When Arette uttered "Alejandro," it represented a level of familiarity that she had never shared with Dominic before.
To Dominic, hearing her use another man's name in such a way was a direct challenge to his authority and possessiveness over her.
It was a reminder that while he may have allowed Alejandro to become her vocal coach out of necessity, he would not tolerate any form of emotional connection or affection between them.
Arette's use of "Alejandro" felt like a betrayal to Dominic, as it showed a level of closeness and trust that he believed should only exist between them.
In his eyes, her willingness to address Alejandro by his first name symbolised a breach of the boundaries he had set in their relationship, sparking feelings of extreme anger and jealousy.
Dominic's sudden outburst caught Arette completely off guard, her heart pounding with fear as he forcefully pulled her out of the room and dragged her to his own. With a strength fueled by jealousy, he pinned her against the door, his grip tight.
"How dare you call him Alejandro?" Dominic's voice dripped with venom, his eyes blazing with anger.
Arette, trembling with fear, could feel tears welling up in her eyes as she struggled to comprehend the situation. "Because that's his name?" she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
"What happened to 'Mr. Last Name'?" Dominic growled, his tone harsh and threatening.
"He permitted me to call him by his first name," Arette explained, her voice trembling with fear as she felt small under his intense gaze.
Dominic's anger only seemed to intensify at her explanation. "Well, I'm forbidding you from calling any man by their first name except for me," he declared, his words cutting like a knife. "Mr. This, Mr. That, or address them by their job title. Pianist Ruiz, Vocal Coach Ruiz, there are many things you can address that bastard with. Alejandro is not one of them."
As tears streamed down her cheeks, she could only nod in silent submission.
Dominic's gaze softened as he wiped away her tears, his touch both gentle and possessive. With a commanding tone, he instructed her to look into his eyes. Arette hesitated, her gaze uncertain, but eventually complied, meeting his intense stare.
"Look at me," Dominic commanded, his voice low and demanding. As Arette met his gaze feeling both frightened and intrigued at the same time at the change of personality.
"Say my name," Dominic urged, his voice barely above a whisper.
Arette swallowed hard, feeling a rush of conflicting emotions coursing through her. She hesitated for a moment before finally uttering his name.
"Dominic," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Dominic's eyes darkened with desire as he heard his name on her lips for the first time. It was as if her voice was a drug, intoxicating him with a venomous mixture of lust.
"Fuck," Dominic muttered under his breath, his thoughts starting to stray into inappropriate territory. He tried to push aside the primal urges that threatened to consume him, but the sight of Arette, vulnerable and beautiful before him, only intensified his desire.
Unable to resist any longer, Dominic leaned in closer, his gaze locked on Arette's trembling form.
Arette's heart raced with terror as he leaned closer, his breath warm against her skin. She could feel the tension crackling in the air between them, igniting an extreme fear within her that she struggled to contain.
"Chairman Ferrari, please," she whispered, her voice trembling with both fear and terror. But her plea only seemed to fuel Dominic's obsession further, driving him to the brink of control.
"Your fear is crack to me. The more I see it, the more I want it," With a sudden surge of primal instinct, Dominic pressed his lips to Arette's, his kiss fierce and possessive.
Arette gasped, not responding to the kiss, as she placed her hands on his muscly chest, trying to push him away but she only ended up just placing her hands there because she was afraid of what he might do if she dared push him.
Dominic suddenly pulled away, "I shouldn't do this to you without your consent. I'm sorry, Arette" he whispered, his voice filled with regret.
Dominic's gaze softened, his fingers gently brushing against her cheek as he struggled to regain his composure. "Will you forgive me?" he whispered, wiping her tears with his thumb.
Arette had no other option but to nod. It wasn't like she could say 'no'. To Dominic Ferrari, there was no letter N and O, the options were yes or yes.
With a heavy sigh, Dominic released Arette from his grip, stepping back to give her space and guiding her back to her room. The distance between his room and Arette's room was enough for Arette to regain her composure.
Singing was her healing pill anyways.
As Dominic and Arette returned to her room, they were greeted by April and Alejandro. Arette's eyes still glistened with tears from the earlier confrontation, while Dominic's expression was tense, his emotions roiling beneath the surface.
Arette stood, her gaze flickering nervously between Dominic and Alejandro, while April offered a warm smile of greeting. Alejandro, remained focused on the task at hand, his attention turning to Arette as she prepared to sing once more.
With a nod from Alejandro, Arette began to sing "O mio babbino caro" once more, her voice weaving a spellbinding melody that filled the room with its beauty:
"O mio babbino caro,
Mi piace, è bello, bello,
Vo'andare in Porta Rossa
A comperar l'anello!"
Her voice was pure, each note showing casing her emotions as she poured her heart into the lyrics. Alejandro sat at the piano, his fingers caressing the keys with skillful precision, providing a delicate accompaniment to Arette's flawless performance.
"Brava, Arette," Alejandro interjected softly. "Maintain that breath support, and let the emotion of the music carry you."
Arette nodded, her focus unwavering as she followed Alejandro's guidance, her voice soaring effortlessly through the melody. But as she sang, Dominic's attention was elsewhere, his gaze fixated on Alejandro with a simmering intensity.
"How dare you come into my house and stare at my girl with your fucking eyes... the audacity! I'll pluck them out and feed them to birds," Dominic's thoughts seethed with wickedness, his anger boiling over at the sight of Alejandro. But as he averted his gaze to Arette, his demeanour softened, his thoughts drifting to something else.
Dominic's thoughts drifted to his mother, Giselle, whose voice had possessed the same ethereal quality as Arette's. Memories of her singing to him flooded his mind, reminding him of the pain of her absence and the void it had left in his heart.
Unbeknownst to him, tears began to stream down his cheeks, his usual stoic facade crumbling in the face of his emotions. It was a rare moment of vulnerability for him, one that caught both April and Arette by surprise.
Nonetheless, none of them dared to speak up as Arette continued singing and April pretending she didn't see.