”Did you orchestrate this?” Tina asked as they made their way to find their table.

”I had nothing to do with it,” Bette held her hand up as if taking a mock oath. ”Attending these events is part of the larger game, and your conversation with the mayor demonstrates that better than anything I could say.”

Tina saw him too late to alter her course. Her boss was standing with his wife and one of the senior attorneys from her office. She took a big breath and felt Bette squeeze her hand as they continued ahead.

Harvey broke away from the tight circle to allow Tina and Bette to join them.

”Good evening, Tina,” Harvey welcomed her approach.

She greeted everyone in turn before referencing the fact she was attached to Bette.

”This is my partner, Bette Porter,” Tina said.

”Of course, nice to see you Bette,” Harvey said. ”I wasn’t aware you two would be attending together. We certainly would have welcomed you at our tables, but Tina indicated she wouldn’t be attending with our office.”

”We already had a space,” Bette replied. ”Thanks though Harvey, I appreciate your saying so.”

”Tina, there’s a case I want to talk to you about,” Harvey said. ”It’s pretty high profile, but I think it’s time you started taking on some cases that will involve press exposure. I’ll get my admin assistant to set something up with you for early next week.”

”Sounds good,” Tina replied. ”Enjoy tonight.”

”What the hell?” Tina said quietly as they walked away. ”Am I a total chump, not having come to these events because they always seemed like a glad-hand way of getting ahead?”

”It’s a game,” Bette said. ”And I think you’re getting a better idea of the rules already.”

”I think I am,” Tina agreed.

The rest of the evening raised a few eyebrows when they introduced themselves as a couple, and Bette gloated internally every single time Tina chose to refer to her as her partner.
Another hurdle cleared in moving on. A very public declaration and a new and improved definition of their relationship. Next stop, Tina’s former in-laws.

Chapter 11

Tina made her way into the kitchen the next morning to find Bette reading the L.A. Times. She quietly moved closer, placing her hands on Bette’s shoulders before running them down to cross over her chest as she leaned to kiss her on the cheek.