Of course he had.
“Mauricio,” I said, “you have two choices tonight. You can go to a hotel quietly, or you can make a scene in front of the new owner’s security team. I recommend the hotel. You are dressed for one.”
“You think this is funny?”
“No. I think it is overdue.”
“You’ll regret this.”
“No,” I said. “You will.”
Then I hung up.
The next call came from Lidia.
I ignored it.
Then came twenty-six messages.
You are destroying this family.
Mauricio made a mistake.
A real wife forgives.
You were always cold.
This is why he looked elsewhere.
The last message said:
You may have money, Amara, but you will die alone.
I stared at that one longer than the rest.
Then I replied:
Better alone than purchased.
I blocked her.
The next morning, Mauricio came to my office.
Security called first.
“Señora Ríos, your husband is downstairs.”
I was standing in the conference room with Victor and Isabel.
“My husband?” I repeated.
The guard hesitated.
“Señor Mauricio Ríos.”
“Send him up,” I said.
Victor looked at me.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Mauricio entered like a man trying to remember how power felt.
