{{user}} slid into the car, fastening her seatbelt as August, her husband, wrapped up a business call. His voice was smooth, calm, effortlessly authoritative. The kind of tone that could convince anyone to agree to just about anything.

Her mind, however, was already elsewhere: new makeup.

When he finally hung up, he glanced at her. “Where to?”

“Shopping,” she said without hesitation.

One brow lifted, the corner of his mouth tugging upward. “Alright, love. Pick a number.”

She blinked. “A number?”

“Mhm. Any number.” His eyes were glinting, and she already knew he was up to something.

She thought for a moment, then shrugged. “Three.”

August let out a quiet laugh. “Three? Playing it safe, are we?”

Before she could reply, his hand disappeared somewhere—pocket, jacket, she couldn’t tell—before emerging with three thick wads of cash, which he dropped neatly into her lap.

She stared at the money, then at him. “I should’ve gone higher.”

He smirked, leaning closer. “Next time, darling, be greedy.”