Chapter 201: I am supposed to bond with him

Mark had always believed that every new day came with a new adventure and a new purpose.

What he hadn’t expected was discovering a completely new side of his boss every single day.

"Boss, since when did your office become pet-friendly?" Mark asked, staring in disbelief.

Dominic was squatting beside the couch, holding a small bowl as he carefully fed the fluffy puppy.

Dominic closed his eyes for a moment, trying not to think about how he had ended up in this situation.

Unfortunately, the memory came rushing back.

Clara had come up with the brilliant idea that he should spend some time with the puppy and build a bond with him.

According to her, it would make things easier.

According to Dominic, it was completely unnecessary.

Yet somehow, he had still agreed.

"Don’t ask," Dominic muttered.

Mark blinked.

"I’m sorry?"

"You heard me."

Mark glanced at the puppy, then back at his boss.

"Did you... voluntarily bring a puppy to the office?"

"No."

"Then who did?"

Dominic’s expression tightened. "My wife."

Mark immediately nodded. "Ah. That explains everything."

Dominic shot him a warning look, and Mark wisely decided not to say anything else.

The puppy happily wagged his tail and continued eating.

Dominic sighed.

"Apparently, I’m supposed to bond with him."

Mark pressed his lips together, desperately trying not to laugh.

"Looks like he’s already bonded with your wife, sir."

Dominic’s eyes narrowed.

"That’s the problem."

Mark glanced at the puppy again, then at Dominic.

"So, what exactly are you supposed to do to build a bond with him?"

"Feed him."

Mark raised an eyebrow. "That’s it?"

"That’s what Clara said."

"And you believed her?" he looked at him in disbelief.

"I didn’t have much of a choice." Dominic gave him a flat look. Moreover, he never really objected to anything she said.

Mark nodded thoughtfully. "Right. Of course."

The puppy suddenly finished eating and looked up at Dominic with his tiny tail wagging.

Dominic stared back. For a moment, neither of them moved. Then the puppy took a few steps forward and placed one tiny paw on Dominic’s shoe.

Mark’s lips twitched.

"Looks like he’s warming up to you."

Dominic looked down at the paw. "Or he’s trying to claim my shoe."

Mark snorted. "Boss, he’s a puppy. I don’t think he’s plotting against you."

"You don’t know that." Dominic said it with a knowing tone. After all, he had seen how the puppy had already marked its territory.

Mark stared at him. "Are you seriously suspicious of a puppy?"

Dominic ignored him. The puppy sniffed Dominic’s trousers before sitting directly on his foot, making him frown. "He’s doing that on purpose."

Mark finally laughed. "I think you’ve officially lost it."

Dominic shot him a glare. "Get back to work."

Mark instantly still. "Yes, boss."

Mark took a couple of steps forward and stopped in front of Dominic.

He wanted to tell his boss to simply go with the flow and give the puppy a chance, but after seeing Dominic’s expression, he decided against it.

Instead, he cleared his throat and moved on to business.

"Mrs. Hayes’ lawyer has backed out. He won’t be providing her with any further assistance, so she’s currently looking for someone else to take over the case."

Dominic nodded calmly.

"I’m sure she’ll soon realize there isn’t anyone who can genuinely help her."

Mark didn’t comment.

Dominic had clearly already made up his mind about the matter.

"Next, Julianna?"

Mark straightened slightly.

"She’s been spending her nights at Alex’s apartment."

Dominic’s expression remained unchanged.

"Anything else?" Dominic asked.

Mark shook his head.

"Nothing more."

Dominic leaned back on the couch, his expression turning thoughtful.

"Keep an eye on Julianna and Alex."

Mark nodded immediately.

"Yes, boss."

Dominic waved him off, and Mark soon left the office.

Once the door closed, a lingering doubt settled in Dominic’s mind.

Something about the situation didn’t sit right with him.

He had no concrete proof, however.

Alex and Julianna had been spending a considerable amount of time together, and Dominic couldn’t shake the feeling that Alex wasn’t merely keeping her company. There was a good chance he was involved in whatever she was planning.

After all, both of them had their own reasons for wanting to ruin Clara’s life.

Julianna’s motive was personal.

Alex, on the other hand, had been willing to work with her because he stood to gain financially. He had practically sold himself to her in exchange for money.

Dominic’s expression darkened.

If the two of them were still working together, then whatever they were planning next could be far more dangerous than their previous attempt.

He drummed his fingers against the armrest of the couch, lost in thought.

There was still something he was missing. Something important.

Just as he began piecing the possibilities together, a small nudge against his leg pulled him out of his thoughts.

Dominic looked down.

The puppy was standing beside his chair, staring up at him with its tiny tail wagging.

Dominic stared back. For a moment, neither of them moved.

"You again?"

The puppy gave another little nudge against his leg.

Dominic sighed. "I’m busy."

The puppy didn’t seem impressed. Instead, he placed his tiny paws against Dominic’s trouser leg and looked up at him expectantly.

Dominic’s serious expression slowly cracked. At first he thought maybe he was hungry again, but when he looked at him carefully, his brows furrowed.

"You’re really persistent, aren’t you?"

The puppy wagged his tail.

Dominic shook his head. "Fine. What do you want?"

The puppy simply stared at him.

Dominic narrowed his eyes at the puppy, but when the little creature gave him no response, he leaned forward and picked him up, settling him on his lap.

"Tell me, are you hungry again?" he asked, hoping the puppy would at least give him some indication of what he wanted.

The puppy simply stared at him.

Dominic frowned.

"What?"

The puppy suddenly shifted. And then, without warning, he peed on Dominic’s lap.

Dominic froze.

Completely unfazed, the puppy wagged his tiny tail.

For several seconds, Dominic remained perfectly still, staring down at the mess in disbelief.

"...You have got to be kidding me."

The puppy happily licked his paw, while Dominic tried to control his anger.

"I am never letting you closer to me" he warned but the very next moment he ended up cleaning not just him but also the puppy