22 Dominik, Where the H*ll Are You?

It was strange that the editor-in-chief didn't push any more, but maybe he saw the potential in one of his men developing a closer relationship with Śliwiński. It would be quite logical reasoning. The actor had never been close to the media, and now he was going to dinner with the paparazzi. With such a development of the situation, Nowicki should start to fear whether there is a vigilant eye of the lens on his back. The thought struck him extremely ironic. But if a larger number of photographers targeted Dominik, you will have to be more careful, or actually make some sort of act and get rid of them for a while.

He took out the phone from which he only made calls to Śliwiński and checked that there was no message. He should have warned Dominik that the vultures had started to flock, but he wasn't sure if he should disturb him. How is it actually going?

There was no cause for concern. I guess. The meeting was strictly business-like and certainly took place somewhere neutral. This is probably the time when it is happening and both men discuss professional matters like professionals. Confirmed in such reasoning, Nowicki quite calmly reached the house in Wola Grzybowska. But when he crossed the threshold and the phone was still silent, he felt anxiety again.

Andrzej was waiting impatiently for a message from Dominik. It is true that they did not meet, but in the light of the recently born friendship, it was completely natural. Nowicki hoped that the meeting took place without any excesses and that the actor did not suffer too much from it. He and Marczak had a lot to say to each other.

Time passed and Dominik was silent.

The photographer trampled the floor of the house where he had his observation post. Every now and then he glanced anxiously towards the driveway and windows of Śliwiński's residence. There was no trace of the actor, and it was already dark outside the window. His phone also remained mute, although he did not let it go even for a moment. As a result, Andrzej was filled with the worst thoughts.

What if in his brutal drive, Marczak did something to Dominik? What if the actor ended up in the hospital, or worse, his body is just being hidden from the eyes of the police and witnesses and the traces of the crime are obliterated?

Damn!.

'I just wanted to ask if you're okay?' he wrote and sent a text message to Dominik. He expected a quick response, but was disappointed. His phone was silent.

It does not mean anything. He might have the sounds off, his battery might run out, or he didn't take the phone with him at all. After all, it was not his private number (Andrzej did not have it), but the one he had given him during the blackmail. Dominik could have thrown it out completely now, although he had used it before. So the lack of answer might be absolutely nothing, except it was bloody annoying.

But Andrzej's imagination may go too far. Maybe the men came to an agreement and discussed professional matters all the time. The director of one of the planned movies could join the meeting and they are now discussing the details of the cooperation. These talks can end late at night or in the morning, so there's nothing extraordinary about them.

Of course, if such a meeting takes place at all, and not Dominik's body, it lies somewhere wrapped in a plastic bag.

'I've watched too many thriller movies,' he thought to himself reproachfully. This is not the case here. This is Poland, not some third world country. Crimes of passion do not happen here ... and yet Marczak tried to r**e Dominik. What if…

"Shit!"

What if he go to Marczak's agency and ask what's going on? But by what right? They won't even let him enter his premises. He was totally nobody, so he couldn't expect anything but a kick in the butt. He will not notify the police either, because he did not have even the slightest premises to report the crime.

Time was passing and it was getting really dark outside. Even the streetlights had gone out, and Dominik's house was deaf and blind. It was the first time in all those days that an actor had spent the night away from home. May he do it out of his own, free will.

Shit, he cursed again. Is Dominik okay? Please, let everything be alright!

It was a long night during which Andrzej did not sleep a wink. He was even afraid to leave the window for a moment, that he would miss the moment when Śliwiński returned. The actor, however, did not show up even for a moment, making Nowicki suffer the agony of anxiety. Eventually, with sunrise, he figured he had screwed up. He should have gone to Marczak's agency and checked with his own eyes if Dominik was okay, or at least called and asked the secretary, pretending to be an assistant to a famous director or something like that.

It was just too late for that now. If something was going to happen to Dominik, it had already happened. And it will be Andrzej's fault for not trusting his gut feelings.

It was just before nine o'clock when his phone announced a new text. Like a drunkard on a bottle of vodka, he threw himself at the phone and read the message.

"It's ok. I'm sorry if I bothered you."

Andrzej sighed with such relief that he felt a pain in his chest. So Dominik was fine after all.

Or not. After all, it was a text message that anyone could write and send on his phone. And even if it was Dominik, he might just not want to bother someone with his problems and just pretend everything was fine.

'I'll only find out when I see him.'

He waited on. At that moment, there was nothing else for him. He might have sent him another text message or made a phone call, but the late night full of anxiety made itself felt and Andrzej could not fully concentrate his thoughts. He felt like a father whose teenage daughter had spent her first night away from home. He had to see for himself that she was fine. That's why he waited.

A taxi drove up to Śliwiński's house. A familiar figure loomed through the window, and Andrzej breathed a sigh of relief. Dominik was tired, but calm and smiling. Nothing terrible happened that night, nothing that would leave a trauma in his mind. He looked relaxed and content as if ...

Did he fucking sleep with Marczak? He forgave him and jumped into his bed? What a moron! What a fucking idiot! After all this? After this shameful r**e attempt?

Andrzej did not understand this. He couldn't and wouldn't understand how someone could be so exploited? You have to be a total idiot to forgive something like this and get back to what it was. You have to be such a fool as there are few in the world. You have to be very much in love or very lonely ...

It's his life, Andrzej thought resignedly as he sat down against the wall, and his decisions. Let them not cost him too much.