Page 306 of The Bonus

“It’s a sting.” I peek through the blinds. “We’re in the Secret Service. Very important business.”

Mark chuckles. “Fuck me.”

“You can’t close my blinds like that.”

“Watch me.” I peer across the street over at the restaurant.

A customer goes to walk in the front door. “We’re closed.” I snap, “Come back later.”

“Oh….” He walks off.

“Listen, Mister.” The lady begins to get angry. “You cannot come in here and close my store.”

Over in the restaurant the man puts his arm around Gracie and my eyes widen in horror.

“Get out,” the lady yells.

I slap my credit card onto the counter. “Five thousand dollars for an hour.”

“Are you serious?” she gasps.

“Deadly. Ring it up.”

Gabriel - Aged 33.

“Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms rings out. The ground floor of the Ferrara Media building has been transformed into a winter wonderland. I’m at the Christmas party and I’m wearing a gray suit with a Santa hat, but I’m feeling anything but festive.

My eyes skim the room again, just like they have at least a hundred times tonight.

Where is she?

I sip my beer as I pretend to listen to the boring conversation going on around me.

And then I see her…. Wearing a red dress….

Oh….

Our eyes meet and my heart skips a beat, I smile and raise my glass and she smiles back.

Gracie goes into conversation with her friends and I swallow the lump in my throat as I watch her.

She’s leaving me.

I imagine my life without her in it and….

It just doesn’t seem plausible. How will I handle not seeing her each day….?

The walls begin to close in and I can’t be here for one minute longer. I can’t pretend that I’m anything but devastated.

I begin to perspire, my grip on my control is weakening and I’ve never felt so unstable.

“Excuse me.” I nod as I head to the elevator. I make my way up to my office and look over at her desk.

To think that I’ll never see her sitting there again…is too much to bear.

She’s leaving me.

I pour myself a scotch and walk into my office and sit in a chair in the corner.

I have a problem…. A major fucking problem.

And I’m heartsick over it.

My name is Gabriel Ferrara and I am utterly and hopelessly in love with Gracie Porter.

The End.