No sooner had Bette and the artist come to an agreement with the prominent Los Angeles gallery owner when the conniving Helena Peabody stepped in. In her naiveté the artist fell for Helena’s charm, influence, and endless funds. Helena easily convinced her that she could do better by premiering her work at the Peabody Galleries in New York City and giving them exclusivity.

Against Bette’s advice and best efforts the artist took the Peabody deal which constituted both a personal and professional blow for Bette. Helena and her money won both the deal and the girl away from Bette Porter. Helena left Los Angeles with the artist after this final triumph over her rival.

Helena and the artist became lovers and were the hot artsy couple in NYC briefly, but as soon as the fanfare blew over Helena blew her off. Helena trapped the artist into signing a three year iron-clad deal that was more lucrative for the Peabody Galleries than for her.

Once the Peabody contract ended the artist had to start over and for two years worked to salvage her reputation and respectability in the art world on the west coast. Even though the contracts had not yet been signed there was implied intent; her backing out of the agreement was not taken lightly. In addition to ruining her professional reputation she’d also lost an important friendship and for the past five years she’d regretted how things had ended with Bette. Now it appeared fate had them meet again in the first class cabin on a flight from New York to Los Angeles.

“Bette? Bette Porter?”

“Leigh Ostin this is a surprise.”

“May I?” she asked indicating the seat next to Bette.

“I don’t think you have a choice. First class is full, and this is the only unoccupied seat.”

Bette didn’t really blame Leigh for what happened five years earlier and she didn’t hold a grudge. Leigh was young and naïve and like Bette she was just another victim of the venomous snake known as Helena Peabody, but after a morning of reliving in her mind the havoc that Helena had caused in her life and then the whole scene with Jodi to be so closely followed by this unexpected reunion was just too much for Bette. She tried not to let her emotions overrule her but it was almost impossible with everything being so close to the surface. The flight attendant asked Leigh to take her seat as the crew was making final preparations to push back from the gate.