Chapter 2

Next day…

After a goodnight’s sleep, Bette felt much better next morning. This was going to be a great day, she could feel it. She got up with a few minutes to spare before her alarm signaled the beginning of a new day, got in the shower while listening to her favorite morning playlist, she changed into her favorite power suit and gave herself a last look in the mirror. She could feel her self-confidence building up. ‘You’re gonna rock this day, Porter’ she said to herself and got into her blue Saab. A $70,000 baby that was her pride and joy. She made the engine purr and left for work. Oh yes, today was going to be a good day.

At the CAC…

Bette was bored as hell in a meeting with the old goofballs of the board of directors. They were a group of useless bigots who couldn’t make a decision on anything without further persuasion. Today’s topic: deciding on how to deal with Jean Paul, this French pretty boy who wanted his sculptures to be showcased as the main piece of the show. And Bette was having none of it.

“Franklin, this asshole is not going to be the centerpiece of my show” she said, firmly.

“Bette, we’ve been over this. Jean Paul is a genius; we need him for the next show.” Franklin said.

“A genius?” Bette scoffed. “Please” Franklin couldn’t recognize talent if it took him by the ass.

Suddenly Jean Paul marched in. “Bette! Bette dear!” he said in a strong French accent “I demand zat my pieces be expossed as ze main attraction”

“More like in a horrorshow” she mumbled

“What was that Bette?” Franklin asked

Bette was tired, she hated this part of art, and she had other things to do than talking sense into this maniac that for some reason Franklin wanted to have at all costs. ‘We’ll see about that’ she thought.

Bette stood up from her oversized chair. “Jean Paul, listen to me” she commanded the attention of the entire board “I’m not doing this with you, if you want your pieces to be shown here, you will accept the current layout, otherwise, let my assistant know so he can toss them away and send the pieces to your workshop”