Bittersweet Revenge Read Online Free Page B

her staff as everyone would be scattering for over a week to spend their holiday time with whomever. 
     
    Human Resources came by and passed out bonus checks to those who would receive them, primarily salaried employees. Some people exchanged gifts and Alison received her fair share of little boxes and envelopes. She had long ago established her own tradition of gift cards to movies for some, restaurants for others, theatrical or musical performances for a few she was very close to. They all had coffee together and then it was time to leave with lots of hugs and wishes for the holidays to be happy for everyone.
     
    She straightened up her office a bit, looked at her calendar and made some notes, but wasn’t in the mood to spend any more time here than necessary. Her gifts filled two large tote bags and she phoned for a taxi rather than try to chase one down on the Square.
     
    Within a short time, Alison was home and began opening her gifts, saving the delivery from Saks for last. Once again, those who cared about her at work were more than generous with gift cards for a massage, manicure and pedicure, a couple of scarves, lovely pins to wear on jacket lapels, several CDs, foot warmers as everyone knew she always complained of her feet being cold in the office. There was fun stationery and a great puzzle of San Francisco of old.
     
    And then the gift wrap came off the box from Saks and she looked at the largest bottle of Angel perfume she’d ever seen. Huge. She had no idea they even made one that size. It would last long beyond her lifetime, she was sure. At that moment, she knew she would miss him more than she’d been willing to admit.
     
    Knowing he would still be out of phone range and in flight, she called his cell phone and left a message.
     
    “The perfume is over the top and I hope I live long enough to use every ounce in that bottle. The clerk must have loved you … as do I. Thank you so much. Wonderful surprise. I miss you terribly already. Please let me know you are home safe, okay? Bye.”
     
    The television news told her that the weather in Boston was horrible, already several inches of snow, sleet, ice, and in general, pretty yucky. There were flights already backing up leaving Boston and New York, but those heading into Boston seemed to be okay. He was a veteran flyer and she was not really concerned.
     
    Several hours later, she saw the text message on her cell phone.
     
    Hi, swthrt, home, snow lik crzy, cold, miss you, by 4 now. R.
     
    Then she could sleep. It was Christmas Eve and she didn’t mind being alone and watching festivities on television, but she finally gave into the tiredness and crawled into bed. His smell was everywhere. She would just have to live on memories for a few days as she really didn’t expect to hear from him until after Christmas since he would be with his children and parents in Vermont. 
     
    It rained all Christmas Day and Alison snuggled up to watch a couple of old movies on DVDs, ate leftovers from some of their meals during the week, finished opened wine, took a nap, and thoroughly enjoyed being alone for awhile. She had not been prepared for the hectic weeks since meeting Rick just after Thanksgiving. But as John Lennon said, “Life is what happens on the way to making plans.”  When you’re not looking, there it is; romance.
     
    After a couple of days at home, Alison dressed for the nasty weather and ventured downtown, not for after holiday sales, but to enjoy the festivities around so many of the stores, particularly around Union Square. She loved the carolers who braved the bad weather and sang their hearts out, enjoyed stopping in a coffee shop for a latte while watching people still in a festive mood. Everyone was loaded down with shopping bags and excitedly planning their next stop after getting warm at Starbucks. She ran into a couple of friends along the way, all wishing each other happy holidays, then she headed for Macy’s and the gourmet