Eleanor had to manage an art auction all afternoon, and Justin was told to meet her later at the following banquet, in the Beverly Hills hotel where he frequently meets his wealthier clients, clients like Mercedes. He finds Eleanor immediately in the sea of dresses, his snow white princess with her dark hair & blood red gown. He couldn't possibly tell her enough how incredible she is.

He doesn't see Mercedes until she's right next to him, bitching at Eleanor about the flowers or something at the auction earlier, making it immediately clear that Mercedes is her boss. Eleanor always just calls her 'the bitch', the same as her mother, so he never knew the connection. These unexpected run-ins with clients, outside their usual contextare always uncomfortable. This one is made worse by the fact Mercedes has persistently tried to blur the line he's drawn between his professional & personal life, tried to be his lover when she's just his job. There's an edge of hysteria in Mercedes' voice that tells him she's upset & uncomfortable.

Mercedes keeps bitching away, fidgeting & cranky: she's been after him for even longer than he's been after Eleanor, and she's confused, angry and jealous now to see him out with his girl. No woman of her stature in society wants to admit to another she has a crush on one of the guys she pays to spank her, so she can't tell Eleanor why she's so angry, and she can't let it go, either, so she harps on about anything else, just be standing around them.

Finally, Mercedes turns toward him, but doesn't look at him, and takes out her compact. "This must be your boyfriend, Eleanor. I must say, you must have made your mother jealous with this one," she says, looking in her mirror. Jealousy has made her stupid, Justin thinks, she might as well come out & say it, tell Eleanor she can't stand that another woman has something she's never been able to get for herself.

Justin turns away, not wanting to look at her anymore. His next session with her will be more than difficult....possibly no longer worth it, for any amount of money.

Mercedes has other people to deal with, but she keeps turning towards him & Eleanor. She's insane with jealousy, and she has no right to be. Business is business & his relationship with Eleanor is none of hers.

His profession requires a lot of secrecy, and as much as he adores Eleanor, he's willing to keep Mercedes' secret from her. But she'll end up giving it away herself, the way she keeps staring. Justin finally confronts her, silently, quickly, with a simple glare that tells her to back off. Her smile is dangerous & worrisome, but she walks away for now.