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I had to miss Sunday dinner, I didn’t want to, but I couldn’t bear to see Jenny’s face again. The fact that I’ve hurt her is unbearable. I was in love with her, but I was too weak to stand up to Franchesca until it was too late. One day, perhaps Jenny will forgive me and take me back. Marina thought as she continued to paint in her art studio behind her house. Marina wasn’t a professional painter; she had a few of her selected works of art featured in Bette’s art studio back east. She only painted when the mood was right, and today, she was depressed about her thoughts on Jenny. Other than Franchesca, Jenny was the only person she ever truly loved. Her brush was in mid-air when she heard her doorbell ring. Her maid went for the door; she wiped the paint off her hands and made her way to the main house just as an old friend appeared.

“Helena! How marvelous to see you! It’s been too long.”

“Yes darling, it’s been way too long,” a long legged brunette said. Helena strutted her way towards Marina and gave her old friend a hug. Helena hadn’t changed a bit. The five foot seven, British beauty still looked as gorgeous as the day Marina met her. Marina and Helena met at Oxford, Marina there for the arts and Helena there because her mother made her. Helena was always a wild child, throwing parties in their dormitory, going out late at night, skipping classes, and getting into trouble with the law. But somehow Helena pulled off graduating, her studies being film.

“So what brings you by? Business? Or pleasure?”

“Oh a bit of both darling. I simply wanted to come by and let you know that I’ve purchased the Shaolin Studios and that we have a tour set up for tomorrow afternoon.”

“Oh that’s fantastic,” Marina said and smiled, “wine?”

“Of course.”

“Wonderful,” Marina went to the kitchen and opened a bottle of red wine and poured herself and Helena a glass. She handed the glass to Helena as she looked about her place.