Page 45 of The Wrong Husband

Em hadn't told me but then when would she? I hadn't been home for…nearly forever. I was sleeping at Duncan's place while he was in Paris. I hadn't meant to do it, but it was easier than going home and dealing with the temptation of fucking my wife.

"What do you mean everyone hated her?"

Pablo ran a hand over his bald head. "They weren't nice to her. We talked to the team and…look, these are artists, you can't just put an amateur on the team."

"Was her work that bad?"

"No. Jimmy fucking loved her. Said she was the best art restorer he'd ever seen."

"So…what the fuck was the problem, Pablo?"

"She's your wife…and you were with her sister? Emilia hasn't paid her dues. She's good, I'll give you that, but these guys they've been slogging away for years to get a spot here and she just strolled in."

I hadn't even taken the time to check on how she was doing. Mom had said that she was going to keep her distance since the marriage wasn't going to last and she was still hoping that Bianca and I would reconcile. Yeah, that would happen when Monet painted a can of Campbell soup!

Pablo sat down. "Maybe it's for the best."

"Why?"

“Everyone here has been pretty brutal to her, Damian."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"She's your wife. I thought she'd tell you. Since she didn't, I thought it wasn't too bad. But since we closed down her email access this morning, her emails are coming to me and…."

"And?"

Pablo opened his phone and pressed some buttons. He handed the phone to me.

Subject: Studio space

Hi,

Please clean up the space after you use it. We're not your servants, no matter who you're married to.

KK

Subject: Water bottle

Hi,

You left your water bottle on the lobby coffee table. Please clean after yourself. No housekeepers and maids here to do that.

Serena Ponte

Subject: Project hoursHi, I was informed you left work early on Friday. This is not acceptable. Please report to me asap on Monday morning so we can discuss.Regards,Jimmy

I read a few more and gave the phone back to Pablo.

"This is bullying." And I had no idea she was going through this because I didn't even talk to her since I forced her to live in my house.

"I know. I…look, it's best she's not there. These guys are not usually like this—it's just having her here fucked up the balance. She shows up all cheerful, trying to talk to everyone…it was just—"

"What?" I demanded, my temper flaring, "What the fuck is the problem with an employee being cheerful?"

"Nothing," Pablo replied glumly.

"You're head of HR. This is the kind of shit we expect you to take care of."