56 Time to Start the Show

He couldn't do that. He couldn't call his ex-lover.

But maybe Marek is not so bad at all? After all, Andrzej has been in Dominik's life for almost two months and he has not experienced any major unpleasantness from Marczak. Andrew may be right that Mark is too smart to do stupid things, and messing up with someone who has evidence against him is stupid. Having security measures in the event of his sudden death, he certainly suspects that the photographer did the same and backed up the photos with some lawyer or journalist. That's why Andrzej feels so self-confident.

He wanted me to trust him, to believe that everything would be fine. Can I really do this? What if he overestimated his strength or underestimated Marek...?

True trust is about overcoming your fear and trusting yourself to others. Andrzej asked for something like that. Dominik felt that he should give them to him, but he did not want to put Andrzej at any risk. Only that…

His hands tightly clasped on the phone, couldn't move. If he trusts Andrzej now, how much faith will there be in him and how much fear of losing what Dominik has now?

However, if he trusts Andrzej and he fails, if Nowicki suffers any harm, Dominik will lose him anyway - more, more painfully because irrevocably.

After all, he can come back to Marek's agency or even to him only for a while. He already knew there was another and better life. So he will be able to reach for them after a few weeks or months.

Anyway, was it really that bad for him with Marek?

No, it's not like that. It was nice, it was good. Dominik had nothing on his head. Marek decided about everything, he provided him with everything he wanted, and small concessions on his part were not that painful. He endured them and it was fine. Really. Only then ...

Dominik even forgave him for the physical attack.

Marek was terrifying then. Horrible. However, he explained that he did it out of despair. The thought that he might lose Dominik was too hard to accept, and he went mad. But how could he explain the fact that he pushed him into the bed of a French director?

I can go back to him, Śliwiński thought painfully. I can close my heart and pretend everything is as it was. After all, I'm an actor. I can do it, I can, but ...

But…

… I don't want it that much.

"Hey, should I call a doctor after all?"

Dominik jumped, almost losing his heart. Andrzej was so worried about him that his concern would have been overwhelming if it were not so kind.

"No, it's okay," he replied, reflexively putting the phone in his pocket.

That warm, cordial voice from outside the door made him no longer hesitate. He will trust Andrzej and his strength and will fight. Nowicki would not have forgiven him if he had acted otherwise.

Because everything was really fine as long as he had Andrzej with him.

***

Getting out of the car, Dominik knew one thing - he did not come here to have fun, but to work. Paradoxically, this was the perception of the matter that allowed him to relax and smile with all his charm at the journalists taking pictures of them.

His appearance in front of the hotel caused a sensation. It was no secret that no events, even charity events, attracted his attention and presence. He and Andrzej expected that his appearance would cause confusion among photojournalists and he was not disappointed here. The flashes did not stop flashing even for a second.

Dominik looked at his companion. Marta looked cute and she was becoming less and less impressed with the flash lights. She was a few centimeters taller than her companion and she deliberately did not wear high heels so as not to emphasize the difference in height between them. It was only her decision and although Śliwiński did not mind that he was shorter than her, he appreciated her gesture.

"Are you all right?" He asked her softly.

"I think I should ask that," she laughed nervously.

"Don't care about me. I don't like these kinds of events but they are not new to me."

"Any last advice before we enter the lion's mouth?"

"Be natural and have fun. It's me who came here for work, not you."

"But ... I was supposed to be a support for you ..."

"You are," he smiled softly. "Without you, I wouldn't have come here at all, and for some reasons I really should be here today."

The most important of them is to show to the world that Dominik Śliwiński exists and is doing well, and since he left the agency that created and promoted him, he is better than ever before.

"Mr. Śliwiński, who is your beautiful companion?" asked one of the journalists.

"She's a friend" Dominik replied softly.

"Is she the future movie star?" asked another.

"No, but her interests are close to the subject of the meeting. She's studying veterinary medicine."

"Have you known Mr. Śliwiński long?" someone asked Marta directly.

Dominik felt Marta's grip on his shoulder. He had warned her that journalists might want to talk to her and ask about him.

"Not at all," she said, and smiled mischievously.

Her behavior was Andrzej's idea, who said that if they were playing this charade, they could do it at their best. Dominik was not convinced about it, but Marta liked the ambiguity of her and Śliwiński's relationship. When he warned her that the paparazzi could take her as his lover and make her life difficult, she decided it would be a little adventure for her. She was too little to be made a public figure, and every normal person has the right to have friends. She summed up his concern for her reputation by saying he was cute, but these weren't times when a woman would care what someone was saying about her sex life or love life.

"We didn't actually have too many opportunities to talk," she added.

It wasn't even a lie, because they had only met three times before this party. Most journalists, however, will find out a different truth, and rumors of their affair will be in all less serious magazines.

They passed the journalists and went inside.

"Are you sure this is how you want to play it?" Dominik asked her again. "Gossip can hurt you."

"You worry too much about them. Believe me, it's all even fun to me."

He couldn't argue with her any longer. It seemed as if upset as she was, Marta was enjoying the charade too well.

***

Dominik noticed him immediately. He had known this figure and its every detail for years, so whether he wanted it or not, his eye caught it in the crowd. Marek, as always, was elegant and handsome, confident and smiling, and was surrounded by a wreath of beautiful girls as usual, although it looked like he had come with his latest discovery, a singer whose first album was certified platinum.

Sparkling in the company, Marczak looked around at the surroundings. His and Śliwiński's eyes met, causing Dominik's heart to beat faster. Is what he sees in Marek's eyes delight and… longing?

No it is not possible. Dominik sees only what his heart wants to see. He's starting to lie to himself again, but… for what?

"Are you okay?" Marta whispered concerned.

"Yes" Dominik admitted firmly though his heart trembled. "Let's get started."