“How does it compare? Private education, travel, fascinating life experiences; I just don’t see how you envision any judge or jury finding you the superior choice.”

It was early on Wednesday morning. Tina laid in Helena’s California king sized bed listening to Helena’s side of yet another argument with her ex-wife Winnie Mann. The constant bickering and threats was getting rather tedious. After a year of battling, the antagonistic couple was no closer to a settlement about shared custody of their two children.

Helena was agitated. The nervous energy had her pacing in the enormous walk-in closet like a gaged animal. She was used to getting her way but Winnie was as determined and headstrong as she was when it came to the children. It didn’t take long to realize that this was a battle she couldn’t win hands down, and it was making her very angry.

Winnie too was so angry that she was barely able to control herself. As she sat in the hotel room a few miles from the beach house she tried to calm herself. She knew the more she acted in anger the more Helena could fuck her up, but there were times that she still found herself screaming like a crazy bitch. Her life with Helena had been a living hell; many times over the years she’d wonder how she got so enthralled with this monster in the first place.

***

Winnie Mann was a notable playwright and producer. She and Helena met in New York City shortly after the Brit relocated from London when her father passed away. Helena wasn’t close to Peggy growing up but she was a daddy’s girl. Her father doted on her. He indulged her every whim and desire ever since she was a toddler. Their extreme wealth compounded with her exceptional beauty gave way to narcissistic behaviors and a strong sense of entitlement which her father fostered in his young offspring almost since birth.

Winnie’s plays had many successful runs. She consistently received rave reviews, but was still new to the business and making a name for herself. That’s when Helena Peabody entered her life and before she knew what hit her, the beautiful red-head was swept off her feet. Helena bought her way into Winnie’s life by first underwriting the entire run of her newest play. Within a year Winnie owned her own theater company; was living in a five million dollar loft in Tribeca and was seeking a donor to start a family. Helena had never even thought about kids but it was Winnie’s dream to have them. Winnie found out too late that Helena was in the business of making people’s dreams come true; then she coops and makes them her own.