In the BeginningA Meeting


Bette was exhausted. She had been working with little sleep for weeks. Tonight she was going home, taking a nice hot bath and getting in bed……alone. She turned off her phones so she wouldnt be disturbed.

As she lay in bed waiting for sleep to take over she thought of the last several months events. In a little less than six weeks her gallery would open. Her own gallery, something she had always wanted. The Porter gallery it was a dream come true.

She had been working with the contractors, the artists and her new assistants making sure everything would be perfect.
She fell asleep knowing everything was as good as she could possibly make it.

The next morning she didnt wake up until late. It was almost 10:00 am when she got out of bed to hit the shower. She noticed her answering machine blinking and decided to go ahead and answer it, even tho this Sunday morning she was hoping for nothing but coffee and the newspaper to interrupt her thoughts. She pushed the button.
A familiar voice hit her ears.

Alice: Hey Porter, what the *****, not answering your phones, you got a hot young thing in bed with you and dont want to be interrupted?…..hmmmm…….Well too bad, you are suppose to meet me at the Planet for brunch, …….REMEMBER???? Im here and Ill wait for you……….you have thirty minutes…….get your ***** moving!!

Bette: *****! I forgot. She called Alice and told her she would be right there. Alice was her oldest and dearest friend she might need her in the next few weeks she surely didnt want to piss her off.

Bette dressed and hurried to the Planet, luckily it was only a few blocks away.
She arrived and found Alice at the back of the busy hangout.

Bette leaned down and kissed her friend on the cheek. Hugging her slightly as she did so.

Bette: Aljeez Im sorry…..I over slept. Ive been so busy getting this gallery up and opening…..god Im sorry.can you forgive me?
Alice: Hmm lets see.I suppose but it will cost you.
Bette: No problemI need my best friendwhatever the cost.
Alice: Ok.Porter youre buying today……..and Im starving.
They laughed together and relief set in on Bette. Thank god she had a fun loving and easy going friend like Al.

They ate and talked about Alices latest love interest, a guy she met as she was jogging thru the park. They talked about the gallery and the opening, if all the plans were in place.

Alice: So do you have a caterer yet for the opening?
Bette looked at her with a look of panic on her face.
Bette: *****! I knew I was forgetting somethingdamnit who will I get on this short of notice? Al..any ideas?

Alice pondered the question and suddenly looked mischievous.
Alice: Ok..you are going to owe me big time.
Bette: Al. come on you are killing mewhat ever the pricejust tell me who?

Alice: Well I just did this article on women entrepreneurs in LA. And I met this woman that is new to town and starting her own catering business, I checked with several of her clients and they all said she was going to be The Caterer in LA in no time. She told me if I ever needed her services to just let her know.

Bette: Really.god thats great Alplease set up a meeting for me with herPLEASE.
Alice: Yeah she said my article was so good her bookings had doubled..so I guess I could give her a call.
Bette: Al .I’m begging you.set a meeting for me. Anytime, any place.
Alice: Sure Porter I love having you owe me. She laughed.

Alice picked up her phone and called her office to get the caterers number. When she got it she proceeded to call. Bette could only hear Alices side of the conversation, but she didnt care she just needed to meet this person.soon.

Alice was talking into the phone.
Alice: Yes.Hi.how are you? Well thank you.I try..yes and you said I could call if I needed you.well a friend of mine is opening an art gallery in six weeks and she ..Well she forgot to book a caterer..would you be available? The date is May the ninth at seven in the evening..sure.

She put her hand over the receiver. And motioned to Bette.
Alice: Shes checking her book.you so owe me Alice was laughing.
Alice took her hand off when she heard the cater come back on the line.

Alice: Oh my god that would be great.are you sure that doesnt make too much in one day for you? My friend will be thrilled. So when is a good time for you two to meet and get together?……………..ok.let me ask
She looked at Bette and asked.she can meet with you tomorrow at ten in the morning..here or at the gallery?
Bette: uh..ok ten is fine at the gallery if thats alright.
Alice: She said that would be great at the galleryyeah you can see the layout and what notsure.Her name is Bette Porter..Porter Art gallerythanks so much..
Alice gave her the address and hung up looking at Bette with that Cheshire cat grin.

Alice: So Al saves the day for you again..Ms Porter.Im thinking of getting a cape and tightsas many times as I pull your ***** out of a fire..I should become a superhero..lets see.red cape..black tightsmmm some gold shoes..A big A on my chest.god I wish I could put DD on my chest..get it ..DD. hahahahahaha..

She rambled on as Bette just watched her amuse herself. When she took a breath Bette finally broke in.

Bette: Thank you so much Alyou name it you got itexcept for the super hero costume..you in black tights.sorry babe you dont have the legs for it. Bette laughed. So what is the name of this catering company?

Alice: You cant be such a smartassanyway the name is Bellissimo Catering. Shell be there at your gallery at ten tomorrow morning. And Ill be thinking of my reward.
Bette: Hmmm Bellissimo huh? That means beautiful in Italian..I like it. Well Al thanks so much for the favor and Ill get brunch, and I do owe you big time. I really have to run.but Ill call you later. Bye. With that Bette stood and hugged Alice again and took off. She had a ton of things to do.

The next day Bette got up early and went to the gallery. She always arrived before any one else, she loved the time to take a look around and envision her dream come true.

Not long after walking thru the rooms her assistants arrived. She didnt know what she would have done with out them these last few weeks. They had been fantastic. She had hired them both because she couldnt decide between the two when she was doing the interview and hiring process.

They were Michael and Anna. They were dependable, knew art and put up with her moods. What else could she ask for?
Every morning they had a meeting and planned the day. After todays meeting it was close to time for her meeting with the caterer Alice had gotten for her. She was going to leave it up to Anna to talk with the caterer but changed her mind and decided to handle it herself.

At three minutes until 10, Anna called her in her office.
Anna: Bette the caterer is here.
Bette: Good could you show her into my office please. Thank you Anna.

Bette stood as she heard the door open; when she looked up she was pleasantly surprised to see the most beautiful women she had ever set eyes on.
The women approached her desk and offered her hand to Bette.

Women: Hi, Ms. Porter Im Tina, Tina Kennard with Bellisimo Catering.
Bette suddenly felt her throat very dry, but she managed to take Tinas hand and respond.
Bette: Nice to meet you Ms. Kennard, thank you for coming on such short notice.
Tina: Please call me Tina.and no problem I am always looking for new clients.
Bette: Alice tells me your food is incredibleI love giving other women businessespecially ones new to LA. And please call me Bette.
Tina: Great.so Bette you want to show me what you have in mind?


With that said.Bettes mind was thinking several ways of which to respond.









TBC..