The Unforgivable Sin: A Cigarette

At the 70th birthday gala for Mr. Sterling, the wealthiest man in Crestwood, I casually lit a cigarette.
My wife's assistant slapped it from my hand with a furious crack.
Nina, for God's sake! he cried, turning to my wife. This is Mr. Sterling's gala! How could Julian do something so classless?
His voice was a stage whisper, loud enough to turn heads. "If you don't take a drag for five minutes, you won't die. But if people find out this crude nobody who crashed the party is your husband, how will you ever show your face again?"
My wife, Nina Bouquet, shot me a look of pure disgust.
"Go ahead, smoke yourself to death for all I care," she hissed. "When will you ever be as considerate as Caleb? If you cost me this investment tonight, I swear, we're done!"
I let out a cold laugh and turned my gaze to the man of the hour.
"Grandfather," I said, my voice dripping with irony, "since when is smoking at your birthday party a capital offense?"

1
It was the 60th birthday of Crestwood’s most powerful man, yet my wife, who had claimed to be on a business trip, was currently gliding through the crowd with her assistant, Caleb Hale. They were arm in arm, looking for all the world like a devoted couple.
I felt a knot of irritation tighten in my gut and retreated to a quiet corner, pulling out a cigarette. I lit it, but before it could even touch my lips, Caleb’s hand shot out and knocked it to the floor.
"Julian! How can you smoke at an event this important? Have you no respect?"
He raised his voice, a deliberate act that drew a constellation of curious eyes to our secluded corner. He even shifted his body slightly, ensuring everyone got a clear view of my face.
"This is exactly why Nina never wants to take you anywhere," he continued, his tone dripping with condescension. "You’re an embarrassment. You’re lucky you even got in here, but for God's sake, don't let anyone know you're her husband."
For someone who supposedly didn't want my identity known, he was making a hell of a scene. Caleb, in his desperate attempt to cause trouble, was the real clown here.
Surely Nina, a veteran of these events, could see that.
But when I looked at her, her eyes were filled with nothing but contempt.
"Did you really have to light that cigarette?" she demanded.
"Puffing away at home is one thing, but do you have to be so self-absorbed here, making a spectacle of us? Are you deliberately trying to make people look down on me? To ruin my chances of securing an investment?"
You’d think I’d committed some unforgivable crime, not just tried to have a smoke.
Emboldened by Nina's support, Caleb's smirk grew wider. "You should get out of here before you really piss off Mr. Sterling and get thrown out. That would be even more humiliating. If you have no shame for yourself, at least think of Nina."
I calmly took out another cigarette, lit it, and looked him straight in the eye. "Is there a rule against smoking here? The host hasn't said a word. Who are you to tell me to leave?"
My direct challenge wiped the smirk off his face, leaving him flushed with embarrassment. Nina, seeing her precious assistant wounded, shot me a venomous glare.
"Put that out. Now."
I not only refused, I took a long, slow drag and signaled a passing waiter for an ashtray.
Nina was incandescent with rage. "Julian! Pick your battles! This is not the time or place to defy me!"
A bitter laugh escaped me. "I'm defying you? Your 'good' assistant is the one picking a fight over nothing, putting on a show for everyone."
Her ability to twist reality was truly something to behold. Her face hardened. "Fine. Smoke. I hope you choke on it."
But Caleb, not content with the scene he’d already made, wasn't finished. He strode toward Mr. Sterling, who stood at the center of the room, carrying a gift and an air of self-righteous indignation.
"Mr. Sterling, my deepest apologies," he began, his voice ringing with false sincerity. "Nina’s husband… well, he doesn't seem to understand basic etiquette. Please don't let his behavior reflect on her." He offered the gift. "This is a small token from Nina and me. Many happy returns!"
He was trying to use me as a stepping stone. I couldn't help but scoff. "An assistant like you can only get attention with cheap tricks like this."

2
Caleb's expression froze for a second before melting into a look of profound hurt. "Julian, Nina came here tonight hoping to make connections. Why must you be so determined to sabotage her?" He turned to Nina, his voice soft with pity. "Nina, you deserve so much better than this." Then back to me, "Look, Julian, you can treat me however you want in private, but please, for Nina’s sake, show some class."
I had to laugh. The performance was almost convincing.
Nina, completely taken in, looked at me with renewed fury. "Julian, Caleb is humbling himself for you. What more do you want? Mr. Sterling already looks displeased. Are you going to keep smoking until my chances for investment are completely ruined?"
I glanced at Mr. Sterling. He did look displeased, but I knew for a fact it had nothing to do with my cigarette.
Ignoring Nina and Caleb, I walked over to the old man and offered him a smoke from my pack.
"This is a pretty good brand. Care to try one, sir?"
Mr. Sterling's stern expression softened, his eyes twinkling with affection. "I'm more of a cigar man, but you go right ahead, son. Smoke if you want to."
I grinned. "You smoke cigars every day. Why not switch it up for a change?"
Before he could answer, a splash of cold liquid hit my face. Nina had thrown her wine at me.
"Julian! When are you going to stop embarrassing yourself?" she shrieked. "You're an unemployed nobody who probably only got in here by using my name! Who do you think you are? Mr. Sterling is a gentleman, that's the only reason he's tolerating you. And now you're trying to force your cheap cigarettes on him? Apologize! Apologize to him right now!"
The red wine dripped down my face, leaving a dark crimson stain on my shirt. A stain that would never wash out. Just like the one now permanently etched onto our marriage.
Caleb seized the opportunity to shove me, kicking the back of my knee and nearly forcing me to the ground. "Everyone's watching, Julian! Just apologize!"
I shoved him back, my voice low and dangerous. "Don't touch me."
He lunged again, aiming another kick at my legs, this one harder.
That was the last straw.
I grabbed the front of his collar and my fist connected with his jaw. A collective gasp rippled through the onlookers. All I could hear was Nina’s voice in my head—you're embarrassing me, you're costing me my investment.
She seemed to have forgotten that the only reason her company was still afloat was because of the investments I had secured. Even the invitation that got her into this very gala had come from me. I had wanted us to come together. Instead, she’d lied about a business trip, brought her assistant, and let him provoke me.
Caleb’s cheek swelled instantly, and a tooth clattered to the floor.
Nina screamed. She launched herself at me, kicking and clawing at my hands, prying them off Caleb.
Caleb clutched his face, a venomous glint in his eyes. "It's okay, Nina," he mumbled through his swelling lips. "If this is what it takes for him to blow off steam and not ruin your deal, then it's fine."
Tears of pity streamed down Nina's face. "Don't be ridiculous! As if I'd let you get hurt for some investment!" She whirled on me, her voice a raw scream. "Get out, Julian! Get out, or I'm divorcing you!"

3
I stared at her, stunned. That she would throw our marriage away for Caleb, here, in front of everyone. The disappointment must have been written all over my face.
Nina sneered. "For years, you've lorded those initial investments over me, acting like you're king of the world! But let's be honest, they invested because of my potential, my talent. What does it have to do with you? You don't even set foot in the company!"
Her words were like shards of ice in my heart. When I first brought her that funding, she had been so moved she’d sworn she would never let me down. Now, ever since Caleb became her assistant, that promise had become a bitter joke.
A sour taste filled my mouth. "Fine," I said, each word heavy. "Let's get a divorce."
She seemed taken aback that I’d agreed so readily, but she doubled down. "Don't think I'm bluffing, Julian! Caleb works his heart out for the company. And you? You act like a lunatic, starting fights and attacking him! I am so disappointed in you."
Caleb, looking deeply moved, spoke up as if reluctant. "Nina, working for you is an honor. There’s something… something I have to say. The real reason Julian is making this scene is to sabotage you. He's trying to impress his little mistress from your rival's company!"
Nina’s face twisted in shock, then rage. "Julian! You're cheating on me?" She grabbed a plate from a nearby table and hurled it at me. "How dare you! I work myself to the bone for our family, and you're siding with your slut against me? Are you even human?"
Caleb fanned the flames. "I knew it! How else would he get into this party? His little girlfriend must have given him an invitation just to spite you."
And just like that, based on a few baseless accusations, she believed him. The look in her eyes was murderous.
Mr. Sterling's face had grown dark. He struck the floor with his cane, his voice booming. "That's enough! Don't just parrot whatever you hear. Julian would never do such a thing, and I—"
Caleb cut him off, pulling out his phone. "Mr. Sterling, you've been deceived! Julian's little mistress is your own kept woman!" He shoved the phone forward.
On the screen were several photos. One set showed a vibrant young woman laughing on Mr. Sterling's arm. In another set, the same girl was hugging my neck, a playful grin on her face while I looked on with exasperated affection.
Nina snatched the phone and slammed it against my chest. "And I actually believed you when you said she was your sister! Your 'little sister,' was it?"
The room buzzed with scandalized whispers. Mr. Sterling, keeping a mistress young enough to be his granddaughter? And being cheated on?
I looked at Nina, and the last shred of feeling I had for her withered and died. My voice came out hoarse. "Nina, I have never done anything to wrong you. And you won't even grant me a sliver of trust."
Just then, the waiter I'd spoken to earlier returned with an ashtray, stopping short at the chaotic scene. "Mr. Miles, uh… do you still need this?"
Nina’s eyes, red with fury, locked onto the ashtray. She snatched it from his hands and brought it down on my head. "I told you to stop smoking!"
At the last second, Mr. Sterling stepped forward. The heavy glass ashtray crashed against his forehead with a sickening thud. Blood began to well up instantly.

4
Nina froze, her hand dropping to her side. Then, without missing a beat, she started pointing her finger at me.
"Julian! You slept with Mr. Sterling's woman, and now you deliberately hide behind him so he'd get hurt? Are you and your mistress trying to scheme your way into his fortune?"
She frantically tried to dab at the blood on Mr. Sterling’s forehead. "Mr. Sterling, please, don't be angry. I've already decided to divorce him. I had no idea he was capable of something so depraved. He was probably smoking in here just to provoke you."
I had never known Nina was so adept at twisting the truth, all to distance herself from me. Fearing Mr. Sterling’s wrath would cost her access to this elite circle, she shouted at me, "How dare you challenge Mr. Sterling? You're finished in this city! You'll never work in Crestwood again!"
Caleb chimed in, feigning concern. "Julian, you've hurt Mr. Sterling badly. Get on your knees and apologize to him. Now!"
I let out a cold, sharp laugh. "Shouldn't you two be the ones apologizing to him?"
Caleb’s face was a mask of innocence. "But you're the one who was fooling around with his mistress, smoking at his party to insult him, and getting him injured. If it weren't for me, Mr. Sterling would still be in the dark, thinking it was all an accident. Do you have any idea who he is? Or who you are? By dragging his name through the mud, you're going to ruin Nina's company!"
Nina’s face was grim as she nodded in agreement. "Even though you're still my husband, I will not let my entire company go down with you. You will explain to Mr. Sterling that this was all your doing, that my company had nothing to do with it. Then, we get a divorce, and I'll drop the whole cheating issue. But if my business suffers because of you, I'll make you pay!"
Mr. Sterling clutched his bleeding forehead, his face pale and strained. Caleb, however, mistook his pained expression for anger directed at me.
"Julian, hurry up and kneel! Any later and it won't matter if you lick his shoes clean, it'll be too late!" he hissed, giving me a shove. He leaned in close, his voice a triumphant whisper. "Pretending to be so close to Mr. Sterling… now that you've offended him, let's see how you get out of this."
I took a long, hard look at Nina. If she hadn't made this disastrous scene, she could have walked out of here tonight with any investment she wanted.
I turned to Mr. Sterling.
"Grandfather, when did you make a rule against smoking at your parties?"
"And since when is my sister your 'kept woman'?"
"Someone else smashed your head open, Grandfather. Do I really need to lick your shoes and apologize for it?"
I had only wanted to introduce Nina to my grandfather tonight.
The guests, already shocked by the "kept woman" scandal, now stared with their eyes wide in disbelief.
Nina’s gaze darted between me and Mr. Sterling, her expression flickering from confusion to dawning, horrified realization.
"Why didn't you ever tell me," she stammered, her voice barely a whisper, "that Mr. Sterling is your grandfather?"

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