It was the bottomless need in him to prove himself superior — to his colleagues, to my family, to me.

When he won that expansion three years ago, he had received it as his final proof.

I had offered to move to Seattle with him.

He had refused me.

And months later, when I flew out to surprise him, a junior aide met me at the arrivals gate with a story about urgent travel and put me on the next flight home.

Bianca, I learned much later, was already living in his suite.