Page 383 of Valentino

I stay silent.

He continues to pace, “Hardball hey…. Twenty-five percent and that’s it.”

I begin to type as I act uninterested, “No, thanks.”

“What do you mean no thanks?” he barks.

“It’s not about the money.”

“Everything is about money,” he fires back.

I roll my eyes and go back to my computer.

“Fifty percent pay raise and that’s totally fucking it.”

I keep typing. “No.”

“Double your wage and do not fucking talk to me again. This is daylight robbery,” he screams. “You are trying to fuck me up the ass, and I won’t have it.”

I was expecting a tantrum, but this is the living end. I shake my head in disgust, “Can you even hear yourself right now? The last thing I want to do is fuck you up the ass.”

He puts his hands on his hips and begins to pace again, his mind is racing.

I continue to pretend to type, and I do have to admit, him groveling is doing wonders for my confidence.

“Fine, don’t go to Tiffany’s today, it doesn’t matter. I won’t get her the gift.”

Huh?

I look up from my computer, does he know?

“Why would you say that?”

“That’s it, isn’t it?” he says.

“We are not having this conversation, Gabriel,” I snap.

“Yes. We. Fucking. Are.”

“I’m leaving because I’ve bought myself a house.”

He takes a step back, completely shocked. “You bought a house?”

I nod, “In Greenville.”

“Where’s that?”

“Maine.”

“Why the fuck would you buy a house in Maine?” He screws up his face in horror.

“Because….. it’s time.”

“For what?” he bellows. “To turn fucking Amish?”

“I want a family home with a garden and a dog, maybe even a family. Renting a tiny apartment in New York is never going to get me there.”

He blinks as he processes my words.