The next morning, Bette awoke early, after only about an hour and a half of

sleeping…she showered and got dressed for work..making her way around as quietly

as she could….so not to wake Tina..
She walked into the living room, and there was no Tina…the blanket she had been

using, was folded up on the couch…Bette looked around the house, and out by the

pool, still no Tina…..Bette’s mind automatically wondered if she had gone to see

Eric…getting madder by the minute…she tried to call Tina’s cell and there was

no answer…only voice mail….
“Hey…just wondering where you are….call me later…I’m on my way to work…”
Bette stepped through the doors of the CAC….by James, and into her office…
“Bette, you weren’t here yesterday and you have a thousand messages from that

photographer in Georgia…” said James handing all of the messages to her…
“Thanks James, can you do me a really big favor?”
“Yea, sure..” he answered
“Could you please get me a cup of coffee…I didn’t have time to go by ‘The

Planet’ this morning, and I am running on an hour and a half of sleep..”
“Sure thing, boss lady…” said James as he turned to leave…
Bette put her purse and things on her desk and walked behind it to sit down in

her chair…as she did, she let out a big sigh….’I’m not sure I can talk to that

photographer..on this little of sleep’…
Just then, the phone rang…’*****, james is getting coffee…’ she thought knowing

that she would have to answer the phone….
“California Arts Institute..this is Bette Porter…”
“Hello?”
“Hello?” said Bette
“Hi, Bette…This is Teresa..from Georgia…”
“Oh, hi..”
“I was just calling to make sure that you received the proofs I sent..”
“Yes, I did…and I love them…but, I would like to discuss something with

you…”
“Sure..” and the other end became silent..
“Well, I am about to start my own gallery here in CA…and I would love for your

work to be the product shown in my Grand opening…I’m sure it will be a success

for you…although, you must attend the show as well…but, if that is a

problem….”
“Oh…no..that is not a problem….when will this take place?”
“I am going today to purchase the area, and I plan on having everything up within

a week or so…so, let’s say 2 weeks from today…is that too soon?”
“No…no mam..that would be perfect..”
“okay, I will call you in about a week to plan for you to send me the photographs,

and I will also take the liberty of arranging a suite for you with the finest

hotel in the city…”
“That sounds great…I will look forward to the day you call…”
“And as I…” said Bette before she put the phone down….

James walked into the office….”Hot coffee for the boss-lady…Bette, you look

like *****…why don’t you just take the day off, go home and get some sleep…”
“I will, but first there is something I need to talk to you about….come, and sit

down…” said Bette as she stood and walked out from around her desk….she

motioned him to her sofa…
“James, you have been working here right by my side for a long time…and I

appreciate what you have done for me..and what you continue to do….”
“Boss-lady, are you firing me?…” he asked.
“Hardly….I am actually offering you something better…” said Bette

“Oh?”
“Yea…I am going today to purchase my own gallery…”
“No way…” said James…
“Yes way…but you have to keep this to yourself….”
“No problem boss-lady..”
“Anyway, I would like to offer you a job at my new gallery….the pay will be the

same as it is here…but the benefits will be better, and you will have room to

exceed in my gallery…”
“Oh, man…The Bette Porter Gallery…I like the ring of that…”
“Well, I haven’t found a name yet…but I want you to leave the CAC, and work for

me…I will make it worth your while…..I promise…” said Bette
“Oh my god..yes…boss-lady…I would love to work for you in your own gallery…”
“Great…..Now, I am fixing to go…and take care of some business of my own…if

Franklin comes by, I am sick today…k?”
“Ok…”
Bette got up and grabbed her purse but before she walked out the door she turned

to look at James….”One last thing…” she said.
“No more boss-lady…from now on it’s Bette….”
“Deal..boss..I mean, Bette…” James was beside himself with excitement…
Bette left the gallery…went to the bank…then went and purchased the area for

her new gallery….afterwards, she went home and made her way to bed after finding

no Tina again….
Bette totally slept the day away….come 7:00 that night, she awoke to the front

door being shut…she slowly sat up…trying to take in the fact that it was

nighttime now….’*****…Porter…gonna sleep you whole freakin life away?’ she

thought to herself….she got up and went into the kitchen for a bottled water….
She noticed Tina sitting on the sofa….”Hey…You feeling better?” she asked as

she sat on the sofa next to Tina..
“Yea, that medicine is really helping alot….”
“Good…..Do you wanna talk now?”
“Not really…I’m really tired…I think I am just gonna lay down and get some

sleep…”
“Where were you today?” asked Bette.
“Out…” answered Tina…
“Well, I figured that…out where?”
“I went to see…..”
“Stop..you had better not tell me that you went to see Eric..”
Tina looked down at the floor….
“Goddamit Tina, what did I tell you? that mother ***** could have given you AIDS,

and you still run back to him…”
“I did not run back to him….I just went to find out everything about what’s

going on with him…”
“Why should you ***** care…You have lost your ***** mind….goddamit…you

are being so stupid…and why? T…you have never been so ignorant before..what

the ***** is the matter with you?”
” I just had to know why he didn’t tell me that he thought he might be positive

before we…..”
“Don’t say it…I don’t want to hear it…” said Bette.
“And he said ?”
“He said he loved me…”
“aaww my god…you are kidding…and you said, oh honey I love you too..come

here…let me suck the aids right out of your *****….” said Bette before she

stood and walked around the room knowing that any minute, she was going to blow up

with anger…
“***** off Bette…No that is not what was said…I told him that I never wanted to

see him again…and that I didn’t give a ***** if he died or not…just don’t ever

bother me again…”
“You did?” asked Bette
“Yes, I did…..now, I am going to sleep…I’ve got to go to work tomorrow…”
“Tina…I am sorry for that comment…It was rather stupid…”
“Yea…” said Tina as she pulled the blanket up to her head….

tbc……………….