Page 21 of The Bonus

I smile. “Thank you.” I go to undo the ribbon.

“Open it later, it’s a pen. Nothing exciting.”

“Oh.” I smile, feeling embarrassed. “I got you something too.” I walk out to my desk and take out the oversized parcel.

He frowns as he looks down at it.

“Open it later, it’s a robe.” I shrug.

He smiles. “Thank you.”

It’s a robe with the letter G embroidered on it. The G is code for Grace so I can always be with him… But I know he will think it’s for Gabriel because it’s all about him.

The gift that is sneaky but relevant.

He gestures to the elevator. “Let’s go.” He walks to the elevator, seemingly unaffected. “I have to get back to the party.”

“Oh.”

He’s just going back to the party? What the hell?

That’s it?

I get into the elevator beside him and we turn to face the doors. He straightens his tie and twists his neck as he stares straight ahead. My mind is racing a million miles per minute, what the hell is going on here? I glance over at him, and rather than make eye contact with me, he looks down and fiddles with his cuff links.

He’s hard and cold.

There’s no banter, no conversation.

Nothing.

The elevator dings as we hit the ground floor and the doors open. The party is in full swing now.

“Let’s get a drink,” he says casually as he looks around.

I stare at him, what the actual fuck is happening right now?

Did I just imagine that whole entire thing?

“No, I’m going to head off,” I reply coolly.

“Okay.” He puts his two hands into his pockets. “Do you want me to walk you out?”

I’m taken aback that he would even have to ask that.

Wow.

“No. I’m fine.” I fake a smile. “Goodbye, Mr. Ferrara.”

“Goodbye, Miss Porter. My car will take you home.”

I glare at him. “Have a nice life.”

He tilts his chin to the sky as if angered. “You too.”

Ha, and there it is.

Proof.

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