“Doing great darling.”

“Have you found any shareholders invested with Kelly?”

“Right to business huh?”

“I’m anxious.”

“I can tell Bette. She does have a shareholder.”

I hear the strange tone in Peggy’s voice and my brow lifts.

“That lives in Manhattan.” Peggy says. “Someone who she knows very well.”

“Who?” I ask anxiously.

“Daddy.”

“Her father.” I throw my hands into the air.

“Bette..”

“Our plan isn’t going to work.” I rest my hands on my hips.

“Darling, the plan has just begun.”

“How are we suppose to buy the other half from her own flesh and blood?”

“We make him.”

“Peggy that’s going to be near impossible.”

“Money can always change a persons mind and by telling with his gambling days, I’m pretty sure an extra million or more will change his mind pretty quickly.”

“Peggy, before you do this, before we get to this next step.” I pause trying to focus my mind on the right words. “The reason I’m here Peggy..is because-” My words stop again.

“What is it, Bette? Spit it out darling.”

“I have an offer.”

“An offer? For me?”

“Yes, an offer. And yes for you.” My palms begin to feel sweaty as I squeeze them tightly together.

“Relax, Bette.” Peggy says sitting up. “I can feel the tension from over here.”

“Peggy, I was wondering.” I say. “If you would join me?”

“Join you? Darling, what exactly are you saying?”

“I want you to become part owner of the gallery, I want to work beside you. I want to be able to tell people or look back and see that I worked next to the talented, most brilliant, intellectual Peggy Peabody. I want this gallery to be the work people come from across the world to see, I want the love of art that connects both of us to be spoken in our gallery. So I’m asking for you to work with me, I promise you won’t regret it.”

The air around us grows still as I wait for her response.

“Well, well Bette Porter.”

I look at her.

“God, Peggy, I’m sorry. I knew I shouldn’t have thrown this at you. Why would you want to work with me when you already have companies around the world.” My words race out of my mouth like speeding bullets.

“Don’t be absurd.” She says. “Bette, you and I go far back, from me saving your ass to me now yet again saving it.” She chuckles.

I chuckle back with a nervous tone.

“I knew how much you appreciated art when I witnessed you break down in front of Carla Marie Freed’s art piece because you couldn’t withstand the impact of her art piece, it moved you so much that it brought you to tears. That’s when I felt like you were something more
Bette Porter and that you are. You made me realize that your passion for art is so powerful, so outstanding. And that makes me accept your offer. I want to work beside you Bette and I want us to share our passion for art together.”

I feel my body fill with an amount of overwhelming joy.