“It isn’t –   she’s done all that she wants to -she has achieved more than she thought that she ever would and  it doesn’t interest her to sit around while the whole administration starts to wind down and people leave – that’s not her style at all”

I start eating as well and for a few minutes we both sit silent. I wait for her to tell me whatever she is going to about Alice and Shane

“Alice made the point that we should let CJ tell Shane that there is no place for her in the team any more “

“I remember you saying –  I think it was this time last year that you were the one who decided who was hired and fired in the senior staff. That was when Shane tried to make Phyllis resign “

Bette shakes her head “ Well at least things are not as bloody as they were this time last year when she was acting like an ass and keeping me out of everything.”

“I remember you didn’t want her back then “

“I didn’t – she  started to come in to see Dana and Alice -then she started to chip in with the budget discussion and suddenly before any one noticed she was around all the time. I know that CJ is a truly brilliant Chief of Staff but she is wary of Shane “

I sigh “ Its not easy “

“I know – anyway – Alice and I had a very long talk and Alice says that the thing that Shane would most hate would be if I was the one who got rid of her “

“Alice might have a point – -but equally –  Shane has tried to play you. It was damn hard for you to make her back off last year and she didn’t. it took her virtually falling apart to get her away from the White House . I have said this before Bette – but there can be no come back for her “

“I know that as well Tina. I did talk to CJ and she agreed with Alice that the hardest thing for Shane to take would be for me to tell her that I didn’t want her back in the White House. “