Chapter 2
Tina was nervous, nervous about the first day, but also glad she was only spending a couple of days this week being introduced to the California Arts Centre, this was meant to be an ‘ice-breaker’, before a full week next week.
She looked around the office of the Director she was about to meet, noting how everything was in its place, not a notepad or pen out of place, not a cushion on the sofa with an indentation upon the textured surface, the displayed artwork seemed almost personal… It was difficult to read how the artwork would relate to its viewer within this office, the office that had a very intense feel to it…
She really didn’t know what to make of the snippets of information she had heard, they were so diverse and ranged from every end of the spectrum possible, both personally and professionally. At the moment she couldn’t quite piece the fragments of the professional woman and link them to the personal one, such were the differences in the opinions that she’d heard about, but one phrase and word had linked with both aspects…, just one… and Tina didn’t know what to make of it…, the thing that cropped up in the art world, ‘the formidable Bette Porter…’, but the other world, the one that, strangely, piqued Tina’s interest, the private one, once again it came up, that same pharse and word…, ‘the formidable Bette Porter…’
Formidable.
Her mind was in a quandary, a mixture of nervousness and excitement, she wasn’t yet sure which one was winning the battle, but she was about to find out as she sat in the seat in front of the beech desk. She crossed her legs and folded her hands together in her lap…, awaiting the entrance of one Ms Porter.
Tina felt, rather than saw, Bette enter the room, she turned her head slowly, allowing a deep breath to expand her chest, knowing this was it, this was the meeting with the one they called ‘The Lady Slayer’…
Her mind suddenly became jumbled as she saw this woman standing in the doorway, staring…, her lips were parted as if words were about to spill forth but none came Tina’s way.
She watched the almost midnight eyes staring at her, she shifted uncomfortably in her seat, quickly looking down at her clothes, checking nothing had spilled when she had rushed her breakfast earlier, she brought her hand to her blonde hair, feeling that there weren’t any clumps sticking out at ninety degrees…
She suddenly felt very aware of being stared at, her throat suddenly became dry as a small cough echoed in her throat, it almost seemed a subconscious act of breaking the spell of the stare, but the split second moment broke when Bette stepped forward with her hand outstretched, her eyes met those of the woman stepping closer. Why did her sudden nervousness turn into a pounding in her chest, her nerves didn’t usually show themselves in that manner.
Tina stood as Bette stepped closer, seeing the outstretched hand she mirrored the action as the woman’s voice finally came to fruition.
"Ahem…, oh…uh, hello, I'm uh… Bette Porter, it's nice to meet you Ms Kennard…”
She had seen how Bette stared at her upon entering the office, but she didn’t understand why, it had unnerved her and she knew the battle between the excitement and nervousness had just stepped up another notch.
The pounding in her chest confirmed that the nervousness was currently winning, adding into the mix was the anxiety that had also just kicked in, causing her to lose her confidence, she already had a sinking feeling that this job, albeit temporary, was going to be a challenge, and there had been the thought that had passed through her mind that this ‘formidable’ woman, was bound to be difficult to work with…, but her words didn’t seem formidable or confident, they seemed almost diffident and uneasy.
It certainly wasn’t what she had expected, the sure, confident or assertiveness that she had heard about, she was taken aback… Where was this woman who ruled the art world, the one who ruled WeHo with her predatory tendencies…?
Tina was confused and in the split seconds that she had to surmise the situation her own lapse in concentration began and she began to do the very thing that she hated, she launched into a ramble…
"Hello Bette, I'm Tina Kennard, it is such a pleasure to meet you. I have followed your career for years and have so much respect for your work and your observations on art, artists and the creative process. I am so excited and honoured to be working with you," gushed Tina, knowing that the rambling was making her cheeks flush with her nervousness; she could feel the heat rising from her chest.
Tina saw the woman in front of her smile, her nostrils flared slightly, and now she felt stupid, was she laughing at her…, a moment of anger flared, but soon dissipated as the woman in front of her continued to smile, and it seemed, for the moment, genuine.
Bette was taken aback by the wholesome, honest and natural eagerness this Tina Kennard possessed. She had picked up on her nervousness, but the thing she had had in her mind was that the new recruit that the fuckwit had hired would be just completely and utterly up their own ass, but her first impression was that this might just not be so bad after all.
Bette smiled, more to herself than to Tina, but she saw the woman in front of her visibly relax as soon as she saw the smile.
Tina's first impression on meeting the ‘Lady Slayer’ was so far removed from what she had heard from many other critics who had come into contact with the hot headed, but hugely knowledgeable, independent woman.
All the snippets of information about how no-one ever got close to ever knowing who the real Bette Porter was, how she worked hard and played hard, only ever seeming interested in furthering herself in whatever field of desire she was contemplating. How her reputation in her area of work expertise was unsurpassed, her range of knowledge in the art world was to be envied by all who met her, her passion and love for art was so very obvious, even to the untrained eye.
Ms Bette Porter was making an impression on Tina, and not in the way she had expected. Tina's initial thoughts and trepidations about accepting this job had immediately been put to rest in the first few moments of their initial meeting.
As they sat and talked about the mechanics of the CAC, Bette glanced at her watch, allowing her mind to conjure a way in which to move from the office situation, "Tina… uh…, would you like to join me for lunch and then maybe this afternoon I could give you a tour of the gallery?" Bette asked a little too enthusiastically for her own liking, but it was an enthusiasm she suddenly didn’t seem to have any control over.
She looked at Tina as they sat across from one another, the desk being the only thing between them, unaware that she was currently holding her breath in anticipation of awaiting a reply from the blonde woman only feet away from her.
"I would love that, thank you Bette!" Tina said a little too eagerly.
The reply made Bette's tentative smile turn into the natural killer melt that, unbeknown to her, had such a stand stock still effect on all who were honoured with the rare smile, and it was rare, that smile hadn’t surfaced in a long time, her mind quickly calculating that it must have been something that her friend Alice had said that made her unreservedly smile last.
~~~
The lunch passed with a natural ease that Bette and Tina had unwittingly and unexpectedly begun to forge a great deal of mutual respect for one another. Bette found her predetermined opinion of the fuckwit’s choice had been completely blown out of the water, and yet she still felt there was so much more to the woman she had barely known for a couple of hours, it almost seemed that she wanted more…, more time with her, know more about her…, just more...
She felt that whenever she looked into the light brown eyes of this woman she was being drawn closer; her subconscious was more than aware that there was something different going on…, but as yet her subconscious and consciousness hadn’t quite caught up with one another.
They relaxed into an easy lunch, finding conversation flowed without effort, covering subjects on anything and everything and nothing much at all.
Bette found herself more relaxed at a work lunch that she could ever recall and it astounded her, why did conversations just flow, why did she feel so comfortable, why did it suddenly become so important that she not even attempt to glance at her watch to see how the time ticked by…
There was something very unique about this woman who sat across the table from her. And for the first time in her life she didn’t know what to think about it.
~~~
On their return to the CAC Bette began her tour with so much enthusiasm that Tina was in awe of the woman before her, she was taken aback at the passion, understanding and respect for every piece of work that Bette introduced her to.
The words of a friend came echoing back into Tina’s mind…, ‘Her reputation of work expertise is completely unsurpassed, she has a range of knowledge of someone who’s been in the business for decades, she has an intense passion and love for art, its pretty amazing to see that passion in full force…’
She was seeing that now…, that passion and intensity, she found herself looking at various pieces in a way she never would have anticipated, why did this woman’s enthusiasm seem so contagious, she wondered, she felt like she was being allowed private information regarding each piece, almost as if Bette’s hushed tones as she described the background of the pieces were highly confidential.
They made their way to a smaller part of the gallery, a section with a differing genre of art. Bette told her how each piece in this annexe of the gallery was an original black and white photograph taken by a very new and young artist. A younger photographer whom she had discovered by accident and persuaded to show at the prestigious California Arts Centre, and so far, the exhibition of photography had the visitors buzzing.
"I have got to say, although I am biased, that these photographs are my current favourites of what the CAC is showing!"
Tina smiled at the way in which Bette was so animated in her enthusiasm, it was as if she had suddenly become a different person as they had walked into the annexe, such was the overwhelming intensity that Bette gave for this particular artist.
Tina followed Bette as she told Tina about each piece of work, when suddenly she came to a stop and just stared at a couple of photographs on display.
Bette continued and came to a halt when she realised Tina was no longer behind her, as she turned she noticed her new companion gazing upon two prints, side by side.
As Bette slowly approached Tina she could see that she was studying them very closely, her eyes had that far away look about them.
Bette smiled as she took a moment to allow her eyes to gently roam over the vision before her. ‘This woman is breathtaking in every aspect that I come across.,’ thought Bette, ‘not only is she more than easy on the eye, she's been a wonderful lunch companion, and now she has been so completely taken in by the visual scenery of artwork before her…’
"Do you like this piece Tina?" Bette asked quietly.
"It's amazing, just look at the way the depth of field has captured the levels of intensity of the keys and the texture of the skin on the hand above the keys also… It’s a wonderful piece… It’s almost as if you can hear the music that the hand is about to play." She ended quietly as she turned to Bette, feeling almost embarrassed at her own outburst of enthusiasm.
Tina looked back at the photograph which had been taken looking along the row of keys on a grand piano with a hand placed floating above ready to play the most beautiful piece of music.
"What’s this piece called Bette?"
"Piano Keys Please", replied Bette.
"It's almost like the hand is an extension of the piano keys", stated Tina. "The two seem somehow…, a… natural fit."
Bette continued to rest her gaze on Tina's illuminated face. Tina was obviously moved by the piece and Bette enjoyed nothing better than seeing a created work transform its viewer. Bette smiled as her mind became with how impressed she was by Tina’s knowledge of the mechanics of photography.
As they made their way back to Bette’s office, Tina noticed how the time slipped past them, the extensive and in-depth tour of the gallery had taken the best part of the afternoon.
Bette’s peripheral vision took in how Tina glanced toward her watch, it made her glance at her own, and she suddenly found herself trying to think of a way to prolong their time together.
"Tina, we have so much more to discuss. Do you have dinner plans tonight? Perhaps we can grab a bite and continue our strategic planning session?”
Tina looked at Bette suddenly, taken aback by the words, she creased her brow slightly as she answered, “couldn't we just continue with this tomorrow…, during office hours?"
Bette quickly covered her discomfort with Tina's question by asking one of her own, "why put off for tomorrow what can be done today?”, she said quickly, knowing she was grasping at straws, and also having an unfamiliar sinking feeling that she sounded desperate, she hid her own discomfort as she flashed that brilliant smile that coloured Tina's cheeks.
Tina looked at Bette’s face, seemingly waiting for a reply to her line of questioning, her mind spinning at the ‘out of the blue’ offer of dinner, but her mind also flashed unfamiliar words…, ‘Lady Slayer’…, ‘Formidable’…, ‘She’s a player of the highest degree’
‘I can't play the coy game with her,’ thought Tina, 'she is way out of my league in any arena. Is she just genuinely being nice to me…, or... is she flirting with me…, or hell she doesn’t even know me, and have I given her any reason to think I’m interested in her beyond her position as Director of the CAC…’ she was mentally chastising herself. Yet, Tina couldn't deny the connection they seemed to share. She dismissed it as a mutual love and passion for art, but she was sure that Bette was flirting with her, or..., was her mind playing tricks on her?
"I'm sorry Bette, I can't make it tonight. But I’ll be more than happy to meet you here bright and early in the morning", replied Tina, “thank you for lunch and the tour of the gallery, it was really great...,” Tina said as she grabbed her bag, she shook Bette's hand and moved to exit the office.
Bette stood flabbergasted as she saw the black suit of Tina exiting her office, she place her hands on her hips as she shook her head…, why did she just get the feeling that she had made a fool out of herself…, “Fuck…” she muttered into the air…
She was just turned down. ‘How could I have misread the signs…, were there any signs to misread…, is this woman just plain and simple a nice person…, is she…, fuck…, I can’t believe it…, what an amazing few hours since this morning, what a change to be in the company of an interesting woman…, but…, fuck…’
Bette reached for the bottle of water on her desk, unscrewing the top she brought the bottle to her mouth, gulping the cold fluid down her throat, she had felt hot all of a sudden as she thought of Tina rushing out of the door…
She shook her head once again as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, she always thought she had a good perception about people, and it was a perception that wasn’t often wrong, but she must admit to herself that Tina had left her feeling a little unsure of herself and that feeling was more than a little alien to Bette.
