King of Greed

When Alessandra tells her friends about agreeing to the date, they express concern that she might be backsliding into old habits. Alessandra convinces them that her decision is for the best, reasoning that going on a date with him will put their relationship to rest for good. For their date, Dominic flies Alessandra to Floripa—one of Alessandra’s favorite places in Brazil. They stay at a lavish resort.

Dominic tells Alessandra about running into his foster brother, Roman. Although Dominic loves Roman in his own way, he doesn’t trust his foster brother’s sudden arrival in New York and suspects that he is involved in questionable activities. Although Dominic apologizes for turning the subject to something so serious, this genuine conversation means more to Alessandra than the private jets, lavish meals, and luxury resort.

Though Alessandra and Dominic spend a long weekend in Floripa for their date, he gives her more space than she anticipated. Alessandra eventually feels that he has given her too much space and invites him to the Public Market. Dominic asks about Alessandra’s business, which Isabella and Kai have been overseeing while Alessandra is in. Dominic offers to help her with the business and finance side if she ever needs it. When Dominic asks why Alessandra chose to turn her pressed flower hobby into a business, she admits that the business is something that she can call her own. Everything they owned during their marriage was bought by Dominic. To feel like her own person, she needed “something to remind [her that she] mattered. [Her], as an individual” (194). Dominic is surprised by this revelation. He has always that his habit of covering all of their expenses would make them happier. However, he now realizes that she always valued time and attention—which cannot be bought—over material possessions. After grabbing food at a street vendor, Dominic and Alessandra go canoeing. When she turns suddenly at the sight of a dolphin, the canoe tips, dumping them into the lagoon. They have fun splashing each other, and Dominic realizes that he has forgotten how to be relaxed and carefree like they used to be.

Alessandra and Dominic share a kiss in the lagoon, and Alessandra hates that she enjoys it as much as she does. The next morning, she receives a call from Isabella, who reveals that a pipe burst in the flower shop overnight and flooded the entire store. The damage is bad; the electronics are damaged, and a majority of the inventory cannot be salvaged. Isabella promises that she and Kai will take care of it, but Alessandra makes the decision to fly back to New York immediately. Dominic offers to take his private jet and promises Alessandra that they will arrive in New York City by evening. Once they land, Dominic accompanies her to the store, where Alessandra assesses the immense damage. When Alessandra begins crying, Dominic swoops in to comfort her.

Alessandra spends the weekend formulating a pan to replace furniture and inventory. Aiden comes to assess the damage to the property, which he will cover financially. When it becomes clear that Alessandra is deeply worried about finding the time to replace her lost inventory, Aiden offers to help clean up the space. Dominic visits around this time and offers to adjust his own work schedule so that he can help as well.

On Saturday, Dominic and Aiden work together to clean the store, but the tension between them is palpable. Eventually, Aiden goes to keep a dinner reservation, leaving Alessandra and Dominic alone. Dominic has declined invitations to charity galas, a private museum exhibit, and a dinner party in order to help clean Alessandra’s store.

Later, when Dominic attempts to talk about their kiss in the lagoon, Alessandra once again downplays the moment. She admits to loving him but is afraid that if she gives in and dates him again, all the progress they’ve made will be lost. Dominic agrees to allow her to date other people, prioritizing her own happiness.

Alessandra speaks to her friends about the situation with Dominic. They are surprised that he has agreed to the prospect of Alessandra dating other people. Vivian also recognizes the changes in Dominic in the past few months. Vivian then shares with the girls that she is pregnant, which they celebrate. Alessandra receives a delivery: a gift from Dominic. It is an exact replica of the mug he bought on the day of their very first date, which broke during their move to New York years ago. Alessandra realizes that today is their first date anniversary: a detail that even she had forgotten.

After her friends leave, Alessandra hops onto a dating app and schedules a date for Tuesday night with a man named Dalton. On Tuesday, Dalton takes Alessandra to an uptown gala, but when they arrive, she sees Dominic in attendance. Later in the evening, Dominic goes to the bathroom for a breather and overhears Dalton talking on the phone to one of his friends. From the conversation, Dominic gathers that Dalton is only interested in having sex with Alessandra. Dalton also plans to film them having sex in his apartment; he plans to share the video with his friends. Dominic assaults Dalton when he emerges from the stall and makes him promise to leave Alessandra alone. After Dalton leaves, Alessandra stalks up to Dominic and accuses him of interfering with her date. However, when he explains the situation, she lets the topic go and kisses him.

Alessandra and Dominic enter a private room and have sex in an office. Just as they finish and straighten up, Isabella and Kai emerge from a secret room behind moveable bookshelves, and the four share an awkward, knowing exchange.

Dominic returns to his penthouse alone and discovers Roman inside, holding a knife. Despite Dominic’s robust security system, Roman has bypassed it. Roman tells Dominic about his life after his time in juvenile detention. He was looked after by a man who died just last year; he relates telling this man about Dominic—the brother he was close with, but who ultimately betrayed him. Roman hated Dominic for his success and for leaving him behind. Roman accuses Dominic of valuing his get-rich plan over the only family he ever had. He refers to Dominic’s divorce and asks if this is a recurring problem.

The conversation devolves into a fistfight in which both men let out all their anger and frustration. After they both grow tired, they sit back, and Dominic admits that he regrets leaving Roman behind. Dominic asks Roman what he has gotten himself into. Roman hints that he might have had a hand in Martin Wellgrew’s death at the past dinner party but doesn’t reveal anything else.

Sloane and Vivian help to organize Alessandra’s grand opening of her shop. Sloane has secured plenty of big names on the guest list. Meanwhile, instead of replacing all her lost inventory exactly as it was, Alessandra has instead worked on a singular grand centerpiece for the store.

Alessandra receives a text from Dominic, asking her to meet him at the Saxon Gallery that night. When she shows up, she is shocked to see his bruised face. He explains the encounter with Roman. They explore the gallery, which Dominic has rented out entirely for them. When they talk about the night of the gala, Alessandra says that she cannot promise Dominic anything more than sex; he accepts these terms, and they become intimate in the gallery.