They’d had sex in most every room of the eight-bedroom mansion and finally ended up in the master bedroom where they both fell asleep. Though Tina had been slightly concerned about having sex in some of the public areas like the indoor pool and game room with the children and the Nanny in the house it was nothing like the horror she now felt after having them come into the bedroom so unexpectedly. “That really freaked me out.”

“You’ll get used to having them around. Seeing us like this is totally natural for them.”

“It’s not natural for them to see their mother fucking someone they barely know.”

“You’re not a parent Tina. I’ve been doing this for a while.” Tina heard the disdain in Helena’s tone and moved away from her. Helena pulled her back and smiled sweetly as if nothing had transpired between them. She ran her fingers along Tina’s bare arm and shoulder as she spoke to her gently.

“If you’re good I’ll let you know what I have in store for us today.”

“I have to work today. I’m doing a youth arts outreach program for K through 6 at Venice Beach. I …”

“Pat and Hilma can handle it. You and I are going to San Diego to take my children to Sea World.”

“I can’t Helena.”

“Yes you can. I spoke to them. They are completely capable of running that workshop on their own.”

“You spoke to Pat and Hilma?”

“Mm-hmm”

Tina was incredulous at Helena’s audacity but the more time she spent with Helena the more she saw this controlling and manipulative side of her personality. Tina was beginning to realize that her friends had been right. Although she’d convinced herself that she’d earned the grant money legitimately it certainly didn’t come without strings. Helena was subtle in her approach but she was clearly insinuating herself in the day to day operations at the center. This was not the first time she’d usurped Tina’s authority with the staff members. She’d befriended Oscar and several of the board members and it was rumored that she was coming onto the board of directors. This behavior was very typical of how Helena dealt with everything she came into contact with. Winnie called it colonizing but others saw it as plundering and pillaging.