"You impossible child," his mother's voice came through the phone, sharp yet warm. "You rushed off to work again without even a hello. Is saying good morning too much for you now?"
Dominic groaned and leaned back in the leather seat as the car moved forward.
"Mom…"
"Don't 'Mom' me," she interrupted briskly. "I saw the car pull away. You and your assistant gone like thieves before dawn."
Despite himself, a smile tugged at his lips.
"You still pull these little stunts," she continued, "and yet you had the nerve to disappear yesterday when I brought Isolde."
Dominic sighed. "Here we go."
"She is educated, morally sound, respectful, and perfectly suited for your status," his mother remarked pointedly. "Dominic, you're thirty-five. I'd like to hold my grandchild while my hands are still steady."
"Not much longer," Dominic replied lightly, pressing the phone closer to his ear. "You'll get your wish."
"Hmph." After a pause, her tone softened but remained sharp. "Isolde has the looks, grace, and background. Yet you look elsewhere. Your eyes have grown increasingly curious lately, and I hope they aren't wandering where they shouldn't be"
A quiet chuckle of laughter floated between them.
"Take care of yourself," she finally said. "I'm heading out now. Don't let me down. Time isn't as generous as you think."
"Yes, Ma," Dominic replied, sliding the phone back into his suit pocket.
He exhaled and shook his head with a slight smirk. "Tch… she's so persistent."
"Sir."
Cedric's voice broke through Dominic's lingering amusement just as he lowered his phone.
Dominic looked up. "What is it?"
Cedric hesitated before asking carefully, "Are you really sure about this?"
Dominic didn't respond right away; instead, he leaned back in his seat with an unreadable expression on his face.
"Yes," he finally said. "I am."
Cedric took a quiet breath and nodded, though confusion still flickered across his features. His boss owned half the skyline and wore designer clothes that required private appointments, yet this morning he had rejected every tailored suit laid out for him.
Normal clothes.
Cedric briefly wondered if it had anything to do with the woman Dominic claimed to have met yesterday.
The car slowed and smoothly came to a stop in front of a modest clothing store: Clean. Casual. Respectable. But it was far from the kind of place where Dominic usually found himself.
Cedric made the first move, the door hissing open hydraulically with grace and silence. As Dominic stepped out, passersby froze, some stared openly while others pretended not to notice. A Rolls-Royce Ghost certainly didn't belong here.
Cedric led him inside.
"Good day, sirs," a shop attendant greeted them quickly, gesturing politely. "Right this way…"
"Uh, my b—"
"I need casual clothes," Dominic interjected calmly before Cedric could finish.
The attendant blinked in surprise. "Casual… sir?"
"Nothing high fashion," Dominic continued. "Nothing tailored. Just something normal."
The man's eyes widened momentarily before he regained his composure. "O-of course. We do have sets like that."
Dominic gave a brief nod.
A few minutes later, he emerged from the fitting room dressed simply: clean lines and muted tones. By all definitions, it was ordinary.
Cedric stood with arms crossed, staring at him in disbelief.
"...Really?" he said flatly.
Dominic glanced at his reflection, unfazed. "What?"
Cedric sighed. "With all the things money can buy, you chose this."
A slight smile crept onto Dominic's lips.
They completed the purchase swiftly and stepped back outside. As Dominic slid into the car, Cedric followed with several bags in hand, still shaking his head.
The door closed with a quiet thud.
Cedric glanced at him again, curiosity flickering beneath his professional demeanor. Something had shifted.
And whatever it was had nothing to do with clothes.
Minutes later, they arrived near the same public spot where Dominic had seen her yesterday.
He looked out the window, scanning the street. "Drop me off a few meters away."
Cedric slowed down the car. "Sir?"
"I don't need an audience," he replied.
The car came to a gentle stop as Cedric hesitated before speaking carefully. "Should I keep an eye on you? Perhaps look into her... just for some basic information?"
Dominic thought for a moment, his gaze distant before nodding once. "Fine. But don't make it obvious, keep your distance and remain professional."
"Yes, sir."
Dominic reached for the door and stepped out into a busy street that felt ordinary and alive, exactly what he wanted.
"Sir," Cedric called again.
Dominic paused.
Cedric gestured toward his wrist. "If you're committed to this… then that watch defeats your purpose."
Dominic looked down to see a Patek Philippe comfortably resting against his skin.
"...Damn it."
Dominic reached for the door and stepped out. The street was busy, ordinary, and alive. Exactly what he wanted.
"Sir," Cedric said again.
Irritation flashed across his face as he fumbled with the clasp. "Why do I always forget this?"
In his haste, the watch slipped from his fingers and fell toward the pavement.
Cedric let out a sharp sigh, already moving. He opened the driver's door and leaned out just as Dominic bent down to retrieve it.
"For someone pretending to be low profile, you're doing a terrible job."
Before Dominic could straighten up, Cedric snatched the watch from the ground. He closed his hand around it and waved his other hand dismissively.
"You've come this far. Don't ruin whatever you're planning. Go… on, Go!." He shooed him with exaggerated urgency
Dominic looked at him and chuckled under his breath. "You're unbearable."
"And you're reckless, sir," Cedric replied evenly.
Dominic gave him a slow smile before turning and jogging off into the crowd without looking back.
Cedric watched him vanish, then glanced down at the watch in his palm. Something told him this was no fleeting curiosity at all.