Tina walks into her office an hour late. Kate was furious, because she had been waiting for Tina since eight that morning. When she sees her, she storms over with her hands waving about in the air.

“Where have you been, Tina? Did you forget the meeting I had scheduled this morning?”

“No,” Tina replies, making her way into her office. She cuts the lights on and tosses her things on her desk. Walking around the marble table, she pulls out her seat and sits down. Apparently, Kate doesn’t notice how much she’s glowing. And frankly she didn’t care what mood she was in. Tina was late and she owed her an explanation. “I’m so sorry, Kate. I had to find a babysitter for Angelica. Hazel, the nanny is out of time. And Bette can’t watch her, because she has to work. So, that leaves my sister-in-law, Kit Porter, Bette’s sister, to care for her. I promise, Kate, it won’t happen again.”

“It better not, Tina. The people I’m paying to back me up on this project expect reliable personel to assist me, Tina. Do I have your word that this will never, ever, happen again?”

Tina looks at her with this smirk on her face. Was she fucking kidding or what? Because she doesn’t have children or could relate to what it’s like to be a guardian, doesn’t guarantee her the right to think she knows what the fuck she’s talking about. Kate Arden could go the fuck to hell for all she cares. “No,” Tina replies.

“NO? Did you just say no to me?”

Tina gazes at her with two raised brows. “Yes. Kate, I can’s possibly promise you anything, because I’m a mother and when my daughter needs me, then I’m going to have to be there for her. I can’t just toss my kid anywhere and come to work afterward. To me, that’s not being a reliable parent. And if you think that I’m going to neglect my daughter, then I believe it’s best to resign from the project. I can’t work under those circumstances, I’m sorry,” Tina replies, standing from her chair. She retrieves a box from under her desk and starts tossing things into them. Once Kate saw what she was doing, she stops her immediately.