“Nice to meet you, Tina. Looking forward to working with you.”

Tina could only smile so big with, her eyes dropping for two gorgeous women before her.

I’m still straight, right?!

******************************************************************************Bette would rather work with Peggy and her sometimes crazy demands than her spoil rotten daugter who’s a predator on her own. Too bad for Bette, there’s no chance now to change anything. After all, the CAC needs all the funding it can get for an upcoming project. Good thing the meeting with the board only lasted for three hours. There were arguments on how the project should be run; Helena obviously won’t let Bette take all the credit and shut up. She should be part of the limelight and would do anything to exert her power, through money, dominance, or otherwise. But at least, now it’s over and Bette could stop gritting her teeth.

After the meeting, Bette headed back to her office. She called on Tina.

“How could you not warn me that Helena’s coming?”

“Bette, I called Ms. Peabody this morning and her secretary confirmed that she’s coming.”

“That’s Ms. Porter for you.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Too late for that.”

“How can you not give me a buzz. I caught her standing before you and you’re all smiles. What are you her groupie?!”

“Ms. PORTER, I didn’t get her name because I was caught off guard. I was going over your files for the presentation.”

“Lame excuse. How can you get so damn star-strucked!”

“I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”

“You bet, it won’t, that is, if you still want to work here!”

“Ms. Porter, again, I’m sorry. But if that’s what it’ll take, I can’t do anything about it,” with tears almost falling, Tina left her office, without saying another word.

Sleeping with her is a mistake. Fuck, Bette. She’s your assistant. I should call Alice.

********************************************************************************* 

Later that night….

“Al, I need to speak with you…about something.”

“God, Bette. It’s 3 in the morning. You do know that some people actually sleep, right?”

“I slept with her.”

“It’s ok Bette, Jodi will understand”

“It’s Tina.”

Alice got up from bed.

“No, shit!”

“Yeah, it’s so unprofessional.  I don’t know what happened.”

“Don’t give me that. Of course, you knew what happened.”

“I had a few drinks…then I followed her into a dark room. I just started touching her. I thought she would scream or at least react violently, but didn’t. She’s straight, isn’t she?”

“That’s what I thought. What’s the trouble? Is she bad in bed? It could be her first time, you know. Alice yawned. “Ahhh.”

“I’m serious, Al?”

“Do you have feelings for her?”

“No, I mean she looks really great that night and the past few weeks before that. Something changed I guess.”

“Well, thank you! I helped her shop for new clothes. Dress and knee-high boots look really great on her.”

“Still, I shouldn’t have slept with her.”

“Easy, Bette. I think you like her.”

“No, Al. She’s my assistant. I don’t want her to think we’re, you know.”

“Have you talked to her?”

“No, I couldn’t.”

“Are you being mean again?

Moments of silence. 

"Oh, Bette—“

“What.? I can’t help it. This is not my strongest suit. I don’t want her to think that I can be anything than a boss.”

“Is that why you’re jealous with Peggy’s daughter?”

“I’m not, and who told you that?”

“Oops….Ok, I called Tina.. She didn’t say much, only that you’re too cranky today. You hated Helena, and you’re a bit mean to her, that’s all.”

“See, she gets too personal now.”

“I don’t think Tina will use that against you. I think she’s really nice. But I doubt if she doesn’t have any feelings for you. A li’l crush maybe.”

“She’s straight. It could be just a one-time thing.”

“Talk to her.”

“Maybe.”

“I’ll see what I can do, Bette. For now, give it a rest. Sleep tight.”