Page 59 of The Bonus

She reads my chart and pulls out some pills from her pocket. “Here’s what we’re going to do.” She passes me the pills. “You’re going to have these and try and get some rest, and I’m going to sit in that chair in the corner and watch over you and your babies while you sleep.”

“But…”

“But nothing, you won’t be alone tonight.” She squeezes my hand in hers, the tears rolling down my face. “I won’t leave you. I promise.”

“Thank you,” I whisper. I take the tablets and lie back down and she pulls the blankets up over me and tucks me in.

“What are you going to name your babies?”

I shrug, unsure. “Something Italian.”

“Their father is Italian?”

I nod.

She gives me a sad smile, finally understanding why I’m upset.

There was no donor sperm, only a lie covering for an absent dad.

She sits on the side of my bed and rests her hand on my shoulder, such a simple act of kindness that means so much. “What are your favorite names?”

“Dominic and Lucia,” I whisper.

She smiles down at me. “They sound like the perfect names.”

“You think so?”

“You’re going to be fine, darling, and you’re going to find the love of your life and he’s going to love your babies just as much as you do.”

I screw up my face in tears again, damn it. I’m unstable.

“Close your eyes and go to sleep,” her loving voice whispers, she brushes her hand over my hair. “Tomorrow’s a new day.”

9

Gabriel

“Fire him.” I sit back in my seat, annoyed.

“You can’t fire him,” Alessio gasps as the boardroom falls silent.

“Watch me.” I push my intercom. “Greg, get Rodney Roberts up here, please.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Listen, I know this report is not great but he can improve on it, I’m sure.” Alessio fights his case.

“I agree with this, he’s trying. We need to give him another chance,” Victor chips in.

“We’ve already given him another chance and he didn’t come through, he can sponge on someone else’s time and money, not mine,” I snap.

“But…”

“Why do you soft cocks always feel sorry for people, this isn’t a fucking charity organization. If you don’t perform, you don’t get to keep your job, it’s as simple as that. He is at the top end of his game, he doesn’t have the privilege to be lazy.”

My intercom buzzes. “Yes,” I answer.

“Rodney Roberts is off sick today, sir.”

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