Tina’s eyes grew as big as saucers. She was furious and that anger was rising by the second. The brunette was now looking right back at her from afar and their eyes locked. For a brief moment, Tina was unsettled by the intensity of the woman’s stare, but she quickly recovered and the other woman’s attitude, that she took as direct defiance, only served to fuel her anger.
 

"For god’s sake, where does she think she is!"
 

"Excuse me?", the board director asked, obviously shocked at her sudden outburst.
 

"I’m sorry… Hum, will you excuse me for a moment?"
 

Tina didn’t wait for his answer and rushed past him with an angry stride toward the buffet.
 
 
 

 
In spite of the depressing realization that she was in fact admiring the bride of the day, Bette couldn’t stop staring at her. Her eyes were the most inviting… 

That’s why when she saw these very same eyes turn dark and angry while looking back at her, she gulped and the forgotten piece of toast that was still in her throat obviously didn’t like it and defiantly decided to engage in another pipe.
 

Bette found herself totally helpless and started to choke and cough just as Tina approached her.
 

"Who the hell do you think you are? Not only did you arrive here late, without even bothering to give a notice, but it seems that you also find absolutely appropriate to help yourself from the buffet!"
 

Tina was fuming. She was on a mission to let the offending waitress know who the boss was. Tina wasn’t usually such a snob, but somehow, that woman had set her off, and she had every intention to put her in her place.
 

"I’m sorry, but I…" Bette tried to explain, but the words caught up in her throat when her coughing resumed, which started Tina again.
 

"You’re sorry…? You didn’t seem sorry a minute ago while stuffing that canape down your thoat, did you? And you didn’t seem sorry while tasting our champagne. By the way, did you find it to your taste?… Well, ‘I’ am sorry, but I will have to report you. This is completely inappropriate behavior, and I will not allow such unprofessional…"
 

"BETTE, you’re here!", Alice exclaimed with a shriek, interrupting Tina’s speech and throwing her arms around Bette’s neck who, meanwhile, had finally recovered from her toast incident.
 

"I was starting to think that you had gotten yourself in trouble or something", Alice added with a raised eyebrow.
 

"No Al, don’t worry, I haven’t", she replied to her friend.

"Although, for a moment I really thought I had", Bette added with a smirk, looking directly at a very shocked and very mute Tina. "But I think it’s gonna be okay", she finished with a warm smile toward the bride.
 

Tina was speechless. The initial shock passed, she was slowly registering the absurdity of the whole situation, and her foolish part in it, and the blush that started to take over her face was so strong that she felt it burn her cheeks.
 

"So Tina, I see you’ve met Bette already", Alice went on, excitedly. "Bette, this stunning bride is my best friend Tina. We’ve known each other ever since we were kids, right Kennard?"
 

Tina was just about to answer her friend and start the longest apology in history, when Helena suddenly appeared at her side and grabbed her hand,
 

"Honey, come on, duty calls!"
 

And before Tina could say another word, the British woman dragged her along with her.
 

In her forced retreat, she barely had the time to glance back at Bette one more time. Yet, that was enough to see the brunette wink at her with a smile.
 

"She looked really strange, didn’t she?" Alice commented, looking at the disappearing blonde.
 

"Oh, probably some pre-wedding anxiety", Bette replied, before taking another sip of her champagne.
 
 

 
TBC…