I took a slow breath. “You’re right,” I said quietly. “Mark might not believe me.”
Then came the promotion. Mark got it. Senior Vice President. The salary increase meant we could finally fix the leak in the guest bathroom and consider a real vacation. But the celebration was short-lived. Julian began requesting my presence at “spouse-inclusive” strategy dinners. He seated me next to him every time. He asked about my dreams, my fears, the novels I read before bed.
He tilted his head. “Or what? You’ll tell Mark? Tell him his boss has been courting his wife for six months? Do you think he’ll believe you—or will he believe the man who signs his paychecks?”