My husband invited his boss to our house, but just before he arrived, he looked at me with disgust and whispered, “Stay in the bedroom. I’m ashamed to have you seen like this. If my boss sees you, you’ll ruin my promotion.”

with Sergio were running late and he wouldn’t be home for hours.

At nine, Mariana stood beside the living-room window watching the street.

A dark sedan pulled up.

Alejandro climbed out of the passenger seat.

The driver was a sleek, dark-haired woman Mariana recognized from the company executive directory.

Chloe.

Before Alejandro closed the door, Chloe reached across the console and took his hand.

He didn’t pull away.

He squeezed her fingers and gave her a soft, lingering smile.

It wasn’t a casual gesture between coworkers.

It was intimate.

Familiar.