“Yeah, I saw her leave your office just now. What did she want?”

Bette removed her reading glasses again and got off the chair to greet her lover with a hug and a kiss. “The usual…lunch or sex in a cheap motel.”

Tina laughed at Bette’s directness. “Wow. Both are tempting. What did you tell her?”

“That I won’t cheat on the love of my life in a million years.”

“The love of your life is a very lucky woman.”

“I’m the lucky one,” Bette smiled and kissed Tina again. Their kiss lasted longer than usual, as both women savored the familiar softness and taste of each other’s lips.

When they both finally ended it, Tina lifted the take-out bag she still had in her hand, “I brought us lunch and thought we might spend some time alone, sharing it.”

“Absolutely,” Bette smiled happily and locked her door. “But I want my dessert first.”

Their lips met again, more passionate this time and Bette moaned with hunger and desire.

“I’m so happy you’re decided to add sofa to your office furniture,” Tina whispered, guiding Bette to a beige leather sofa by the window. “Very convenient when one wants a spontaneous dessert.”

An hour later a slightly disheveled Tina left Bette’s office, smiling dreamily. She passed by the room where Candace’s crew was packing up their equipment. Candace gave Tina an evil sneer and turned away, mumbling something again. Tina paid no attention to Candace’s sneering as she went back to the film studio.

As soon as Tina walked in, her assistant rushed to her and whispered urgently, “There’s some crazy woman in your office, Ms. Kennard…she asked for my qualifications and then told me I was fired.” Jenny was close to tears and Tina felt sorry for the poor girl.

“Don’t worry, Jenny. Whoever she is, she can’t fire you. I’ll take care of it.”

Jenny wiped her tears, smiling gratefully and went back to her desk.

Tina took a deep breath and opened the door into her office. Helena Peabody was sitting in her chair with a smile wider than the Pacific Ocean.

“Ms. Peabody, what a surprise to see you,” Tina’s saccharine voice hid the sarcasm in her words.

“Well, there’s been a major development in my recent negotiations with the studio and I thought I would drop in and share this exciting news personally,” Helena slowly got of Tina’s chair, making a point to show off her long legs. Tina waited patiently, not giving Helena the satisfaction by being overly curious.

Helena sighed as she realized that Tina wasn’t even looking at her legs and walked towards her, keeping the smile.

“Since you won’t ask, I will tell you,” the brunette said with elation. “Tina, you are looking at your new boss.”

“What? What do you mean?” Tina was momentarily lost for words. Her initial thought was that Helena stopped by to try and seduce her again. Helena being her new boss had never even entered her mind.

“Well, I bought 51% shares from a few shareholders who didn’t think your studio was making them any richer. They were only too happy to get rid of their shares and now I’m a major shareholder of Alphaville Studios, ergo, your boss, Ms. Kennard.”

Helena smiled satisfactory as she saw Tina wincing in discomfort. “I’m holding a formal meeting tomorrow and then I will meet with the heads of each department. I expect you to be my eyes and ears, Tina…if you want to keep your job.”

TBC…