“Oh I’m not afraid of anything happening” Bette told her matter-of-factly “because nothing will ever happen.”

“From the way you were flirting with me I’d say that something was happening” Kelly grinned at Bette.

“I was not flirting with you” Bette denied.

“Oh yes you were” Kelly laughed.

“Okay maybe I was, but it was all just part of a playful banter and I’m sorry if you got the wrong idea” Bette told her.  “But you flirted with me first” she wanted to put out there as an explanation for her behavior.

“True but as long as you know that you reciprocated” Kelly was cut off by Bette.

“I don’t know your intentions, but let me make mine very clear” Bette looked Kelly dead in the eyes “what ever dealings that we may venture into will be strictly business and as far as anything personal, purely platonic.”

“Fair enough Porter, but I’m not giving up until I get what I want” Kelly saw the look Bette’s look of horror and couldn’t hold back her laughter “I’m just fucking with you Porter.  The only fucking we’ll be doing I guess.”

“Don’t you have a board meeting to attend?”  Bette felt the need to be as far away as possible from Kelly, but kept her cool.

“Yes I do” Kelly stood up to leave “It’s been interesting Bette, I do hope you’ll accept our offer.”  She said as she grabbed her purse then turned away “call me if you want to hook up or something” the double meaning was not lost on Bette.

“I’ll think about the job offer and give Franklin a call” Bette said as Kelly walked away.  “Don’t count on the other thing happening” she said under her breath as she shook her head “ever.”

Tina was about to open the door to her office when the sound of people singing paused her hand from turning the knob.  She recognized Carmen’s alto but couldn’t make out the screaming cat dying from a gunshot wound to the neck.

“Down by the river on a Friday night a pyramid of cans in the pale moonlight talking ’bout cars and dreaming ’bout women never had a plan just a livin’ for the minute yeah way down yonder on the Chattahoochee never knew how much that muddy water meant to me but I learned how to swim and I learned who I was a lot about livin’ and a little ’bout love” Tina opened the door to find Sam sitting in the chair closest to the door while Carmen sat behind her desk, both women oblivious to Tina’s presence.