• 1-Stress Relief
• 2-part two

Stress Relief

Sonny slammed the door as he left the
penthouse. Nodding at Johnny, he
ordered, "Stay here." As mad
as he was at Carly, he knew that he would never be able to live with himself if
someone else died on his watch.
Punching the down button for the elevator, Sonny felt like punching a
hole in the wall as well. He and Carly
had just had a knockdown, drag-out fight.
She couldn't understand that telling him about Alexis' baby now did not
make up for all the months of lies and deceptions.

Sonny stepped into the elevator and tried to clear his head. He was so worked up; he thought he was going
to explode. First Alexis betrays him
and now Carly. Why do all of his
relationships end up the same way?
Sometimes he thought he was better off before when the only reason he
was with a woman was for the sex.

His arrival in the garage alerted Max to
jump in the limo. Sonny let himself in
as Max started the car. Rolling down
the partition, Sonny ordered Max to drive to the No-Name. He needed a good, stiff drink.

When they arrived at the unassuming
restaurant, Sonny left Max by the car and went inside alone. The place was almost empty. The maitre 'd greeted him in the usual
fawning manner, but Sonny wanted no part of it. He headed straight for the bar.
"Bourbon, straight up," he ordered. He knocked back the shot and ordered another. After the third shot, he finally sat
down. He ordered a beer and looked
ar at at the other patrons.

That's when he first saw her. Drop dead gorgeous...she had long brown
curly hair and was dressed in a skintight black dress with a slit down the
side. With her legs crossed, Sonny had
a nice view of her long legs and her "fuck me" pumps.

Sitting three stools away from him, she
noticed him staring at her. "Rough
day?"

Sonny smiled. "Yeah, something like that."

She smiled sympathetically and introduced
herself. "I'm Gabriela."

"I'm Sonny," he said, sliding
closer to her.

"I know who you are," she told
him, adding, "what? You want me to pretend I don't know you?"

Sonny grinned.