Fan Fiction
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The Newly Discovered SoCal Humminger Bette Porterius ~ Chapter 2
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“Too expensive. We’ll have to settle a bonus of pedestrian cash.”
Bette caught sight of the collection of flower deliveries and inclined her head in their direction, “That’s impressive.”
Jane, unwilling to speak with a full mouth, just nodded.
“They’re ruining the gallery space. Get them out of sight, please.” Bette retrieved her latte and headed towards her office. “But give me the cards.”
Bette settled in behind her desk and sifted happily through the stack of phone messages that Jane had diligently collected. The opening the prior night had been the first of what she now knew would be many for her new gallery. She had had other successful openings, but those had been for a gallery where she was an employee. The success of those shows had been rewarding, but she realized that that the joy and pride she now felt could only have happened with her own gallery.
The persistent sound of tearing paper and crinkling plastic wrap finally broke into her thoughts. “Jane, what the fuck is that noise?”
“The floral tributes from your worshippers!”
Bette continued to sort the phone messages, trying to decide the best order for returning the calls. Critics, customers, or artists? Press attention would help grow the business. Customers generated its revenues. Artists provided the content. She decided to call the artists first, with Catherine Opie at the top of her list.
As she reached for her phone, she saw the stack of purchase orders in her in box. She pulled them out and set them in front of her. She smiled as she flipped through each, mentally tallying her profit from each sale. Some of Opie’s photographs had been sold as the sole original. Others were parts of limited editions. Bette liked limited additions since the same gallery wall space could generate multiple sales. Also, Opie had listened to requests for resizing some pieces, though she had not yet agreed to do so. Bette decided that she loved photography shows and foresaw many in her future. She considered the possibility of selling card-sized reproductions of the less controversial photos, and added a note to her ‘to-do” to discuss it with Opie.
While Bette made her phone calls, Jane quietly came in and out of her office, moving objects around obviously clearing space, and then returned carrying one floral arrangement after another and organizing their display. Bette tried to catch her assistant’s attention by gesticulating while speaking on the phone but Jane either didn’t notice or ignored the wild motions.
“What the fuck are those doing in here?” Bette attacked as soon as she had ended her call.
. Jane was entering Bette’s office with another huge display in her arms as she replied, “You didn’t want them outside because they interrupt the ‘careful design’ of the gallery space.”
“Find someplace else!”
“There is no place else except the storeroom.”
“Well, there then.”
“And one of the senders arrives and notices that the tributary blossoms are not on display?”
Bette paused, annoyed with herself that she had needed business lessons from her assistant, “Of course. Thank you for protecting me from idiocy. Bring them on in. Try to keep some floor space so I can get in and out.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Jane laughed. “Take an allergy pill.”
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wow, bette is quite a business woman…was Tina at that show? i wonder why Bette didn’t give her one thought if she was
I always thought Jennifer Beals was an inspired choice for Bette Porter. She has innate class – she couldn’t play down if she tried. Maybe the show should have played up the “Haute LA” angle more. Thanks for letting me in that fairy tale for a moment.
Great update. Now where’s Tina in this. :) Thank you for this story :)
Well, the opening certainly gave Porterius reason to hum. Will other reasons be forthcoming?
Hi, dear sweet Spumoni! We are SO happy that you posted SO soon. Yaaayyy!!! Hmm Miss Porter seems not thrilled about the flower deliveries, huh? It is clear that she is NOT interested in receiving any of them. Hahaha Poor Jane. She has to cope with a very strict and demanding boss, who is a very successful gallery owner. Let us move to the MAIN event. *wink* PPS Hugs & kisses on both your cheeks.- Lu & Marsh (Proud Salsa Aunties to JC, Eunichick, T_Daze, Melrose 231, ZLFAN and Tias Adoradas to Patpez)
Hahaha..”thank you for protecting me from my idiocy”, I love that line. I totally agree with Techgal, Jennifer was a brilliant choice for Bette Porter…I don’t think anyone else could have done it as well. I think that this story is destined to be a winner Spumoni…PPS!
I agree with techgal. and where’s James? The faithful assistant has become Jane? Okay then. Love the humor. More soon plz.
Wonderful as always hon ;)
i’m with the others.. where was tina… and eric for that matter… maybe tina is solo… she could be the art collecter…. pps
I’m still hoping that Tina is the one who created the humming :) Bette is all business but she has something on her mind that’s making her happy and I want to think it’s more than just the success of her show.
Just went back and read the 1st one and I really like this story. As for the humming, I wonder if it is due to the beautiful and suspiciously absent T. Kennard, or have they met? At any rate B. Porterius does not just hum because of an exciting opening, usually Ms. Kennard is attached somewhere and is responsible for the humming and smiling. Can hardly wait for the next chapter. Thanks for posting and sharing this one with us.
Her business is blooming, but what else in Bette’s life is going so well? I love these insights into the Porterius’ behavioral patterns. Thanks for the update, Spumoni. pps :)
Spumoni…Spumoni…where is our Tina? A humming Bette without a Tina is a bird with only one wing. :) Ms. Porter sure has the professional woman thing down. Great portrayal of Bette at work. Very realistic. Now can we see the reason why Bette is humming? Pretty please…