Page 196 of The Bonus

“Go home,” he says. “You’re not on your game, and you’re doing more harm than good in there.”

Fuck.

“I’m going to tell them you have a migraine and take over the meeting.”

My eyes search his. “I won’t go home, but if you could take over the meeting, I’d be grateful. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” He pulls me into a hug. “That’s why you have a brother, to catch you when you fall.”

“Thanks.” I hug him a little longer than normal.

“You okay?” He frowns.

I nod. “Yep, tough week.”

At five pm, I walk out of the Ferrara building to a crowd of photographers.

“Mr. Ferrara, is the wedding back on?” Security pushes me through the crowd.

“Ariana and you make a beautiful couple. Can you tell us about your romantic getaway?” someone else calls. I’m bundled into the back of the car and we pull out into the traffic, we whiz through the streets of New York and I glance at my phone to see five missed calls from Elias, Grace’s security guard.

I frown and dial his number. “Hello, Mr. Ferrara,” he says nervously.

“What?”

“Just letting you know that Grace had lunch again with Jack Spalding today.”

Adrenaline surges through my system and my eyes flicker red. “Is that so.”

Grace

I sip my tea as I hold the remote up to the television to turn the channel. I probably should go to bed, it’s after 10 p.m., but I’m not in the least bit tired.

I hear the front step go and then a soft knock on the door. Who in the world?

I open the door in a rush to see Gabriel, he’s in a navy suit and his dark cold eyes hold mine. Animosity drips from his every cell, and a frisson of fear runs through me. “Gabriel?”

“Where the fuck did you go today?” he growls.

23

Grace

Before I can even process what he just said he brushes past me into the house and begins to pace. He’s beyond furious.

“What?” I frown.

“You heard me, don’t act fucking stupid,” he fumes. “Where did you have lunch today?” he sneers.

Oh shit, my lunch with Jack, I completely forgot all about that.

Right…I open my mouth to reply but he cuts me off.

“I’ve blown my entire fucking life to smithereens…to be with you…and here you are, going on lunch dates with another man,” he growls. “What happened after lunch is what I want to know.” He begins to pace with his hands on his hips, his fury palpable.

“I’m having the worst week of my entire life, and I have to worry about Ariana and work and the children, and now, to top it all off, I’ve had to rush all the way here to rein in my out-of-control girlfriend.”

I begin to hear my angry heartbeat in my ears and I put my weight onto my back foot. “First, I’m not your girlfriend. Don’t ever call me that again.”

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