Amanda stood on the concrete steps and watched the rear window of the Maybach roll down. Julio's face appeared in the gap. His jaw was clenched, and his eyes were full of irritation.
The driver hurried out and pulled the rear door open. Amanda walked down the steps. Her face was a mask of ice. She slid into the leather seat and pulled her coat around her legs.
The door slammed shut. Instantly, a thick, suffocating smell filled Amanda's nose. It was a cheap, heavy rose perfume.
Her stomach violently rejected the scent. Acid rushed up her throat. She slapped her hand over her mouth and nose. She reached for the door panel and slammed her finger on the window button. The glass slid down, letting the freezing winter air blast into the cabin.
Julio flinched as the cold wind hit his face. He reached over and pulled the master switch, forcing the window back up.
"Are you insane?" Julio snapped. "You claim you are sick, and now you want to freeze us both to death. Stop throwing tantrums."
Amanda dropped her hand from her mouth. She let out a short, cold laugh. Her eyes locked onto the lapel of his dark suit. A single, long strand of blonde hair was stuck to the fabric. Amanda's hair was pitch black.
"Your car smells like a cheap brothel," Amanda said. "Did you lose track of time at the club?"
Julio's eyes widened for a fraction of a second. His hand shot up to his tie, tugging at the knot. It was his tell. He only did that when he was cornered.
He dropped his hand and glared at her. "Are you having me followed? You are invading my privacy."
Amanda pulled her phone from her pocket. She opened the photo Jeanette had sent her. She shoved the screen directly into Julio's face. The bright backlight illuminated the sweat forming on his upper lip.
Julio stared at the picture of his hand wrapped around Seraphina's waist. He swallowed hard. He pushed the phone away.
"It is a business dinner," Julio said. His voice was louder now, defensive. "I was entertaining clients. Seraphina was there to assist."
The smell of the rose perfume mixed with his lies. Amanda felt physically sick.
"Fire her," Amanda said. Her voice was completely steady. "Fire Seraphina Vance tomorrow morning, and never speak to her again."
Julio stiffened. He squared his shoulders and looked down at her.
"No," Julio said. "Seraphina is a crucial part of the acquisitions team. I am not firing a key employee just because you are feeling insecure."
Amanda stared at him. "She is an intern who cannot even read a basic profit and loss statement. Do not insult my intelligence."
Julio's face turned red. He slammed his open palm against the leather center console. The loud smack echoed in the small space.
"Stop acting like a jealous shrew!" Julio yelled. "You are always so cold. You never smile. You never support me. Seraphina actually looks up to me. She knows how to treat a man."
Amanda stopped breathing. The air in her lungs turned to ice. The last tiny ember of hope she had for this three-year relationship went out. It did not fade. It was crushed.
She leaned back against the headrest. She crossed her arms tightly over her chest to keep her hands from shaking.
"It is her or me," Amanda said. The words tasted like ash in her mouth.
Julio let out a loud, mocking scoff. He leaned closer to her.
"You will never leave me," Julio said. His voice dripped with pity. "Without the Mathews family name protecting you, your parents will eat you alive. You need me."
He reached into his jacket pocket.
"If you behave tonight and play the perfect fiancée," Julio said, "I will buy you that diamond necklace you looked at last month."
Amanda turned her head away from him. The proximity of his breath made her skin crawl.
"Disgusting," Amanda whispered.
Julio's jaw tightened. His pride was hit. He sat back in his seat and pressed a button on the ceiling console. The thick, soundproof glass partition rolled up, separating them from the driver.
The back seat fell into a dead, suffocating silence. The only sound was the heavy thud of the tires rolling over the asphalt.
Amanda turned her face to the window. The yellow glow of the streetlights flashed across her pale skin in a rhythmic, hypnotic pattern. Her jaw ached from how hard she was clenching her teeth.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Julio pull out his phone. He angled the screen away from her, but she could see the soft, affectionate smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. He was texting her.
A sharp, physical pain pierced Amanda's chest. It felt like a hand had reached through her ribs and squeezed her heart until it bruised.
She forced her eyes away from him. She opened her phone and tapped on her notes app. The screen was filled with a long, numbered list. Dates. Times. Lies. Canceled dinners. Smudged lipstick on his collars.
She scrolled to the very bottom. She typed the current date.
Defended his mistress. Tried to buy my silence with jewelry.
She looked at the number at the top of the screen. It was 98.
She locked her phone. The car merged onto the Long Island Expressway. The distant, glowing lights of the massive estates appeared on the horizon. The slaughterhouse was waiting.
