The Gift Receipt

Summary

Out of state closing a deal, I got a text: “Mr. Coleman, your Patek Philippe is ready.” Attached was a photo of a $5M watch.

“Wrong number,” I replied.

“No mistake,” they insisted. “Your wife ordered it.” The invoice showed Isabelle’s payment, but the recipient’s name was smudged. Before I could ask more, the messages vanished.

“Apologies, wrong person,” came a new text.

The next day, I saw that watch on my wife’s assistant’s wrist.

“A bonus for his hard work,” she shrugged.

I laughed coldly, had security trash it. “What ‘work’ earns $5M?” I asked. “Sleeping with the boss?”