Gods

Disgusted, Hera threw the magazine into the fire.  The glossy pages bubbled as they caught.

“Stupid, arrogant...  How could he write such lies!”

“Are they lies,” Zeus asked.  He stared innocently into his Metaxa, swirling the glass in his hand so that the ice cubes clinked softly against the glass.  “After all, our daughter is younger.  You cannot blame Paris for finding her youth more alluring.”

Hera clenched her jaw in furry.  If looks were daggers her beloved husband would be a pincushion.  She reached for her own glass on the marble mantle and finished it off in one gulp.

“Had you read the article,” she hissed, “You would know that insolent gossip monger was not comparing Aphrodite and me as we are today.  No, no, he says she is more beautiful than I ever was!”

Zeus sighed.  “My dear, you are reading too much into this.  It is just a ploy.  Sensational stories sell.”

Despite the heat of the room and fire of her anger, Hera felt cold.  She crossed her arms across her chest.  Goosebumps rose as the gold bangles on her wrists chilled her skin through the silk of her gown. 

He was seeing someone else.  But she didn’t want to tell the marriage counselor that.  She had started this process in good faith.  Actually thinking they could save their marriage.  The signs were all there, though, just like last time.