Heads You Win

“Half a night. Konstantin likes Elena’s margheritas better than anything I ever cook for him,” Anna said as she finished her salad. “And don’t give me that me too look. So what else have you been up to today?”

“Sheldon Woods came to see me this morning to ask if I’d be interested in standing for the Senate.”

“How long did it take you to turn down that attractive offer?” asked Anna as the waiter whisked away their empty plates.

“I thought long and hard about it for twenty seconds.”

“I can remember the time, not so long ago, when you were fascinated by politics,” said Anna. “The only thing you ever wanted to be was the first elected president of an independent Russia.”

“And I confess that would be far more tempting than the Senate,” said Alex. “But that all changed the day Lawrence died,” he added as the waiter reappeared and presented them with two Dover soles.

“On or off the bone, madam?”

“Off please, François, for both of us. My husband isn’t making any important decisions tonight.”

“And the management hoped that you would enjoy a bottle of Chablis Beauregard to mark this special occasion, with our compliments.”

“I should have married you, François, as it’s clear you would never have forgotten our wedding anniversary, and would have known exactly what gift to give me.”

François bowed and left them.

“But when Lawrence left you his fifty percent of the bank’s shares, they were worthless,” said Anna, “and now they must be worth a fortune.”

“Possibly, but I can’t afford to offload any of my stock while Evelyn still owns the other fifty percent, because then she’d have overall control.”

“Perhaps she might consider selling her shares? After all, she always seems to be short of cash.”

“Quite possibly, but I don’t have that sort of capital available,” said Alex.

“But if I remember correctly,” said Anna, “on the day our son was born Evelyn offered you her shares for a million dollars and I suggested you might live to regret not buying them.”

“Mea culpa,” said Alex. “And at the time I even considered selling off Elena’s so I could buy the shares myself, but that would have been one hell of a risk, because if the bank had gone under, we’d have ended up with nothing.”

“Hindsight,” said Anna. “But dare I ask what those shares are worth now?”

“About three hundred million dollars.”

Anna gasped. “Will the bank end up having to pay her the full amount?”

“Possibly, because we can’t afford to let another bank get hold of fifty percent of our stock, otherwise we’d be looking over our shoulders for the rest of our lives, especially if Doug Ackroyd turned out to be advising them.”

“Perhaps you should have agreed to stand for the Senate. Far less hassle, and a guaranteed salary,” said Anna.

“While having to listen to the views of millions of voters, rather than a dozen board members.”

“It would be even more, if you fulfilled your lifelong dream and stood for president.”

“Of America?”

“No, Russia.”

Alex didn’t reply immediately.

“Ah,” said Anna, “so you do still think about the possibility.”

“Aware that like any dream, I’ll wake up,” said Alex, as François reappeared by their side.

“Can I tempt you with dessert, madam?” he asked.