“That’s not a side I want to explore any further. I won’t be your fucking bought and paid for whore to play with at your whim. I don’t want your fucking money under those circumstances. We can get legitimate funding from other sources even if I have to do it out of my own pocket.”

“I’m sorry I said that Tina. I don’t think of you as my whore. I don’t think you’re a plaything to pull down off a shelf. I was upset about Winnie and I took it out on you. You earned that grant legitimately. I’ll make sure everyone knows that at the Peabody Foundation dinner tonight.”

“You still want me to come to the dinner?”

“Of course. You’re being honored as one of the recipients. You need to be there.”

“And this honor has nothing to do with the fact that we’re fucking.”

“I want you there because I want to honor your commitment to the social services initiatives. You earning that standing had nothing to do with us. The money was in the bank before we even slept together. You won the grant before I even met you Tina. Anyone can look at you and see why I’d want you in my life as more than a business associate.”

“Helena if you want me in your life you have to understand that you can’t treat me like you did last night. You scared me so badly that I couldn’t even stay in my own home. I was afraid of what you might do. How do I know that if we have another disagreement that you won’t turn into some sort of raging lunatic? You have a volatile temper. I’m afraid you might hurt me.”

“Tina that won’t happen again. I told you I was upset. I had a couple of drinks. I was feeling needy and when you rejected me I just lost it. I felt really bad as soon as I calmed down. I didn’t call my driver; no one went to your house. I would never hurt you Tina. You’re perfectly safe with me. I’ll prove it to you. Why don’t you come over to my place after the dinner tonight? It’ll be just us. I promise no audience, no interruptions. We’ll just talk and get to know each other OK. We won’t do anything you’re not comfortable with.”