guy is actually talking to me like that. Your girl's got some real skills, huh."
Dominic strides over. Lifts his arm. Shoves Frank.
Frank stumbles into a chair, loses his footing, hits the floor hard. He curls up, can't get up for a long moment.
I crouch down to help him.
Dominic shoves me too. I go down flat on the tile. For a second I can't even register it.
He stands over me.
"Vivienne. Still trying to help him? What — worried about your old baby?"
Sasha stands next to him, looking down at me.
"A stripper with a soft spot for her sugar daddy. Didn't see that coming."
I push myself up on one hand. Slowly lift my head. Pick up my cracked phone off the floor.
"Defamation. Assault. Dominic — I'm calling the cops."
