The next day at late lunch time Bette was sauntering along the streets of sunny Los Angeles, her friend and partner Shane by her side. She had woken up early in the morning, having been able to sleep about four hours, so that she would have enough time to get planned things done before the dinner party with Tina and her family.

The first mission was to meet a few new women that had been recruited in the ranks. Her job as a capo was to check them out, sign up the contracts, dictate some strict rules and order around who complies with whom. The thing was that Bette had a whole gang of her own, a crew of pimps and promoters that answered to her or Helena, Shane and Marcus for that matter. All of them put together subordinated to Dominic Shaw, who in his turn obeyed to the boss of bosses – his uncle, the owner of the entire business.

The whole process of formalities was dull and monotonous, the routine that Bette had been practicing throughout her illegal career. It took an hour of Bette’s precious time. She breathed a sigh of relief after phoning Dominic for a progress report and learning that he didn’t have any more orders to give for the rest of the day.

Next, Bette paid a visit to her recovering sister. Kit was doing very well in rehab, taking one day at a time. Bette filled her older sister in with her new love interest, discribing Tina and wishing to introduce her to Kit soon. The eldest Porter listened attentively, but still she had some doubts about Bette’s sincerity concerning her feelings. It was a well-known fact for Kit that her young sister was inclined to mirror their father’s personality and behavior, especially at treating and loving women, lots of them. Though she hadn’t vocalized any of her thoughts, wlile Bette was confiding in her, Kit was always good at providing support and encouragement, so she did just that, wondering at the same time about this Tina Kennard that got Bette so moonstruck.

After leaving rehab centre, Bette picked Shane up for a walk. Now, wandering around and enjoying a second cup of coffee for lunch, Bette was preparing herself mentally for Tina’s parents. This kind of occasion was her absolute first experience and she was… Well, she was downright nervous, no matter how hard she had been trying to assure herself that she wasn’t.