The Play Room, New York

Bette saw Jenna push through the loose, silver gauze curtains and re-enter one of the VIP sections, walking in from the brightly lit long entrance hall of The Play Room, which had been decorated with bursts of colorful tinsel interspersed with “monopoly figures” and black and white dominoes hanging from the ceiling, in keeping with the “board games/house party” theme Jules and the party organizers had agreed on for the party tonight.

The redhead, who’d been posing as Bette’s girlfriend for several weeks now, ever since they’d run into each other in Cannes, was flanked by two Asian-looking gentlemen, who’d elected to dress in smartly tailored dark silk suits instead of the colorful, casual garb most everyone else milling around the packed club wore.  The trio walked into the VIP area, seemingly engaged in deep conversation.

Jenna waved in Bette’s direction. The brunette interrupted the German-born senior partner of the law firm of Peter’s key adviser, Jackson Hunt, to wave back at Jenna.  She motioned with her head to the lawyer that she was joining Jenna’s little group.  The German lawyer walked along with Bette as she walked towards Jenna, continuing his explanation of something that he said Peter had asked for Bette’s views on.

“That all seems reasonable, Conrad, but I’m not sure why Peter wants to know what I think about the transfer of those block of shares in favor of his foundation, other than I think it will be a great asset for his foundation because those shares will become quite valuable in the mid-to-long term…” Bette was saying just as they got to Jenna and the two Asian gentlemen.

She cut herself off, as Jenna greeted, her, extending a hand, and interlaced her fingers with Bette’s as the brunette walked up beside her.

“Hi honey,” Jenna greeted her warmly.

“Hi Jen,” Bette responded, smiling at the redhead.

Jen raised her eyebrows at Conrad’s direction, waiting expectantly.

“Oh, pardon me,” Bette said apologetically, and hurriedly turned towards the German lawyer, and then looked at the man on Jenna’s left, who met her eyes with an air of authority, and then curved his lips into a slight smile.

“May I introduce Conrad Fock…” the brunette started.

The taller Asian man who smiled at Bette extended a hand in greeting. “Yu,” he said, bowing slightly in a courtly fashion at Bette, “Richard Yu.”