POV: Sienna
I woke up in Dominic's guest room to seventeen missed calls from my mother.
My stomach dropped. She knew. Somehow, she knew.
I called back with shaking hands. She answered on the first ring.
Sienna Marie Cross, you have exactly five seconds to explain why there are news vans outside our apartment building asking about my daughter dating a thirty-five-year-old billionaire.
Oh God.
Mom, I can explain
Can you? Can you explain why I had to find out from Channel 7 News that you're involved with some man old enough to be your father? That your ex-boyfriend went to jail for threatening you with a gun? Her voice cracked. Where are you right now?
I looked around Dominic's expensive guest room, silk sheets, original artwork, a view of Central Park. I'm... safe.
That's not what I asked.
I'm at Dominic's penthouse.
Silence. Then: You spent the night with him.
In the guest room! Mom, nothing happened. Tyler showed up with a gun and Dominic's security team thought it was safer if I stayed here
A gun? Tyler had a gun? Now she sounded terrified. Sienna, what is happening? A week ago you were dating Tyler Sterling. Now you're with his uncle, people are calling you horrible names on the internet, and someone tried to shoot you?
Tears burned my eyes. I'm sorry. I should have told you everything, but it happened so fast
Come home. Right now. We need to talk about this as a family.
I can't. There's, Mom, there might be people watching the apartment. Dominic thinks Tyler's family is planning something
Then you definitely need to come home where we can protect you!
You can't protect me from the Sterling family. They have lawyers, money, connections
And we have love and common sense! Sienna, this man is seventeen years older than you! What could he possibly want with an eighteen-year-old girl?
The question hit like a slap. You think I'm not good enough for him.
That's not what I
You think the only reason a successful man would want me is to use me. Just like everyone else thinks. I stood up, anger replacing hurt. But you're wrong. Dominic sees me, Mom. Really sees me. He thinks I'm brilliant and capable and worth defending. Which is more than Tyler ever did.
Sweetheart, I'm sure he's very charming. Rich men usually are. But
I have to go. I'll call you later.
I hung up before she could respond, hating myself for it but unable to handle her doubt right now.
A knock on the door. Dominic's voice: Sienna? Are you okay? I heard yelling.
I opened the door. He was already dressed, suit perfectly tailored, hair still damp from the shower. Looking every inch the billionaire my mother thought was using me.
My mom knows. There are news vans at our apartment.
His expression darkened. I'll have my security team clear them out.
She thinks you're manipulating me. That I'm too young to know what I'm doing. I laughed bitterly. Everyone thinks that.
Do you think that?
No. But I sat on the bed, suddenly exhausted. What if she's right? What if I'm just some stupid eighteen-year-old who doesn't understand what she's getting into?
Dominic crossed the room, kneeling in front of me so we were eye level. You're the bravest person I know. You ripped up half a million dollars. You stared down a gun. You refuse to apologize for choosing yourself. That's not stupidity, Sienna. That's strength.
Then why does everyone keep treating me like I'm a victim?
Because they can't imagine a world where an eighteen-year-old woman has power. Where she makes her own choices and lives with the consequences. His hands found mine. But I've seen your power. And it terrifies them.
Someone cleared their throat behind us. James stood in the doorway, tablet in hand, expression grim.
We have a problem.
The problem was everywhere.
James showed us the headlines:
Dominic Sterling's Teenage Obsession: Inside the Disturbing Relationship
Gold Digger or Victim? The Sienna Cross Question
Sterling Family Source: 'He Groomed Her for Years'
That last one made me sick. Groomed? We met a week ago!
Victoria's PR team is planting stories, James explained. Anonymous 'sources' claiming you've been having an affair since you were sixteen. That Dominic manipulated you to get revenge on Tyler.
That's insane! I can prove
Proof doesn't matter when the narrative is already set. Dominic's voice was ice. Victoria's controlling the story. By tomorrow, half of Manhattan will believe I'm a predator and you're either my accomplice or my victim.
So what do we do?
We fight back. He turned to James. Set up interviews. I want Sienna on camera, telling her story in her own words.
Dominic, she's eighteen. Putting her in front of cameras
Is giving her a voice instead of letting Victoria speak for her. He looked at me. But it's your choice. You can hide and let them write your story, or you can tell it yourself.
My phone buzzed. A text from a number I didn't recognize:
Your mother is right. Dominic Sterling destroys everyone he touches. Ask his last girlfriend what happened when she tried to leave him. A Friend
I showed it to Dominic. His jaw tightened.
Who's your last girlfriend?
Amber Chen. Corporate attorney. We dated for three years. He met my eyes. We ended amicably six months ago. This is Victoria trying to make you doubt me.
Did you destroy her?
No. She got a job offer in London. We both agreed long-distance wouldn't work. We're still friends. He took my phone, blocking the number. But Victoria will find people to lie. To make me look dangerous. You need to be prepared for that.
I don't care what people say about you.
You will when they're saying it on national television.
James interrupted: We have another problem. Ashford Academy called. They want Sienna to not return to campus until the 'situation is resolved.' They're worried about safety and disruption.
I stood up, anger blazing. They're expelling me?
Not officially. But they're strongly suggesting you finish the semester online.
Because I'm the problem. Not Tyler, who brought a gun to school events. Not Madison, who's been bullying me for years. Me. Because I chose the wrong Sterling.
That's how it works in their world, Dominic said quietly. The victim gets punished while the powerful get protected.
Then I'll do the interviews. I'll tell my story. I'll make them listen.
Sienna
You said I had power. You said I was brave. So let me be brave. I looked at James. Set up the interviews. I'm ready.
The first interview was with Miranda Hayes from Manhattan Today—a journalist known for giving powerful people a fair shot.
I sat across from her in Dominic's office, cameras rolling, trying not to shake.
Sienna, let's start simple. Are you in a relationship with Dominic Sterling?
Yes.
And you're eighteen. He's thirty-five. Do you understand why people find that concerning?
I understand the age gap makes people uncomfortable. But I'm a legal adult making my own choices. Dominic has been nothing but respectful. He's mentoring me, teaching me about business, helping me prepare for college. Our relationship grew from mutual respect.
Critics say he groomed you. That you've been involved since you were underage.
I met Dominic Sterling one week ago at a party. Before that, we'd never spoken. Anyone saying otherwise is lying. I met her eyes steadily. I know what grooming is. This isn't it.
What about Tyler Sterling? He was your boyfriend for three years.
The question I'd been dreading. Tyler and I had a relationship where I constantly made myself smaller to make him comfortable. He wanted a girlfriend who made him look good, not a partner who challenged him. When I finally chose myself over his approval, he couldn't handle it.
He ended up in jail.
Tyler made his own choices. I'm not responsible for his actions any more than I'm responsible for his family's reaction to our breakup.
Do you love Dominic Sterling?
The question caught me off guard. I looked past the camera to where Dominic stood watching.
Did I love him? This man who'd defended me publicly, protected me from a gun, stood against his entire family for me?
I love that he sees me as capable instead of fragile. I love that he challenges me to be better instead of smaller. I love that he treats me like an equal even when everyone else treats me like a child or a victim. I paused. So yes. I think I do.
It was the first time I'd said it out loud.
The first time I'd admitted it even to myself.
Miranda smiled. That's quite an answer.
After the interview, I found Dominic in his study.
You did well, he said without looking up from his laptop. Natural, honest, compelling. Victoria won't know what hit her.
I meant it.
Meant what?
What I said in the interview. About loving you.
Now he looked up. Sienna
I know it's fast. I know it's complicated. I know everyone will say I'm too young to know what love is. I moved closer. But I've spent three years in a relationship where I constantly doubted myself. With you, I'm certain. Is that crazy?
He stood, crossing to me. Probably.
But?
But I stopped caring about sanity the moment you chose me in that club. His hands cupped my face. I told myself this was just mentorship. Just protecting you. Just making sure you were safe.
And?
And I'm a liar. Because somewhere between that closet kiss and yesterday's gunshot, I fell completely in love with you.
He kissed me then, not the desperate hunger from before, but something deeper. Softer. Like a promise.
When we broke apart, I whispered: What now?
Now we prepare for Victoria's next move. Because she's not done. Not by a long shot.
His phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number.
He opened it, and his entire body went rigid.
What is it?
He showed me the screen.
A photo of us, just now, kissing in his study. Taken through the window from another building.
The caption: Sweet. Too bad she won't survive what's coming.
My blood turned to ice. Someone's watching us.
Someone's been watching us. Dominic was already calling security. James, lock down the building. We have a breach. ...I don't care what it takes, find out who took this photo. ...Yes, now!
He pulled me away from the windows, his face carved from stone.
Pack a bag. We're leaving.
Leaving where?
Somewhere safe. Somewhere Victoria's people can't find us. He was already texting his security team. I won't let them hurt you, Sienna. Whatever it takes.
Dominic, you're scaring me.
Good. You should be scared. He looked at me, and I saw real fear in his eyes for the first time. Victoria doesn't make threats. She makes examples. And you just became her primary target.
Another text came through. Same unknown number.
A video this time.
I watched in horror as footage played of my parents' apartment—my mother walking to work, my father leaving for school. Someone had been following them too.
The caption: Tell Dominic to back down, or your family pays the price. You have 24 hours.
I couldn't breathe. They're threatening my parents.
Which means we need to move them. Now. Dominic was already dialing. James, I need a protective detail on Eleanor and Robert Cross immediately. ...Yes, threat level critical. ...Move them to a safe house within the hour.
I sat down hard, the room spinning. This was real. Victoria Sterling wasn't just trying to ruin my reputation.
She was threatening my family.
And I had no idea how to stop her.