Chapter 211 - 14 Pillar Of His Life

Dominik was shocked.

Probably that was the best way to describe what was happening to him, what was happening in his heart and head where everything and nothing was happening in the same time. What a bizarre paradox when a thousand thoughts are raging in your head, and none of them makes sense, when a thousand emotions are raging in your heart, and none of them can be captured and named.

Like a cornered animal that is unable to find a way out for itself, and in panic it throws itself directly under the hunter's rifle. No reason, no sense Just panic.

Someone tugged at his arm and instinctively. Śliviński pushed that person away, began to fight him.

"Dominik, what happened? Dominik!"

A familiar voice saying his name returned Śliwiński to consciousness. Andrzej looked at him anxiously, holding his arms. It was from him that Dominik tried to free himself a moment ago.

"Andrzej? Sorry, you surprised me."

"You more surprised me. Where are you going? I know it's a parking lot, but you should be careful. That car nearly hit you!"

In fact, Śliwiński was in the parking lot in front of the building where Marczak's agency was located. How and when did he get downstairs? Dominik couldn't remember it. All he knew was that he was the greatest fool in the world.

"Something's wrong, right?" Andrzej asked, although it was more of a statement than a question. "I knew I shouldn't have let you meet Marczak."

Dominik smiled, though he felt tears in his eyes.

"I got a little nervous," he admitted, "it's true, but seeing you immediately makes me feel better. The conversation was difficult, but it's my fault that I expected Marek to… Anyway, never mind. We'll talk at home. I'm glad you came, but I think you should be at work."

"I should, sort of..." Nowicki admitted. "Fortunately, I have the most understanding boss in the world and no session scheduled for today. I'll call a taxi for us."

***

The taxi wasn't a good place to talk, so they were both silent, but Dominik didn't need a word now. The mere presence of Andrzej was enough for him, so strong and reassuring that even if the whole earth trembled and the sky began to collapse on people's heads, Dominik would feel safe with him.

Andrzej was simply a pillar of his life.

How could Dominik exist before, without knowing this man?

Suddenly, the young actor remembered a sentence he once heard in a series or anime. He couldn't remember where or who had said it to whom, but it was something like, 'You're like ivy that has to wrap itself around someone strong in order to survive.' Dominik felt at this point that the sentence applied entirely to him.

First there was Marczak, a guy with an exceptionally strong personality and social position. Now there was Andrzej, a real pillar both physically and spiritually. Was Dominik really so weak that he couldn't stand up on his own?

It wasn't like that before. Śliwiński was a brave teenager who decided to seize the opportunity that arose and entered the film world with a hit. That's what made him noticeable. His first role was a young wolf, and it did not differ from who he really was. But Marek not only tamed the wolf in him, he sawed off his claws and fangs. He had seven years to do so.

It's long. It is long enough to completely change a person and shape him according to his will. Dominik allowed it because of his youthful stupidity and misplaced trust.

Then Andrzej appeared, his savior, and Dominik instinctively transferred the burden of his problems onto him, too weak to bear them alone.

Andrzej, however, unlike Marek, never deprived him of his right to make decisions and act. Nowicki was a pillar that Dominik could lean on so as not to lose his balance and fall, not with the golden cage that Marczak was.

Not even knowing that he was doing it, Śliwiński smiled to himself.

They rode side by side in the back seat, nothing more, and yet Dominik felt the strength flowing from Andrzej and his love. Nowicki was with him and was for him. It was enough.

Andrzej noticed his smile and asked a question with his eyes. Dominik, also with a look, replied that everything was ok and that he would tell him about it at home.

It was not far to their home and they would be there soon. Dominik knew that by the time this happened, he would be completely calm.

All thanks to Andrzej.

***

"It looks like you've calmed down," Nowicki remarked as they entered the house.

"Yes, thank you," smiled Śliwiński. "The conversation with Marek was unpleasant, then another unpleasant surprise happened, but I'm calm now. Thanks to you." Dominik turned and threw his arms around Andrzej's neck. He climbed on his toes and gave him a short kiss on the lips. "Thank you."

Immediately after that, Dominik took his arms from him and headed for the kitchen.

"Your mood has changed one hundred and eighty degrees" in Nowicki's voice, you could hear the anxiety. He had heard something about the manic-depressive phases once.

"That's because when you accompanied me in the taxi," Śliwiński explained, setting the water over for tea, "I calmed down my emotions. You know, when I was alone, everything always seemed difficult and insurmountable to me. You give me the strength to face adversities."

Surprised, but also pleasantly flattered by these words, Nowicki leaned against the niche between the living room and the kitchen. He was still worried about the whole situation, so he kept his eyes on his beloved, but Dominik seemed to be really calm.

"So how did the conversation with Marczak go?" He asked.

"Terrible," admitted Śliwiński, curving his lips. "He threatened me, he wanted to seduce me. The usual. How could I forget that there is no other way to talk to him?"

"Did he upset you very much?"

"Very. Imagine he fucked Kwieciński a moment earlier, and when I walked in, he wanted me. Disgusting."

"Oh, Dominik..."

"Don't worry, when we were returning home," Śliwiński reassured him, "I arranged my emotions. Last year I would have probably been devastated, but now I'm just disgusted."

"It's also not nice..."

Dominik shrugged. He set down two mugs, tossed the teabags into them, and leaned back against the kitchen counter. Turning to Nowicki, he looked directly into his beautiful, amber eyes.

"Andrzej, I want to break the contract for Dominik's Kitchen," he announced.

"WHAT?!!!" Nowicki was so shocked that he broke away from the wall he was leaning against. "You love this show! You feel great in it! Did that whole Baczyński want to do something to you?"

"No." Dominik shook his head. "He only admitted that he belongs to Marek Marczak's financial group. This show is actually produced by Marek."

***

Andrzej was shocked. Just like that, and that was the only way to define the state he was in. He had a bad feeling about Baczyński (after all, he was quite handsome and he was drooling at the mere sight of Dominik) but Nowicki was convinced that it was because of the beauty and sex appeal of the young actor. Śliwiński was simply divine, so he could make Franciszek Baczyński fall in love with him, but never, never would Andrzej have thought that Baczyński belonged to Marczak's financial group.

It was disturbing how long and ubiquitous the man's tentacles were. Even more disturbing was that he did not want to let Dominik out of them.

"Don't do anything for now," asked Andrzej. "I understand your anger and your disappointment, believe me, I understand, but we must be wise. Don.t forget, we are dealing with Marczak. We don't know what this man can do to you."

Śliwiński did not answer. He only looked glumly at Nowicki. Gloomy and a little hostile.

Dominik doesn't think I'm on Marczak's side, Andrzej thought, does he? O, he shouldn't think that. He knows how I love him, but he also knows that Marczak has confessed his love to me.

"Well, I won't do anything" promised Śliwiński and there was something unpleasant in his voice. "Even if the mere thought that I am still working for Marek disgusts me..."

"It's not that, for God's sake!" Nowicki knew that he had not made himself clear enough. "My point is that you should first review your contract with an attorney. Talk to him, present your point of view and find a solution that works best for you. I don't know, maybe hiding from you that your former manager, with whom you have bad relations, is taking part in this project is acting in bad faith..."

"So ... you mean not to act rashly?"

"Exactly!" Nowicki felt relieved. "Marczak is an old fox, he could set many traps. I don't want you to fall into either of them. We have to be smarter than him. Especially now that the CBA people are sniffing around him. I'm afraid to think what madness will come to his mind when he feels cornered…"