****

"God damnit James, we are two days from the show’s opening and you can’t find Candace?"

"I’m sorry Bette, I called her at home, I called her cell, I even went by her friend Yolanda’s house. She’s no where to be found."

"Fuck, Fuck, FUCK, I do not need this right now. I’ll find her and fucking strangle that bitch."

I called everyone that knows her and we went out on a search. I can’t believe I am wasting a day searching for her. We were all split up looking around West Hollywood. I finally got a call that she’s been found.

I walk into the seedy building, anger running through my veins. It was hard to see in the dim lighting, but I saw her. She was up front, being entertained. I never liked these bars and I rarely if ever went to one. But I had no choice.

"Candace!"

"What," she said, drunkingly.

"Get the fuck up!"

"Is this your old lady sugar," the stripper asked.

"Like hell I am."

"I’m taking a personal day."

"Hell no you won’t, we’re two days away from the opening."

"Sorry, I’m sick," she said fake coughing and the stripper laughed.

"You know what Candace, stay, you’re not needed anywhere else. You’re fired!"

"You can’t fire me!"

"Like hell I can’t! Had you bothered to read your contract, I could release you at any moment without notice if I felt the job wasn’t getting done. And it’s not. Oh, and you’re not getting paid, read your contracts better, no finished product, no payment. Sorry honey, she’s broke," I said facing the stripper.

I drove back to the gallery in a panic. I shouldn’t have just fired her like that. It was a hastey, and rash decision, who else can I get to finish this project on such short notice? I can’t pull this off, all my critics were right. I walked back into the CAC to tell Franklin it was off, but I heard noise coming from the Provocations exhibit hall. I walked in and there were men and women in hard hats and tool belts everywhere.

"James, what is this?"

"They’re Architect students at the Art Institute. I called the school and asked if we could get some people down here for an extra credit assignment or something. I was surprised at how many people showed up."