Page 147 of A Very Merry Enemy
“Leave me alone, Dominic.” My voice is cold. “Go back to Paris and forget about me.”
“Forgetting you is impossible.” His voice cracks. “And if you don’t stop this charade with that tree farmer, I’ll make sure everyone knows about everything.”
Ice floods my veins. “I’m not afraid of you.”
“You should be. After everything you did. I’ll make sure everyone sees you for who you really are. Every intimate moment. Everything we did together. Your precious small-town reputation will be destroyed. Your parents will never look at you the same way.” He straightens his jacket. “You think you can just walk away from me? From everything we built? I made you, Holiday. I can destroy you just as easily.”
For a moment, fear grips me so tightly, I can’t breathe. I’d forgotten about the videos he’d recorded of us. He still has themall—the ones I knew about, the ones I didn’t consent to, but he promised they were just for us.
If those videos get out, if anyone in Merryville sees them, I’m done. My parents would be devastated. The town would never look at me the same way. My career would be over. And Lucas?—
Lucas.How do I even begin to explain this to him?
Before I spiral, something shifts inside me. The fear burns away, replaced by anger.
“You’re right,” I say. “You could release our most private moments. You could try to humiliate me, embarrass my family, destroy whatever reputation I have left after you tried to ruin me, but?—”
“Then you understand?—”
“But here’s what you’re forgetting, Dominic. You stolemyrecipes. And sure, we have an NDA.” I take a step closer to him. “But if you release those recordings, I’ll tell everyone and show proof that your Michelin star was earned with my recipes. How would the world like to know your entire empire was built on stolen work from southern trash?”
His face goes pale.
“Oh, and there’s more,” I continue, my voice getting stronger. “Releasing those videos without my consent is illegal. Revenge porn laws exist in the US, Dominic. You will face criminal charges, and I will take you for everything you’re worth.”
“You wouldn’t?—”
“Try me.” I cross my arms over my chest.
“Go ahead. Just know, I will take you to the pits of hell with me. I will tell every food critic, every journalist, every chef who respects you that you’re a thief and a fraud. I will make sure your legacy is as stained as mine. And then I’ll press charges and take you to court. You do not want this fight with me.”
He’s shaking now, his mask of confidence shattered.
“Whoare you?” he asks.
“Your biggest mistake. I’m not that timid girl you controlled in Paris anymore. I won’t let you threaten me or manipulate me or use my past against me.” I turn toward the house. “So leave me alone. After Saturday’s contest, go back to Paris and forget I exist.”
“And if I don’t?”
I look back at him over my shoulder. “Then I’ll have the satisfaction of taking you down with me.”
“Holiday. I don’t want to do this. You’re the love of my life.”
“No, I’m not. No one would treat the love of their life the way you’ve treated me.”
“I’m sorry,” he says.
“It’s too late,” I tell him, walking up the porch steps and into the house without looking back. My whole body shakes with adrenaline and anger and something that feels almost like freedom.
Inside, I lean against the closed door, trying to catch my breath. My parents are in the living room with the TV on, pretending they didn’t just witness whatever that was through the window.
“Everything all right, honey?” my mother calls.
“Fine,” I manage. “Dominic’s leaving.”
“He seemed like such a nice young man.”
I don’t have the energy to explain. I mumble something about being tired and head upstairs to my childhood bedroom.
