“Yes, sure.”

I’m finally able to walk away and while I’m strutting to my office, I think that though most of my friends are women, I’m surrounded practically only by men at work. The board members are mostly men, then Franklin, Ronan and all those managers and other staff and now this new “assistant” of mine.

As I enter my office, he’s sitting in an armchair, nervously waiting for me. I look at him and well, on the other hand, working with people who are much younger than yourself can be pleasant (even if they happen to be men), it makes you look and think younger. Which isn’t always good, though.

We greet each other and I already like him. He looks rather shy and I would even say humble, but a little modesty won’t hurt this place. After all, when I started working I was also this anxiously ambitious girl who wanted everything, but didn’t know how to get it, many people wouldn’t believe now if they were told that I actually stuttered when talking to other people and went all red when my name was mentioned. When I think of it, it’s rather astounding how much I’ve changed.

James (my new assistant’s name is James) is telling me his professional autobiography in brief and I look at him, thinking that he is the first good idea that came to Franklin’s head in a while.

“I like you, James,” I say. “It’s a good thing they hired you. Especially now that I’ve got my next project greenlit, the gallery and I in particular will be needing assistance of difference sorts, so I’m glad you’re with us now.” I extend my hand and we share a handshake. “You can start tomorrow, I think they haven’t arranged your work place just yet, but everything will be ready by morning.”

“Thank you, Ms. Porter.”

“Oh, please. It’s Bette.”

“Bette.”

James leaves and I finally have some time to revise last night’s events in my head – Tina finally said she’s ready to have a baby.