The Marriage Sacrifice

“There was no competition, sweetheart. Dom’s company has no money. He has nothing.”

She turned to look at Dom. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You hate corporations. You hate your father’s business.” He saw the tears in her eyes, and she shook her head.

“I may want nothing to do with it, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know how significant it all is. I get it. People have to work. Jobs are important. Livelihoods mean everything. After everything you’ve seen me do, you really didn’t think I’d get it?”

“Sage, I think we should go somewhere and talk about this,” he said.

“Why? It doesn’t make it any less horrible talking about it here, or somewhere else. What does it matter?”

“I love you.”

“Really? Because I thought someone who loved another person wouldn’t keep a lie this big. Wouldn’t manipulate someone into falling in love all in the name of money.”

“I didn’t want to do this, and I fell in love with you, Sage. I want to be with you. Forever.”

“Forever is a really long time.” She turned on her heel, and he watched her leave.

He knew she was leaving not just him but the reception. Rushing through the throngs of people, he left the building and saw her in a cab, already driving off.

“Sage, baby, don’t go.” He started to chase after the cab, but he couldn’t reach it in time.

It was gone, and he stood watching his wife, the love of his life, as she drove away from him without a backward glance.

The press was there to witness his downfall. They were taking his pictures as he broke down.

“Mr. Duke, what is going on?”

“Why did your new wife leave?”

“Is everything okay?”

“Sir, can we please have a story?”

He looked over at the vultures wanting a piece and then at the building where he should be dancing with his wife, preparing to leave.

He had lost everything, and it wasn’t like he had anyone to blame but himself. The deal Johnson struck, he had agreed to. Only, instead of getting Sage to fall for him, he’d fallen for her.

Now, he’d lost her.

Without a word to anyone, he walked away.

He didn’t stop until he got to the animal shelter where Blue, the pit bull, was waiting for him.

Sage hadn’t come to take the dog.

Picking him up in his arms, he held him all the way back to his apartment. He didn’t put him down, and Blue didn’t fight him for it.

Clearly, the dog knew he needed some comfort, and rather than abandon him, he was allowing him to have this moment. He really did need it. There had to be a way he could make it up to Sage. She needed to know the truth. He would still be in love with her after his company was safe. There was so much he wanted to say to her, but right now, it all seemed so insignificant. He had honestly believed she wouldn’t care about his company or about his people.

Glancing down at Blue, he wondered why would he even think that. She helped the homeless. Volunteered to have pie thrown in her face. Worked at an animal shelter. She even helped at the retirement home. The truth had been right in front of his eyes, and he’d been too fucking blind to see it. Now he was going to have to pay the price, and that price was the risk of losing the only person he had ever loved, Sage.

Chapter Ten

One week later

Dom had sent flowers and chocolates. He’d even used the money Johnson had provided him to send donations to her various charities.

Still, nothing.

She refused to take his gifts and never answered his calls or texts.

Sage completely ignored him.

Glancing over in the corner of his office, Dom looked at his dog, their dog. Considering he’d been used in illegal dog fighting, Blue wasn’t vicious or cruel. If anything, his dog just wanted loves and kisses all the time. He’d hired a trainer to help him with Blue, not that he needed any help. He loved taking his dog out for walks and sitting on the sofa with him. He’d even taken the dog shopping with him to get the things he might need.

Rather than sleep on his dog bed or the sofa, he shared the bed with him. The bottom of it, which would be good for when Sage did return to him. He did have hope.

The newspapers had run his story. The jilted husband, and also the broke playboy as well. It was all over the news. Every sordid little detail, and they had hoped to talk to Sage, but she wouldn’t have anything to do with them.

He’d tried to find her at her places of work and volunteering, but she’d not been there.

“Sir, you have a … visitor,” Alice said, coming to the doorway.

“I don’t have any meetings planned, Alice. Tell them whoever it is, to go the fuck away.”