"You're right. I hold no title at this company, so I can't fire him. But as your husband, I have every right to slap him."

Fiona immediately pulled the sobbing Job into her arms. "Rolf, you've gone too far!"

Perhaps before, when I'd caught her eating Job's leftovers, she'd still felt a shred of guilt toward me.

Now, that shred was gone.

"This is what happens when I spoil you too much. You think you can do whatever you want!"

"As punishment, I'm cutting off every single one of your cards!"

Job, who had been weeping just seconds ago, heard the words every single one of your cards and the corners of his mouth curled up uncontrollably.

"That seems a bit harsh, Director Prescott. After all, Mr. Henson is the one hosting tonight's dinner. If you cancel all his cards, how's he supposed to pay the bill?"

"A meal like this has to run well over a thousand dollars. That's enough for a criminal charge. If Mr. Henson can't settle up, the police might just haul him away."

Fiona took a deep breath. "Rolf, apologize to Job. Do that, and I'll let tonight go."

"Apologize to him? Have you lost your mind, or have I?"

Job put on a show of playing peacemaker. "Director Prescott, please don't fight with your husband because of me. I'm just a lowly assistant. A little mistreatment is nothing I can't handle."

He turned to me with that same rehearsed sincerity. "Mr. Henson, this is all my fault. Don't be angry at Director Prescott. Let me apologize to you."

He reached for my wrist as if to shake my hand, but his fingers clamped down and dug into my skin with vicious force.

The pain was blinding. I wrenched free of his grip.

"Get off me!"

I barely used any strength, but Job went flying. He crashed into the dining table, sending plates and bowls clattering to the floor. He tumbled down after them, landing in a mess of grease and spilled food. A shard of broken porcelain sliced his hand, and blood dripped onto the tiles.

"Rolf, you've gone too far!"

Fiona's palm cracked across my face before I could react, snapping my head to the side.

I ran my tongue over the corner of my mouth and tasted copper. Something inside me went quiet. Settled.

"Are you blind? He was the one digging his nails into me. I barely touched him. That fall was fake!"

Fiona ignored me. She crouched down and helped Job off the floor, then unwound the silk scarf from her neck to wrap around his bleeding hand.