Bette’s POV

I open the door and go out of the conference hall. The day’s begun quite stressfully, but at least I’m sure now that one of my new projects is given a go.

“Bette!”

I turn around and it’s Franklin, hurrying after me. He comes up and shakes my hand.

“Congratulations on this little victory of yours, Bette”, he says. “It’s well deserved and I’m sure that nobody will now forget who Georgia O’Keeffe is.”

“I’d love it if they didn’t,” I answer. “Thanks.”

I’m about to flash the last of my smiles at him and leave when he starts to speak again.

“Oh, and by the way, before we part We hired you a new assistant, he was scheduled for 11, so I think he might be waiting for you already.”

“A new assistant?” Now that’s quite a surprise.

“Yes. We know you’ve been managing well on your own since Lynn was transferred to San Francisco, but it’s uh, convenient to have an assistant.”

I frown. “That is very gracious of you, Franklin, thank you. But I’m not sure I’d want an assistant, I really do work better when I’m alone.”

“Bette, it’s not that he’ll be questioning your convictions all the time, he’s just an assistant, a male secretary.”

“A male secretary you say?”

“Yes,” he says and shoves his hands into the pockets of his pants.

“Well, it might not be that bad, after all. I’ll see what he’s like.” I say and again am about to leave, but I hear someone calling me.

It’s Ronan, a new worker of the gallery, who just tried to beat me in the gallery’s next exhibition choice. He almost runs to me and only now I’m able to see just how young he is – last night I almost detested him for wanting to prolong the preparation time for today’s presentation, but now I see that he’s actually a sweet and yet ambitious fledgling, who’s trying to find his way to promotion.

“Bette, congratulations!” he beams. “I know we were competitors just ten minutes ago, but I’m so glad I got to work with you well, or rather against you.” We both chuckle. “But it’s been a pleasure anyway.”

“Thank you, Ronan. I liked your presentation, too.” I say. “Excuse me now, I have to go, somebody is waiting for me.”