This Ring

The left finger on Harlow Caan glistened under the lights of the gourmet pizza place. His bride Verenna giggled.

“We did it. We won,” Verenna cooed.

“What we did today exemplifies our commitment to being—”

“We got married, let’s just keep it at that.”

“See, there you go trying to diminish my words,” Harlow fired back after being cut off.

Verenna rolled her eyes. “Okay, dear. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for being a spouse for once,” she said.

Caan sighed and closed his eyes. “I’m just saying we finally committed to our bond.”

“Awwww,” Verenna replied. She cleared her throat.

They had changed into less formal wear but the glow of the ceremony still remained on their faces, despite their voices.

“I just wanted to—” Caan began, expecting to be cut short. He continued. “‘Make this special. That’s why we’re eating caviar and lobster pizza on our honeymoon.” He almost sighed.

“We can afford it because we’re both senior vice presidents at Diamante Bank. And as SVP’s we love our work. We do our jobs not just for the paycheck but we reap joy from our industry.”

“Shouldn’t we be doing that in every aspect of our lives?” He asked soberly.

“I mean—what do you mean?”

“Our work is of chief importance but everything has to fit together. Take for instance this whole endeavor to be betrothed. We have a romantic relationship that’s also a business.”

“A business?”

“Yes.”

“What do you mean?” Verrena nearly begged.

“Okay, we exchanged vows. This ring and that ring are symbols of our deep love and affection for one another . At the same time, we have made a merger. C’mon, it’s just like at work, you know?”

“In those terms, I can see that being the reality. But love isn’t money. We shouldn’t treat it like finance.”

“Oh but we should. The supply of dollars is like the amount of love saved up to generate enough cash for our togetherness.”

Verenna looked down and then up again. The pizza arrived. It sizzled like summer rain striking a hot luxury sedan after a heat wave broke.

“I would say that the best way to describe this marriage is to say it is M&A of the mind. It takes brainpower to love someone. It takes a steel rod spine to endure the buffets that go along with being ‘as one,’ shall we say,” Caan pointed out. A bit of caviar dribbled down his chin once he bit into the thin crust.

“I’m starting to see now, really. I have to use my business mind to navigate through this life as a partner in our firm. It tickles me to just say that. To realize we’re going to be in this thing like our work.”

“But it’s going to be more,” Casn said.

“If for any reason, you go against infidelity….”

“Steel rod spine.”

“So you’d never?”

“Not without consulting you first. See, that’s how people get in trouble. It’s like a test; you set limits. Is it open book? Open notes? Or just you and the test? There would be no cheating if people set parameters.”

“I can’t really agree with you,” Verenna countered. She dipped a piece of lobster in butter. “I think that there should be no test. There should be only a trust that we never will violate one another.”

“That’s all I’m saying.”

A cart came out with two cupcakes and champagne. Caan poured the glasses.

“To a beautiful business arrangement.”

“Our love is like money in the bank,” Verenna smiled. She extended her glass to her new husband and sipped the fine beverage with glee written on her face.