Disclaimer

Note: This is an age gap, dark mafia romance story. The male lead is 50 years old, and the female lead is 25 years old.

La Dominante is a dark romance series featuring dominant and possessive alpha males with twisted morals. They are not your typical hero that you fell in love with.

WARNING: This story contains a lot of mature scenes, explicit sexual content, and sensitive topics that are not appropriate for young readers. Reader discretion is advised

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Prologue

I always thought of myself as a hardworking woman. As far as I remember, I have been working myself to death ever since I was a child. I have been helping my parents, as we were not gifted with riches, and my parents have to work hard to earn so we could at least get by. Kahit pangkain namin ay hirap na hirap silang makakuha sa pang-araw-araw.

I could remember my mother secretly crying in their room, as she didn’t want me to see how hard it had been for us to get just enough money for all of us to eat. My father would try to comfort her pero magagalit si Mama at maririnig kong sinisisi n’ya si Papa sa naging buhay namin. She would tell him that it was his fault that we were living that way. That he didn’t try hard enough, and he didn’t dream big enough for his family. Tatahimik lang si Papa at tinatanggap ang lahat ng mga masasakit na salitang sinasabi sa kanya ni Mama.

Back then, I always got scared that our family would be broken someday. That was why I did my best to help them, as I knew that they were doing everything for me. Kahit na wala kaming makain, hindi naman ako lumiliban sa klase kahit isang beses, as my mom would always tell me that education is important. She didn’t want me to miss any lessons. She wanted me to focus on my studies despite the emptiness of our stomachs. But my mind was full of knowledge.

“Snezhana, study hard, okay? Education will save you from this godforsaken life,” my mom always told me, trying to etch the words in my mind. She always made sure that I would understand the importance of education. She instilled in me the belief that my knowledge would one day lead to success. That my knowledge is the only power that I have against our poverty.

The teachers knew about our situation, and they were sometimes giving me lunch to eat. They were giving me small tasks to do, like carrying their bags and cleaning their offices, and they would give me enough money to pay to come by. I would give it all to my mother, and sometimes, I would see anger and grief in her eyes as she held the money that I earned in her hands. I couldn’t understand back then why she would give me that expression, as I was so happy to give her the money and that I was able to help them.

But now that I’ve grown up, I finally understand everything. Now that I was earning my own money and was helping my mom, who was now bedridden with sickness, I understand that she was just sad with our poor life and didn’t want her only daughter to work at such a young age when she should’ve just been living her childhood and studying.

But it was fine by me. They did everything for me, and now that I was the only one who was earning for my family, as my dad died when I was in college and my mom became sick, it was time for me to pay back for everything that my mother had given me.

My father died when I was in college. It was a huge loss for us, as he was the breadwinner of our family. Mas naging limitado ang pera sa amin dahil si Mama na lang ang nagtatrabaho para sa pamilya namin. That was why I decided to work while studying, just to help pay for the bills. Just so I could pay for my education. Kahit iyon na lang ang maitulong ko. I didn’t want to stop studying, as I knew that someday, I could use what I learned, and maybe, just maybe, it would finally help us to live an abundant life.

“Sneza! Table number eight, please!”

“Ponyatno!”

I took the bowl that the sous chef placed down on the counter and put it on the tray before I moved swiftly from table to table until I got to table eight. I smiled as I placed their orders on the table, careful not to spill anything as they ordered soup for their appetizer. They smiled at me as I put the bowl down.

“Spasibo.”

I smiled back at them and left them to enjoy their food. On my way back to the counter, I noticed the two men who were on the corner, talking seriously. They just arrived at naka-assign sa akin ang table nila. I waited for a while just for them to settle down on their seats. Hindi rin ako makalapit pa dahil mukhang seryoso talaga ang pinag-uusapan nila.

The man on the right was obviously the father. With his hair mixing with gray and black strands in a slicked-back style that ended on the back of his neck, I suddenly had the urge to run my fingers through that hair, just to see if I could mess up that perfectly styled hair. He was wearing the fanciest suit that I’ve ever seen, and I knew just with one look at him that he could be the richest man right now in this place, or maybe the richest man that I’ve ever seen. He was wearing a coat with a white inner shirt at nakabukas ang unang dalawang butones ng shirt n’ya and I could glimpse the tattoo that he had on his chest.

He was tall. Kahit na nakaupo s’ya ay masasabi ko agad iyon as I could see his long legs straining his pants from under the table. He had muscles in every place, na para bang alagang-alaga pa rin n’ya ang katawan n’ya. I could’ve mistaken him for someone in his thirties if not only for the gray strands on his hair at sa lalaking kausap n’ya ngayon.

I suddenly couldn’t take my eyes off him. I found myself watching his every move. Every time he opened his mouth to say something, I watched those reddish lips move as if he was saying something sensual, something that would make my cheeks flush and make me feel the heat of my body. His lips were glistening under the light, as if he always ran his tongue on them. And oh, God, how I wanted to see that. Kaya hindi ko maalis ang tingin ko sa mga labi n’ya ngayon. I was waiting for that wet tongue to dart out and wet his lips. I was waiting for that subtle move.

My eyes roamed around his face, and he was, no doubt, the most handsome man that I’ve ever seen. Handsome wasn’t even enough for him. He looked ethereal, as if he were so out of this world. His striking blue eyes were what caught my attention the most. They were so blue and looked so cold. Kahit na malaki ang distansya sa pagitan namin, I could already feel the coldness in his eyes. As if he didn’t show any mercy to anyone. As if he were a ruthless and savage man. And I didn’t even doubt that. With his commanding presence that seemed to fill the whole room and the way he carried himself, he must’ve been the most dangerous man in this room.

He had stubble on his jaw and chin. And they, too, were a mix of gray and black hair. I suddenly wondered if it would tickle me if I ran my palm on that stubble.

My gaze went down to his hands that were clasped on the table. He looked so strong, and his fingers were long. I suddenly had this feeling that I wanted those fingers on me, trailing my body, or even wrapped around my neck as he whispered filthy words to me.

I cleared my throat. Goodness, what was I even thinking? Hindi na normal ang iniisip ko ngayon and I didn’t even know why I had those thoughts just by looking at the man! If I knew, he must’ve had a wife, as the man with him was obviously his son. Baka hindi lang nila kasama ngayon o baka susunod sa kanila. So, I should stop these kinds of thoughts.

Taking a deep breath and steeling myself, I took the menu with me and decided to approach the two men. Hindi ko alam kung bakit nanginginig ang mga tuhod ko habang naglalakas ako papalapit sa kanila and my heart was racing inside my chest. Maybe it was because of their presence or the way they looked. I knew for a fact that both men were dangerous.

But I must do my job. I must take their orders.

I plastered a smile on my lips as I approached them. Nanginginig ang mga kamay kong nakahawak sa dalawang menu but I gathered my courage and stopped in front of them. Napatigil ang dalawa sa pag-uusap, as if they didn’t want me to hear what they were talking about. They looked at me, and I was struck by how they looked alike. The son looked so much like his father, mas pinabata lang ng ilang taon minus the gray hair. He was wearing the same suit as his father, but his inner shirt was black instead of white. They had the same blue eyes, both striking and cold, but I didn’t know why I found myself more drawn to the father as I looked at him, who was studying me.

I squirmed under his gaze. It was… everything that I felt. Parang nararamdaman ko ang paghagod n’ya ng tingin sa akin. His gaze prickled my skin, and I fought my urge to submit to his cold blue eyes. My lips trembled as I kept my smile.

“Here’s the menu, Sir,” sabi ko at ibinigay sa kanila ang menu na hawak ko. I gave the menu first to the young man before I gave the other to his father.

I looked at his fingers that gripped the edge of the menu. Our fingers didn’t touch, but just about did. But the electricity that I felt was there. It was present. And I wonder what would happen to me if our fingers did indeed touch.

I accidentally knocked off the soup spoon that was on his table. It clanged on the floor, and both men looked at the spoon that was on the floor before they looked at me. I felt my blood run up my face as I bowed apologetically in front of them.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

“ Izvinit.“

I bent down to pick up the spoon, but it must’ve been the worst day of my life, as I heard the ripping sound that came from my back. I stilled, my fingers curled on the handle of the spoon as my eyes widened while looking down at the floor. The ripping sound was so loud that I felt the two men still as well as they looked at me.

I couldn’t straighten up. Oh, my goodness, I didn’t want to. I knew that the ripping sound came from the skirt that I was wearing. It was a worn-out one. I wore it every day for work and washed it every day, so the fabric must’ve become brittle. And it chose to rip today. Of all times, it was today while I was working.

And in front of these two gorgeous men.

Hindi ako makagalaw. I kept my position. I didn’t know how bad the damage was, but I never wanted to know. My backside must’ve been exposed, and my underwear could be peeking through. But I still didn’t move. I wanted to pretend that it didn’t happen. God, I even wished that these two men didn’t know what happened to me.

But I knew they knew. Dahil natahimik silang dalawa at ramdam ko ang tingin nila sa akin.

I suddenly wished for the floor to swallow me whole and disappear. I wanted out of this situation, but I didn’t know how to. I didn’t know how to pretend that everything was okay.

Suddenly, the man on the left, the father, stood up. His chair screeched on the floor as he did so. Hindi pa rin ako gumalaw but I could feel him moving. Then, he draped something on my backside and held my arms, guiding me to straighten up.

I could feel his fingers gently gripping my arms. It was in such contrast to what I saw in him. But I knew he could grip me so tightly that his fingers would dig into my skin and would leave bruises in their wake. It’s just that his touch was so formal na para bang ayaw n’ya akong hawakan talaga.

I stood up and realized that I didn’t even reach his shoulders. My eye level was just on his chest, and I noticed the tattoo again. I just couldn’t make out what it was dahil nahaharangan pa rin iyon ng damit n’ya.

I looked at him and saw him with his inner shirt only. I then realized that he must’ve draped his coat on my backside. He looked at me, and his blue eyes bored into me.

“Go.”

That was all that he said, but it was full of authority. Like a growl with a lazy drawl in his voice. As if he expected me to obey him. And I did, instantly. I didn’t need to be told twice to move, gripping the coat that was on my hips as I cursed myself and this day as I made my way to the restroom that was for the employees only.

Holy shit. Holy shit. Holy shit.

Fuck, that was so embarrassing!

I looked at myself in the mirror and realized that my face was beet red. Hiyang-hiya pa rin ako at parang gusto ko na lang umiyak. I then removed the coat and placed it on the sink as I checked the damage on my skirt.

And when I did, parang gusto ko na lang umuwi sa araw na ’yon at hindi na magpakita kahit kailan.

The slit was literally in the middle, and it was five inches long, and I saw some thread sticking out. It was ripped so badly that my underwear could be seen.

They’ve seen it! That man saw my underwear!

Shit! Ayoko na! Ayoko nang lumabas sa restroom na ’to!

And that was what I did. I stayed in that restroom for a long time. My manager checked in on me, and I just told her that I was not feeling well. Hindi ko alam kung sino na ang nag-serve sa dalawang lalaking ’yon. Hindi ko alam. Ayoko na silang harapin after what happened.

I just came out after I made sure that there were no customers outside. Na nakaalis na rin ang dalawang lalaking ’yon. I sighed and looked at the sink.

I then realized that I haven’t given back the coat that the man lent me.

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This story has advance chapters in Patreon and VIP group.

Chapter 1

Votes and comments are highly appreciated.

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I went out from work with the coat tied around my waist to cover the freaking slit that was behind me. Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko sa skirt kong sirang-sira na ngayon. I didn’t have any spare skirts. Iisang skirt lang talaga ang ginagamit ko sa trabaho kaya araw-araw ko iyong nilalabhan. Kaya rin siguro naging marupok na ang tela noon at sa kaunting pagtungo ko lang ang napunit iyon.

I just wasn’t expecting it to happen this day. Sa lahat ng mga pagkakataong yumuyuko ako, hindi naman nasisira ang skirt ko. Ngayon pa talaga kung saan nagse-serve ako sa dalawang gwapong lalaki. And my goodness, they saw my underwear! Especially the father! He lent me his coat just to cover my behind.

It was really embarrassing. Hindi ko talaga alam kung anong gagawin ko kanina. I couldn’t even move, hoping that what happened was just my imagination. But the father took off his coat and draped it over me. Meaning, he saw what happened. He heard what happened. And he freaking saw my underwear!

I groaned inwardly and thumped my head against the window of the bus I was riding on. Napatingin sa akin ang katabi ko but I didn’t pay him any attention. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko pa rin nalilimutan ang nangyari at mas lalo lang akong nahihiya the more I get reminded of it. Sa tuwing naaalala ko iyon ay parang gusto ko na lang lamunin ako ng lupa kahit na wala na naman ang dalawang lalaking iyon sa harapan ko.

Maybe they wouldn’t even go back to the restaurant. It was my first time seeing them there. I knew about it, as it was my first time seeing the father. His presence was so overwhelming that I would’ve noticed him immediately. Kaya alam kong iyon ang unang beses nila sa restaurant.

And maybe they wouldn’t come back because of what happened. Because of my underwear slip.

Goodness. Baka isipin pa nilang nagpapapansin ako sa kanila!

But no! Fuck it. If only I could tell them that it was unintentional, but I couldn’t face them anymore.

I absentmindedly touched the sleeves of the coat that was tied in front of me. I wanted to smell it, just to see if there was any perfume of that man left in the coat. Sa tingin ko, sobrang bango noong lalaki. He had this aura that he minded his appearance and smelled really good all the time. Earlier, when I was watching him, there was that urge in me that wanted to bury my face in his neck and inhale his scent. Damn it, I wanted to know how he smelled.

Hindi ko na napigilan at bahagyang yumuko. I brought the sleeve of the coat to my nose and inhaled deeply. I was right. May naiwan pa ngang amoy sa coat na iyon. And the scent turned me on. It was my first time having that kind of reaction toward the smell of anyone. Mapili kasi ako sa pabango. Ayoko noong masakit sa ilong.

But this smell, it was different. It was very masculine. Halatang panlalaki ang amoy. Even if I didn’t know who the owner of this coat was, just by the smell of it, masasabi ko nang lalaki ang may-ari noon.

It has a musky scent and has an earthy smell that is a bit sweet. It was warm and sensual. Parang nangingiliti sa ilong. I inhaled it again, and I could already picture that man in my mind.

Yes. He owned this smell.

Napatingin ako sa katabi ko at nakitang nakatingin s’ya sa ginagawa ko. I cleared my throat and sat properly. Nagpatay-malisya ako at tumingin na lang uli sa labas ng bintana.

I couldn’t get the man out of my mind. It was just my first time seeing him, but I could tell that I was heavily attracted to him. I wanted him to notice me, to know about my existence. I wanted him to talk to me, to hear that deep baritone voice directed toward me. I wanted him to look in my eyes, those striking blue eyes that were focused on me.

Well, maybe he did notice me. After that stunt that I just did in front of him and his son.

I groaned again. Para bang automatic reaction ko na iyon kapag naaalala ko ang nangyari. Naramdaman kong umusog palayo sa akin ang lalaking katabi ko. Maybe he thought that I was crazy. Hinayaan ko na lang. It was either that he thought I was someone crazy or that he would hit on me. Ganoon palagi ang nararanasan ko sa araw-araw na nagko-commute ako.

It was hard, always getting hit on. It was so uncomfortable. Iyon bang, I was just minding my day, looking outside the window, and they would talk to me, flirting with me even though it was so obvious that I wasn’t interested in them. But they would always push themselves on me. The worst times were when they would touch and grope me. At ayokong mag-eskandalo kaya lumalayo na lang ako sa kanila.

I know that I was pleasing to the eyes. Alam kong maganda ako. Kahit bata pa ako, madalas sabihin sa akin ng mga kaklase ko at ng mga teachers na magandang bata raw ako. They would always compliment me. And even now that I was twenty-five years old, men would always gawk at me. Nararamdaman ko pang sinusundan nila ako ng tingin kapag naglalakad ako sa harap nila.

That was why the restaurant hired me even though I was still a college student when I applied for the job. Kahit na may conflict sa schedule ko, they made a schedule for me that would match my classes. And even after I’d graduated and was taking care of my mom, my schedule didn’t become a problem for me. They wanted someone pleasing to the eyes to serve the customers. May ibang mga customer na bumabalik para lang makita ako.

But I think I was a normal-looking Russian woman. With my pale skin and dark hair, I have a heart-shaped face and a prominent jawline. They often tell me that I could become a model with my looks. Pero tinatawanan ko na lang sila as I didn’t think that I could be one, not with my height.

Hindi ako masyadong katangkaran pero hindi rin namang matatawag na maliit. My height was just normal… for a Russian. I have a petite body, and my curves are in the right places. My waist was small, and my hips were not that wide. Sakto lang para sa petite na kagaya ko.

I have big gray eyes that match my arched eyebrows. My nose has a straight bridge with a slightly rounded tip and narrow nostrils. My pinkish lips were a perfect Cupid’s bow shape. My dark hair was a bit wavy at pinahaba ko iyon hanggang bewang ko. I often styled it in a messy bun that gave me an innocent look, a look that most men would die for.

The bus stopped in front of the mall. Bumaba ako roon para bumili ng bagong skirt. I made sure that the coat was wrapped tightly around my waist so I wouldn’t have that same accident again, showing everyone my underwear this time. Hindi naman ako nahirapan sa pagpili. My size was mostly the same as on the mannequin. Iyon na lang ang kinuha ko para hindi na ako magsukat. I was already late for my usual time of going home. ’Yung nag-aalaga kay Mama ay kanina pa nagcha-chat sa akin so I have to hurry home.

I got home thirty minutes later than my usual time. Nakita ko ang nagbabantay kay Mama na nasa sala at nanonood ng TV.

“Proshu proshcheniya, ya opozdal.” I apologized for being late.

“It’s okay. Your mother is asleep,” Maria said. S’ya ang pinagbabantay ko kay Mama habang nasa work ako and I pay her for it. She was the teenage girl next door and was out of school. She said she just didn’t want to go to school and would rather take jobs like this.

“Did something happen today?” I asked, and she shook her head.

“ Net. It was the usual day.“

I smiled and gave her the payment for that day.

“Thank you. You can go home now.”

“Tomorrow again?” she asked in her broken English.

I nodded.

“ Da. Tomorrow.“

She left, and I was left alone in the living room. It was neat. Walang anumang kalat, and I guess Maria cleaned the house. I wasn’t paying her for it—sa pagbabantay at pag-aalaga lang kay Mama. But I guess she was still doing it, no matter how many times I told her that she didn’t need to. That was why I liked her. Nababawasan ang trabaho ko sa bahay at mas nakakapagpahinga ako galing sa trabaho.

I went up to my mother’s room and saw her sleeping peacefully. I smiled and went inside to place a kiss on her forehead. She stirred, and her eyes fluttered open. It took a while before her gaze focused on me.

“Dochka … you’re home?”

I smiled and hugged her. My head rests on her chest.

“ Da, mamochka . I missed you.“

She pulled away to look at me. Then her gaze settled on the coat that was wrapped around my waist.

“What happened?”

“Oh… An accident.”

“Accident?” She looked alarmed.

I nodded.

“Yeah… My skirt ripped, and a kind soul lent their coat to me.”

Her gaze softened.

“Blessed be that soul. Do you want me to fix your skirt?”

I shook my head and showed her the plastic I was holding.

“I bought a new one. This skirt is already old anyway.”

She smiled.

“Finally. I told you a lot of times to buy new clothes for you.”

I chuckled.

“I’m fine with my clothes. Besides, we need the money for your meds.”

Her eyes teared up, and I didn’t mean to make her cry. I caressed her cheeks, and a tear fell from her eyes.

“I’m sorry. I should be the one to take care of you.”

I shook my head.

“ Net, mamochka. Just rest, okay? I can handle everything now.“

She went back to sleep after a while, and I went out of her room. I went to the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror. I took off the coat and skirt and placed them on the sink to wear the new one I’ve bought just to see if it fits me. It did. Saktong-sakto ang sukat sa akin.

My mind went back to my mother inside the room. Just a year after I graduated from college, a stroke hit her, making the left half of her body paralyzed. After that, I took care of her for a year, and after my savings dried up, I decided to work back in the restaurant again. Thankfully, they hired me back and gave me a schedule that would fit me, as I was still taking care of my mother. That was why even though I’ve graduated with flying colors and could get a better job, hindi ako makaalis sa trabaho ko ngayon as I know that other jobs wouldn’t be so lenient as them. I needed time to take care of my mother.

My eyes went to the sink, and I saw the coat again. I took it and displayed it in front of me. It was big, and the fabric was so smooth, looking as expensive as it was. I checked if I ruined it, but thankfully, there wasn’t any stain or rip on the coat.

I couldn’t resist the urge to try it on. Isinuot ko iyon, inserting my arms into the sleeves. Mahaba at hindi man lang lumabas ang mga kamay ko roon. I looked at the mirror and saw that the coat was swallowing me whole. And yet, it was comfortable. Malambot ang loob ng coat with its padding on the shoulders.

I could smell the perfume on the coat, and I imagined the man was hugging me. I bet his hug was even more comfortable than his coat. I imagined his hard body against mine, my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. I imagined his arms wrapped around me as he pulled me even closer to his hard body. I would feel protected. As if there were nothing in this world that could hurt me. As if all my problems would have a solution.

I cleared my throat and decided to take off the coat. Kung ano-ano ang naiisip ko. Why the hell am I thinking that way toward that man? Ni hindi ko nga alam ang pangalan n’ya. And goodness, he must’ve had a wife. A wife who would receive his hug that I was craving for.

What a lucky woman.

I took a hanger at isinabit ko ang coat doon. I should dry-clean it, pero nanghihinayang ako na mawala ang amoy ng lalaki sa coat. He smelled wonderful, and I wanted to inhale all of his scent.

Itinago ko na lang sa loob ng cabinet ko ang coat. I didn’t know if I should bring it tomorrow. Maybe they wouldn’t come back after what happened.

Still, I was hoping they would come back. I would ask for his name, and maybe… I would give him mine as well. Just for him to know that some Snezhana Fyodorovna Rostova existed.

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This story has advance updates on Patreon and the VIP group.