Page 191 of The Bonus

This looks bad even to me, but how can I help it? What kind of person would I be if I didn’t care for Ariana when she’s like this?

We pull into my driveway and make our way up to the house; Mark is in the driveway and he looks up puzzled as I park the car.

I glare at him. Where the fuck were you?

His face falls as he connects the dots and he rushes to open my door. “Hello?” he stammers.

I get out of the car and slam the door; my fury is palpable.

“What’s going on?”

“Ariana came to Grace’s this morning. Apparently, she sat out the front of this house all night.”

Mark’s eyes widen in horror. “I didn’t see her,” he stammers, “I swear I didn’t see a thing.”

“Organize the plane, I need to take her home.”

“Yes, sir.”

I walk around to Ariana’s side of the car and she’s crumpled up in a ball, still crying. I reach in and lift her out of the car and Mark’s eyes widen as he sees her state. He rushes ahead and unlocks the front door for us and I carry her in and place her carefully down on the couch. “Get me a blanket.”

“Yes, of course.” Mark runs up the stairs.

“Ariana, I’m going to make you something to eat,” I say softly as I swipe her hair back from her forehead.

“I’m not hungry,” she whispers.

“You are eating, you’ve lost a lot of weight since I last saw you. You need something in your stomach.”

Mark reappears with a blanket and I carefully place it over her. I put a pillow under her head and snuggle her in. “I’ll be back in a moment, okay?” I turn to Mark. “Do not take your eyes off her,” I growl.

I’m so furious that I can barely look him in the eye. What’s the point of having guards at this house and Grace’s if not one of them does their fucking job?

Heads are going to roll over this.

“Yes, sir.” He drops to sit on the opposite couch as if scared for his life.

He should be.

I walk out into the kitchen and open the refrigerator, what the hell will I get her?

I take out my phone and text Grace.

I’m sorry

Ariana is distraught,

I’m taking her home to New York.

Call you as soon as I can.

I press send.

I get to making Ariana a grilled cheese sandwich and a hot chocolate and I check my phone, no reply from Grace.

Fuck.

I text her again.

---