Chapter 12

“Tina, Alice told me what happened last night.” Dana said pretending to be ignorant of the situation. “Are you ok?”

“Yeah, I’m ok. I just wish Bette were here.”

“Why what happened?” Alice asked.

“She left after she dropped me and Christian home and I haven’t heard from her since.”

“Think she went after Eric?”

“Right now I don’t know what to think.”

After about an hour or so the girls were finished having breakfast. Tina decided that it would be better for Christian to take a day from school. She took him to the office with her. He always liked going to work with his mother. The other women at the office treated him like a king and he enjoyed it. “Hey handsome.” Layla, Tina’s assistant, ruffled Christian’s hair as she greeted him. “Hi Tina,” She started but continued with more shock and concern, “What the hell happened to you?”

“Long story.” Tina continued walking to her office trying to escape before anyone else saw her.

“Tina?” Layla called back, “If you need to talk.”

“Yeah I know.” She smiled. Tina and Layla over the few years she has been working with her, have become friends in addition to colleagues. Tina gave her a job when no one else believed that she was capable. Now she is perhaps one of the best Administrative Assistants at the company. She was offered several opportunities to work with other executives but her loyalty was always for Tina.

“Oh Bette’s waiting for you in your office. I thought it was ok to send her in.” She informed Tina nonchalantly.

Tina’s heart fluttered at the sound of Bette’s name. Her shaky hand quietly opened the door. Bette didn’t hear her open the door, as she was lost in thought staring at nothing through the window. “Hey.”

“Hey.” She smiled shyly.

“Bette, I”

“No wait,” Bette interrupted. “Before you say anything, I just want to say this.”  She walked to the sofa and signalled for Tina to join her. She was really stalling because she wasn’t sure how she could defend her job to Tina yet again. She rehearsed different ways to tell her exactly how she felt and her decisions subsequent to the incident last night. She had surrendered to the fact the best way was to just say it hoping Tina would understand. “Tina, firstly I’m sorry I left last night. It was childish and I didn’t consider your feelings. I love you and I want a life with you. But I love my job too. And I wont lie to you and say that it’s easy or that we have never had a situation where I didn’t think I could die.” The change in Tina’s body was evident. “You are never completely safe and I hate to do this but it’s the only way I can get my point across. You are a junior VP at an accounting firm and I had to save you from possible death last night.”