She would have preferred an older space, seasoned by time and traffic, the walls bearing burn marks of envious eyes devouring new art.  Not new, in this case, but unseen by anyone but Ellen Barnes and a select few, including a very young Bette Porter who had once scaled walls uninvited to see the installation of A Season In Hell. 

            The West Wing was unlike the equally spacious but somehow quaint Café that she’d been at, The Planet¼that place had a personality to it here, everything was stark and without any visual flavor or ambience.  The walls, of course, were naked, bare skin waiting to be dressed with art and caressed by discerning eyes.  Still, it was lacking something essential.  She pursed her lips in thought, brow wrinkling as she did so.

            “Helena?”  Bette asked tentatively, extending a hand and Helena took it, smiling graciously. 

            “Hello, Bette, how are you this evening?  Thank you for accommodating me with this little open house.  I hope you don’t mind, I took the liberty of having the event catered. I met a very talented young chef¼.”  Bette’s eyes went wide, then narrowed in anger before Helena could finish the sentence.

            “That would be me.  Hi, Bette.”  Lara said, whispering into Helena’s ear and waving over to Franklin, who raised his hand and Helena smiled.  Franklin stood like a puppy waiting to be petted.

            “Of course, if you can manage it, please see to it, Lara.”  Helena ordered and Lara nodded, casting a quick look to Bette whose mouth was hanging open.  When had Helena Peabody taken over?  And Franklin asking Helena for something instead of herself? What was wrong with this picture of perfection? 

            “Where were we?  Oh yes, I had Lara do the catering, and I have invited a few others.  Some of whom I’m assured that you are acquainted with.”  Helena alluded, noting that Bette’s jaw was clenching, much like her hands at her sides.  Helena reached out quickly and touched Bette’s arm.  “I just wanted to get a feel for the space, with people in it, you know, the way it will be when the show opens?” She watched Bette’s face carefully to see if she was having any success to soothing the director’s clearly ruffled feelings.