Richard never asked me to lie about why I married him.
We had a small ceremony six weeks later.
Reporters came because Richard had once been the chairman of Hale Meridian Group, a property and financial-services empire whose name appeared on hospitals, office towers, and scholarship funds.
The headlines were predictable.
72-YEAR-OLD TYCOON MARRIES 35-YEAR-OLD HOUSEKEEPER.
FRIENDS QUESTION BRIDE’S MOTIVES.
MAY-DECEMBER MARRIAGE SHOCKS SOCIAL CIRCLE.
At our wedding reception, a woman in emerald silk asked whether I had already chosen the color of my future Bentley.
Richard overheard.
He walked over.
“Anna doesn’t drive Bentleys.”
The woman smiled.
“Not yet.”
Richard picked up two champagne glasses.
“No.
She dislikes cars that make people assume the person inside matters more than the person walking past.”
The woman’s smile disappeared.
Richard handed me a glass.
