I flashed a fake smile. ’D’accord.’

’She called me last night…’ He went on and on about Sylvie’s accomplishments in LA, in a way that was supposed to be threatening for my position.

Sylvie was single. She had all the freedom in the world to abide to Erik’s whims.

She wasn’t in the situation where she had to inform her wife, who had just experienced the heart-wrenching loss of a miscarriage, that she had to go and relocate to Los Angeles for an extended period of time. The initial agreement had been that the Americans would take charge of organizing the exhibition themselves. Our role would be limited to providing security for the transportation of the artwork. But Erik’s frustration with my emotional state had led him to exploit my vulnerability, using this opportunity to teach me a lesson.

I carried the weight of my failure, haunted by the knowledge that I hadn’t been able to protect the life growing within my wife, that I had come dangerously close to losing her as well., with letting her almost bleed to death. The job, had become my anchor, a lifeline to a semblance of normalcy that I had desperately clung to.

’Thank you for sharing. I will definitely mention it during her next appraisal.’ I answered as he finished singing Sylvie’s praises.

His smile wavered, replaced by a more serious expression. Fingers drumming rhythmically on the glass desk, the dark painting behind him almost merging with his slick black hair. ’That’s why I’m telling you,’ he finally spoke. A brief silence lingered before he shifted the conversation. ’How are things at home?’ His question was measured, he couldn’t look me in the eye.

I leaned back in my chair. ’You once told me to leave home at home and keep work for work, so I prefer to follow your wisdom. Anything else?’ I rose from my seat, a subtle signal that the conversation had run its course.

’Keep your eyes on the ball, Bette. We wouldn’t want to…’ he trailed off, the unspoken implications hanging in the air.

When I entered my office, I closed the door behind me and pressed my forehead against the cool surface. The day had only just begun..