thirty-two, sharply dressed, newly promoted, and possessed by the quiet arrogance of men who confuse income with character. He favored costly watches, glass desks, and the word networking, which he treated like a religion.
His mother, Sylvia, had taught him that respect was something people with less money owed him. She wore pearls at breakfast and cruelty like another cardigan.
For three years, I had watched them carve pieces from Chloe while smiling.
They mocked her cooking and criticized her clothes. They reminded her that Marcus’s career demanded the right
