Page 126 of The Bonus

Mom laughs out loud as if this is the best thing that has ever happened. “Those chocolates have made my life complete.”

I pass the box back to her. “Your life must be extremely boring. I have to get back to work.”

“Show him the surprise.” Mom grabs my arm so I can’t get up.

“Please don’t.” I sigh.

Ariana pulls out crystal candlesticks. “Look how perfect these are, and all the guests get to take one home as a souvenir.” She points down to the base that’s engraved.

Gabriel and Ariana

Eternally bound by love

“If I got this at a wedding and was expected to take it home, I would beat the groom to death with it.” I stand and walk over to my desk. “Take your tea party home, girls, I have to work.”

“And now for the real showstopper.”

I drag my hand down my face. “I wish this show would stop.”

Ariana lifts off a cover and there are two white doves in a silver gilded cage.

What the fuck?

“Are they real?” I frown.

“Of course they’re real. I’ve got to take them back this afternoon, but I wanted to bring them to show you. When we’re pronounced man and wife, three hundred doves are going to be released into the air as a symbol of our eternal love.”

I stare at her horrified, and utterly speechless.

Ariana bats her eyelashes all proud of herself. “Do you love them?”

“No. I do not.”

“Why not?”

“When I said you could organize the wedding, I didn’t realize you were putting on a circus performance complete with a fucking zoo,” I snap. “No doves.”

“But…”

“No fucking doves,” I snap.

Ariana’s face falls in disappointment.

“I’m overruling you, Gabriel. If Ariana wants doves, Ariana is getting doves. Only the best for my new daughter.” Mother smiles. “You have all the doves you want, sweetheart, get four hundred just to assert your dominance.” Mom winks at me and I clench my jaw.

Don’t push it, Mom.

I always wanted a wife that my mother approved of, but these two together is over the top.

“Leave,” I snap. “My next appointment is here.”

They laugh and chatter as they pack up their bullshit surprises and then slip into the sky-high heels.

I watch them for a moment, beautiful, immaculately groomed, both in designer clothing, perfectly styled dark hair with not a thing out of place, and I have an out-of-body realization that I am marrying my mother’s younger twin.

The thought is disturbing, how haven’t I seen this before?

Ariana kisses my cheek and my mother kisses the other and then they breeze out of my office just as they entered.

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