Oh My God, Is This Week Over Yet?

Word of the Day Thursday, January 28, 2010

machination

\mack-uh-NAY-shuhn; mash-\ , noun;

1. The act of plotting.
2. A crafty scheme; a cunning design or plot intended to accomplish some usually evil end.


There was a good deal of gossiping as Marvin steered Diane onto the dance floor. Their divorce had been legendary in the social circles of LA, mostly because of their excessive art holdings but also because of the vehemence and ill will that had spilled all over town as their break up had become public.

They had both hired big name attorneys and had set them loose with no restrictions on the tool belt of shiny lawyer machinations. Marivn's attorney, an old friend named Jack, had actually pounded his desk with both fists in jubilation as unseemly photos were leaked to the press, "I'm going to nail that bitch to the floor!" he had howled. "Jack," Marvin had interjected immediately, "That is my wife you are talking about." "Marvin," Jack said disgustedly, "This is no time to get sentimental."

However, Marvin had gotten sentimental and had abruptly undone all the legal maneuvering he and his team had carefully set up without ever explaining himself. "What the fuck are you doing?" Jack had screamed at him, "She is going to clean you out!" "I know," Marvin had simply replied, "And that is fine. All I want is the Rothko. Everything else is negotiable."

Diane, of course, didn't trust him either. "What are you getting at?" she had asked him. They had met up at one of their old time regular cocktail bars for a drink after all was said and done.

"Nothing," he replied.

"I'm not going to sleep with you," she said caustically.

He chuckled. "It hadn't even crossed my mind." What had actually crossed his mind was how Neil Diamond had given his ex-wife half of his fortune when they divorced saying that she deserved it. Diane deserved it too. Although he'd never tell her that.

He spun her slowly as the photographers buzzed around them. "You did a nice job planning this party," he told her admiring the elegant tables and flower arrangements. She laughed, "Thanks. You should just be happy you didn't have to deal with Abby when it came to all the decision making," she said lightly. He pondered that, "You two are so much alike," he said, "But, you sure do know how to throw a party," he added smiling.

"Ah, well, I learned that from you," she replied smiling back.