After a five year absence Leigh Ostin was back home in Los Angeles to stay. Her fortuitous meeting with Bette Porter on the flight from New York had changed the course of her life. She would be forever indebted to the woman whose heart she’d once broken. When she made the decision to return to L.A. Leigh fully expected it to take several months if not years to regain her place in the Los Angeles art community. She’d left under circumstances that precluded her from reestablishing her good name and reputation without first rebuilding trust but here she was just over a week later planning her first big show.

James had contacted her earlier in the week to discuss the deals he’d brokered with several Northern California art galleries to showcase her sculptures and art pieces. Her work would be shown in Monterey, Carmel and San Francisco before making its way south to the Los Angeles area. All it had taken for James to get the ball rolling was Bette’s recommendation and Leigh’s commitment both of which he had.

As if that wasn’t enough good fortune, Bette also offered Leigh the opportunity to interview for the job as the new art professor at California University. Bette’s assistant had called Leigh on Monday to schedule the interview for Wednesday morning at 9am. She would be seeing Bette twice in one day as she was also meeting Bette, Tina and James for dinner at the Planet that evening.

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Leigh dressed in a business suit that morning and presented a very professional image when she arrived at Bette’s office. The interview process did not only include the one on one interview with Bette but there was also a panel interview with other members of Bette’s team and a final interview with the school’s Chancellor Phyllis Krull.

As she did with all three candidates Bette escorted Leigh on a personally guided tour of the arts department and art studio. She wanted the interviewees to see some of the student’s work and get a feel for the environment and atmosphere they could potentially be working in if hired. At the end of the tour Bette assured Leigh that she’d presented her credentials outstandingly and she promised to announce her decision the following week.