I was so angry I couldn't find the words.
I wanted to run after them, shout a few things, but then I glanced at the time. My husband's flight had just landed at the private terminal.
In the past, I had always been late picking him up, and I could still remember the sorrowful look in his eyes whenever I showed up late. That quiet disappointment from a man who never raised his voice about anything.
Today, I'd been at the gym when it suddenly hit me that I needed to pick him up, so I rushed over, breathless, not even taking the time to change. Maybe it was because I was sweating and my hair was a mess, but Dominic must have thought I was trying to reignite our marriage.
I took a deep breath, steadying myself, and walked into the terminal.
I had a husband who loved me, so why let two rabid dogs ruin my mood?
But as soon as I entered the members-only lounge above the concourse, my brow furrowed.
The usually calm and quiet lounge was chaotic today. The air was thick with cigarette smoke and men talked loudly and puffed their cigars like they owned the place. Half-empty tumblers of scotch lined the low tables, and the door soldier who should have been managing the room stood against the far wall doing nothing about it.
Dominic was at the center of it all, surrounded by sycophants who lavished him with praise.
"Dominic, your outfit's on fire! That arrangement with the Valente Family? It's bound to be a game-changer. You'll be sitting at the head of every table in no time!"
"Don't forget us when you make it to the top, Dominic. We're counting on you to share the wealth."
Dominic grinned, clearly basking in the attention, his chest puffing up with pride. The kind of man who mistook applause for respect.
Next to him stood Adriana, her posture that of a boss's wife, soaking in the compliments like a sponge.
I choked on the thick smoke, coughing uncontrollably.
A rotund man, balding and gruff, waddled over and sneered. "What are you doing here, sweetheart? This is a members-only lounge, not your personal resting spot. Get out."
I pulled out my house token, but my irritation was barely contained. "I'm not in the wrong place. I have standing here."
The man opened his mouth to retort, but before he could speak, Dominic approached. He straightened both lapels before settling his gaze on me.
His voice was cold, his gaze cutting. "Arthur, is this what you've come to? Begging me for envelopes? Now you're buying your way into the lounge?"
Before I could speak, he tossed a few bills at me, his fingers moving like he had all the time in the world. Without a second thought, he ripped my house token in half.
"The tribute's refunded. You're no longer welcome here. Can you leave now?"
My blood boiled and the words I wanted to scream barely stayed in my throat.
I waved down Celia Ricci, my voice trembling with anger.
He smoothed the front of his jacket twice before responding, sizing me up with an icy look. "If you don't want the refund, by the rules, you're still allowed to stay."
I pointed to the no-smoking sign on the wall. "Can you ask them to put out their cigarettes?"
Celia's gaze hardened further. "They've already paid their fines. They're allowed to smoke for the next hour."
"If you can't stand it, you're free to leave."
His words sliced through me, dripping with condescension. "Honestly, some places just aren't meant for people like you."
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to keep calm. "I'll file a complaint against you."
Celia sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "Ma'am, the lounge is for recognized guests."
"Your standing alone means that even if you complain, your words won't carry much weight."
"In short, I don't care. Do whatever you want."
At that moment, Dominic glanced at me with disdain, his gaze like a cold blade. "Arthur, after three years, you've truly humiliated yourself."
Adriana, ever the actress, put on a concerned face, her words dripping with insincerity. The corner of her mouth twitched before she slipped into that soft, pitying voice. "Arthur, you should leave. Staying here will only make a fool of you."
A curious associate leaned in, asking Dominic, "Dominic, do you know her?"
Dominic's smile faltered for a heartbeat before he recovered, his voice smooth but tinged with arrogance. "When I was younger, I made a mistake. I ended up with the wrong person."
The men around him nodded knowingly, their laughter landing a beat late, after they'd checked who else was laughing. "It happens. These women are all the same. They know how to target men with standing."
"Who hasn't been taken in by a woman or two in their youth? Once you see through them, it's no problem."
