She's Just A Bro, He Said

The Cartier boutique was a temple of crystalline perfection, all gleaming surfaces and soft lighting that made everything inside shimmer like captured starlight. From my vantage point in the control room, I watched Liam guide Jessica through the entrance with the confidence of a man who belonged among such luxury.

"Can you get audio on that feed?" I asked Marcus quietly, my voice barely disturbing Noah's peaceful sleep.

"Yes, ma'am." His fingers moved across the keyboard, and suddenly the speakers crackled to life with the refined murmur of the boutique below.

"Welcome to Cartier," a perfectly groomed sales associate greeted them. "How may I assist you today?"

Liam's chest puffed out slightly. "We're looking for something special. A bracelet, perhaps. Something that matches her beauty."

Jessica giggled, pressing closer to his side. "Oh, Liam, you don't have to—"

"Nonsense." His voice carried that tone I knew so well—the one he used when he wanted to impress. "Only the finest for my lady."

My nails dug into my palms. His lady. Not his wife. Not the mother of his child. His lady.

The sales associate led them to a display case that gleamed under the boutique's carefully calibrated lighting. Even through the security feed, I could see the pieces inside sparkle like captured fire.

"These are from our Panthère collection," the associate explained, her voice cultured and smooth. "Each piece is crafted with exceptional attention to detail."

Jessica's eyes widened as she leaned over the case. "They're gorgeous. But Liam, these must be so expensive—"

"Don't worry about that." Liam's hand moved to his wallet with casual confidence. "I just closed a major deal. We're celebrating."

Alexander leaned forward in his chair beside me. "What deal?" he murmured.

I knew exactly what deal. The tech company contract I'd arranged through one of my shell corporations. The one that had deposited two million dollars into his business account just last week.

"This one is exquisite," the associate was saying, lifting a delicate bracelet from the case. "Pink diamonds in a platinum setting. It's part of our exclusive collection."

Jessica gasped as the bracelet caught the light, sending rosy sparkles across her skin. "It's like something from a fairy tale."

"How much?" Liam asked, and I heard the slight catch in his voice that meant he was nervous but trying not to show it.

"This particular piece is thirty million dollars," the associate said smoothly, as if she were discussing the weather.

The silence stretched for a moment. I watched Liam's face on the screen, saw the moment of panic flicker across his features before his ego took over.

"Thirty million," he repeated, his voice steady. "Well. She's worth it."

Jessica turned to stare at him, her mouth slightly open. "Liam, no. That's too much. I can't let you—"

"You're not letting me do anything." He pulled out his company credit card—the emergency fund card I'd insisted he keep for business expenses. "I'm choosing to do this. For you."

I felt Alexander's hand cover mine as my breathing grew shallow. That card was connected to the account I'd just replenished. My money. My family's money. Being spent on jewelry for his mistress.

"Very good, sir," the associate said, taking the card with practiced discretion. "Shall I have this sized for the lady?"

"Please," Liam said, his voice warm with satisfaction.

As the associate moved away to process the transaction, Jessica threw her arms around Liam's neck. "I can't believe you're doing this for me. No one has ever—" She pressed her lips to his, kissing him with a passion that made my stomach turn.

"You deserve everything beautiful in this world," Liam murmured against her mouth. "And I'm going to give it to you."

They kissed again, longer this time, completely oblivious to the cameras recording their every move. Completely unaware that the wife Liam had pushed into a table yesterday was watching their romantic moment unfold.

"The transaction has gone through," the associate announced, returning with a small smile. "Congratulations on your beautiful purchase."

Jessica admired the bracelet on her wrist, turning her hand to catch the light. "It's perfect. Absolutely perfect."

"Now," the associate continued, "as part of our VIP service, we include a complimentary gift with purchases over twenty-five million dollars. Would you like me to select something, or would you prefer to choose?"

Liam waved his hand dismissively. "Whatever's fine. Just something small."

The associate returned with an elegant black box. "A limited edition Cartier keychain. It's quite lovely, actually—"

"That?" Liam's voice carried a note of disdain as he glanced at the gift. "That cheap plastic thing?"

"Sir, it's actually crafted from—"

"Just wrap it up," Liam interrupted, his tone sharp with irritation. "I'll give it to my wife. She's... well, she comes from nothing. An orphan, you understand. Never had nice things growing up. Something like that will keep her happy for months."

The words hit me like physical blows. Each one carefully chosen to wound, to diminish, to reduce me to nothing more than a charity case grateful for scraps.

My nails drew blood from my palms. Beside me, Alexander had gone completely still, the kind of stillness that preceded violence.

"Poor thing," Jessica said with mock sympathy. "It must be hard, being married to someone so... limited."

Liam shrugged. "It is what it is. But that's why I have you, isn't it? Someone who understands the finer things in life."

They kissed again as the associate finished wrapping their purchases—the thirty million dollar bracelet in tissue paper and velvet, the "cheap plastic" keychain in a simple bag.

"Enjoy your beautiful bracelet," the associate said warmly.

"Oh, we will," Jessica purred, admiring the diamonds on her wrist. "We definitely will."

As they left the boutique, Liam's arm around Jessica's waist, I sat in the control room holding my son and feeling something cold and final settle in my chest.

Thirty million dollars of my money. For his mistress. While calling me an orphan who'd be grateful for plastic.

"Sera," Alexander said quietly.

I looked at him, and he must have seen something in my expression that made him lean back slightly.

"I want the keychain," I said, my voice perfectly calm. "Have someone retrieve it from them. I want to see this gift he thinks will make me so happy."

Alexander's smile was sharp as winter. "Consider it done."