Chapter 2

The next day, I left the office early. I needed to clear my head. My custom-ordered Mercedes-Maybach was my sanctuary, a space that was mine and mine alone. Sylvia knew this. She never touched it.

I got in, the smell of fresh leather usually a comfort. But something was wrong.

The passenger seat was moved forward. The sun visor was flipped down. And the infotainment system, which should have been on my classical playlist, was synced to a new device. A playlist of obscure indie bands-Caleb's favorite genre-was on the screen.

He had been in my car. In my space.

Rage, cold and sharp, washed over me. I was about to call Sylvia and demand an explanation when my phone rang. It was her.

But she wasn't calling to apologize.

"Nate, I need you to take an Uber home."

Her voice was rushed, annoyed.

"What are you talking about? Where are you?"

"I have to go help Caleb. He' s a mess. He tried to return the watch, but he doesn't have the auction receipt, and they' re giving him a hard time. He's just a kid, Nate."

"He was in my car, Sylvia."

There was a pause. "Don't be ridiculous. He just needed a ride. Stop being a bully and pulling rank on a child."

The final straw. She didn't see it. Or she didn't care. The invasion of my space, the blatant disrespect, she dismissed it all for him.

"You're defending him." It wasn't a question.

"I'm helping someone you humiliated! I'll be home late. We can talk then."

She hung up.

I sat there in the silence of my garage, the indie music still mocking me from the screen. The trust, the respect, the entire foundation of our five-year deal, it was all gone. Shattered.

I picked up my phone. I didn't call her back. I called Andrew.

"Andy."

"Yeah?"

"Draft the papers."

"What papers?"

"Divorce."

There was a long silence on the other end. "Are you sure, Nate? This isn't just about the watch, is it?"

"She let him in my car, Andy. Then she left me to go help him."

I could almost hear him nodding. "I'll get it done. The pre-nup is ironclad, but this will be messy with the joint ventures."

"I don't care," I said, looking at the empty passenger seat. "It's over."