Flash Marriage: Shrewd Wife, Devious Husband
Chapter 78: Happiness and Power

Chapter 78: Happiness and Power

Gloria thought about it. Does she know about Marcella’s ex? No much. But she knows enough.

He was an asshole who hurt her right to her soul. She watched her heal after the impact he caused on her. That told her everything.

Tony was fidgeting with his hands and Gloria saw that he was holding back himself. She figured out Tony has an idea of the man she was with. She didn’t know who Marcella’s ex-boyfriend was. She only knows Marcella for three years. But Tony knew her for years. He grew up with her. He would see the changes in her because of her entanglement with him.

Or it was just his masculine urge to want to bash the guy who was loved by his wife in the past?

Whatever the reason was, Gloria didn’t want to throw gasoline in the fire.

But she knows that Tony is a powerful guy. Men can lose their minds for a moment out of rage and it can ruin their future. She didn’t know if Tony has control over his urges and she didn’t want to take a chance—for Marcella’s sake.

She didn’t want to put all men in one basket but she is married to a man. He did not like to talk about her exes.

"That gal Marcella... It’s not hard to get anything out of her. But she let it slip once or twice how a wrong relationship can ruin one’s self-confidence. I think..." Gloria took a deep breath. "He was not good for her and she thankfully got rid of him. Can’t we leave it at that?" she asked.

They are married now. What use is talking about her past? He just has to know that Marcella has lost part of her self-confidence. She didn’t think he will have to know more. Marcella is a smart girl. She can deal with it.

Tony nodded. He couldn’t stop smiling. Apart from Marcella and his grandmother, Cindy is one of the women he was very close with. Cindy never had the tact Gloria has.

"You’re smiling," Gloria said. She thought maybe Tony would get mad for not getting what he wanted. She didn’t expect a hearty smile from him.

"You worry for her," Tony said. "I’m glad... She never had many girl friends. Girls used to get weirded out by her. Thank you," he said placing his hand on his heart. "Thank you for being her friend."

Gloria smiled back. "And I can see that you love her very much. I wish you all the best, Mr. Crawford," she stood up to leave.

Tony stood up. "I hope we all can have dinner together with your husband, Mrs. Butler. Marcella would love it."

"We sure can," Gloria smiled. She can introduce her husband to Marcella DeAngelo. She knew her husband would be overjoyed.

Tony paid the bill and his heart was filled with joy as he walked to his office. Gloria Butler truly did meet him to talk about Marcella. She was looking out for Marcella, the same way her mother did, and her sister would have done. Even after he mentioned her husband’s business, she pushed that to the back burner and talked only about Marcella.

It was a nice talk.

Tony decided to help Gloria’s husband even if she didn’t ask him for help. He investigated the couple. Christian Butler was a good man and there was nothing legal that can affect him from getting a license to expand his business to sell guns. But the ones in charge would expect some "something under the table" to sign off his request.

Tony decided to talk to them. They will have to do what he tells them to do. He also can help Butler with the house he was looking for in the suburbs.

-----

Marcella finished the household chores and cooked dinner. She went to a shop nearby and got a board for Tony to stick his papers in. She set the board in the nursery.

She went through a quick look at the papers. It all appeared to be the provisions of the bill that would be submitted to Congress for voting.

She saw a single paragraph getting rewritten again and again where each word was checked. They had made sure that not even a single word was there without purpose.

She also noticed that although it was concise, the language they used was very loose, meaning it would be open for interpretation. There was no cut-and-right explanation of the law; there was no right and wrong.

This bill must have been lobbied hard...

She checked the other papers. It appeared that it was a bill concerning commerce and an amendment of the current taxing methods. She didn’t understand much. She didn’t have the educational qualifications for that neither was she interested in learning economics.

But she had a feeling that no common man is going to get benefitted from this particular law. This law is for rich industrialists and businessmen.

Only members of Congress can introduce legislation. And by the papers in her house, she can see that Tony sure holds an important position in the congressman’s office. Her husband, to some extent, controls the laws of the nation.

That thought brought a smile to her face. Which woman wouldn’t want to be married to a powerful man? Power is sexy. In a way, wealth is sexy because of the power it brings. So is fear.

Her father held power because of the fear and respect he commanded and also by his wealth. He didn’t gain his wealth legally but he was smart about it and so his wealth stayed protected even after his death.

Tony talked to her about his ambitions. He said he wanted to run for Congress. One day, he might get more powerful.

She looked at herself in the window.

She was not going to lie. She liked power. She was the daughter of a powerful man, which gave her many advantages if she looked at the bright side of her life.

The disadvantages she faced were mostly because of how her father earned his power. Her father was unapologetic. He firmly believed that he played the hand he was dealt, the best he could.

He thought he was doing good. She knew he did help many who were oppressed by the powerful ones the system helped.

But his light cast darkness in her life.

She thought Tony was like her father. But he is not, entirely. He is different.

He runs a gang like her father did. She didn’t like that at all...

But maybe she should put some more faith in him...?