High Finance

Marta looked around them then felt safe. She punched Shelly.

“I can’t believe how ugly Jeanne’s husband is.”

Both Jeanne Winters and her husband, Dante, were VPs in that same bank.
Shelly continued eating her roast beef sandwich.

“If you knew how many times I’ve heard that remark. That’s because you’ve just started here,” she said.

“Jeanne’s so beautiful,” Marta said. “She’s got the true classic look. Like Grace Kelly or Liz Taylor in those old films.”

“My, aren’t you observant,” Shelly laughed. “Tell me something the whole state doesn’t know. Jeanne was once Miss Kansas.”

“You’re kidding!” Marta said.

“Nope, you can Google her. Up she pops.”

“But why… would somebody like her marry somebody like him?” Marta said.

“Experience,” Shelly said. “He’s number three.”

“Number three?” Marta said. She swallowed.

“That’s right. Number one was her high school sweetheart. Sweethunk, rather, and I understate.”

“Oh, I see. Why didn’t it work out?” Marta asked.

“I’m coming to that,” Shelly said. “Have you seen Giles Patterson?”

“Once or twice. Not easily forgotten. He’s also a VP, isn’t he?”

“VP and ex. The sweetheart I refer to.”

“Whoa,” Marta said.

“Welcome to the world of high finance,” Shelly said. “Number two was a certain state rep of this district who’s been called a sot more than once. Ring a bell?”

Marta was looking intensely at Shelly. “Quite loud,” she answered.

“Well, Jeanne said she wasn’t living with a drunkard the rest of her life.”

“And the high school one?”

“Giles. God how he cried and cursed. Now that was love if you ask me.”

“But what happened?” Marta asked.

“Actually nothing happened,” Shelly said. “She just told him she was getting out one day. That, married to him, she knew she’d have to watch not only him but countless fawning females the rest of her life. She refused.”

“Yes, but he would’ve also had to watch her,” Marta said. "Fawning men."

“But that was his problem,” Shelly said. “Hey, you’re not eating.”

Marta shrugged. “Oh, I can eat any time. I suppose Giles has also married again.”

“Not yet. But he’s never alone,” Shelly said.

Marta’s smile seemed a bit wicked, Shelly thought. She smiled back.