“I suppose I can see why. It’s just that she’s so intense Val. She knows exactly what she wants and she just goes for it. She’s not settling. Unlike me who is in this push and pull relationship with Eric that’s going nowhere. Honestly I don’t know what we are hanging onto with this arrangement. Plus being the head of a movie studio is not all glamour. There is so much work involved and it’s such a competitive highly stressful position. It was bad enough when we were a little independent studio but now we’re playing with the big boys. I’m just being pulled in so many different directions that I don’t know if I’m coming or going.”

“I can’t tell you how to run your business or how to live your life Tina but there are some things that are within your control. You just have to decide what stays and what has to go. You are the ‘head’ of the studio which means you don’t have to do it all. You can delegate and hire people to do the work for you. At this rate you’re going to be suffering from burnout in less than a year.”

“You’re right. I do need to give up some control and delegate more. Max has been telling me the same thing.”

“Well maybe it’s time to heed his advice.”

***

Alice, Dana and Leigh found their way back to the table and rejoined Tina and Val. Alice ordered a round of drinks and the five women talked and joked frivolously. After a while Tina inquired about Bette since she had not returned.

“She’s still talking to Susan. She and Marina are trying to get Susan to perform at the fund-raising event they are having in November.”

“What fund-raising event?”

“Gosh Tina you really are out of the loop. Maybe you should try coming to our Sunday brunch every now and then so you can keep up.”

“Alice don’t be mean.”

“It’s OK Dana. She’s right. I have been out of the loop and I should make more time to spend with you guys. So what’s this fund-raiser?” Tina was getting tired of Alice’s jabs but she refused to allow the other blonde in the group to get her ire up again.